Where Are You?
Where are you in the tunnel? Insurmountable issues you feel? Is it becoming far too much to bear? Everything going wrong it seems? Jumped into the river and wondering where all the beauty is? Frolicking?- not where you dived into head first- right?
Beloved! Beloved! Beloved! You are not alone. I don’t know how many times I have been there in this journey. Been there and back today! You are not alone, we are never alone. See the body of Christ is all over you. Whether you feel supported or not. You are in the body. He loves His body, He loves you child of God. You are never forsaken, you a vital part of this body and the body just will not do without you.
We are all going through some serious pruning and stripping and it hurts. Please Overcomer, do not give up, this too will pass, you will come through, He will come through for you. He has come through for you. "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.
Thinking of you, praying for you. No idea who you are (ish)! He knows where you are at. Ha’ Elyon has ordered His angels over you! Jesus is making intercession for you! The Holy Spirit is interceding for you in groans and moans that cannot be uttered!
He is closer than ever before. Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. |
Wambui Mburu, 01/04/2008 |
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24hop
Jason set up a 'Blog' to record people's thoughts and feelings during 24hop. You can't post anything on the site but you can read the entries. Click on the link below.
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Dawn Chorus
Since returning from being away in Norway, I have not been setting my alarm clock as I thought I would just ask God to wake me or let me lie in as He felt fit.
How wonderful (I think!!) to be woken up with the dawn chorus this week on several days. Actually, on one particular morning, one bird's song sounded just like the pips on my alarm clock!! Even more interesting that it stopped chirping away once I had got out of bed to have my quiet time with God! How cool it that!!
In a dilemma for next week. My alarm clock or Gods?!!
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Des Figueiredo, 09/03/2008 |
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Alone with God
It's been a challenging couple of weeks with my weekly rhythm disrupted (in a nice way!) by a few days away in Devon with the family during the half term and then a flying visit to the snow covered mountains of northern Norway with the male members of the leadership team at Balham Community Church.
I have been reflecting on why I have been so 'unusually' tired since returning from Norway. I really do not think it's just my age, and am really not too proud to admit that my energy levels are not the same as they used to be. I think I've had an adequate amount of sleep over the past few days and generally sleep well. Perhaps I was more drained than I had realised, when one of our group dislocated his shoulder in Norway and had to spend 4 hours having it put back into place. We all feel tired for many different physical and emotional reasons. However, I wonder how many of us often consider what 'spiritual' tiredness is?
I was fortunate to be able to go away for a day this week. I thought I would probably sleep most of the day, but the space to just 'be', to reflect and gather my thoughts, to give time to being with God, helped me to realise what I had really been missing: time alone with God. One day in His presence was sufficient for me to feel energised again. Nothing dramatic, nothing out of the ordinary. Just being with Him was enough.
Coming back into the normal routine of life is now manageable again. I have come to rest in God.
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Des Figueiredo, 09/03/2008 |
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Squash the Tomato
Had a wonderful time praying on wed eve I had a picture of a hugh hammer smashing a tomato,I heard God say,we can either be hammered or be a hammer,I felt that the tomato was the enemy's lies that we believe |
Heather Gray, 06/03/2008 |
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Reflect
"As water reflects the face, so one's heart reflects the person" Proverbs 27:14
Reading this today and it made me think: "what reflection do people see in me when I'm around?"
My wife? My Friends? My Work colleagues? The people I have met today? What do they see?
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James Manning, 05/03/2008 |
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Ouch! My Arm hurts!
On the last part of our time away I was skiing with the guys down a gentle downhill and feeling very proud of the fact that I hadn't fallen over for at least half an hour when suddenly my sense of balance momentarily left me and I went over in a tangled mess, the unfortunate result being a dislocated left shoulder.
We were 100 metres from the van that had taken us up the mountain "praise God it wasn't further!" however the nearest doctor was at least 40mins away.
Now I don't want to appear wimpy but on that particular journey there were times when I thought I was going to pass out from the pain! Every snowy small bump in the road every corner it felt like my arm was being wrenched off time and again! It was just agony with no end.
We got to the surgery and they had to call for an ambulance to take me to the hospital as an xray was required before the shoulder could be put back. The ambulance thankfully came very quickly and my hopes were raised that this particularly painful part of the journey would soon be over. Thinking that it would all be over soon James and Bertin went back to where we were staying and Des stayed with me in the ambulance.
However it took another 40minutes to get to the hospital and then another hour to get the first xray done! By this time the painkillers had worn off and the horrible non stop pain was back again.
We had to wait for the doctor to be able to administer any more pain killers and to try to put the shoulder back, it felt like eternity! It was hours before the doctor would see me.
Des was incredibly patient as he sat by me in the hospital room and there were times when I was totally consumed by the non stop agony, the only times there were breaks in the pain was when Des would quietly pray in tongues
Eventually the doctor did see me and after a certain amount of struggle my shoulder was put back into place.
