Start The Day

Saturday 23rd August 2025

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²“Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. ³Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant ⁴the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. ⁵Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’—the land you possess today.” I answered, “Amen, Lord.”” Jeremiah 11:1-5 NIV

Lord of the Covenant,

Jeremiah is weighed down by the message You, God gave him for his sinful people who would suffer because they refused to return to You. Here he gives a more legal argument for returning. Using the Covenant agreement and where God had been faithful but they failed to keep their side.

Sometimes it is good to return to agreements, promises we have made and reaffirm them and check that all is in order. Many churches have recommitment Sunday once a year. Not to check if we are giving enough, attending enough, serving enough. But to see if our heart is good and wholly Yours Lord and holy. And we can return to You to put things right.

But Jeremiah does not have a good response even though he reminds them of the promised You gave and kept while they ignored their side of the covenant. Today we know that a holy life does not mean we will be kept from trouble, pain and suffering. But we are promised Your presence, Your holiness, help and a way through till one day we will reach Heavens promised land.

So today, how is my relationship with You? Have I been taking You for granted. Speaking to You as a friend and forgetting to honour and worship You? It is a good tome to remember the covenant of the cross and once again be overwhelmed with love even amidst my imperfections. It is not about trying harder . . . its a relationship.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 23rd August 2025

Oh lead me
To the place where I can find You
Oh lead me to the place where You’ll be

Lead me to the cross
Where we first met
Draw me to my knees
So we can talk
Let me feel Your breath
Let me know You’re here with me

Repeat the above . . .

Let me feel You near

Lead me to the cross
Where we first met
Draw me to my knees
So we can talk
Let me feel Your breath
Let me know You’re here with me

Lyrics: Martin Smith

Friday 22nd August 2025

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. ⁴⁷The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” ⁴⁸Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. ⁴⁹At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court. King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 2:46-49 NLT
⁴Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! ⁵When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. ⁶Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”” Daniel 3:1-6 NLT

God of all,

King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged You as the God of Gods, the Lord of all Kings and revealer of mysteries as we sang yesterday. And yet . . . he goes on to make a huge statue of himself ninety feet tall, so people could worship him! The Angel of the North statue in Gateshead is only 66 ft tall and that is massive. How big is Nebuchadnezzar’s ego? Or does he need to build himself up to make those around him feel small? One minute God is bigger than all gods and the next he, a man, is making himself into someone to be worshipped.

Then Nebuchadnezzar is humbled again as he throws Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and they escape the fiery furnace and a forth figure like a God is seen with them in the flames. (Daniel 3:25). Nebuchadnezzar has another dream which he tells to Daniel (Belteshazzar) and which frightens the living daylights out of Daniel (Daniel 4:19) Because it means he has to give bad news. Daniel has to warn him to change his sinful ways but to no avail. Later he boasts about all he had done and as the dream said he was struck with insanity (Daniel 4:31-33) Till the day he humbled himself again. and acknowledged You Oh God.

Up and down, great belief and none. And totally neglected to put faith in You God. He never let You become Lord of His life. Paul warns us about being tossed about by every wind of new teaching. influenced by clever words. We need to base faith in Your Son, Your Word, Your Spirit. (Ephesians 4:14-15).

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Friday 22nd August 2025
Takes me a little time sometimes to worship with tradition hymns in new arrangements. But here is one that is growing on me.

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough

I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps
So this is my story and this is my song
I’m praising my risen King and Savior all the day long

Chorus

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him
Repeat twice . . .

That why I trust HIm
That’s why I trust in God, my Saviour
The one who will never fail
He will never fail, my Saviour
Oh, I trust in God, my Savior
The one who will never fail
He will never fail
Oh I trust in God.

Yes I trust in God.

Lyrics: Brandon Lake / Christopher Joel Brown / Mitch Wong / Steven Furtick

Thursday 21st August 2025

The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed. ¹³And because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends. ¹⁴When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. ¹⁵He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. ¹⁶Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant. ¹⁷Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. ¹⁸He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. ²⁰He said,

“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. ²¹He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars. ²²He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.²³I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you
and revealed to us what the king demanded.” Daniel 2:12-23 NLT

God of our ancestors,

Sometimes we have to be in a very tight corner before we pray and ask others to pray as if our lives depended on it! Daniel did not care who got the answer because otherwise they would all die! And he was open to God speaking. Because of his willingness he was able to approach the king and settle the perilous situation. And he takes none of the glory for himself. He shakes it off by bursting into praise for You, God who saved them..

When we cannot see the way forward, drive us to our knees for an answer and to not be worried about how or who it will come through. Then keep us ready to sing Your praises, so eyes are directed to You we do not take any of Your glory.

Thank You for those who have gone to other countries, not as captives, but willingly to witness to You and live Godly lives to show Your wisdom and strength through their witness. Watch over them and give them revelation and the understanding for their own situations. Not forgetting those of us called to reveal You in our own country. We need Your wisdom, revelation and understanding for our own times.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday August 21st 2025
We had this in March perhaps this is why it came instantly to mind as I read Daniel.

Surely our God is the God of gods
And the Lord of kings
The revealer of mysteries
Surely our God is the God of gods
And the Lord of kings
The revealer of mysteries

Repeat chorus . . .

He changes the times and the seasons
He gives rhythm to the tides
He knows what is hidden
In the darkest of places
Brings the shadows in to His light

Chorus

I will praise You always my Father
You are Lord of heaven and earth
You hide Your secrets
From the wise and the learned
And reveal them to this Your child

Chorus

Music interlude . . .

Thank You for sending Your only Son
We may know the mystery of God –
He opens the treasures
Of wisdom and knowledge
To the humble not to the proud

Lyrics: David L and Liz Morris