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Wednesday 15th October 2025

“This is the message that the Lord gave to Israel through the prophet Malachi. 2 “I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?” And the Lord replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob, 3 but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”

6 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honours his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’ 7 “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. “Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ “You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. 8 When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 9 “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favour at all?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Malachi 1:1-3 and 6-9

Lord of Heaven and earth,

It is thought that Malachi might have spoken, written this prophetic book, when Nehemiah popped back to Babylon. At the time worship slipped because Eliashib perverted the use of the Temple. No-one can ever say You never told me God because You always find away to speak. Sometimes when I look back I can see You have been warning me. Or You have been showing me the way and I have been focussed on asking You for clear direction! Paul says You God, witness to the world that You are in creation (Romans 1:20). So those who refuse to believe in a creator cannot say You did not provide a witness.

Malachi talks about the lack of respect. Even begging will not find Your favour back again God. But Your opening statement, the introduction, the foundation of truth is I have always loved You. You still loved even though You had to send judgement.

Today, we grasp hold of it, the promise of Your love, for we have nothing else to hang on to. There is nothing we can do to earn it, receive it or merit it. But You God sent a way to know it, see it and experience it through Jesus. Not just theoretical love, practical love, spiritual love. But an all compassing love that completes us. Even though we are sinners and have at one time disrespected You by not believing and even keeping the first commandment. You loved us, You love us. A present reality that will not go away. As we look forward to stepping into the New Testament in a couple of days we thank You that You have not changed. You loved us in the beginning You loved us in the middle and You will love us into eternity.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 15th October 2025
Nothing like a hymn with a familiar chorus to reinforce the truth and lead one to worship.

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how he could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be;
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Saviour’s love for me!

Repeat first verse and chorus . . .

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them his very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.

Chorus

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
‘Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me.

Chorus twice . . .

Lyrics: Chas H Gabriel

Tuesday 14th October 2025

 “I was not in Jerusalem at that time, for I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign, though I later asked his permission to return. 7 When I arrived back in Jerusalem, I learned about Eliashib’s evil deed in providing Tobiah with a room in the courtyards of the Temple of God. 8 I became very upset and threw all of Tobiah’s belongings out of the room. 9 Then I demanded that the rooms be purified, and I brought back the articles for God’s Temple, the grain offerings, and the frankincense. I also discovered that the Levites had not been given their prescribed portions of food, so they and the singers who were to conduct the worship services had all returned to work their fields. 11 I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the Temple of God been neglected?” Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties. 12 And once more all the people of Judah began bringing their tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the Temple storerooms.” Nehemiah 13:6-12 NLT

God who is, always everywhere,

Nehemiah had popped back to Babylon as all was well. After all he was in service to the King of Babylon and this was servitude not a high paid butler job with paid leave! Then a little while later the King graciously granted his request to pop back to Jerusalem.

Eliashib’s problem was that he got found out rather than repented. Nehemiah immediately spotted the change with fresh eyes. Eliashib had started a slide from what was right till all the leaders and Levites neglected their commitments too. And it was not Nehemiah they had offended but You God.

Sometimes I think it is good to step out side what we are doing and see the situation with fresh eyes. A new comer can see things that we walk past daily and don’t even notice anymore. But this was not just cobwebs or a crumbling paint job. it was misuse. And not hidden. Everyone knew and took it for granted. Eliashib helping out a friend. Father give us fresh eyes to see and look at our own house first. Are there any areas we have become lax in. Dropped our holiness guard or become complacent? Help us to see our church and what You would like to do within it. Not to charge in and tell everyone but work from within for good. Fresh eyes Lord to make the good better. Keep us from complacency.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen,

Worship Tuesday 14th October 2025
If we follow we will see with fresh eyes what He is showing us, telling us . . .


Our God will go before us
And guide us by His presence
What confidence this promise is
We will never walk alone

Through unknown paths, through shadows
Our hearts fear not tomorrow
For every step His faithfulness
Is the truth that lights our way

Chorus

Though evil forms against us
All heaven will defend us
The gates of hell shall not prevail
For the battle is the Lord’s

Chorus

Now send us with Your presence
And lead us on to Heaven
Where songs of sorrow strain no more
And our every breath is praise
O let our every breath be praise

Lyrics: Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Kristyn Getty

Monday 13th October 2025

“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites,” 31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them . . . Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.“

“38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped. 40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests . . . The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” Nehemiah 12:12:27-32,36-41, 42-43 NIV

God of rejoicing,

There have been years of hard work, hard labour and working under duress from threatening neighbours. There has been much self sacrifice providing material to rebuild the walls. They are finished. When he arrived, Nehemiah inspected the walls at night alone. Now it is time for everyone to come and inspect the walls together and rejoice.

I am so glad that the church knows how to rejoice as well as be serious about building the Kingdom and keeping Your commandments. There must be time to rejoice over what has been achieved before planning and moving on. And music to rejoice with. Two choirs and the women and children rejoicing. The sound could be heard far away.

I am sure in summer when church windows and doors are open the sound of loud joyful singing draws those passing to listen. And I pray it is an acceptable offering from Your grateful children. Remind us how much we have to sing about in Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 13th October 2025
What better than a song of salvation . . .

Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing, that you can be born again
Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing, “Christ is risen from the dead!”
The angel up on the tombstone
Said, “He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell His disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead!”

Joy to the world
He has risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
Hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing, that you can be healed right now
Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing, “Christ, He will reveal it now”
The angels, they all surround us
And they are ministering Jesus’s power
Quickly now, reach out and receive it
For this could be your glorious hour

Chorus

Lyrics: Keith Green