Author: admin

Sunday 24th August 2025

“This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”” Jeremiah 17:5-10

God who knows us,

Jeremiah gives his listeners no opportunity to misunderstand Your message and warning. He delivers it clearly in black and white. Choose God and be like a green well watered tree. Continue disobedience and be like a thirsty scrubby bush.

Then in case they think they can give the appearance of looking good . . . Jeremiah reminds them that You are God not a man, and can read and see even their secret thoughts and feelings. And You, God know mans heart and mind can persuade him to sin.

I know my own mind is prone to wander sometimes and sometimes I am shocked by my own feelings of jealousy or wanting to get my own back! Paul, writing in the New Testament,suggests ways to counter these things with the help of Your Spirit. To rejoice and become gentle. Not to worry but pray when we do Ask, petition and give thanks to You, God. Then Your peace which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. We should think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. Leave no room for anything else! And what we have learned from You God we should learn to put into practice. (Philippians 4-9).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 24th August 2025

Lord you have my heart
And I will search for yours
Jesus take my life and lead me on.

Lord you have my heart
And I will search for yours
Let me be to you a sacrifice.

And I will praise you Lord
(Ladies) I will praise you Lord
(Men) And I will sing of love come down
(Ladies) I will sing of love come down
(Men) And as you show your face
(Ladies) Show your face
(Together) We’ll see your glory here.

Lyrics: Martin James Smith

Saturday 23rd August 2025

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. 3 Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant 4 the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. 5 Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’—the land you possess today.” I answered, “Amen, Lord.”” Jeremiah 11:1-5 NIV

Lord of the Covenant,

Jeremiah is weighed down by the message You, God gave him for his sinful people who would suffer because they refused to return to You. Here he gives a more legal argument for returning. Using the Covenant agreement and where God had been faithful but they failed to keep their side.

Sometimes it is good to return to agreements, promises we have made and reaffirm them and check that all is in order. Many churches have recommitment Sunday once a year. Not to check if we are giving enough, attending enough, serving enough. But to see if our heart is good and wholly Yours Lord and holy. And we can return to You to put things right.

But Jeremiah does not have a good response even though he reminds them of the promised You gave and kept while they ignored their side of the covenant. Today we know that a holy life does not mean we will be kept from trouble, pain and suffering. But we are promised Your presence, Your holiness, help and a way through till one day we will reach Heavens promised land.

So today, how is my relationship with You? Have I been taking You for granted. Speaking to You as a friend and forgetting to honour and worship You? It is a good tome to remember the covenant of the cross and once again be overwhelmed with love even amidst my imperfections. It is not about trying harder . . . its a relationship.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 23rd August 2025

Oh lead me
To the place where I can find You
Oh lead me to the place where You’ll be

Lead me to the cross
Where we first met
Draw me to my knees
So we can talk
Let me feel Your breath
Let me know You’re here with me

Repeat the above . . .

Let me feel You near

Lead me to the cross
Where we first met
Draw me to my knees
So we can talk
Let me feel Your breath
Let me know You’re here with me

Lyrics: Martin Smith

Friday 22nd August 2025

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” 48 Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. 49 At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court. King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 2:46-49 NLT
4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”” Daniel 3:1-6 NLT


God of all,

King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged You as the God of Gods, the Lord of all Kings and revealer of mysteries as we sang yesterday. And yet . . . he goes on to make a huge statue of himself ninety feet tall, so people could worship him! The Angel of the North statue in Gateshead is only 66 ft tall and that is massive. How big is Nebuchadnezzar’s ego? Or does he need to build himself up to make those around him feel small? One minute God is bigger than all gods and the next he, a man, is making himself into someone to be worshipped.

Then Nebuchadnezzar is humbled again as he throws Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and they escape the fiery furnace and a forth figure like a God is seen with them in the flames. (Daniel 3:25). Nebuchadnezzar has another dream which he tells to Daniel (Belteshazzar) and which frightens the living daylights out of Daniel (Daniel 4:19) Because it means he has to give bad news. Daniel has to warn him to change his sinful ways but to no avail. Later he boasts about all he had done and as the dream said he was struck with insanity (Daniel 4:31-33) Till the day he humbled himself again. and acknowledged You Oh God.

Up and down, great belief and none. And totally neglected to put faith in You God. He never let You become Lord of His life. Paul warns us about being tossed about by every wind of new teaching. influenced by clever words. We need to base faith in Your Son, Your Word, Your Spirit. (Ephesians 4:14-15).

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Friday 22nd August 2025
Takes me a little time sometimes to worship with tradition hymns in new arrangements. But here is one that is growing on me.

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough

I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps
So this is my story and this is my song
I’m praising my risen King and Savior all the day long

Chorus

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him
Repeat twice . . .

That why I trust HIm
That’s why I trust in God, my Saviour
The one who will never fail
He will never fail, my Saviour
Oh, I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
Oh I trust in God.

Yes I trust in God.

Lyrics: Brandon Lake / Christopher Joel Brown / Mitch Wong / Steven Furtick