Solitude vs isolation

Light breaks through!

Solitude calls to me, causes a yearning that draws me to search out places of quiet where all other voices and intrusive noises give way to the deeper sighing and whispering of the soul.

I'm not one for many words. Mostly I 'feel' - internally - and sometimes these feelings are expressed by sound - not necessarily words. Melodies and tunes escape my lips as songs rise in my heart in response to the drawing and wooing of the Spirit of God.

So often I find myself in tears, or simply silent, as I am overwhelmed one more time by the wonder of being truly loved by the One who made me. Knowing that I am both fully known and fully loved is incredibly freeing! Free to follow my heart, free to explore and try, free to fail and try again - and again.

I love solitude and, in the words of one of the most beautiful pieces of music I discovered recently, just 'passing time with Jesus'. Not in work or striving or begging or pleading, but simply being with Him. I love that!

My soul finds rest, joy, peace, refreshing, new hope and my heart is warmed by the touch of His love - all in His presence. What a wonder. Why would I not take time to escape into His arms more? I will! This is my new biggest goal...to be in His presence - whether alone or in a crowd, at home or in the gathered church, in the light or dark places of life - I will strive to stay in this place of rest, His beautiful presence.

He restores my soul :-)

Wash over me...

Booksneeze

Watch this space for reviews on new books....

The great City...

"...all my springs are found in you..."

So, God loves our city! Cities are His idea! Psalm 87 is a brief explosion of joy over the City of 'Zion', the place where many nations find their names engraved by God and where all are welcomed as citizens.

A picture of God's plan and intention for His church, the multi-lingual, multi-national people of God - drawn together from every corner of society and every expression of culture, to display the wonder and beauty of His creation in one Body; nourished and sustained by His own presence.

Revelation 21 and 22 speak of the great City of God at the culmination of all things - perfect in beauty and overflowing in life and joy - the joy of the unending and uninhibited communion, finally, with the Champion of our souls, Jesus, and our wonderful Father God.

Portsmouth, the city, has the potential of becoming a foretaste of all that is to come. A great gathering of many nations, names registered in heaven, on display as the living body of Christ, the City of God on earth.

Lord, let Your glory increase here in this great city of Portsmouth! Add, daily, those who being transformed and added to the names written in Your book.

A family of churches, together on a mission...

We've just returned from the annual 'Brighton Conference' as it is so often referred to - the newfrontiers International Leaders Conference (Together on a Mission) - gathering several thousand church leaders, and more than 1500 student-aged young people in the 'Mobilise' stream - representing a breath-taking 40 nations!

The two hours in the car provides Richard and I welcome 'space' to worship, pray and finally 'be still' in preparation for all that may await us. It has been rumored that this is the penultimate Brighton Conference in this setting and context. Already it seemed the theme was emerging as a question in our hearts, 'So, what's next, Lord?'.

From the moment we first gathered in the main auditorium of the Brighton Conference Centre, at the first note of the first song, there seemed a newness, a freer expression of praise, a deeper corporate yearning for the presence of our Champion and Saviour, Jesus, to catch us up into His plans and purposes, a greater urgency about the preaching of the word.

The ministry platform was shared once again by young and old, newly emerging and clearly anointed with power and grace, alongside the seasoned and yet evermore passionate older generation of apostolic giants.

A tangible and sweet anointing came again and again, Jesus, Himself touching lives and writing His promises afresh on the hearts of this army of men and women from across the nations. Fortified, comforted, challenged and freshly anointed we sensed the word and the Spirit coming together to propel this beautiful and diverse body of believers forward in renewed fervour - ready in the Spirit to take the ground given to us and see the establishment of the Kingdom all over the world, come what may.

More than ever before, the worship team served to underline, confirm and put voice and expression to the deep work of grace being wrought in hearts across the gathering. Fresh freedom and sensitivity to the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit left hearts tender yet strangely strengthened each time we gathered to sing songs so beautifully crafted and divinely inspired.

I came away with a deep sense of wonder at the privilege of having been brought into the fold to share the journey and adventure of living for the King and joining in gathering of His great inheritance from across the whole earth, until the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covers the earth, as the waters cover the sea.

I'm so thankful for Terry Virgo, our apostle of grace, and for the family of churches that is newfrontiers. It is with great joy and anticipation that I pray, Lord, let Your kingdom come and let Your will be done on earth, in our lives, churches, towns, cities and nations, today, even as it is in heaven.

I would rather be a door-keeper...

Every blessing

So much to be thankful for today! Surprise visit from 'old' friends - what a family of 'Barnabus' encouragers! Some folk leave you depleted of all strength - and others leave feeling as though you can take on the world - these were the latter kind. A brief farewell prayer after a shared pizza left us warmed and comforted and supported in the spirit - what gifts of grace!

Then off to a celebration of water baptism. Too few of our members were present to fully support these two dear ladies taking this next, brave step of obedience. Sweet sense of the pleasure of God and tears shed over tender prayers and words of affirmation - signs of grace and salvation.


I love this! This is where we see and celebrate the life of God to heal.

Then bitter-sweet farewell hugs and tears to precious and faithful member who has followed the call to missions. Boomerang prayers for her!

I DO love this church we've been planted in! Help us grow in our love and capacity for You and Yours, Lord.

More than I could have asked for or imagined!

'Come away with Me' (audio soon to be added to the above link), was the invitation. I could not have known what He had in store for the 52 ladies who made the two-hour journey to Dorset on Friday night, 12th April - for a weekend away with the King of Glory!