The doctor also told us that the treatment I had received didn't have to be paid for, which was another awesome blessing!
Just when we thought we were home and dry however, the struggle didn't quite end there. We had to get back to where we were staying, and when the hospital tried calling the taxi firms no one would come and take us the distance we needed to go. The receptionist told us that the only taxi that could come was in about an hour!
It was already late so we decided to venture outside into the nighttime of Trondheim to see whether we could find transport ourselves.
Now neither of us speak Norwegian and it was a pretty tall order that we were going to find anybody who would be willing to take us back but after some brief desperate prayer a taxi did indeed turn up and the driver was willing to take us all the way back.
I think in all of this I learnt that it would of been great if God had healed my shoulder instantly on the mountain or when Des prayed in the waiting room, however I think He wanted me to know that He is with me in the midst of and despite the pain, also that He breaks through in ways that we couldn't expect and yet we can appreciate after the event. |
Jason Cooper, 05/03/2008 |
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The Gallery
I was looking at the artwork that is on the stage at The Kalos Centre over the weekend. It is always interesting to speak to people and see which ones they like. I love the fact that different pieces speak to each of us in different ways and reveal more of God's character and nature. So I've put a link to the gallery on the website which shows some of the work that has been done by the community at BCC over the last few months.
Click HERE to see slideshow.
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James Manning, 26/02/2008 |
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Sunday 25th Feb
Click HERE to listen again to James talking about 'invitations' from Exodus 19 and 20.
(This time was interactive and because of this there may be some gaps of silence on recording when people were discussing the questions raised) |
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Banana
I have just eaten a banana.
Now you may not think this very exciting
however, it may have been five years - or more - since I ate my last banana.
It's not that I don't like bananas,
it's just that there are a lot of other foods I prefer.
but for Lent God is taking me on a new course: not what I like but what He likes.
I like to do things on the computer and ignore the housework.
God says, don't ignore your family and your home and all that I have given to you.
So I've been doing some housework - and i'm waiting to see if anyone will notice!
I like to do things on the computer and ignore my family.
God says, don't ignore your family, engage with them.
So i spent two hours making a garden out of lego and watched princess diaries 2 all the way through . . . again.
yesterday we went swimming,
today we have made a cake.
It might seem mundane to you but for me it's about God teaching me new ways to love Him.
and through my obedience God has been talking to me and it's so wonderful.
I wonder when my husband will work out that I fixed the water overflow at the bottom of the fridge - that was grimey!
Lord, I enjoy journeying with You and doing things differently,
thank you for your patience and your sense of humour!
Next I think I will have a tangarine . . . |
Bupp England, 23/02/2008 |
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Prayer Wednesday am
I had a picture of God skipping through His vineyard, leaving a deposit of His blessing as He goes. Every now and then He stops and breathes gently on a bunch of grapes [they expand]. Then He stops and snips off a withered, brown branch. Some of the vines lean towards God, others shrink back and hide their 'dead' bits under a leaf. As the prayer moved to the children, I saw the smaller vines, and felt that the little foxes would choose to chew on their tender shoots. Then the Lord came and threw a net over them as protection against all predators.
He went back to the part of the vineyard where the vines had the biggest, most ripe fruit. Gently He lifted them out of the ground,[roots all intact] and ushered them 1 by 1 out of the vineyard into the world.
The word 'yield' was key throughout . The vines that yielded to Gods care and breath had the fruit [yield] that was mature enough to be sent out. Those that refused to yield [that hid their dead bits] remained in the ground. The Lord would continue to pass by, but would not force pruning or breathe on the fruit until the vine chooses to yield.
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Diane Casey, 22/02/2008 |
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Untitled
Oops! Just spotted a typo this morning - re singing, meant to say you are not likely to hear me do so!! Maybe God is already on my case - aaagghhh!!!
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Sue Hermo, 22/02/2008 |
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Responding to Hunger
Last night I had a dream. Now I usually don't take a lot of notice of my dreams because there is little to take notice of! Last night, however, was different... In the dream I was at one of the prayer meetings we are holding. In the middle of praying I just began to sing - the song came from deep inside and was about the yearning for God to make us hungry for Him. I knew in the dream that I had stepped into new things ( in the natural I'm sure you will hear me singing solo yet - but I guess you never know!!)
The feeling of the yearning has not lifted all day and I so sense that God has opened a window over us that is inviting us into His presence, He is stirring a hunger in us to spend time with Him. If we respond we will not be disappointed, He is SO SO close. The whispers to draw aside and give Him time will no doubt create more hunger but He has ample to give us. What a special time this is - don't miss out...
