this song has been so stirring in my heart for a while now, every time it comes on my stereo/ipod my heart responds… i might be cooking dinner, reading, praying, whatevering – but i catch the sound of it and the heart of it and awaken. i love this version of Spirit Break Out + Spontaneous Worship at Bethel Church feat.Austin Williamson who does a mean (aka really good!) preach during it! heart stirring!
Sunday, A.M., May 5
Preached in St. Anne’s. Was asked not to come back anymore.
Sunday, P.M., May 5
Preached in St. John’s. Deacons said, "Get out and stay out."
Sunday, A.M., May 12
Preached in St. Jude’s. Can’t go back there, either.
Sunday, A.M., May 19
Preached in St. Somebody Else’s.
Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return.
Sunday, P.M., May 19
Preached on street. Kicked off street.
Sunday, A.M., May 26
Preached in meadow. Chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during service.
Sunday, A.M., June 2
Preached out at the edge of town. Kicked off the highway.
Sunday, P.M., June 2
Afternoon, preached in a pasture. Ten thousand people came out to hear me.
from the diary of john wesley
we have an awesome random family. today we ended up having a sing along over lunch – including a miss sung line “i’m going to be an octopus about this” – brilliant song and i think a new fav artist! (pompeii – and the line really says “i’m goning to be an OPTIMIST about that”… we’re also singing “did you hear the people sing” complete with theatrical arm guestures, skyfall and impossible.
we had an international theme day at school on friday. my son went as an injured all black. complete with sling. because we had him in for xrays for a broken elbow the night before. yes. thankfully no breaks that the radiologist could see but he is still very sore and slinged up. totally matched his all black / kiwi theme. evangeline was trickier to work out – she didnt want to be an all black. then brain wave – we have a ballet character skirt so she went as a spanish girl! including dark red carnation in her hair. she looked so beautiful!
so we’ve been fighting winter bugs for the past week or so. along with the sore elbows. this week evangeline has been sick – temps and coughs. yesterday we watched tangled and a barbie movie when i then had a brainwave. now both of the kids have an approved playlist on youtube that they can watch. evangeline’s has lots of princess sofia clips (she is so cute!) and some songs and kids worship and funny cats and other disney priness stuff. caleb has a mix of star wars, star wars bloopers, rugby, songs and science stuff and some louie giglio. kids think i am the best mum ever.
i got given Les Miserables on dvd last week and am just waiting for some time to sit down and watch it . i was totally blown away by it when i saw it at the movies and the overwhelming message of grace throughout it. so stirred my heart and made me cry ALOT! so i’m making sure i have time to watch and time to cry. and no where to go afterwards looking like a wreck!
love my gumboots – i wear them to my sons rugby and soccer games and they have been a lifesaver and a shoe saver… through the mud and the wet my feet have being warm and dry and stylish! i even wore them to just drop the kids off the other day – was so wet and crazy! bring on summer!
and as always. i love Jesus with all i am and all my heart and all my soul and all my days. For His glory and the building of His kingdom and the rescue of the lost.
so what are you totally loving this week?
… check out what other peeps are loving whatever day of the week it is over at MNM’s BLOG
“Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be." Eric Parsloe, The Oxford School of Coaching & Mentoring
Mentoring is a powerful personal development and empowerment tool. It is an effective way of helping people to progress in their careers and is becoming increasing popular as its potential is realised. It is a partnership between two people (mentor and mentee) normally working in a similar field or sharing similar experiences. It is a helpful relationship based upon mutual trust and respect.
A mentor is a guide who can help the mentee to find the right direction and who can help them to develop solutions to career issues. Mentors rely upon having had similar experiences to gain an empathy with the mentee and an understanding of their issues. Mentoring provides the mentee with an opportunity to think about career options and progress.
A mentor should help the mentee to believe in herself and boost her confidence. A mentor should ask questions and challenge, while providing guidance and encouragement. Mentoring allows the mentee to explore new ideas in confidence. It is a chance to look more closely at yourself, your issues, opportunities and what you want in life. Mentoring is about becoming more self aware, taking responsibility for your life and directing your life in the direction you decide, rather than leaving it to chance.
from // Mentoring Set
The Merriam-Webster WWWebster Dictionary defines a mentor as "a trusted counselor or guide." For their Mentor/Protégé Program, the Anesthesiology Department of Cleveland’s MetroHealth System defines mentor as "a wise, loyal advisor or coach."
from // Management About
also check out last weeks {Mentoring Monday} What is Mentoring?
this morning (and tonight!) we are so honoured to have winkie pratney at The River – he is a legend and when i was in my early 20s i heard him speak about 10 times. he has been a real inspiration to me and gave me a real passion to street preach and witness. in fact i would say his preaching and writings have been foundational in making me who i am. He is incredibly insightful, funny and genuinely one of my heroes. below are my notes from church this morning.
Christianity is getting you back from where you fell.
the trouble with jesus is that He is not at all like we think He is.
He loves people even those that hate Him
Jesus, the real and rightful Ruler of the world has come to change yours
Paul/Saul – A Close Encounter – Acts 9
1. threatening and slaughter
you can be deeply religious and not know God
you dont need to be a lover of the church to meet God or christians – God will put people in your life to demonstrate His goodness and reality
you can hate God and He can still reach you and raise you up to change the world
2. suddenly from heaven
the coming of Christ is always unexpected
God is after you (Luke 15) and initiates connection
3. light from heaven
AT NOON DAY
God doesnt need to wait for night to shine bright
God doesnt need to show off
He is already awesome
He just shows up
4. saul saul
Jesus knows your name
5. who are you Lord?
you may think you know Him and still have not met Him
6. what do you want me to do?
