Quote

I came across this quote today in a Sojourners newsletter. It's from Clare Short, Member of Parliament, who resigned from her former post as Secretary of State for International Development because of the UK's involvement in the Iraq war.

You can't take the evil of slavery out of the world and abolish it without making the world more just. You will never prevent people living in bonded labour or from getting caught up in sex trafficking while they are so desperate that they have no other choice but to sell themselves. As long as we in the West crave ever more excess, we conspire in their desperation, exploiting it and make ourselves sick in the process.

The Human Footprint

This afternoon I watched a TV programme I taped the other day. It's about the Human Footprint - in other words what we will eat, use, affect in our lifetime. It took an average person in the UK who supposedly lived 78.5 years. Apparently the average person in a lifetime would consume 15,951 pints of milk and each one of us would eat 4 cows, 21 sheep, 15 pigs, 1200 chickens, 13,345 eggs, 4283 loaves of bread, 2327 kilos of potatoes, 10,866 carrots and 5272 apples among other things. 95% of our fruit is imported and we throw away 8 and a half tons of packaging.

Starting from our earliest years we throw away 2 and a half billion nappies (diapers for our friends across the pond) as a nation every year and the plastic contained in them to make them leak free can take up to 500 years to decompose. We are responsible for more CO2 emissions before the age of 2 than someone in Tanzania in a life time.

The programme went on to give other statistics (that I won't bore you with) about what we spend on personal hygiene, clothes and household goods that we simply can't live without. Each person is responsible for 40 tons of waste to landfill sites and there are 60 million of us in the UK! We walk only 15,464 miles in a lifetime but drive 452,662 miles - the equivalent of the distance to the moon and back, using 135,950 litres of fossil fuel in our cars. That is apart from the 737 tons of carbon pumped into the atmosphere per lifetime through air travel.

At the end of the programme they said that memories and dreams are the most enduring part of us and left us with the question, 'What am I leaving behind?' A sobering thought indeed! Although much of what we do is necessary to our modern living and not everything is wrong or negative, the stark facts and figures did make me think about how much difference we can make in simple ways. As Christians we really have to take our stewardship of the planet seriously.

Friendship

I have just read a charming little story about a five-year-old girl called Tracey. She asked her Dad if she could play at her friend's house. She was told she could but had to come back home by a certain time. Off she went happy to be able to spend time with her friend. When the stated time came, there was no sign of Tracey. Time passed and eventually half an hour late Tracey arrived. Her Dad, a little annoyed asked her where she had been and what she had been doing to make her late. Her answer was, 'My friend's doll broke just when I was supposed to leave for home.' Her Dad replied, 'And I suppose you were helping her fix it?' 'Oh, no,' Tracey said, 'I was helping her cry.' Now that's friendship!

Healing obedience

I have just read a posting on Sarah's blog (see my links) She was visiting her mother-in-law, who is an 'Easter/Christmas' Christian and who had not had a whole night's sleep for 10 years. They had been watching television and during the commercial break her mother-in-law commented that she would love to sleep the whole night and that the tablets she was taking were not having the same effect as before. Sarah offered to pray for her and she agreed. The next day Sarah received an email from her mother-in-law to say she had slept right through the night for the first time in 10 years! Praise God and thanks to Sarah for being obedient and not worrying about what her mother-in-law would think of her.

It made me think - would I have been so obedient or would I have just prayed at home about it without telling her? God knows what He is doing and when He puts a thought into our minds all He wants us to do is to obey Him and do as He says. Sounds easy but how often we fail to do it. Seems that that is where being like children comes in when we just trust Him with child-like simplicity. I know this with my head but why, oh why do I not just do it? God needs more 'Sarahs'. It just makes me cry out to God in confession and seek forgiveness for the times I have failed to do as He has asked me and to ask for more of His Holy Spirit power to be more effective for Him.

