Author: admin

Saturday 25th July 2026

“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.” Ezekiel 1:1

“Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5 Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.” Ezekiel 1:4-6

“And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and down ward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” Ezekiel 1:26-28 NKJV

God of eternity,

While Jeremiah was writing to the exiles and speaking to the remaining in Jerusalem, Ezekiel was with the exiles by the river Chebar in Babylon (modern day Iraq I think). And You certainly took him by surprise because he fell on his face. If you read the whole chapter and try and imagine what he saw you can understand why he had trouble describing it. This was not a little vision in his dream space this was something as vast as the skies and more glorious than anything he could imagine.

We do not know what You look like Father, nor can we imagine it. You are not a man though we find it comforting to see what You are like through Jesus. We have no idea what Your Holy Spirit is like except when we sense He is directing us or moving us to worship. But this vision is You showing a tiny part of Your glory to a mere mortal. As You did to Isaiah in chapter 6. But he only saw You on a throne afar off and so large that just the train of Your robe reached and filled the Temple. These wee not visions of a man sat on a throne on a cloud but were surrounded by the colour of glory if it has colour. Ezekiel saw raging fire, brightness, flashes of lightening, glittering crystal and the sound like many waters.

We need to see the vastness of Your glory – or at least know about it. You are not limited by space or time and yet You choose to appear to one exile who You call to speak for You. You provide him with all he needs. Your Spirit to strengthen him (Ezekiel 2:2) and Your words in his heat (3:Your words in his heart (Ezekiel 3:10).

It reminds me of a children’s chorus, My God is so big so strong and so mighty there’s nothing that he cannot do. And yet You choose to use a man Ezekiel and later a fisherman and a tax collector . . . and us. Ezekiel sat down for 7 days thinking about what You had asked (Ezekiel 3:15). You did not rush him, A mighty and yet patient God.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 25th July 2026
We are constantly amazed at Your magnificence, Your generosity to sinful man (me) and the depth of Your mercy. We can sit as Ezekiel did and wonder before we go to worship tomorrow . . .



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

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

Chorus

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

Chorus

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

Chorus
Repeat . . .

Lyrics: Matt Boswell / Matt Papa






Friday 24th July 2026

“Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remainder of the elders who were carried away captive—to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This happened after Jeconiah the king, the queen mother, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.) 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying, 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:1-9 NKJV

God of Israel,

Jeremiah not only faithfully spoke to the people left behind but sent Your word to those who went into exile by letter. You wanted them to know, hear from You, and understand You had not completely forsaken them. You would always be their God even when they rejected You. You wanted them to prosper even in their captivity,, ready for the day they chose to turn back to You.

Only a compassionate and loving God would endeavour to reach the lost when they would not listen. But then many generations later You chose to send Your Son to a people who would not listen. But some did. And You opened the door, You were the door. Not just to Your chosen people personally knowing You, but to anyone, born anywhere. The ‘whosoever’ as the hymn says. There have been many faithful Jeremiah’s since speaking out to trust God in difficult and challenging situations. The situation does not always change but You, God bless us and carry us through.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 24th July 2026
Keen pianist to get going at the beginning made me smile. The whosoever – even me.

Whosoever heareth,” shout, shout the sound!
Spread the blessed tidings all the world around.
Tell the joyful news wherever man is found:
“Whosoever will may come.”

“Whosoever will, “whosoever will!”
Send the proclamation over vale and hill;
’Tis a loving Father calls the wanderer home;
“Whosoever will may come.”

Whosoever cometh need not delay.
Now the door is open; enter while you may;
Jesus is the true, the only Living Way.
“Whosoever will may come.”

Chorus

“Whosoever will” the promise is secure;
“Whosoever will” forever shall endure.
“Whosoever will” ’tis life forevermore.
“Whosoever will may come.”

Chorus

Lyrics: Philip P Bliss

Thursday 23rd July 2026

 “Therefore do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, “You shall not serve the king of Babylon.” 10 For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land; and I will drive you out, and you will perish. 11 But the nations that bring their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let them remain in their own land,’ says the Lord, ‘and they shall till it and dwell in it.’ ” ” 12 I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live! 13 Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord has spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Therefore do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they prophesy a lie to you; 15 for I have not sent them,” says the Lord, “yet they prophesy a lie in My name, that I may drive you out, and that you may perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you.” Jeremiah 27:9-15 NKJV

Father God,

Meanwhile leaving Daniel and his friends in Babylon we come back to Jeremiah still speaking out Your message to those left behind in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas of Judah. The lone voice speaking against the united  prophets, diviners, dreamers, soothsayers and sorcerers (Jeremiah 4:9). They were saying what people wanted to hear that everything would be OK again. Were they convinced it was true by general consensus? Did they feel they had to say something and went with the easiest? Where they afraid to stand with Jeremiah and also get punished?

It is not always easy to stand alone or to speak the truth when it will be costly. You God said we should not lie (Exodus 20:16). Jesus told us the Satan is called the father of lies and he can make them seem very convincing! (John 8:44). Your Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and will guide us in all truth (John 16:13). With You when we know the truth there is no going back to the lie.

Jeremiah could not stay silent even though he was a lone voice ( and you did provide him with the support of Baruch his secretary). Help us to not stay silent when we have the opportunity to share something of Your goodness, kindness and love. They may not listen – but that is not our problem. But they may.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 23rd July 2026

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

3esus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.

 He speaks and, listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive,
the mournful broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear him, you deaf! his praise, you dumb
your loosened tongues employ;
you blind, now see your saviour come,
and leap, you lame, for joy!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim
and spread through all the earth abroad
the honours of your name.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley