Friday 22nd August 2025

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” 48 Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. 49 At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court. King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 2:46-49 NLT
4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”” Daniel 3:1-6 NLT


God of all,

King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged You as the God of Gods, the Lord of all Kings and revealer of mysteries as we sang yesterday. And yet . . . he goes on to make a huge statue of himself ninety feet tall, so people could worship him! The Angel of the North statue in Gateshead is only 66 ft tall and that is massive. How big is Nebuchadnezzar’s ego? Or does he need to build himself up to make those around him feel small? One minute God is bigger than all gods and the next he, a man, is making himself into someone to be worshipped.

Then Nebuchadnezzar is humbled again as he throws Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and they escape the fiery furnace and a forth figure like a God is seen with them in the flames. (Daniel 3:25). Nebuchadnezzar has another dream which he tells to Daniel (Belteshazzar) and which frightens the living daylights out of Daniel (Daniel 4:19) Because it means he has to give bad news. Daniel has to warn him to change his sinful ways but to no avail. Later he boasts about all he had done and as the dream said he was struck with insanity (Daniel 4:31-33) Till the day he humbled himself again. and acknowledged You Oh God.

Up and down, great belief and none. And totally neglected to put faith in You God. He never let You become Lord of His life. Paul warns us about being tossed about by every wind of new teaching. influenced by clever words. We need to base faith in Your Son, Your Word, Your Spirit. (Ephesians 4:14-15).

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Friday 22nd August 2025
Takes me a little time sometimes to worship with tradition hymns in new arrangements. But here is one that is growing on me.

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough

I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps
So this is my story and this is my song
I’m praising my risen King and Savior all the day long

Chorus

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him
Repeat twice . . .

That why I trust HIm
That’s why I trust in God, my Saviour
The one who will never fail
He will never fail, my Saviour
Oh, I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
Oh I trust in God.

Yes I trust in God.

Lyrics: Brandon Lake / Christopher Joel Brown / Mitch Wong / Steven Furtick

Thursday 21st August 2025

The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed. 13 And because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends. 14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. 15 He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. 16 Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant. 17 Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. 18 He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. 19 That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20 He said,

“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. 21 He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars. 22 He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you
and revealed to us what the king demanded.” Daniel 2:12-23 NLT

God of our ancestors,

Sometimes we have to be in a very tight corner before we pray and ask others to pray as if our lives depended on it! Daniel did not care who got the answer because otherwise they would all die! And he was open to God speaking. Because of his willingness he was able to approach the king and settle the perilous situation. And he takes none of the glory for himself. He shakes it off by bursting into praise for You, God who saved them..

When we cannot see the way forward, drive us to our knees for an answer and to not be worried about how or who it will come through. Then keep us ready to sing Your praises, so eyes are directed to You we do not take any of Your glory.

Thank You for those who have gone to other countries, not as captives, but willingly to witness to You and live Godly lives to show Your wisdom and strength through their witness. Watch over them and give them revelation and the understanding for their own situations. Not forgetting those of us called to reveal You in our own country. We need Your wisdom, revelation and understanding for our own times.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday August 21st 2025
We had this in March perhaps this is why it came instantly to mind as I read Daniel.

Surely our God is the God of gods
And the Lord of kings
The revealer of mysteries
Surely our God is the God of gods
And the Lord of kings
The revealer of mysteries

Repeat chorus . . .

He changes the times and the seasons
He gives rhythm to the tides
He knows what is hidden
In the darkest of places
Brings the shadows in to His light

Chorus

I will praise You always my Father
You are Lord of heaven and earth
You hide Your secrets
From the wise and the learned
And reveal them to this Your child

Chorus

Music interlude . . .

Thank You for sending Your only Son
We may know the mystery of God –
He opens the treasures
Of wisdom and knowledge
To the humble not to the proud

Lyrics: David L and Liz Morris

Wednesday 20th August 2025

“During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.”
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. 6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.

8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” 11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”
Daniel 1:1-13 NLT

Lord God,

These young men were indeed wise. Knowing they had no choice, they made the best of it but kept their identities even though their names were changed. Many use this passage to promote becoming vegetarians or abstaining from alcohol. On pondering this Lord I tried to stand in Daniels shoes for a moment.

Daniel wanted to show they were followers of You, Yahweh, without seeming rebellious or self righteous. So they declined to eat meat which had been offered to Babylonian idols and not slaughtered as You God demanded. The drink may have also been dedicated to one of their idols or false gods. They showed that You, God were able to keep them healthy. And they could control their appetites and flourished.

There are times when You ask us to control our appetite (not just for food). And sin has no great and small, just bigger consequences? Thank You that you care enough to strive with us for good. The verse in Hebrews 5:8 says that Jesus Your Son, learned obedience from the things he suffered.  He never sinned. If he needed to learn how much more do I.

As You God say, “My child, don’t make light of My discipline, and don’t give up when I, the Lord correct you. For I discipline those I love, and I punishes each one I accepts as My child.” (Hebrews 5:5b-6)

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 20th August 2025
Two choices. One from 1909 and one from 1997. Both challenge me . . .



Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

2 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.

3 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

4 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

Lyrics: Adelaide A Pollard (1909)

Lyrics: Darlene Zschech