In cold bungalows and a hall more suited to girl-guides than our ladies, we gathered in anticipation of a promised 'time of refreshing' in His presence. Having battled against all the odds, planned, prayed, prepared, packed, traversed the motorways and country lanes, many arrived exhausted and a little bewildered.

The 'plan' was to have a time of worship and ministry on Friday night - but feeling the weariness of the company of ladies, we used our time together to simply gather in a time of extended worship and praise and God began a work in us.

Saturday morning was a different story! After an exccellent time of worship - passionate and free - we went to the Word. With hearts wide open, God began to move amongst us with, at times a tender touch, then an almost overwhelming sense of the weight of His presence.

Confirmation of the message came again and again through the prayers and words during the worship times - so encouraging!

Times of refreshing, re-envisioning, ministry in the Spirit and the sheer joy of being love by the Bridegroom, took us by surprise - we were in tears often as He came again and again in power.

So faithful is He to confirm His word and promise to draw near as we seek Him.

I will forever remember this weekend as a high-water mark in His presence. What an honour to serve Him with such a company of Mighty Women of God!

Let Your Dangerous Bride arise and take Her place of authority in the world, Lord, until the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord covers the earth, even as the waters cover the sea!

All praise and honour to You, our King of Glory!

A flame of passion for the Truth

My curiousity sometimes leads me to strange places. Richard and I visited the town of Petersfield for the first time yesterday. It was literally freezing and we darted from one place of warmth and shelter to another, not able to spend too much time in open air but wanting to see all there was of this pretty countryside town, only a few miles away from our seaside City of Portsmouth.

St. Peter's church was fronted by the town square which was the home to the rather impressive statue of 'The Most High and Mighty Prince William III' on his horse, with this inscription.

 "To the Most High and Mighty PRINCE WILLIAM THE THIRD 

who by his many and excellent services 

deserved well of the nation when the state was tottering he held it firm: 

in good time he made safe the pure and simple worship of God: 

He restored and confirmed to the law its power and to parliament its dignity."

 

Prince William III will always be remembered for restoring the worship of God to its rightful place of honour in the nation. He seemed to be driven by a passion for truth - it led him to challenge the accepted practices of the day and on a mission to see real change - even at the cost of his own comfort (see Wikipedia link to read more about his life and to the governance of the nation during his reign).

It is most unlikely that there will ever be a statue or plaque anywhere bearing my likeness or the story of my life here on earth. There is, however, a heavenly book, in which is inscribed 'good works' for me to 'walk into' - 'works' that have been imagined and dreamed up by my Heavenly Father, specifically for me to walk in during my lifetime. I wonder how many of these 'good works' I have already discovered and fulfilled? My dream and passion is that I find and am courageous enough to walk into every good work God has designed for me - that I fulfil every one of His desires for my life...and that I settle for nothing less!

Oh that we would be moved with a flame of passion in our hearts for the truth - that any untruth would provoke us to action - to move to see Truth declared and deception destroyed. It's not simply the 'truth that will make us free', it's 'KNOWING the truth that sets us free'...and, how will they know, unless they are told?

I pray for an urgent boldness to overtake me and us, and all of the Glorious Church, so that we once again bring about the kind of change that brings true freedom, in and through the Truth of God's Word and by His Spirit of Power, which is at work in us, both to 'will and to to do' His good pleasure.

May we be stirred and moved to act, in His mighty Name and for His Great Glory on the earth!

Valentine's Day

Superstition and tradition surround what has become a very commercialised annual celebration of love and romance.

The boy Jesus

A deeper look into Scripture always rewards the hungry heart with much treasure! This was my joyous experience when asked by my husband to preach on Luke 2:41-52. I realised how I had never before really looked at this passage - not really looked. Four concordances and several hours of reading later, I found there was too much to contain in one 50 minute 'preach'. Some of the discoveries made are so precious, that I cannot simply file them away - they must be voiced, shared! So, here then is my attempt at sharing some of the treasure uncovered in this passage - I hope it feeds your

my tiny bit of heaven on earth

Four mini-framed yacht pictures, one prior-owned 'bargain' pc desk, a laptop and iphone. This is my new 'fave' place on the planet! The little 'room' down the passage, which is more a glorified cupboard with a window, has today become my little hidey-hole! O, joy! To have a little place to think, pray, listen my latest new (best) download ('The Listener's Bible' - as I'm determined to get more of the Word into this head and heart of mine)...is SUCH a treat! Large enough for just one visitor at a time - it's just perfect - and I am a giddy-happy girl!

The start to my 'New Year' seems to have been delayed somewhat by inconveniences a'plenty. Today, however, I feel I've finally taken my first steps into this great new unknown, this large and bright new page which is the year 'twenty-ten', yet another chance to 'taste and see that the Lord IS good'!

Though the diary-syncing session results in two A4 pages of to-do's, underneath it all is a real sense of breathless anticipation. Could this be the year of great gathering into the Kingdom? Could we see the Church SO effect our colourful City of Portsmouth so as to make a lasting and extraordinary impact on the lives of the precious men, women, young people and children for God? This is His city, paid for by His life, death and resurrection! He is coming back for a great and Glorious Bride in this city - what strides could be take this year towards seeing His Glory made known?

O to see each precious friend and member of our church grow in faith, confidence in Our Champion-Lord and courage in His call and anointing, and free to be all they have been gifted and ordained to be!

To quote our church banners, this year, more than ever, I want 'to know Him (more and more) and make Him (His beautiful, generous, welcoming heart of love and mercy) known' - to all I am blessed to share life with this year.

If I've not already said it...Happy (belated) New Year to you and yours :-) xx