Glory In The Highest

Glory In The Highest - Soul Survivor

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This is the new song that is capturing my imagination at the moment.. it's amazing! This video is taken from the 2009 Soul Survivor conference, an Anglican youth summer camp. It appears on the newly released Not Ashamed album. Click here to listen to a better quality recording from the Worship Central website where you can also get a free chord sheet. May we all be drawn by the Spirit into true, heartfelt and lifechanging worship today.

Skywatch #83

Comino, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Isaiah 35:1

We've had little bursts of sun this week but not enough to inspire me, so back to the archives it is. A sunny shot from Comino near Malta in the Med, a holiday back in 2002... still dreaming of summer :)

What's Your Name?

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“What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
Genesis 32:27

Jacob struggled with God. He had been on the run from his brother for deceiving him, and now the prospect of facing Esau was upon him. He was in fear and turmoil, not knowing what his brother would do to him. But God met him in his crisis. He asked him, "What is your name?" A simple question but one full of intention. Jacob's name had some negative associations; deceiver and supplanter. He had certainly had lived up to his name and now speaking it out was a statement of his struggle and the position he had put himself in. In the speaking there was admission, perhaps repentance. But God replies with something new. Jacob is now to be called Israel, meaning contender, fighter or God prevails.

Crises have a way of getting me to a place where I have to face who I am and what I need to let go of in order to embrace the new things God has for me. Sometimes this has been through big life changes and struggle, but often it's through letting go of the past and just starting a new day. Jacob spoke out his name in answer to God and God wants me to answer the question He is asking too. Naming those sins and struggles, being honest, humble and repentant is what God is looking for. Then He can remake me and give me a new name and identity, with strength to face the challenges ahead.

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Beware Of Legalism

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By his doing you are in Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:30

A food company released the perfect cake mix. It required no additives. Just mix some water with the powder, pop in the oven and prepare yourself for a treat. Only one problem: nobody bought it! Puzzled, the manufacturer conducted surveys, identified the problem and reissued the cake with a slight alteration - add one egg. Sales skyrocketed.

Why are we like that? What makes us want to add to what's already complete? Paul asked the same question. Legalists angered him by adding their work to Christ's finished work. Not much, just one small rule, "you must be circumcised to be saved." How does Paul respond? With a verbal blowtorch! "Watch out for those [dogs] who do evil...who demand to cut the body" (Php 3:2 NCV). "Evil," "dogs." We dismiss legalists as harmless; after all, they promote morality. They don't dismiss Christ, they trust in Him - a lot. But - they don't trust in Him alone! They look at the cross and say, "Great work, Jesus. Sorry you couldn't finish it, but I'll take up the slack." So Paul writes, "How is is that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? (Gal 4:9 NIV).

Legalism is miserable because legalism is endless. It leaves you with the anxiety that having done everything you know, you might not have done enough. Can our efforts make us more worthy of salvation? If so, we get a little of the credit, and deep down that's what our proud heart wants. No, salvation is not about what you do, it's about trusting only in what He's already done

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

He Is

He Is - Aaron Jeoffrey

Skywatch #82

Trafalgar Plinth, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

This appeared on the fourth plinth a couple of years ago. My desperation for blue skies has driven me to my archives again! Last year the plinth was available for anyone to show off their artistic talent. Check out the video below for some entrants who were a little less than inspired. Happy Skywatch Friday and have a blessed weekend.

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The Ministry Of Absence

Cover of Reaching for the Invisible God

You are a God who hides himself
Isaiah 45:15

I came across the phrase ministry of absence reading the wonderful book Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey. I am sure we have all been, or indeed may be in, that place of desert dryness where God's Presence seems to slip through our fingers and no spiritual discipline will bring us the comfort and assurance we are looking for. When this happens to me I am tempted to give up looking for Him, and I endlessley navel gaze to work out what the problem is. But God is showing me again that these times are vital to spiritual growth and maturity, and come from Him. It is He who leads us into desert places. It is in these deserts that we learn to lean on Him and trust that He is carrying us when we feel abondoned.

Henri Nouwen, the man who coined the phrase ministry of absence, advises that we do a disservice to others if we only talk of the heights of closeness to God and do not also prepare them for His absence. Philip Yancey also writes:

A friend of mine who researched thousands of saints in order to select 365 for a daily devotional guide told me that almost all of them climbed slopes of increasing difficulty. As God entrusts us with more responsibilty, the hardships may increase as well. Feelings of abandonment intensify, any sense of the presences of God fades, and tempations and doubts multiply.

This may well be true for many of us, and to learn that this has been a common experience of many, brings assurance that we are still on the right track. It is my own experience that the Christian walk does indeed get harder and harder, but the freedom from depending on the felt Presence of God brings a freedom and confidence that is more valuable. Indeed, when those precious moments come, they are more special and treasured. Finding God's Presence in the whole of life is also an important lesson for me, through nature, friends, family, reading, cinema, beauty, music...

So that desert place is a place not to panic but to be still and know that He is still God and will always be. It's a place to know that nothing I've ever done or will do, entitles me to experience His closeness; a place to recognise that it is all a gift sent by the Father by the Spirit through the cross of Christ.