Tribute to Lurdes

I've just read a blog on one of my links - Sarah Rooney. It is about a little African girl that was taken to Iris Ministries where one of the staff looked after her as though she were one of her own children but has since died. It is very moving. Just click on the link to Sarah's blog and then click on the picture under the post entitled Tribute to Lurdes.

Spain

Casa Maranatha

The week before Easter a prayer team of 11 people - 7 from Yeovil and 4 from Coventry - visited southern Spain. We had a wonderful time when God both used us to bless and help others and we ourselves were greatly blessed. This is the lovely house owned by an English couple where I stayed during our time in Spain.

The prayer team.

This was taken at a fort overlooking the town of Antequera. Lizzi and Jim Cook, the couple whose house I stayed at, are 3rd and 4th from the right. We stood here and sang worship songs and prayed for the town. A very friendly German offered to take this photo of us all.

El Torcal

This is a view of mount El Torcal near where we were staying. It is a result of earth movements millions of years ago that thrust this mountain of rock up above the surrounding countryside.

View? What view?

We travelled up to the top of El Torcal in order to look out over the village below but when we got there the view was covered by dense cloud. We decided to still worship and pray over the village although we could not see it. We also prayed that God would lift the cloud so we could see the village from this high vantage point - and He did! Just for a few moments we were able to see the village.

The clear(er) view of the village of Villanueva de la Concepción

It seemed like a prophetic act of God. Occasionally God allows us a glimpse of the 'bigger picture' from another viewpoint that we don't always see. This encourages us to keep going, knowing there is something beyond the clouded vision that we have. The evangelical Christians in the village are very few in number and it seemed that God was confirming that our visit there was for them just like that short glimpse of a bigger and clearer picture.

The ministry of going away with prayer teams is something wonderful that God has asked me to be involved in and I count it a great privilege to do so. We had a brilliant time and I made many new friends. Can't wait to go back!

Mum

I received a phone call in the early hours of this morning to tell me that my mother had gone to be with the Lord. She was 98 years old and in a way it was a release as she had got to a stage of living in her own private world of the past and totally dependent.

It is a sad time for families but I also want to praise and thank God for a wonderful Christian mother who has been such an example to us. As a home mother, she didn't work out of the home - in those days women didn't - and so was not noteworthy or successful in the world's eyes. But in my eyes she was the wisest and cleverest person around. She always had time for you no matter what she was doing. She was never judgmental of others and was so humble, never seeking to be in the limelight, always seeking to help those who needed a hand. She was there to praise you when you had done well and to comfort you when things hadn't turned out as you'd hoped. She just always seemed to know and understand how you felt. Our home was an open house where all were welcome. She was a faithful Christian and as I think back over the time God allowed me to share with her, I thank God for the privilege.

'Well done, good and faithful servant.'

Revival or reformation

I was reminded today in an email I received of a prophecy given by Rick Joyner in 2003. Here are a couple of quotes:

One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

The most common characteristic of successful people, business, sports teams and even nations, is that they never look for outsiders to blame for their problems but use that energy to look inside themselves for solutions.

Dictionary definitions:

Revival - a revived use of an old play; a revived use of an old practice, custom etc

Reformation - the act of reforming or process of being reformed, especially a radical change for the better.

God is reshaping his church and yet it seems we go on resisting. We don't want change, we just want more of the same. In which other walk of life would anyone dream of carrying on doing things in the same way or having the same type of system or set-up when they are not producing the desired results and in fact seem to be having the opposite effect? It seems that instead of revival we should be praying for reformation, instead of more of the old we should be seeking something new and different. This does not mean just following the latest religious fad but being prepared to look up and see a bigger picture, to be prepared to accept that maybe there are some things that we have got a bit wrong, to not try to make God conform to how we are used to doing things when He wants to show us something different and not to limit God to our limited thinking or ways. Let's stop putting God in a box shaped like a church building when He is desperately wanting to get out and be free to work in power and might to seek the lost and free the captives. His ways are not always our ways. We need to be re-formed.

