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Monday 18th August 2025

“The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. ²So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: ³For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. ⁴And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.” Jeremiah 25:1-4 NIV

“⁸Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, ⁹I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. ¹⁰I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. ¹¹This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. ¹²“But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate forever.”” Jeremiah 25:8-12 NIV

Lord Almighty,

You gave the people of Judah so many opportunities to return to You And then You had to do what You had spoken. 70 years labour under Babylonian rule. Hard servitude whether taken to Babylonia or left to serve in Judah.

I think back and see how many opportunities You gave me to find out about Jesus and Your love. I wonder You didn’t give up on me. And I am filled with gratitude that You are a God slow to anger. 70 years is a lifetime and their relief would again be seen by the next generation as with Moses in the wilderness. But like Your people Israel the church survives from one generation to the next. Not from children born to the family as with the tribes of Abraham but children adopted into Your family through Jesus.

And You promised the exiles that they would return to their home land, just as You promise us we will return to be with You one day (John 14:1-3). But help us to be faithful in heart and mind, so You do not have to send Jeremiahs among us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 18th August 2025
This is a challenging promise for a Monday morning or any morning . . . thank God for Jesus

If you curse me, then I will bless you
If you hurt me, I will forgive
And if you hate me, then I will love you
I choose the Jesus way

If you’re helpless, I will defend you
And if you’re burdened, I’ll share the weight
And if you’re hopeless, then let me show you
There’s hope in the Jesus way

I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way

If you strike me, I will embrace you
And if you chain me, I’ll sing His praise
And if you kill me, my home is heaven
For I choose the Jesus way

I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way

And I choose surrender
I choose to love
Oh, God my Savior, You’ll always be enough
I choose forgiveness
I choose grace
I choose to worship, no matter what I face

I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way

I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way

Lyrics: Jonathan Smith and Phil Wickham

Sunday 17th August 2025

^“And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father. ²Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. ³The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. ⁴The king of Egypt made Eliakim, a brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Necho took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt.” 2 Chronicles 36:1-4

“This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there: ²‘Hear the word of the Lord to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates. ³This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. ⁴For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. ⁵But if you do not obey these commands, declares the Lord, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’” Jeremiah 22:1-5 NLT

“Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God.” 2 Chronicles 36:5 NLT

Lord of Righteousness,

Jeremiah spoke Your truth and gave a clear specific warning. They either did not take him seriously, were defiant in not wanting to live Your way or they just thought You, God would still help them anyway. They did not heed the word of a man of God. Jeremiah had it tough he was disbelieved, he was openly opposed and later suffered for his words of truth.

We can learn much from Him heavenly Father about longsuffering, steadfastness and obedience. Even though he did complained to You, God privately long and loud (Jeremiah 20:7-18).

Jesus too suffered for speaking the truth and He privately asked You, God ‘to take the cup from him’ when praying on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:42). All the disciples had fallen asleep.

Sometimes it is amazing to be one of Your children and singing Your praises. Other times it can be a long lonely walk. And no-one can truly know what we are going through but You, God by Your Holy Spirit. Help us when we complain and doubt and get fed up. Jeremiah said I wish I had never been born (Jeremiah 20:17). Jeremiah looked to You and went on to serve mightily His weakness became strength in You. Help us to look up to You and serve on this Sabbath day and this week and always. And perhaps humanly speaking Lord God not so much of the suffering and complaining?

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 17th August 2025

Holy Spirit, living breath of God
Breathe new life into my willing soul
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole
Cause Your Word to come alive in me
Give me faith for what I cannot see
Give me passion for Your purity
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me

Holy Spirit, come abide within
May Your joy be seen in all I do
Love enough to cover every sin
In each thought and deed and attitude
Kindness to the greatest and the least
Gentleness that sows the path of peace
Turn my strivings into works of grace
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do

Holy Spirit, from creation’s birth
Giving life to all that God has made
Show Your power once again on earth
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see

Lyrics: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

Saturday 16th August 2025

After Josiah had finished restoring the Temple, King Neco of Egypt led his army up from Egypt to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah and his army marched out to fight him. ²¹But King Neco sent messengers to Josiah with this message: “What do you want with me, king of Judah? I have no quarrel with you today! I am on my way to fight another nation, and God has told me to hurry! Do not interfere with God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”²²But Josiah refused to listen to Neco, to whom God had indeed spoken, and he would not turn back. Instead, he disguised himself and led his army into battle on the plain of Megiddo. ²³But the enemy archers hit King Josiah with their arrows and wounded him. He cried out to his men, “Take me from the battle, for I am badly wounded!” ²⁴So they lifted Josiah out of his chariot and placed him in another chariot. Then they brought him back to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried there in the royal cemetery. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him. ²⁵The prophet Jeremiah composed funeral songs for Josiah, and to this day choirs still sing these sad songs about his death. 2 Chronicles 35:20-27 New Living Translation

God who speaks,

Josiah the young king who grew up, rediscovered the written books of the Law and reinstated Temple worship and Godly living across his kingdom. This same Josiah went out to meet with King Neco. Perhaps rightly worried he was coming to fight for Jerusalem? But King Neco does not wax political he simple tells Josiah not to worry. He is off to fight another nation.

I would have gone home and been grateful, no war. Josiah instead goes out to fight a war that he has not asked You about or Your prophets. Fighting what was another man’s war! And God through Neco had told him not to.

For me this is a good word of advice. Before getting myself involved with things going on around me I should seek Your wisdom and advice. Sometimes we should get involved to help or protect. But other times it may be none of our business and something You God are doing not involving us. And when we interfere where we should not – no good ever comes of it and maybe even harm? Why do we always think we must find a solution for everything? Keep my nose out of what does not concern it and help me hear Your sound advice.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 16th August 2025
Written in old English but it still has something to say . . .

Teach me, my God and King,
in all things Thee to see,
and what I do in anything,
to do it as for Thee.

A man that looks on glass,
On it may stay his eye;
Or if he pleases, through it pass,
And then the heaven espy.

All may of Thee partake;
Nothing can be so mean,
Which, with this tincture ‘for Thy sake’
Will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine,
Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,
Makes that and the action fine.

This is the famous stone
That turneth all to gold,
For that which God doth touch and own
Cannot for less be told.

Lyrics: George Herbert