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Tuesday 12th August 2025

“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. ²O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. ³Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. ⁴Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” Habakkuk 1:1-4 NKJV

Lord God,

Habakkuk is really having a bad time. His eyes are full of disaster and nothing else. It seems to him that You, God are allowing all the sin and enemies to plunder and violence. No judgement. Could be me praying into today’s world.

Habakkuk was speaking to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and about the sins of his own people. It must have been pretty bad and he must have seen a lot. Today we see on TV or online so much murder on our own streets, petty and major crime and public disorder. It is pretty bad here.

Sometimes there are no answers. We need to come to You, God, and have an honest conversation. Share our frustration. Habakkuk asks the questions as we do. And we too do not always get answers from You. But You are still God and we do not see it all. And if we could explain what You are doing, You would be small limited and You are not. You are omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient (all present, all powerful and all knowing) and You are working to Your time. We too see darkness but trust in Your eternal light.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 11th August 2025

Where O where’s Your presence O God?
In this dry and weary land
So many people drifting away
How we need to understand…
You’re still God
Even when we’re unbelieving
Still God
When we’re desperate for our healing
Still God, you’re still God, you’re still God.

You’re still God
Even when our friends desert us.
Still God
Even through the things that hurt us
Still God, still God
So I will be still, and know You are God.

Where O where’s Your kingdom O God?
We have let holiness go
So many idols litter our land
We’ve got to let this nation know…
You’re Still God
When the government has no answers
Still God
When the media lowers the standard
Still God, you’re still God, you’re still God

You’re still God
When the plans we make are worthless
Still God
When we lose our sense of purpose
Still God, You’re still God,
So I will be still, and know You are God.

When will Jesus really be seen
Through the church that bears his name
Agents of his kingdom, his peace
In the world for which he came
You’re still God
Even though You were rejected
Still God
Though You were ridiculed, deserted
Still God, you’re still God, you’re still God

You’re still God
Though You suffered execution
Still God
You’re alive and Christ our champion
Still God, still God
So I will be still, and know You are God

Godfrey & Gill Birtill

Monday 11th August 2025

” This message concerning Nineveh came as a vision to Nahum, who lived in Elkosh. ²The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies! ³The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet. ⁴At his command the oceans dry up, and the rivers disappear. The lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade, and the green forests of Lebanon wither. ⁵In his presence the mountains quake, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles, and its people are destroyed. ⁶Who can stand before his fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence.

⁷The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. ⁸But he will sweep away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night.” Nahum 1:1-7

God of all the Earth,

Nahum is speaking Your message to the people of Nineveh (Capital of Assyria) where the rulers lived. The same place Jonah had been called to, and I can understand why he did not want to go to the heart of his enemies. They may have responded to Jonah’ s words but they had returned to their old ways. Nahum reminded them that You, Lord are still God even if they no longer acknowledge You!

Even if nothing seems to be stopping the Assyrians from invading Judah, You God are a God of justice. But slow to anger, you do not always respond immediately. And I am grateful that You have been slow to anger with me and taught me with great grace. You give another warning and opportunity for the Assyrians to put their house in order. You witness that You are a righteous God.

Nahum gives the benefits of choosing You as God. The God of refuge who will in the future sweep away enemies like a flood. A threat or a promise. It is time for them to choose which side they are on.They may appear to be on the winning side now but they will have to face You, the only true God one day. In some ways I am glad those who love sin and evil will be dealt with but then I am sad for those people who think they are good enough and have no need of You. It is their choice.

But over and above all I am grateful that I know You my Lord and Saviour and Your love.What would I do without You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 11th August 2025.

In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon that’s fashioned against us shall stand
The battle belongs to the Lord

We sing glory, honour
Power and strength to the Lord
We sing glory, honour
Power and strength to the Lord

When the power of darkness comes in like a flood
The battle belongs to the Lord
He’s raised up a standard, the power of His blood
The battle belongs to the Lord

We sing glory, honour
Power and strength to the lord
We sing glory, honour
Power and strength to the lord

When your enemy presses in hard do not fear
The battle belongs to the Lord
Take courage my friend, your redemption is near
The battle belongs to the Lord

And we sing glory, honour
Power and strength to the lord
We sing glory, honour
Power and strength to the lord

Lyrics: Jamie and Sue Collins

Sunday 10th August 2025

“Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. ²He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. ³The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. ⁴The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. ⁵He did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts . . . ”
2 Kings 23:1-5 NIV

Lord God,

The Book of the Covenant was found and Josiah determined to correct what was wrong. In worship and in behaviour. And reading the chapter it is clear to see how much was wrong. However taking away religious practices does not change someone’s inner faith and belief. we read that the people pledged themselves to the covenant but I wonder how much was to keep peace with the king and his army?

Josiah restored the Passover with all its symbolism and worship to You, Yahweh. It would instantly remind them of their history when their forefathers were slaves in Egypt. Every part of passover is symbolic of Your leading God, taking them from slavery to the promised land. And not being harmed by the plagues. The way You, God protecting them from death with the blood of the lamb smeared on their doorposts. While all the firstborn of their enemies died.

We too celebrate our freedom from slavery to sin each Sunday as we worship.Many using the symbols of bread and wine. Remembering the death of Your first born and only Son who died to set us free. Help us not to just go through the routine of rituals but come afresh in thanksgiving lest we become complacent and slip.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 10th August 2025

Let us break bread together
Fall down on our knees
And remember the One
Who died for you and me Ah Ah . . .
He said this is my body
And this is My blood
And I give my life freely
For the Bride that I love Ah Ah . . .

Let us drink wine together
Sing praise to His Name
Give thanks for the Lamb
The Lamb Who was slain
He said this is my body,
And this is my blood
And I give my life freely.
For the Bride that I love Ah Ah . . .

He came to heal the broken
Set the captive free
and He said
do this in remembrance of Me

Abba Father we worship you
for all You’ve done
There is none like You
Thank You for sending Your son
As our ransom

Let us worship together
In one accord
Sing songs of the Bridegroom
The One we adore
He said this is my body
And this is My blood
And I give my life freely
for the Bride that I love Ah Ah . . .

He came to heal the broken
Set the captive free
and He said
do this in remembrance of Me

Do this in remembrance of Me

Lyrics: Mia Rushing, Steve Rushing