Categoria: News

 Psalm 101 is David’s ruler’s pledge to live a life pleasing to God both personally and as king. He says: “I will sing of your love and mercy… I will be careful to lead a blameless life… I will set before my eyes no vile thing… men of a perverse heart will be kept far from me… my eyes will be on the faithful in the land… he whose walk is blameless will minister to me… no-one who practices deceit will dwell in my house… I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord!”

This short 5-verse psalm encourages us to shout for joy to the Lord and to serve the Lord with gladness! “We are his people, the sheep of his pasture… enter his gates with thanksgiving… for the Lord is good and his love endures forever!”

This short 5-verse psalm encourages us to shout for joy to the Lord and to serve the Lord with gladness! “We are his people, the sheep of his pasture… enter his gates with thanksgiving… for the Lord is good and his love endures forever!”

Psalm 99 is a royal psalm exalting the Lord who is great in Zion. “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble… he sits enthroned… let them praise your awesome name… the King is mighty and loves justice… worship at God’s footstool – he is holy… Moses, Aaron and Samuel were among those who called upon God… he spoke to them from the pillar of cloud… O Lord you answered them… exalt the Lord our God!”

Psalm 99 is a royal psalm exalting the Lord who is great in Zion. “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble… he sits enthroned… let them praise your awesome name… the King is mighty and loves justice… worship at God’s footstool – he is holy… Moses, Aaron and Samuel were among those who called upon God… he spoke to them from the pillar of cloud… O Lord you answered them… exalt the Lord our God!”

 Psalm 98 urges enthusiastic praise of God in a jubilant hymn. It starts: “Sing to the Lord a new song because he has done marvellous things… the Lord has revealed his righteousness to the nations… all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God… shout for joy to the Lord… burst into jubilant song with music, harp and trumpets… let the sea resound and the rivers clap their hands… for God will judge the world in righteousness!” 

 Psalm 98 urges enthusiastic praise of God in a jubilant hymn. It starts: “Sing to the Lord a new song because he has done marvellous things… the Lord has revealed his righteousness to the nations… all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God… shout for joy to the Lord… burst into jubilant song with music, harp and trumpets… let the sea resound and the rivers clap their hands… for God will judge the world in righteousness!” 

Psalm 97 is a beautiful hymn of exaltation of the Lord!  It starts: “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad… clouds and thick darkness surround him… fire goes before him… lightening lights up the world… the mountains melt like wax before him… you, O Lord are the most high over all the earth… those who love the Lord hate evil… light is shed on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.”

Psalm 97 is a beautiful hymn of exaltation of the Lord!  It starts: “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad… clouds and thick darkness surround him… fire goes before him… lightening lights up the world… the mountains melt like wax before him… you, O Lord are the most high over all the earth… those who love the Lord hate evil… light is shed on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.”

 Psalm 95 is a joyful hymn of exaltation of God which ends with a severe warning against the hardening of hearts in disobedience. The psalm starts: “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord… extol him with music and song… for the Lord is the great God above all gods… in God’s hand are the depths of the earth and the mountain peaks… come, let us bow down in worship… but make sure you don’t harden your hearts… for 40 years I was angry with that generation and I banned their entrance into the promised land!”

 Psalm 95 is a joyful hymn of exaltation of God which ends with a severe warning against the hardening of hearts in disobedience. The psalm starts: “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord… extol him with music and song… for the Lord is the great God above all gods… in God’s hand are the depths of the earth and the mountain peaks… come, let us bow down in worship… but make sure you don’t harden your hearts… for 40 years I was angry with that generation and I banned their entrance into the promised land!”

I led the service last night and lawyer Murilo preached on the valley of Dry Bones from Ezekiel 37:1-14. It was an excellent sermon and a lovely service with a packed church. Sacha and Rogério led the worship backed by Biba, Davi and Rogaciano. 

It rained 5 mm at Green Pastures last night.

I led the service last night and lawyer Murilo preached on the valley of Dry Bones from Ezekiel 37:1-14. It was an excellent sermon and a lovely service with a packed church. Sacha and Rogério led the worship backed by Biba, Davi and Rogaciano. 

It rained 5 mm at Green Pastures last night.

Psalm 94 is a prayer for God’s justice to be put into effect against arrogant corrupt enemies. Evildoers, says the psalmist, crush the people, kill widows, foreigners and orphans, but of course God sees and hears everything. For God will never forsake his people and judgement will be founded upon righteousness. When my foot was slipping your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Corrupt rulers band together against the righteous but the Lord is my rock and fortress. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness.

 Psalm 93 is a psalm of just 5 verses which celebrates God as the sovereign almighty King. “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty… you are from all eternity… God is mightier than all the seas can throw against us… and holiness adorns God’s house!”

This psalm is the only one specifically designated for the Sabbath day and is a psalm of gratitude to God celebrating his character. The psalmist praises the Lord… with lyre and harp… I sing for joy at the work of your hands… how profound your thoughts… the wicked will be forever destroyed… but you, O Lord, are exalted forever… you have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox… my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes… but the righteous will flourish like a palm tree and they will flourish in the courts of our God… they will bear fruit in old age and stay fresh and green… the Lord is upright and is my Rock!

This psalm is the only one specifically designated for the Sabbath day and is a psalm of gratitude to God celebrating his character. The psalmist praises the Lord… with lyre and harp… I sing for joy at the work of your hands… how profound your thoughts… the wicked will be forever destroyed… but you, O Lord, are exalted forever… you have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox… my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes… but the righteous will flourish like a palm tree and they will flourish in the courts of our God… they will bear fruit in old age and stay fresh and green… the Lord is upright and is my Rock!

This, and all the psalms from here up to number 100, are attributed to no-one. This psalm is far from being a lament but is a 100% positive expression of total trust in God. The psalmist says that God is his refuge and fortress in whom I trust… under his wings you will find refuge… you will not fear the terror of night… nor the plague that destroys at midday… people may die by the thousand all around you, but it will not affect you… no harm will befall you… his angels will guard you… you will trample the lion and the serpent… he will be satisfied by long life and salvation.

Psalm 90 begins Book 4 of the psalms, which runs until psalm 106, and is the only psalm attributed to Moses. This prayer of Moses focuses on the eternity of God (“from everlasting to everlasting you are God”) which stands in stark contrast to the brevity of man which is 70 years, or 80 if you’re lucky! For God a 1,000 years is like a day whereas man is like grass which sprouts in the morning but withers and dies in the evening. Moses then prays however “teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom… may the favour of the Lord our God rest upon us”.

Yesterday QPR beat Portsmouth no less than 6 x 1 at home to take us up to 12th place in the Championship! 😀

Last night I spoke to the Married Couples Fellowship on: “Communication that Edifies” from Ephesians 4:25-32. It was a lovely evening.

I have just had an avocado-pear smoothie and can hear the Southern Wren (Troglodytes musculus) singing in the bushes. 

It rained 43 mm at Green Pastures last night bringing the total rainfall for 2026 to 450 mm.

This psalm is attributed again to Ethan the Ezrahite, as was the previous psalm, only this time he is in an enormously better mood! This time the psalm is jubilant starting: I will sing of the love of the Lord forever! He then goes on to praise God for his faithfulness, love, righteousness and justice. “Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings… he is more awesome than all who surround him… you founded the world and all that is in it”. The psalm then goes on to recall and reaffirm the Davidic covenant… “with my sacred oil I have anointed him… my hand will sustain him… the most exalted of the kings of the earth… I will establish his line forever… I will not take my love from him even if his sons betray my faithfulness… I have sworn by my holiness and I will not lie to David.” The psalm then changes tack focusing on some current crisis of Israel linked to which Ethan questions God as having renounced his covenant and made the enemies rejoice. He questions how long this current crisis will go on? Then the psalm ends with a short doxology.

This psalm is attributed again to Ethan the Ezrahite, as was the previous psalm, only this time he is in an enormously better mood! This time the psalm is jubilant starting: I will sing of the love of the Lord forever! He then goes on to praise God for his faithfulness, love, righteousness and justice. “Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings… he is more awesome than all who surround him… you founded the world and all that is in it”. The psalm then goes on to recall and reaffirm the Davidic covenant… “with my sacred oil I have anointed him… my hand will sustain him… the most exalted of the kings of the earth… I will establish his line forever… I will not take my love from him even if his sons betray my faithfulness… I have sworn by my holiness and I will not lie to David.” The psalm then changes tack focusing on some current crisis of Israel linked to which Ethan questions God as having renounced his covenant and made the enemies rejoice. He questions how long this current crisis will go on? Then the psalm ends with a short doxology.

Psalm 88 is another psalm by the Sons of Korah attributed specifically to Heman the Ezrahite. It is probably the most dreary downbeat psalm of all. The writer has one foot in the grave throughout and at no moment in its 18 verses does there even peep through a glimpse of sunshine amidst the dark gloomy clouds of depression, doom and death. It was clearly written by someone with long term suffering who can get no relief. Heman says: “Day and night I cry out… my soul is full of trouble… I’m set apart with the dead… you have put me in the lowest pit… your wrath lies heavily upon me… you have taken me from my closest friends… why Lord do you reject me… from my youth I have been afflicted and close to death… the darkness is my closest friend!”

I have just received from the printers a new Gospel tract which I have written. I pray that it will be a blessing to many lives. 

Yesterday I spent most of the day preparing a new sermon: “Teach me your way, O Lord”. (Psalm 86:11)

I have just received from the printers a new Gospel tract which I have written. I pray that it will be a blessing to many lives. 

Yesterday I spent most of the day preparing a new sermon: “Teach me your way, O Lord”. (Psalm 86:11)

I have just received from the printers a new Gospel tract which I have written. I pray that it will be a blessing to many lives. 

Yesterday I spent most of the day preparing a new sermon: “Teach me your way, O Lord”. (Psalm 86:11)

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Louisa and her husband Tiago led the praise. Lawyer Rayla gave the study on 1 Samuel 2:1-11: Hannah’s prayer. It was a good service.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Louisa and her husband Tiago led the praise. Lawyer Rayla gave the study on 1 Samuel 2:1-11: Hannah’s prayer. It was a good service.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Louisa and her husband Tiago led the praise. Lawyer Rayla gave the study on 1 Samuel 2:1-11: Hannah’s prayer. It was a good service.

This short psalm by the sons of Korah exalts Jerusalem as the supreme city of God for the world. Jerusalem, it says, was founded on the holy mountain Zion. God loves its gates! It then goes on to cite various nations and ethnicities which were “born in Zion”! “This one and that one were born in Zion and God will establish her”. The psalm closes with all singing praise to God as all ethnicities recognize their all in God.

This short psalm by the sons of Korah exalts Jerusalem as the supreme city of God for the world. Jerusalem, it says, was founded on the holy mountain Zion. God loves its gates! It then goes on to cite various nations and ethnicities which were “born in Zion”! “This one and that one were born in Zion and God will establish her”. The psalm closes with all singing praise to God as all ethnicities recognize their all in God.

Psalm 86 is another psalm of David who begins asking God to answer him because he is poor and needy. He goes on “Guard my life because I am devoted to you… have mercy on me O Lord… you are kind and forgiving… abounding in love… among the gods there is none like you… you are great and do marvellous deeds… teach me your way… you have delivered my soul… the arrogant attack me but you, O Lord, are compassionate and gracious… grant your strength to your servant… for you have helped me and comforted me!”

This psalm is another of the Sons of Korah. It starts recalling God’s favour to Israel in the past, his forgiveness and turning aside from wrath. Then prayer is made for renewed restoration and revival, and for God to reveal his unfailing love. Finally come verses of confident expectation because surely salvation is near to those who fear God. In God “righteousness and peace kiss each other”. “The Lord will indeed give what is good” with a good harvest.