2026 will again be through the Bible chronologically selecting verses which attract my attention or questions or encourage me on the day. I pray it blesses whoever reads . . . My theological background is Salvation Army College and now Church of England. I love all Christian denominations.
Lord Jesus, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Forgive me and help me turn from everything I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay the price and set me free from my sin. Please come into my life, fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.”
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?”8 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” 9 So they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt . . .” Joshua 9:3-9 NKJV
God of Wisdom,
It says later in Joshua 9:14 that they did not inquire of You. Not only Joshua but none of the other men of Israel thought to prompt Joshua to inquire of You God. No one would have argued with them and Joshua would probably have been the first to say yes lets ask first. It is good not to think evil of people and to look for the good – but not everyone is trustworthy! They saw, they believed and they acted on that. They thought they saw.
You have warned us that the same is true today. Paul knew that the church needed to be wise, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). Help us not to think the worse first but to check in with You and listen for Your small still voice. Whether telling us to wait (Psalm 37:7) or another way to way to go (Psalm 143:8) or to give us wisdom (James 1:5).
Help us to listen so we do not judge or jump to conclusions good or bad. But ask You and then act rather than have to react. Who knows but that our kindness may speak to them even if they meant harm and we can be saved much trouble. Keep us wise and seeking Your wisdom and kind but able to uncover deceit or lies.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Saturday 29th March 2025 New to me and written in 2024 I believe. I like it because it is an honest dialog with the Lord and a singable tune.
Christ our wisdom, we are humbled When You hide Your ways from us You have purposes unnumbered Each one good and glorious Help us trust when we grow weary Free us from our anxious thoughts Give us grace to see more clearly You are God and we are not
Christ our wisdom, be our gladness When we fail to understand You ordain all joy and sadness To fulfill Your perfect plan Help us know You rule with power Over every raging flood In our most uncertain hour You are God and we are loved
Christ our wisdom, we will follow Though the way ahead is veiled As we journey through the shadows Grant us faith where sight has failed Help us cling to Your commandments Strengthened by Your faithful word We will never be abandoned You are God and we are Yours
Christ our wisdom, we adore You For the beauty of the cross Once in foolishness we scorned You But Your blood has ransomed us Help us sing the endless mercies Of Your humble heart to save Christ our wisdom, Christ our glory You are God forever praised
Help us sing the endless mercies Of Your humble heart to save Christ our wisdom, Christ our glory You are God forever praised
Songwriters: Bob Kaufflin, Jon Althoff, Nathan Stiff.
“So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. 13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.””Joshua 7:10-13 NKJV
Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.” Joshua 7:19-21NKJV
Father and Judge ,
Who can stand before You, You know everything. For the Israelites I wonder at Achan. He didn’t murder or make anyone suffer from taking these things. He did not seem to benefit because he had to hide them and could not enjoy them. Or did he think he could later on, if no one noticed?
Confession is good for the soul, is an old scottish saying I believe. One which councillors today would agree with. Perhaps it came from the Bible James 5:16, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” Lord my God You know me and my weaknesses and failures, past and present. And I cannot thank you enough for wiping my slate clean of sin, washing me whiter than snow, cleansing my heart and renewing my mind. Seeing me as not guilty because Jesus paid the price for my sin. I could go on thinking of all the ways we try to speak out salvation and the forgiveness of sin. So I will end with one from Your Word that I love.
Jesus said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48) And if there was, is ever any Achan in me, stubborn, covetous or rebellious help me confess and lay it at the cross.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 8th March 2026 We had this several times last year – it is always at the top of my playlist. Simple, full of worship and gratitude from the heart.
Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve, pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free. Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change, washes away the stains that once covered me. And all that I have I lay at the feet of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.
Wonderful love that held in the face of death, breathed in its final breath forgiveness for me. Wonderful love whose power can break every chain giving us life again setting us free. And all that I have I lay at the feet of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.
“But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”” Joshua 6:15-19 NKJV
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel. 2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai.” Joshua 7:1-4 NKJV
Lord God,
Why is it that men think they can fool You? Achan thought he needed to hide his sin from Joshua but he didn’t seem to worry about You? Perhaps he thought You would not notice him or he justified why he should have those beautiful things? I don’t want to dwell on afterwards but how everyone was needed to win Jericho. Every single person was involved. It doesn’t say anyone stayed in the tent as they didn’t want to do all those steps. They all went together in faith. And stayed silent for 6 days. I count that a miracle in itself! What a relief when they got to shout and the battle was won.
How we see churches that prosper when those committed to You Lord are in unity with each other and You come first. And they are a safe place for those searching or looking to come and taste and see how good You are (Psalm 34:8).And how wonderful after a quiet prayer meeting or a time of waiting on You Lord when a song of praise releases us to loudly praise.
But one person,Achen, let the side down after. And the battle with Ai was lost. Another person sinned later, just 2,000 years ago and it looked like the battle was lost. Judas. But that battle could not be lost because Jesus could not be defeated. He defeated death despite Judas. Keep us from covetousness and committed to being united with You and our church family. And give us times to shout the victory!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen,
Worship Saturday 7th March 2026
My Jesus, my Saviour Lord there is none like You All of my days I want to praise The wonders of Your mighty love
My comfort, my shelter Tower of refuge and strength Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You
Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing Power and majesty, praise to the King Mountains bow down and the seas will roar At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand Nothing compares to the promise I have In You
