Author: admin

Sunday 19th July 2026

“Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.” Daniel 1:1-7 NKJV

“So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.” Daniel 1:11-15 NKJV

God of wisdom,

Perhaps it was not that they only ate vegetables . . . but they did not drink an abundance of wine, eat sweetmeats, over snack or indulge in fatty food? Daniel was a wise young man and wanted, with the other 4 young men to survive and thrive. We read later he did and certainly displayed his trust in You, the God of his fathers. And for the first year all went well (Daniel 1:21).

A good year. It is so encouraging when we have a good year. A good year for family or a good year for church or for our friends. It is easy to be complacent. But Daniel and his friends did not waste their time. They learned how to live and speak with the Chaldeans without becoming like them in their beliefs. They learned to be different and comfortable with it. They learned how to serve with dignity and yet conscientiously following You God.

So it is for us. We live amongst those who Jesus sent us to serve, to love, to invite into His Kingdom. And we are meant to look and behave differently. To be our best self with the help of Your Holy Spirit. Never under the control of anything else or anybody else. And content to serve where You would place us.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Worship Sunday 19th July 2026
Dug this one up from a couple of years ago. Love its challenge.

Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honour them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Many mighty men are lost,
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel’s band.

Chorus

Many giants, great and tall,
Stalking through the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel’s band.

Chorus

Hold the Gospel banner high!
On to vict’ry grand!
Satan and his hosts defy,
And shout for Daniel’s band.

Chorus

Lyrics: Philip Paul Bliss



Saturday 18th July 2026

“The Lord showed me, and there were two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten, they were so bad. 3 Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.” 4 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. 6 For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. 7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.”Jeremiah 24:1-7 NKJV

God of hope,

Figs. A neighbour has a fig tree in his garden and the last few years it has had an abundant harvest. But if they are not eaten when picked and ripe they turn to the most disgusting goo and attract those horrible little tiny flies. It was a very extreme picture to show Jeremiah. Very good and very bad. No between. Like Judah who are either following the Lord and keeping the Law or rebelling and worshipping false idols.

But there is hope. God says that those taken away will turn back to him in their captivity. Those left behind will not. Perhaps they think they did not get judged and have escaped punishment.

It is foolish to think we can manage by ourselves without You. Just to pray when we have a need or a want. And You warn us about being half hearted through the churches message at Laodicea who were neither hot nor cold (Revelation 3:16). Help us to be good figs. Not falling somewhere between the baskets. Constant in our worship, dependant on Your daily bread, and always sensitive to Your Holy Spirit. And remind us that our salvation is not worked for by us . . . it is You who forgives us as we humbly go . . .

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Saturday 18th July 2026
Just worship . . .

A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who’ve gone before us, and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb

Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions, all powers and positions
Your name stands above them all

And the angels cry, “Holy”
All Creation cries, “Holy”
You are lifted high, holy
Holy forever

If you’ve been forgiven, if you’ve been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom, if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
We’ll sing the song forever and amen

Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions, all powers and positions
Your name stands above them all

Hear Your people sing, “Holy”
To the King of kings, Holy
You will always be holy
Holy forever

Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions, all powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
Jesus
Repeat . . .

Hear Your people sing, “Holy”
To the King of kings, Holy
You will always be holy
Holy forever
Repeat . . .

Lyrics: Chris Tomlin, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Jason Ingram, and Phil Wickham.

Friday 17th July 2026

“Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had done. 10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, as his servants were besieging it. 12 Then Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers went out to the king of Babylon; and the king of Babylon, in the eighth year of his reign, took him prisoner. 13 And he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house, and he cut in pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said. 14 Also he carried into captivity all Jerusalem: all the captains and all the mighty men of valour, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land.” 2 Kings 24:8-14 NKJV

God of Jerusalem and Judah,

The King of Babylon may have defeated Your people but we remember He cannot defeat You. The King, Your priests and Judah are just people. And this only happened because You warned them , they did not listen and it came to pass as You promised. You did warn them over and over and over again.

The writer of 2 Kings gives us more details than Chronicles (2 Chronicles 36:1-8) on this occasion. We are told that Nebuchadnezzar took all the treasures from the house of the Lord, the house of the king and the gold objects used in the Temple. Then he took Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers. On top of that he took all the captains and all the mighty men of valour, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. Everything of value and anyone that might cause trouble.

He left all the poor people to ensure the place was looked after and the surrounding land cultivated and productive. He had all those with knowledge and skill and might close and under his management. The very best of society at his command. To use for himself.

It reminds me that Jesus didn’t see victory as the king of Babylon did. Jesus chose His disciples one by one and not for might, intelligence and valour. He chose the sons of thunder, brothers James and John, of fiery temperament. Peter a fisherman used to manual labour. Matthew a tax collector for the occupying Romans, seen as two faced by many, serving two masters. Simon a Zealot and opinionated? Jesus was interested in people not their roles or abilities. He told us a story (Luke 14:16-24) about a King who sent out invitations to his Sons wedding banquet. People fobbed him off with weak excuses so he send his servants to offer places to those on the highways and in hedges. The ordinary nobodies who wanted to come.

How grateful we are Father God that we come just as we are to be welcomed, loved and accepted. You build Your Kingdom in Your strength. You give abilities and chose to use the willing.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 17th July 20226
Not sure when this took residence in my memory, perhaps in a tent meeting? So simple and so true

I’m accepted, I’m forgiven,
I am fathered by the true and living God
I’m accepted, no condemnation
I am loved by the true and living God

There’s no guilt or fear as I draw near
To the saviour and creator of the world
There is joy and peace
as I release my worship to you O God.

Lyrics: Rob Hayward