Welcome

Friday 16th January 2026

“So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. 44 And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?” 46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?” Genesis 27:41-46 NKJV

God who makes peace,

There seems to be a time for keeping the peace and a time for making peace. Here Rebekah seeks to keep the peace by separating the two brothers. Esau is not ready and Jacob would rather run away. Well it is a coping mechanism that I know well. Trouble, avoid. Someone angry with me, avoid. Don’t want to deal with now, avoid. Sometimes that is right. And when both sides have cooled, apologies can be made or points of view aired calmly.

One thing I have learned, from You Lord, is that it is not all black and white. Sometimes You lead us to avoid and at other times You ask us to stand. And another thing I am learning, that if I try and pretend there is not a problem You Lord keep reminding me of it till I humble myself. So I will ask You to help me resolve it. Unless it is one of those things that someone else is not willing to deal with.

But Jacob runs to somewhere safe. And eventually he is ready to return. I know there is a lot more happens in between, but Esau has mellowed over the years. Accepted his part and peace can be made. Help me, in the variety of circumstances in life, to know when to avoid conflict and when and if it is Your time to resolve it. And help us with the how. Better that these things did not arise but life is not that simple . . . Thank You Lord for being my Prince of Peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 16th January 2026

With ev’ry morning I will kneel to pray,
To be a blessing in this coming day
In ev’rything I say and ev’rything I do,
To wholly honour you.

At noon remind me through this day to give
My full attention to the ones I’m with,
Be mindful of those things around and those within,
And fully enter in.

Teach me the wisdom of remembering,
And give me the wisdom to forget.
Lead me, Oh, teach me to live each day for you.

And in the evening as my thoughts retell
This passing day let me remember well;
So that no bitterness takes root within my soul,
Help me to let them go.

Chorus

And in the night-time may my mind be free
To truly rest and be refreshed in sleep;
And by releasing every worry, every strain,
Be free to start again.

Chorus

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me and before;
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in peace and Christ in storm;
Christ in hearts of all who know me,
Christ in friend and stranger all.

Lyrics: Mark Edwards, Stuart Townend.

Thursday 15th January 2026

“There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar.2 Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” 6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.” Genesis 26:1-7 NKJV

Lord God,

Same old, same old. Different place, different generation. A lie done, as he thought, to protect his wife. Just as his father Abraham had done. (Genesis 20:2,4 and 11.) Fear? There are times when I have been tempted to lie – not big lies. Or are there big lies and little lies? Or is it about the size of the consequences? What about fibs? No a lie is a lie and comes from the father of lies..

There are times I have fibbed, lied, stretched the truth . . . When asked about my opinion and I have known they really did not want it. Or is that just withholding what I think? I have answered with truth and hurt peoples feelings. Paul says whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8) This should direct my thinking before I speak! But what about the times I am put on the spot?

Lord help me direct my mind before my mouth rushes in without thinking. Help me to be honest, and maybe stay silent when it is not necessary and will hurt someone. Let me not stretch the truth or tell even the smallest lie to try and protect myself. Help me to trust You.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Worship Thursday 15th January 2026

Psalm 32:7 Joel 3:10

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You

I will trust in You
Let the weak say
I am strong
In the strength of the Lord

Lyrics: Selah

Wednesday 14th January 2026

“This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” 24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.” Genesis 25:19-26 NKJV

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

And Esau. Isaac prayed for Rebekah and he got more than he bargain for! But You are a generous God. Two at once. But so different. One the outdoorsy type and the other one a thinker and indoor man. And who is to say which is right or wrong. But it is our character and heart that God looks upon. One disrespectful of his inheritance and one a scheming liar! So who would we choose? William Booth always told his soldiers to go for sinners and go for the worst. Why? I think because they knew they where sinners and would respond to the Saviours forgiveness.

You God, see what we can become and see where are hearts can be touched. Whether we respond is up to us. Jacob would respond to You. And Esau would go on to marry unsuitable wives and continue to cause mayhem. Jacob went on his own journey of faith. How can we ever thank You for seeing the potential in us. Our willingness to see we are sinners in need of Your Son’s love. Keep us living each step of the journey with You, Lord.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Wednesday 15th January 2026

I could not do without thee,
O Saviour of the lost,
whose precious blood redeemed me
at such tremendous cost;
thy righteousness, thy pardon,
thy precious blood, must be
my only hope and comfort,
my glory and my plea.

I could not do without thee,
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
no wisdom of my own;
but thou, belovèd Saviour,
art all in all to me,
and weakness will be power
if leaning hard on thee.

I could not do without thee,
O Jesus, Saviour dear;
e’en when my eyes are holden,
I know that thou art near;
how dreary and how lonely
this changeful life would be
without the sweet communion,
the secret rest with thee.

I could not do without thee;
no other friend can read
the spirit’s strange deep longings,
interpreting its need;
no human heart could enter
each dim recess of mine,
and soothe, and hush, and calm it,
O Blessèd Lord, but thine.

6 I could not do without thee,
for years are fleeting fast,
and soon in solemn loneness
the river must be passed;
but thou wilt never leave me,
and though the waves roll high,
I know thou wilt be near me,
and whisper, ‘It is I.’

Lyrics: Francis Ridley Havergal