Church in the Supermarket

I went to the supermarket. On my way round I met the chaplain (who happens to be one of the leaders of the church I attend) When he asked me how I was doing, I had to be honest and say that actually I was feeling quite down in spirit.

I went on to explain that my elderly mother (who is 98 ) had a fall at the beginning of March and broke her hip. She was taken to hospital and underwent an operation. The operation itself was OK but then pneumonia set in and she developed other difficulties. She lives 370 miles away in the northeast and so every day we have been phoning my other sister who lives near her. A number of times she has been called by the hospital saying that Mum didn't have long. She has been in a coma now for a week and the doctors don't understand how she is still alive.

So, yes, I was feeling very down, a bit in limbo, just waiting for that phone call but at the same time not really being able to get on with things I have to do. There and then, in the supermarket, the chaplain prayed with me. I don't know what other shoppers thought but it blessed my socks off!

Makes you wonder just how many people go about their daily activities when they are really hurting inside. I thanked God for those who realise that that's where we need to be 'doing church'.

Interesting websites

Today I picked up a copy of the February edition of Inspire Magazine. You can check it out on Inspire Magazine. It has some really interesting articles.

In the February edition I read of a young girl called Akiane Kramarik who was born into a family of non-believers. At a very young age she had visions and dreams and felt the urge to paint. She is self-taught but has produced amazing pictures. She insists that these experiences are from God and wants only that her pictures and poems bless others and bring them to God. She also had the privilege of leading her parents to faith in God. You can read more about her on the official website at Akiane.

Happy browsing!

Passion or activity

Yesterday I was part of a group who were talking about passion. The concern was why more people aren't passionate about God, the gospel and reaching the lost. It got me thinking how sometimes we confuse passion with activity. I suspect that some of the group who are active within the church setup may feel that others who aren't as visible in activity are not as passionate.

To give up 'ordinary' work in order to give more time to church activity or outreach is very commendable but not necessarily more passionate than someone who is either not in a position to do this or doesn't feel that God is asking him/her to serve in this way.

God also gives passion for different aspects of His work, some more visible than others. Those who are passionate about prayer and intercession are not always seen and may appear to be inactive but they are the ones who break down the strongholds in the spiritual realm. No amount of busyness in projects will do this. Jesus Himself said that some people could only be helped through prayer and fasting. It is also important to have this passion in place before we begin to put our plans into action.

I know that leaders of my local church agree with me on this but it did make me wonder just how often church generally confuses passion with activity and busyness in church projects.

Encouraged

I have had a very encouraging weekend. One of our church leaders here in Yeovil has set up, with a friend, an organisation they have called 'Send and Serve' (I have added it to my links) It is basically a group of people who are willing to go where God sends them to pray - mainly in Europe from the most western point of Ireland to the most eastern point of Turkey. I have joined with them and am going with a team to Spain during Holy Week.

Those who have read previous blogs of mine may be aware that I have struggled in my situation knowing this is what God has asked me to do but felt a bit misunderstood and a little alone feeling unable to share fully what is on my heart. So this weekend has been so good for me to meet with and share with others who are of a like mind.

Another interesting fact is that four of the people who are going to be on the team going to Spain have links with Argentina, one lady actually being of Argentinian nationality. Having lived there for 10 years myself and being married to an Argentinian and both of my children having been born there, I felt that this was another divine link that only God could arrange. Isn't He amazing!!

So today, after spending a wonderful weekend in the company of new friends, I feel very much encouraged and realise that God is connecting a whole network of people who are feeling and sensing God in the same way as I am.

A mixed week

It's been a strange week. This time last week I was at the wedding of two good friends. It was held in the local Anglican church, although neither are Anglican but are charismatic evangelicals. The vicar however is very evangelical and very happy to perform the necessary religious ceremony. It was different from the usual wedding ceremonies in that they included a time for Christian friends to gather round the couple and pray for them and to share if God had given anyone a picture or prophetic words to speak over them. We then shared tea and cakes in the church hall.

