Tag: Start the Day

Saturday 24th October 2026

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23 NKJV

Lord God and Teacher,

You used many parables to teach us about the relationship between us and You. The prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) how we need to come to You as our Father and be loved. The Lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) where You show us how You carefully search for us, shine a light on us and rejoice when we are found. The lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14) shows Your relentless pursuit of the lost individual and joy when they are found.

And in this parable You show the ways that those You seek and find sometimes respond. By falling away, or not wanting to go Your way. But for those who are planted in You, in Jesus, there is constant growth and the fruit can be seen. So perhaps the good prayer is that we are good soil. So we can grow. Father, thank You that the life of Jesus speaks life into us today. His teaching is still more relevant in every age. Your love, through Him is all encompassing and still each moment individually delivered.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 24th October 2026
Written in 2018, I love this both words and melody.

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing, “All is mine”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future’s sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing, “I am free”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me”

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me”

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Lyrics: Michael Farren, Rich Thompson, Jonny Robinson

Friday 23rd October 2026

“ Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” 41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”” Luke 7:36-43 NKJV

Father God,

We have all been in situations where we have assumed something and got it badly wrong and been embarrassed or offended someone. The Pharisee, Simon, did not get it wrong but he was using his own set of values. Both he and Jesus saw the same woman. But one saw repentance and worship and a good heart and had compassion. The other judged her as not worthy to be there and certainly not good enough to touch Jesus.

I love that Jesus doesn’t lecture or shout or try to make Peter feel small – he uses a simple illustration to lead him into understanding. You are so gracious to us when we get it wrong. And Peter was able to experience this woman receiving her personal forgiveness and think about his own. On a good day sometimes I can think I am not so bad . . . then You, Father remind me of all I have been forgiven. I am just a sinner saved by grace. I cannot boast in anything except Your gift of love and forgiveness at the cross and in the resurrection. Keep me from judging others.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Worship Friday 23rd October 2026

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
No, but I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Lyrics: Stuart Townend

Thursday 22nd October 2026

“So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.” John 4:46-54 NKJV

Lord God and Father,

John’s gospel is different to the other three of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They retell many of the stories of Jesus and what they witnessed themselves. They reveal their personalities. Luke the doctor the people person. Matthew a tax collector and down to earth. Mark a young man who possible spent time writing down Peters accounts of Jesus.

John was perhaps a fisherman used to reading the skies and the signs? He sees the history of Jesus as showing the way to God and the signs that proved who He was? More of a visionary. If he was also the John who also wrote Revelation?

This occasion is important to John because it proves to him that Jesus had command over even life itself. The boy was at the point of death. Jesus did not have to see, touch or pray out loud. He said it was done and it was at the moment he said it. Jesus was Lord of life and death and chose to give life. John wants us to believe Jesus is not just a miracle making celebrity or powerful man of God. He is divine, the promised Messiah. He came to give us faith and life and he says so in John 20:31.
Faith and life in Jesus. The miracle is that he speaks it into us today just as He did for the Nobleman’s son and in that moment we too receive faith and life eternal.

In Jesus name we praise, Amen.

Worship Thursday 22nd October 2026

Yes, it was written for a Salvation Army musical. First for Hosea which was later shortened and so it was then used in Jesus Folk. – He did. He came to give us life in all its fullness John 10:10).

He came to give us life in all its fullness,
He came to make the blind to see,
He came to banish death and doubt and darkness,
He came to set His people free.
He liberating love imparted,
He taught men once again to smile;
He came to bind the broken-hearted,
And God and man to reconcile.
He came to give us life in all its fullness,
He came to make the blind to see,
He came to banish death and doubt and darkness,
He came to set His people free.

We wonder why Christ came into the world
A helpless, homeless child;
We wonder why He tolerated men,
The tainted and defiled.
We wonder why! We wonder why!
The Son of God as man came down,
What does this signify?

We wonder why Christ came into the world
And let men hurt Him so;
We wonder why the Christ should have to die,
Does anybody know?
We wonder why! We wonder why!
The Son of God as man came down,
What does this signify?

Lyrics: John Gowans