God requires your response
you only have to ask
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. AMP
rejoice in the Lord when it suits you.
rejoice in the Lord when its all happy joy joy times.
rejoice in the Lord when the sun shines.
NO that’s not what the bible says!
rejoice always. rejoice at all times.
celebrate God all day, every day.
Delight in Him, worship Him.
Be thankful for His loving-kindness and goodness at all times and in all ways.
an easy thing to write on paper, but a challenge to live out in our every day ordinary lives, with all its obstacles and difficulties, bad hair days and valleys.
and paul says it again. REJOICE!
rejoicing unlocks something within our heart. for me it unlocks trust and hope. i CHOOSE to rejoice and i CHOOSE to see God’s hand at work even in the trial and test. i CHOOSE to acknowledge Him as my loving Father and because of His love and grace i CAN rejoice.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Rejoicing should manifest itself in the way i live my life. With gentleness, not worry and anxiousness. With a peace that surpasses the situation and limited understanding. With a grace that extends itself to others instead of unleashing our burdens and anxiety on those around us.
God is near. With us. Always.
And the return of Jesus is near. we should live with a holy expectation and expectant trust that God is powerful and that He will make all things new and that Jesus reigns.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
the remedy to anxiety is prayer. in prayer we find peace which guards us from a downward spiral into doubt and fear and anxiety. as we continue to pray and worship God we meet Him and are changed and have renewed peace and perspective.
Jesus is the answer to every problem we have.
need peace? Jesus is the prince of peace.
need hope? He is the God of all hope
need comfort? the Holy Spirit is called our Comforter
there have been many times when circumstance screams at me to give up and lose hope and rail against God, to get stressed and burned out… but i know that in all things God is my heavenly Father and that He will work out all things for my good and His glory and that He is at work intentionally in my life. I know He is the giver of peace and that though the valley may be dark, He is the light of the world and with me. This gives me confidence to walk forward and to keep trusting.
Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life. MSG
Listen… can you hear the whisper of love and grace over your life?
Listen… can you hear the love and joy sung over your life?
Listen… can you hear God inviting you to draw near?
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
We are what we listen to? Whose voice is the loudest in our life?
Are we listening to the voice of hope and life? Versus the voice of doubt and discouragement?
Are we listening to the voice of the One who is creative and wise – who breathed out the stars and counts the hairs we have on our head, who knows the path of lightening and the volume of water in a raindrop?
Whose voice do we listen to? Whose voice do we let shape us? Whose voice defines us?
God is faithful.
Faithful to speak and guide and be personal and near. He is not far away, but close, interactive.
He is speaking hope and life, wisdom and peace.
Over and over again the Bible records interactions between God and His people.
Over and over again it talks about a God that talks to His friends, that is near, that is personal, that speaks love, that imparts wisdom, that shows the way.
He is the same today, as He will be tomorrow, as He was yesterday. From the beginning God has spoken to His children and desired real relationship with them. He walked in the garden with Adam and Eve and at the end of time Revelation 22:3-4 it says that we will worship God face to face!
Abraham was called a friend of God. Moses talked with God face to face in the tabernacle tent and upon Mt Sinai.
He wants to speak you you… and for you to LISTEN. We recognize God’s voice because we recognize Him, the better we get to know God the more clearly we will recognize His voice. He is faithful. He is speaking. Are we listening?
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27
Listen… when God says i love you.
Listen… when God says this is the way, walk in it.
Listen… when God says i know you, i have a plan, you belong to me.
Listen – let His words shape you, define you, give life to you.
"You shine brighter when we’re broken,
With our hearts stretched out upon the floor
In our weakness and our failures,
Your light shines beauty to this world
From our broken hearts, we’re crying out
Through the cracks in all of us,
Through the fractures and our dust,
You shine through, You shine through
In the darkness You’re the dawn,
Blazing like the morning sun,
You shine through, You shine through
No our sin will not define us,
For Your cross, it speaks the final word
Guilt and shame are now behind us,
And You are making us brand new
From our broken hearts, we’re crying out
From our deepest scars, we’re singing out
Like a stained glass window, You shine through us, oh Father, bringing out every single color. May we bear Your image, Your likeness in this world. Restore our hearts. Shine through us."
Brothers McClurg – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmFYFnvoycI
“The great heroes of the Bible didn’t appear at the zenith of their cultures, but at low points as part of God’s effort to rescue and redirect His people back to the covering of His covenant.”
Fear doesn’t live here no more
Fear doesn’t live here no more
When Your name was spoken
Your name brought healing to me
Shame doesn’t live here no more
Shame doesn’t live here no more
When Your name was spoken
Your love brought healing to me
PRE CHORUS:
Condemnation no more
Sin lost all control
I am set free
By Your glory and grace
You broke every chain
I am set free
CHORUS:
Your name Jesus
Your name Jesus
Jesus Your name
Your name brings healing to me
BRIDGE:
I am free
I am free
These chains have no hold on me
I’ve been healed
Hallelujah
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