Then on Sunday my elder son Martin arrived to spend a week with us. My elder brother is very ill still in hospital where he has been since the middle of December having had a series of strokes that have left him unable to walk, talk or swallow. Martin came to help sort out my brother's flat and be of support to myself and my younger sister who are seeing to all the arrangements. It was good to have him with us although the reason for coming was not so good. He is always like a breath of fresh air for me and lifts my spirit when I'm feeling a bit low. This morning he returned to his own home in Cheshire.

This morning I went with a friend to share in a prayer breakfast in a part of the Body that meets in a farm and has, I believe, an important strategic place in the plans of God for this region and subsequently our nation. We had a beautiful time of worship and God really blessed us and spoke to us as individuals and as a group, confirming and encouraging.

Quite a mixed week really but it's wonderful to know that God is in the difficult as well as the pleasurable, in the practical, very earthly needs as well as the spiritual, out-of-this-world experiences. He is wonderfully in everything.

Lift Him up

I have just finished reading a not-very-new book called 'God's Favourite House' by Tommy Tenney. It is well worth reading if you have not already done so and worth revisiting if you have. Among other things he talks about the importance of worship. He reminds us that in heaven there won't be any pastors, apostles, preachers, evangelists, Sunday School superintendants, deacons, elders, Church Board members etc. etc ... He says, 'The only "job description" in heaven is that of worshipper.'

Duncan Campbell who was involved in the New Hebrides revival of a century ago tells how thousands came to Christ without hearing a single sermon, without listening to a preacher and without stepping foot inside a church building. This was because there was a small group of brokenhearted pray-ers and persistent worshippers.

We seem to have a knack of trying to do things the wrong way round. Jesus says in John's gospel, 'If I be lifted up, I will draw all men near.' Often we are so concerned about our plans and projects and how we are going to draw people in to church. God is very gracious and does give a certain amount of 'success' to our well thought-out plans. But sometimes it does seem like an uphill struggle and results don't always seem to last very long before the surge of the moment begins to wane a bit. Jesus told us the secret! Our task is to lift Him up and He will do the drawing in. Also that way God gets all the glory which is the way it should be.

Phyllis

Yesterday I went to the funeral of a very elderly lady called Phyllis with whom I had worked in a charity shop. She was almost 94 when she died and had lived a very full life.

She had lived and worked in four continents, becoming fluent in Bengali. She was also a qualified music teacher and nurse. But she was always humble enough to get her hands dirty and do the most menial task or manual work. She returned to England to care for her father until he died in the 1970s. She decided to 'retire' when she was well in her 80s and so came to live in the southwest of England.

She still busied herself with her local church and became involved with the 'Stroke Club' and the Christian charity shop. In her early 90s, she learnt that she was gradually going blind. Not deterred, she decided to learn Braille!

What an amazing lady and what a privilege to have known her.

Prayer walking

In a weekly prayer letter I receive, we were urged to pray for creative and courageous intercessors. One example is a young man called Stephen Deeming who is currently walking the east coast of Africa praying for healing and forgiveness for Europe's colonial and imperial past. He has been in Egypt only a few days and is walking his way south. He shares each day on his blog. If you would like to 'journey' with him you can do so by clicking on Wandering Clay

Relationships

So many things have been going on in my head lately about 'church' and 'worship' partly because of this insatiable hunger I'm feeling. I just want to shout 'Come on God. I want more!'.

This morning I had a really good conversation with someone in my local church for whom I have great respect. We chatted for some time about our hopes for the Body of Christ in our town. We kept coming back to the conclusion that really it's all about relationships. Christ gave us the supreme example. He chose 12 people who were so different one from the other it is hard to believe that for 3 years they actually lived and travelled together. There was the quite, reflective type and the noisier one, the business man and the revolutionary, the academic and the dreamer, the impetuous one and the doubter. What a bunch!

How often does the Body of Christ today think that we cannot work together because of our differences when Jesus showed us that this surely should be exactly what we are showing to our community - that it doesn't matter what sort of character you have or how you prefer to express yourself, you are accepted! Why can't we just forget about trying to get people to be part of our particular group or to agree with the way we do things and just be a friend? Having a relationship with God is about having relationship with others because that is what He is about - Father, Friend and Counsellor.

