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Saturday 11th October 2025

“When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. 2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. 4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.”

” All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.” Nehemiah 7:73b,8:1-4a, 5b-8 NLT

God of righteousness,

Nehemiah tells us Ezra read from daybreak to noon (v3) and all the people stood to listen (v5) and then the Levites explained how the Law related to their lives and they were still stood! I may not have had the energy to lift my hands and say Amen and then bow down at the end! I would be looking for something to sit on. What a picture of respect for Your Word Nehemiah paints and Lord God I am glad I do not have to read all those Levite names out loud.

But we do love to listen to Your Word, Lord. Sometimes on a Sunday in church. Sometimes in our heads as we read it for ourselves. Sometimes I read and enjoy a chapter and sometimes just a couple of verses. When something catches my attention brings me to a full stop and then to read them again. I am amazed how the same scripture can speak to me differently at different times, come afresh or seem to jump off the page. When we read with You it becomes the living Word and it speaks to us. We cannot thank You enough for the Bible, those inspired by You to write it, those who enabled it to be printed and those who enabled it to be translated into in our language. God bless those who are still learning languages and translating Your Word into more languages today. And those that still carefully take Bibles into countries where they are hard to come by.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Saturday 11th October 2025

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path

When I feel afraid
Think I’ve lost my way
Still you’re there right beside me
And nothing will I fear
As long as you are near
Please be near me to the end

Chorus

I will not forget
Your love for me and yet
My heart forever is wandering
Jesus be my guide
And hold me to your side
I will love you to the end

Music interlude . . .

Nothing will I fear as long as you are near
Please be near me to the end

Chorus

And a light unto my path
You’re the light unto my path

Lyrics: Amy Lee Grant, Michael Whitaker Smith

Friday 10th October 2025

“Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” 4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6 and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”

8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” 9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.”” Nehemiah 6:1-9 NLT

Father of Truth,

So near the end and together in the task. Just some of the doors and gates to hang. Then a taunt. But Nehemiah will not be distracted by the taunts of his enemies. He simply counters it with – that’s a lie. Or rather there is no truth in what you say. And then there was more determination in Nehemiah’s work.

Sometimes the enemy uses our thoughts to fill us with doubts and fears and worries. Or people who know just how to wind us up! Sometimes we need to say out loud to ourselves. There is no truth in that. Its a lie.

Your Son warns us about the devil in John chapter 8 and verse 44,  “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

We need to discern the difference between Your voice and the surreptitious scheming voice of the enemy. And the enemy sometimes flavours the lie with a half truth so we need to be on guard. We need Your Holy Spirit, Lord God, Your discernment, Your light of understanding. We cannot do without You.

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Friday 10th October 2025

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 You,
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 Riley Havergal

Thursday 9th October 2025

“About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. 2 They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.”3 Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.”4 And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. 5 We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.”6 When I heard their complaints, I was very angry. 7 After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, “You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.” Nehemiah 5:1-7 NLT

 “They replied, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised. 13 I shook out the folds of my robe and said, “If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!”” Nehemiah 7:12-13 NLT

Holy Lord,

Nehemiah did his best but human nature being what it is things went wrong. Who would have known? Some times we get it wrong. But he could not overlook it because it was not only stopping the work and was a terrible witness as a community. But before those, it was offensive to You Lord. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he responded with two. Love God and love Your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37,38). These came from the Law (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 9:18) If Jesus could not separate them, so how can we?

Some were taking advantage where they could with their own neighbours and not being generous with Your provision Lord, to them, for the common good. And those with little were literally giving their all and needed help. Giving and serving is not a set of rules, a rota, a percentage. It is following Your plan Lord God. Each doing what they can. And Jesus said, when you give, don’t let your left hand know what your right is doing (Matthew 6:3). That takes some thinking about! No one needs to know because some hove more to give. Although I must say Lord when I give I do feel good.

But Nehemiah was angry because these were the people of God causing hardship to each other where it was not necessary. Help us to see where a lift, a kind deed, an invitation for a meal would be welcomed. A listening ear, something to help the body of Christ build on together. And not be too proud to accept help or support when it is offered.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 9th October 2025
I think this is only the second time I have heard this worship, it was written in 2009 I think. Jesus kneeling to wash the disciples feet . . .

All the room was hushed and still
And when the bowl was filled
He stooped to wash their feet
And when it was complete, he said

This is what I’m asking you to do
This is why I’m kneeling here beside you
This is what I want my church to be
This is what I want the world to see
Who it is you follow

Love each other
One another
Love each other
In the way that I have loved you
Walk together
And whatever comes
Love each other
In the way that I have loved you

Let the room be hushed and still
Let us go to where he kneels
And join him as he serves
And learn his ways of love

Lyrics: Graham Kendrick