Daily readings

I just wanted to encourage everyone to do the Breathe daily readings. I have found them to be so alive and relevant. For example, last night I was on healing prayer and the daily reading was exactly what someone needed to hear for their situation. This seems to happen time and time again, that the reading becomes significant and useful in my daily life. So, if you haven't already, give it a go!

Jenny Barrett

Treasures in Heaven

Richard and I have enjoyed a wonderful week in Spain, but in the early hours on Saturday morning we had a phone call from Libby to say that our house has been burgled and trashed, Richard and I prayed that Vicky and the dog would be ok, and the following bible passage came to mind from Matthew 6:19-21 :

Adoration

I felt I needed to share this from this morning’s service.

As we were singing ‘Receive our Adoration, Jesus Lamb of God. Receive our Adoration, how wonderful you are. ‘ I was amazed by a picture of Jesus sitting on a throne. The throne was set in front of the stained glass window at the front of church high up.

Wave Weekend

Here is a snippet from a poem the leaders wrote about the Wave weekend:

Blossom sculptures across a sports lawn;
Beautiful cross filled with blossom
bright symbols laced with friendship and memories
Dandelions picked, placed, arranged
Dandelion edged cross to make me smile

Driving and walking

Although I often pray as I drive and walk alone, careful not to be taken for the nutter I actually am and occasionally not managing it, as I find it difficult to think a prayer without verbalizing it (although I do manage that at work at my desk, especially with the noonday-ish Lord's Prayers), I find distraction all too easy and often run out of momentum, not that God minds.

The presence of God in the living room

After being challenged by the services yesterday to go deeper with God to surrender again to Him and get rid of any 'cling film' that was getting in the way. I decided that I couldn't really draw a circle of chalk on my living room carpet, but I do have a rug so used that as my circle to pray in and boy did the presence of God come in power.

Worship

I have been thinking increasingly that worship should take priority when we come before the Lord.  All too often we can skip this bit because we have to tell the Lord all about our needs and problems - or those of others, as if He didn't know already!  I read recently:  "Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other"  (Oswald Chambers).  I also heard a song with says:

"Down at your feet, O Lord, is the most high place..........
There is no higher calling
No greater honour than to bow
And kneel before your throne..............."

Surrender to Spirit

I don't know if it is just me, or too little faith, but does asking for then surrendering to the Spirit in public feels more risky and humbling, especially when you may weep.
I do feel though if obedient to and accepting of it, trust, relationship, love and fruit seems to come.

During the service someone, a Christian said: "A bruised Reed I will not break".

My favourite prayer at work

Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading
Major-General of the Foot
The Battle of Edgehill
Southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642

"O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not forget me."

which he followed promptly with the order "March on, boys!"

Martin Peter Clarke

Nothing can separate us from the Love of God

Prayer is what connects us to our Father; I was so touched by what Sam one of our Interns said in early morning Prayer yesterday. We have no trouble introducing people, so why do we make it so hard to introduce our best friend Jesus to all our friends; it should be the most natural thing. The first thing we do, "Hello I’m Mandy and this is my best friend Jesus". 

How badly do we want it?

This man was born in a gypsy tent, of humble origins, and yet ended up being invited to the White House by two presidents. Rodney 'Gypsy' Smith came into the world in 1860 in Epping Forest, just outside London. Forty five times he crossed the Atlantic to preach the gospel to millions of people on both sides. His passion was almost unparalleled, and there was great fruit in what he did. What was his secret? Private prayer. His praying was even more powerful than his preaching.

The River of God

In response to Carl's word on the river in Ezekiel 47, it may be worth remembering that the river starts off shallow, so you can "paddle" in it, but gradually gets deeper until you have to swim: you are literally "swept off your feet"

I take off my hat to you!

Great evening at Questions again.

Really challenging stuff.  It certainly provoked a lot of discussion in our group (and at school today!!) and it seems God is opening people's hearts up to the fact that we worship a God who, rather than standing in judgement of us, wants to engage with us and help us in becoming all He intended us to be, without the need for donning lots of masks.

What a relief and a joy!! Thanks for all who made it the best Questions evening I have yet been to.

Kerry

God is at work...let's pray for Him to complete what he has started.

I’ve got a friend who when we meet often asks me about my faith and why I believe in God. He always seems genuinely interested in what I tell him about Jesus and yet always finishes by saying how it’s not for him. I thought that the Questions theme of Integrity would be just great for my friend and so asked him if he would like to come along. It would be a perfect opportunity for him to meet our church family. Something which I know he will be touched by. So I asked him and he gave the answer that we all dread, “Well I’d really like to, but I’ll have to see what work is like next week. I’ll let you know.” My experience of this has always been that this is a gentle no.