So I guess that 'church' and 'worship' is really about relationship with others and with God.

God knows

So much seems to be happening that I haven't had much time for blogging. We had a good family Christmas at my sister's home and New Year at ours. Sadly our elder brother was not able to join us as he has been in hospital since the middle of December. He has had a series of strokes and water infections which has left him unable to walk, talk properly or swallow. We have had to make arrangements to take over all of his financial affairs, home situation etc and at the moment don't really know what the future holds. So I have a little trouble trying to focus on deep spiritual matters. It's almost like 'grab and go' food but I know that Father knows and understands and is in control and keeps us standing.

Last Sunday He blessed me with the time of worship we had at my local church (especially as in previous blogs you may have noticed that sometimes I struggle in this a bit!) and in the evening a small group had decided they would like to meet just to wait on God - no set programme, worship songs or talk/sermon - my kind of worship! There were only 17 of us but God came in power, words and pictures and we were blessed indeed! He knew exactly what I needed and in His outrageous grace, He gave it to me. Thank you God.

Octopus or Strawberry?

Continueing my thoughts about what it means to be 'church', it seems as though most churches are like an octopus. They reach out into the community, get hold of people and bring them back to be swallowed up in the centre. This seems OK except all they are doing in effect is feeding the centre. It seems to me that instead of being an octopus we should be more like a strawberry plant. The strawberry plant reproduces by putting out long trailers and producing another offspring which itself grows roots and begins to grow in another place. Eventually it becomes independant of the parent plant. Then it in turn produces its own offspring and so it continues. This is a truer picture of the New Testament Church - they went out and instead of bringing people back to the main centre, they established themselves wherever they were.

So why, if we consider ourselves to be 'church', do we insist on just feeding the main centre instead of producing offspring where we are? One friend wrote in his blog about outreach, making the point that we can only reach out to somewhere where we do not already inhabit. Surely as Christians we should be inhabiting the community and not just reaching out to it in order to feed our own congregation. It just seems to me at times that we are more concerned about increasing our own numbers and getting people to congregate with us than to help people to connect with God and have a real relationship with Him - even if they do not wish to join our particular group.

When Jesus saw Zacchaeus, He didn't suggest to him that if he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath He would get someone to pray with him. He went to where Zacchaeus was in his own surroundings, where he felt at ease and uninhibited. He met him where he was. I know some churches do this but it seems that the vast majority are only interested in activities or projects that will in some way benefit themselves and increase their numbers or standing in the eyes of others. No wonder so many really committed Christians are opting out of church as we understand it. As one friend explained to me - 'I am not prepared to be just a pew-filler any more.' Octopus or strawberry?

Loyalties

I have been thinking a lot lately about loyalties. Partly because of what God is doing in my life. I occasionally go away in prayer teams and when I get back I feel so desparate and hungry for more of God and get so frustrated when I visit my own local church. I often wonder if I'm on the same planet and feel so unable to share with them sensing that most of those in the church really don't have a clue as to where I am spiritually.

I feel that most look at me as a bit of an oddity - why go to other places to pray when so much is going on in my local church? Why not support them? It makes me sort of feel a bit disloyal until I start to question where exactly do my loyalties
lie?

It's a bit like party politics. I suppose most of us have a tendency to one party or the other at election time but still have some reservations about all of the policies of our preferred party. On the whole we agree with what they say but there are some things that we don't agree with. Our loyalties go beyond party politics to what is right or wrong, what is best for our country and not what is in keeping necessarily with the politics of a particular party.

I guess it's a bit like like with church. On the whole I can go along with what is going on but my loyalties really are not to a particular church (group of people who meet in a particular building)but they are beyond that to what is right for me according to God's will and purpose for my life. My loyalty to Him far exceeds any other sense of loyalty and if that means being misunderstood, then so be it!