Author: admin

Sunday 15th June 2025

“Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. 12 Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. 13 So he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it 14 and rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

“I am,” he replied. 15 So the prophet said to him, “Come home with me and eat.” 16 The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17 I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’” 18 The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.) 19 So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.” 1 Kings 13: 11-19

Lord God,

I always feel sad when I read this story and sorry for the man of God who stood bravely and spoke Your judgement before Jeroboam. Then he ends up being tricked by one of Your people and just after this killed by a lion. The donkey he was riding was not harmed and the lion did not take him as prey! It seems harsh?

But perhaps I do not like to see You as the Father who disciplines and expects us to obey completely when You asks us to do or not do something. It is a wise warning not to let even the faithful and well meaning distract us. It was not the bread and water that took his life but not going straight home as You told him to. And I wonder at the lying prophet. Did You bring this about? He certainly mourned and even gave the man of God his own burial tomb.

Help us to know when You are speaking and stick to what You ask us to do or not do. It is not always as clear to us. But perhaps that is no excuse for when we do know. And when others are fasting or seeking to do Your will, help us to encourage them and not try to dissuade.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Worship Sunday 15th June 2025

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would you pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That you’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In your holiness
Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

Chorus twice

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay

Lyrics: Bart Millard, Pete Kipley, Peter C. Kipley (MercyMe).

Saturday 14th June 2025

“By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. 2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” 3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: “This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.”

4 When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. 5 Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the Lord. 6 Then the king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before. 7 The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift.” 8 But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here.” 1 Kings 13:1-8 NIV

God of righteousness and mercy,

I can almost hear Jeroboam saying how dare he! He was a strong ruler but had no fear of the Lord and had let the people into idolatry. He probably didn’t think God would protect His prophets, was not an active God and maybe he thought he was different and had rights as a king?

It was a shock to find God rebuked his hand stretched out in defiance by shrivelling it up! He quickly reassessed God as real and asked the prophet, he was just going to deal with, to pray for him. What an about turn. The man of God did not hesitate but prayed and Jeroboam experienced Your mercy Lord. And the man of God will take nothing because You, God warned him not to. He has just seen what You can do to those who go against Your word.

Do we sometimes forget that You are a God who is jealous and will not tolerate us worshipping any
thing or one other than You. Do we forget that sometimes You do tell us not to do things because You want the best for us and our obedience. Jeroboam shows us Your compassion, and that You do answer the prayers of Your people. Sometimes we need to ensure that what we do is for You and not for any reward.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 14th June 2025

What love could remember no wrongs we have done?
Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum.
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!

What patience would wait as we constantly roam?
What Father, so tender, is calling us home?
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!

Praise the Lord! His mercy is more!
Stronger than darkness, new every morn,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!

What riches of kindness He lavished on us,
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost!
We stood ‘neath a debt we could never afford,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!

Praise the Lord! His mercy is more!
Stronger than darkness, new every morn,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!
Repeat chorus

Lyrics: Matt Boswell , Matt Papa.

Friday 13th June 2025

 “Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? 42 And the period that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.” 1 Kings 11:41-43 NKJV

“Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.” 2 Chronicles 9:29-31 NKJV

God and King,

Again we see 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles mirroring the narration of history. The Chronicler trying to add all the known details. Thank You for those who also Chronicled Jesus walk on earth. So we can read and know that we saw You, the Father in the Son. Jesus said if the disciples had seen Him they had also seen the Father (John 14:9). Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that man often works and when another inherits it they do not always appreciate how or why it was earned (Ecclesiastes 2:21). Perhaps he had seen that his son did not have the wisdom to rule or care for his inheritance.

Rehoboam must never have read his father Solomon’s proverbs . . . and definitely never learned from them. Because he immediately refused wise council and riled everyone around him. 2 Kings 12 spells out his mistreatment of people and his slide into idol worship.

Father, we can never thank You enough for sending Your Son. That He was the visible image of You (Colossians 1:15) and all good. Sinless He came to serve and lay down His life for us.. How can we fully grasp that? Reading through the Old Testament, I keep finding it pointing me to the New Testament. And all You have done, and the inheritance we have in Christ (Ephesians 1:11). And nothing can ever separate us from Your love in Christ(Romans 8:39).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 13th June 2025
One of the many scriptural songs to come from Trish and Noel Richards.



Nothing shall separate us From the love of God.
Nothing shall separate us From the love of God.

God did not spare His only Son,
Gave Him to save us all.
Sin’s price was met by Jesus’ death
And heaven’s mercy falls.

Up from the grave Jesus was raised
To sit at God’s right hand;
Pleading our cause in heaven’s courts,
Forgiven we can stand.

Now by God’s grace we have embraced
A life set free from sin;
We shall deny all that destroys
Our union with Him.

Lyrics: Noel Richards