Start The Day

Thursday 4th September 2025

⁶At that time the Lord sent me a message. He said, ⁷“Your cousin Hanamel son of Shallum will come and say to you, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth. By law you have the right to buy it before it is offered to anyone else.’” ⁸Then, just as the Lord had said he would, my cousin Hanamel came and visited me in the prison. He said, “Please buy my field at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. By law you have the right to buy it before it is offered to anyone else, so buy it for yourself.” Then I knew that the message I had heard was from the Lord. ⁹So I bought the field at Anathoth, paying Hanamel seventeen pieces of silver for it. ¹⁰I signed and sealed the deed of purchase before witnesses, weighed out the silver, and paid him. ¹¹Then I took the sealed deed and an unseale copy of the deed, which contained the terms and conditions of the purchase, ¹²and I handed them to Baruch son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I did all this in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, the witnesses who had signed the deed, and all the men of Judah who were there in the courtyard of the guardhouse. ¹³Then I said to Baruch as they all listened, ¹⁴“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Take both this sealed deed and the unsealed copy, and put them into a pottery jar to preserve them for a long time.’ ¹⁵For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Someday people will again own property here in this land and will buy and sell houses and vineyards and fields.’”
Jeremiah 32:6-15 NLT

God of Israel, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

Jeremiah has a dream or a vision or hears God. And even though it does not make sense he obeys! I wonder how he felt when his cousin then came and offered him his land as a purchase? Was he encouraged he had heard right? He does not hesitate but buys it and we are told the price in silver so not a token price. And this land would be only about 5 miles from Jerusalem. This would at that time still have been a war zone and looking like it would fall to the Babylonians. So it would have looked like he was throwing away his money not investing.

But he obeyed because he had heard You and even if not for a long time (it took 7 years) You were showing him there would be restoration recovery and a return for those who would be taken captive. It looks easy. He heard and he obeyed. But I wonder if he doubted he had heard. Till his cousin came. Or was it just a coincidence.

Sometimes Lord we wish You would make it clear when You speak to us. Keep the prophetic alive in our day. Sometimes You do speak and we hear the same thing several times and know we must do it. Thank You that You have infinite patience with us. Thank You that You allow us to help You. Thank You that you do not give up on us when we get it wrong. Thank You for investing Your love in us and Your people the church.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 4th September 2025

Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the Living God
We only wanna hear your voice
We’re hanging on every word
Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the Living God
We only wanna hear your voice
We’re hanging on every word

‘Cause when you speak, when you move
When you do what only you can do
It changes us, it changes
What we see and what we seek
When you come in the room
When you do what only you can do
It changes us, it changes
What we see and what we seek
You’re changing everything

Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the Living God
We’re leaning into all you are
Everything else can wait
Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the Living God
Come now and breathe upon our hearts
Come now and have your way

‘Cause when you speak, when you move
When you do what only you can do
It changes us, it changes
What we see and what we seek
When you come in the room
When you do what only you can do
It changes us, it changes
What we see and what we seek
You’re changing everything

When you move, you move all our fears
When you move, you move us to tears
When you move, you move all our fears
When you move, you move us to tears

When you fall, we fall on our knees
When you fall, we fall at your feet
God, when you fall, we fall on our knees
When you fall, we fall at your feet

When you speak and when you move
When you do what only you can do
It changes us, it changes
What we see and what we seek
When you come in the room
When you do what only you can do
It changes us, it changes
What we see and what we seek
You’re changing everything

Lyrics: Jacob Sooter and Mia Fieldes

Wednesday 3rd September 2025

“So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. ²Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. ³By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone. ⁴Then a section of the city wall was broken down. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, the soldiers waited for nightfall and escaped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden. Then they headed toward the Jordan Valley. ⁵But the Babylonian troops chased the king and overtook him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered. ⁶They captured the king and took him to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah. ⁷They made Zedekiah watch as they slaughtered his sons. Then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.

⁸On August 14 of that year, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and an official of the Babylonian king, arrived in Jerusalem. ⁹He burned down the Temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings in the city. ¹⁰Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side. ¹¹Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had declared their allegiance to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the population. ¹²But the captain of the guard allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind to care for the vineyards and fields.” 2 Kings 25:1-12

Lord God,

You were true to Your word, God and all that Jeremiah and Ezekiel had told them happened. After the second attack of the Babylonians Jerusalem was taken. And it was the worst it could have been.
Everything they put their faith in. The Temple, the City of Jerusalem, their King and his army failed them and there was nothing they could do. They had forgotten the God who gave them all of this and their relationship with him.

It was one of those moments when they realised how fragile life is and how out of our their own control it all was. They had nothing to put their faith in. At moments such as these through the years people have prayed, “If you are there God, help!” And You have answered their prayers. Miracles have happened.

But for the people of Judah and Jerusalem they did not pray, did not turn to You and were taken. Bad things do happen. We still live in a fallen world until Jesus comes again and there is a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1-4). Whatever happens we can turn to You for help.

Whatever comes. Keep us. Keep us faithful and true. Keep us following You. And we trust You to see us through.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 3rd September 2025

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
The Lord of hosts his name,
from age to age the same;
and He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!

Lyrics: Martin Luther

Tuesday 2nd September 2025

“The word of the Lord came to me: ²“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.³“Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people. ⁴During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. ⁵While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. ⁶Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites.”” Ezekiel 12:1-6 NIV

“The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁸“Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water. ¹⁹Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. ²⁰The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”” Ezekiel 12:17-20 NIV

Lord of the Word,

Father God, in my minds eye I can see Ezekiel acting out his own version of Exile Street with a very serious message. Then I wonder if they laughed at first when he ate and trembled and spilled things and I wonder if the tone changed when he drank and shuddered in terror. You, Father, you faithfully and continually reminded them of Your judgement but then continually gave them opportunities to recognise and turn to You for help. In the past when they have turned back to You, You have always rescued them They would know the stories of their ancestor’s through the Psalms like Psalm 114. Used as part of the passover ceremony. But they had stopped practicing that.

It reminds me Father that You do not change You cannot tolerate sin and disobedience. You will judge us all (2 Corinthians 5:10). But You provide us with clemency in Jesus and an ongoing relationship. Like a loving Father and child and not Judge and jury. At great cost to yourself and through this rebellious people we are reading about! Jesus. Surely if Ezekiel could go to such lengths to give his message to those who would not listen, we can share the gospel to those around us. Ezekiel didn’t choose nicer people or people already living good lives. He told anyone who would listen. I recall William Booth (Salvation Army founder said, “Go straight for souls, and go for the worst.” He left the outcome with You. Just as we need to sow and let You miraculously bring the harvest.(1 Corinthians 3:6).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Some one once said to me as a new Christian – the only thing you can take into heaven with you is other people by introducing them to Jesus. Good time for a traditional harvest hymn.

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
waiting for the harvest and the time of reaping—
we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
by and by the harvest and the labor ended—
we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Chorus

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
when our weeping’s over He will bid us welcome—
we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Chorus . . .

Lyrics: Knowles Shaw