Are You Running From God?

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'...the word...came to Jonah the second time...'
Jonah 3:1

Jonah did some serious praying in the whale's belly; he repented of his prejudice and learned to love people he despised. It was there he became willing to preach things people don't like to hear. And you'll notice something else. God didn't intervene until he repented. Most of us want God to move before we've moved. No, Jonah acted, then God responded; He commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah up onto dry land, whereupon the runaway prophet asked for directions to Ninevah. Sometimes because of our rebellious spirit we don't get it right until the next marriage. Sometimes because of our rebellious spirit we don't get it right until we're fifty. Sometimes because of our rebellious spirit we don't overcome our addiction until later, although we could have overcome it sooner.

Like Jonah we have to go to the bottom. But whatever it takes, God will do it. You can go to Ninevah yourself, or God can take you there. But it's easier to obey the first time. Jonah's story proves that the Lord is a God of second chances. '...the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time...' (Jonah 3:1 NKJV). Good news: Even though you've run from God, made a shipwreck of your life and feel like you're drowning, God will redeem and restore you if you'll turn to Him. He will give you a second chance in your marriage, your ministry or your vocation. But there's one condition; God is not going to change His mind to accommodate what you want, so you need to change your mind and attitude and do what He says, okay?

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Where Is God?

Rise up, LORD God! Lift up Your hand.
Do not forget the afflicted.
Psalm 10:12

This video has been appearing on many blogs and FB profiles and seeks to answer the question 'Where is God?'. Tough question. Recently I re-read the book, 'Why do bad things happen to good people?', but the question we often do not ask is, 'Why do good things happen to bad people?'. Something in us needs to know that people get what they deserve, but that is not how the gospel works. God gives us in Jesus what we did not earn or certainly deserve! Let's pray for the people of Haiti, that God will have compassion on them and that many will turn to the amazing mercy and love that He is longing to pour out on them. Donate to Haiti now.

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What's Your Vision?

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'For the vision...will surely come...'
Habakkuk 2:3

Obstacles can't steal your dream without your permission. Winston Churchill rallied blitzed, beleaguered Britain from the edge of defeat with these memorable words: 'Never give up! Never give up! Never, never, never, give up!' Obstacles are inevitable; quitting is optional! When you walk in faith and refuse to quit, God guarantees your obstacles won't prevent your vision from being fulfilled. Though they were enslaved, Israel received the strength to overcome Egypt's efforts to break them. The story of their survival and success reads: '...the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew...' (Exodus 1:12 NKJV).

Paul's dream of evangelising the world met roadblocks at every turn. Tightening his grip he declared, 'We are hard-pressed on all sides, but...never frustrated; we are puzzled, but never in despair. We are persecuted, but...never... deserted: we may be knocked down but we are never knocked out!' (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Phps). Joseph's journey to the throne was a long one. It led him through betrayal, persecution and loneliness. His dream, still alive and unsurrendered, was put on hold for years. Now prime minister of Egypt, vindicated in the critic's eyes, his dream at last realised, he recalls the amazing way in which God accomplished it. '"For" he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction"' (Genesis 41:52 NAS). Joseph refused to surrender his dream; it's what kept him alive. He looked for opportunities in his obstacles, and God made him fruitful, not by exempting him from affliction but by promoting him right there, 'in the land of my affliction'. Your obstacles can't stop God; don't let them stop you!

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The Gate Of The Year

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
"Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!"

And he replied:
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."

So, I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night
And He led me toward the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So, heart, be still!
What need our little life,
Our human life, to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low
God hideth His intention.


The Desert 1908
Marie Louise Haskins 1876 - 1957

Skywatch #81

Icicle Decor, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Joseph Principles

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'...God has made me forget...'
Genesis 41:51

Joseph was thirty when he became governor of Egypt. He was seventeen when he was sold into slavery. For thirteen years he dealt with pain and confusion, maintained his character and his commitment to God, and allowed his trials to make him triumphant. So you can't just throw in the towel, have a pity party, or sit around doing nothing. Joseph didn't simply forget what happened. Anybody who tells you, 'Just forget it' isn't living in the real world. It happened, but God can use it to enrich your life. God gave Joseph two sons: he named them Manasseh, which means 'God has made me forget,' and Ephraim, which means 'God made me fruitful in the land of my afflictions.' God gave Joseph new relationships to replace the old ones.

One reason why old relationships may be destroying you is that you haven't replaced them with new ones. You're hanging out with the wrong reminders. God helped Joseph to forget the pain of what happened. He still had the memory, but he prospered in spite of it. When you walk with God, the promise before you is always greater than the pain behind you. But here are some 'Joseph principles' you need to live by:

1) Don't try to ignore or pretend it never happened. God will give you the grace to handle it, not deny it
2) Believe that God can 'make up to you' the time, the relationships and the opportunities you've lost 'So I will restore to you the years that the...locust has eaten...' (Joel 2:25 NKJV)
3) List the people who've wronged you, forgive them and release them to God in prayer '...and forgiving one another...' (Colossians 3:13 NJKV)
4) Tell God you're ready to start over. And start today!

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Happy New Year From London!