Author: admin

Wednesday 9th April 2025

“When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the Lord. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!” 16 He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it. 17 Then he said to them, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do. 18 As soon as I and those with me blow the rams’ horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’ 19 It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the rams’ horns and broke their clay jars. 20 Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 Each man stood at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran to escape. 22 When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords.” Judges 7:15-22 NLT

Lord of Order and disorder,

The three hundred men trusted Gideon had heard form God or they would never have followed him into the enemy camp armed with a jar a torch and a trumpet. No hand free for holding a weapon!?

Sometimes we have to look for Your plan forward even if it does not seem the most sensible. And be in unity so God can command the blessing (Psalm 133:3). Even here, deep in the book of endless, random Judges, we see You have a plan. They were to keep their eyes on Gideon, their Saviour, as we should keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). To praise you by voice or with instruments (Hebrews 13:15). Break the clay jars as we are clay jars that must die to self (Luke 9:24) and hold the light of Christ for all to see (Matthew 5:16).

I love the story of Gideon, the three hundred and Your plan for victory. We seek Your face, and praise Your name and ask that You would bring to nothing those who would oppose the gospel of Your Son. And that this Easter, and every day, Your Light would stream from heaven into many new hearts and through Your people into our families and the world.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 9th April 2025
We have a mighty wonderful God.


Well, everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Well, everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations

Saviour, He can move the mountains
And my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
And fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
And now I surrender, I surrender

Chorus . . . |

Lyrics: Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan

Tuesday 8th April 2025

“ The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.” Judges 7:2-8 NIV

Lord our Saviour,

Twenty two thousand men were honest and not up for a fight. I cannot judge them, to be truthful I think I would have been in their number. Honesty is best. You, God know anyway.

Seven hundred were head down slurpers and three hundred kept alert and looking about as they drank. Who knows which I would have done as I would have gone home already. The three hundred must have had a few concerns, for one they had to carry all the provisions themselves and were outnumbered. And we read later in the story they needed to take everything, lights, jars, trumpets and all!

You showed young Gideon from the smallest tribe of Benjamin that even in war You only need the few with faith to follow and obey Your leading God and the war is won. This must encourage us in prayer warfare, battling the tide of world opinion against Christian faith and standing for holy clean living. Whatever we consider we might have done if part of Gideon’s Army, help us remember You are our God. Help us to be brave, stay true and trust You to see us through trouble, trauma even war. And we are on the winning side – death has been vanquished. Not by us but by You through Your Son. Hallelujah.

Worship Tuesday 8th April 2025
In His strength . . . not our own

 I’ll go in the strength of the Lord,
in paths he has marked for my feet:
I’ll follow the light of his word,
nor shrink from the dangers I meet.
His presence my steps shall attend,
his fullness my wants shall supply;
on him, till my journey shall end,
my unwavering faith will rely.

I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go in the strength,
I’ll go in the strength of the Lord.
I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go in the strength,
I’ll go in the strength of the Lord.

I’ll go in the strength of the Lord,
to work he appoints me to do;
in joy which his smile doth afford
my soul shall its vigor renew.
His wisdom shall guard me from harm,
his power my sufficiency prove;
I’ll trust his omnipotent arm,
and prove his unchangeable love.

I’ll go in the strength of the Lord,
to conflicts which faith will require;
his grace, as my shield and reward,
my courage and zeal shall inspire.
Since he gives the word of command
to meet and encounter the foe,
with his sword of truth in my hand
to suffer and triumph I’ll go.

Lyrics: Edward Turney

Monday 7th April 2025

“Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. 35 He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. 36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” 38 And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.” Judges 6:33-40 NLT

God of reassurance,

Your Word here says You clothed Gideon with power. But he was not super human he still had doubts about himself getting it wrong. So he asked for another two assurances, putting out fleeces. I like Gideon. He still has his weakness amidst his obedience. It encourages me. I have not laid out sheep fleeces but I have been unsure and You have told me the same thing, often three times, at different occasions to raise my faith and encourage me. Sometimes using someone else to say why don’t you do this or through a Bible verse, an inner prompt or even something I see which speaks to me.

Thank You that You know our weaknesses and instead of punishing us You encourage us, so we can grow in faith and trust. Help us to persevere and open our spiritual ears even when You have to repeat Yourself. And thank you for Your patience.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 7th April 2025

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.

Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ’til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ’til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Lyrics: Stuart Townend