Sue Hermo
21.02.08
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Sue Hermo, 21/02/2008 |
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Sunday 18th Feb
Click HERE to listen again to Des talking about having a pure and yielded life from Song of Songs (complete with interactive reading starring Jason Cooper as 'The Beloved'). |
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Hungering for Him
This time of prayer, fasting and giving feels so very different to other times we have called the Church to do this together. Like so much else that seems to be happening at the moment, I feel I am in uncharted waters, with the bare bones of a map and basic navigation instruments. Still, it feels exciting starting this adventure and reading the other entries in this blog has encouraged me hugely that this is a God thing and not just another goofy idea!
Last week was not easy, and felt like trying to drive an engine struggling to get out of first gear. After all, this was not the first time I had ever fasted, prayed and given things away. However, it soon became apparent that this was no run of the mill Lent journey, and that I was going to have to navigate very differently. I think I am learning to look out for the Holy Spirit much more each day, and He seems to be closer in the everyday ordinary things than I have known Him to be. Could this be what 'living in the Presence of God' looks vaguely like?
The challenges have mainly been when I have thought I had a fairly clear idea of when I was going to fast or pray, or even give something away, then He shows up with a completely different idea, pressing all my buttons! The conversation might go like this:
Me: Ready for some pudding
H/S: Do you really need it?
Me: I like it
H/S: Your choice
Me: Perhaps I don't like it as much as I thought
I am slowly beginning to realise how much I do things that I can manage, but have little or nothing to do with real desire. My desire is to become so hungry for God that I want Him more than food, more than things, even more than people.
First week was not so easy or as manageable ad I had thought it would be; but there is hope. I am discovering a God who is helping me make choices out of a right desire and not out of the oughts and shoulds. This next 7 weeks will be interesting!
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Des Figueiredo, 19/02/2008 |
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Way of Life
Click HERE to see Jason Cooper's animation of the BCC mission statement that was used on Sunday morning.
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James Manning, 19/02/2008 |
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Mislaid
So the first week of lent is coming to an end.....
I’m down to one cup of tea a day, I’ve cut out the alcohol, stopped snacking on bad stuff and started snacking on fruit etc. etc. This Monday to Friday fasting lark is an absolute breeze.....the secret is to fill your day with meetings and work and before you know it - it’s four o’clock and normal eating can be resumed.....it’s not rocket science!!!
But I’m sure something is missing.......when I read my bible I can’t seem to retain anything. I’m sure you know the scenario where you read a paragraph of something and realise you haven’t a clue what you’ve just read. As for prayer, at the moment they’re feeling a bit hollow...and a bit empty....
What’s been missing is time with God.....
....so I’m going out for my lunch break now to see if I can find out where I’ve mis-placed him....
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Alf England, 15/02/2008 |
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Diane and Tesco's
I jumped at the chance to exchange views on mugs with the checkout lady in Tescos. [She was looking for cheap ones] I mentioned that I had been looking to buy lots of new ones for my church. "do you get tea at your church?' She asked in surprise. I told her about the wonderful hospitality we enjoy at BCC and the lovely people. "Do you have lively music as well ?" she asked. This gave me the opportunity to describe the fantastic worship band and even to go on and tell her about the barn dance . "where is your church?" was her next Question. I gave her the Insert from my handbag and recommended she check out the web site for the address." I might come over this weekend." she called after me as I pushed my trolley away, leaving me amazed that no one else had come near her checkout to interrupt our conversation!
It wasn't until after i had done it , that I realized i had been prompted to do a random act of kindness. A friend called round briefly and I just couldn't resist giving away a broach that I was rather fond of! |
Diane Casey, 15/02/2008 |
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Lent Blog 12 Jan
I had had a tough busy day and I got home late feeling like I deserved a time just vegetating in front of the Television! But as I came into my room I felt God saying "No I want you to paint" Now normally I have no probs painting for God but this time I wasn't happy! I wanted to watch TV! But it dawned on me that I had been seeking God throughout the day and here He was wanting to spend time with me, right at the end of the day and all I wanted to do was vegetate! Well I gave in and got my brushes and paper and began to paint a picture that God had placed on my heart about the glory breaking through the weeds of our lives. A few hours later feeling like i'd finished the painting and just about to put my brushes away I felt God say "great now do it again!" I was like God this is too hard! It's 12 am! But I realised I didn't feel tired so the brushes came out again and I painted another painting on the same theme but this time completely different to the one before and finally at about 2am I finished having had the most amazing time with God and with a wonderful sense of His peace. Also I woke the next day early in the morning and I didn't feel tired at all praise God in fact I felt refreshed!
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Jason Cooper, 15/02/2008 |
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Prayer- Thursday evening
Great time of 'singing' prayer tonight with Jason, David and Jane. There was a real sense of God singing over BCC and in his singing that he was bringing healing from hurt and shame and replacing it with his Strength as we looked to him. We were singing bits out of Psalm 34 and we particularly felt v5 was significant: "They looked to him (the Lord) and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed."
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James Manning, 14/02/2008 |
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