God of the Ash Cloud
How remarkable you are
How quick to run to me
How quick to hear and turn
And turn around the skies
And turn around the skies
And blow way the clouds of Smoke and Fire
So we could fly
To take us on a journey to clouds of Smoke and Fire
Which blew upon another land
To walk beneath an open heaven
And breath the pure air of your City of Gold
And sit on seas that your Son walked upon
In ancient and glorious times
How swift you were to answer
To blow away the ash
How slow to answer prayer for souls that stray
How hard to turn their hearts
From folly to love
From doubt to faith
The ash that crowds men's hearts around the downward path
And chokes them so they do not turn to you
Why will they hate the wisdom from above
And mock the Sons of God
And stay in the madness and misery
That grounds them from their flight
From becoming Priests and Kings
God of the Ash Cloud
And of riches unsearchable
And of pleasures springing from the well
And of the Spirit of Wisdom Grace and Power
Who sets his angels to serve us
To watch us and bear in their hands
Us sacred souls of Grace
Our God Our Father Our friend in Jesus
Our whiteness in His Image
Our robes shining in your glorious light
We have our crowns in Jesus
Greater than the Kings of all the earth
Please wake those beneath whose feet we lie,
As fools condemned by their mockery
Arise once more God of the Ash Cloud
Who made a way by the breath of you mouth
Make a way once more
Blow your wind which moves impossible clouds
Like you did in Wales and the Hebrides
Blow the taste of soot from peoples souls
Help us to preach that they may know
And choose you once again
So they may not be grounded in a foreign land
Never able to inherit the promises
Blow Father blow
Blow Spirit blow
May people not taste ash
When they could drink from Living Water
God of the Ash Cloud
Show youiself once more
We long and long and long
To see the face of Jesus
To touch His healing hands
To touch His healing hands
And to touch His healing hands
Inspired by the Ash Cloud experience in April and John Wesleys poem
"Ye simple souls that stray"
Monday 25 October 2010
Saturday 31 July 2010
ISRAEL TRIP TUESDAY
TUESDAY
POOL OF BETHSAIDA, CRUSADER CHURCH, THE LIONS GATE (ST STEPHENS GATE), THE ANTONIO FORTRESS, MUSEUM OF THE HOLOCAUST, THE WESTERN WALL AND THE WESTERN WALL TUNNEL
Passed through a village in Jerusalem where he survivors of the Holocaust built houses.
Our Tour guide (B) is a secret Jewish believer. She knows everything there is to know about Jewish history. We passed some embassies and a Muslim Cemetery which the Jews have left intact in the midst of Jewish streets. Most of the archaeological levels in Jesus time were 40 feet below the ground levels we see today. Some of these places have levels which are accessible. Much has been excavated in the last 100 years and often using the Bible as a guide. So in some places we can walk along the actual ground that Jesus walked on. We learn that stones which have borders around them are stones used by Herod in his building projects.
We can see down(about 20 feet) into the original pool of Bethsaida, or the Sheep Pool, where Jesus healed a man who had been laid there for 38 years. A great number of sick people would have laid right here on these steps, although now there is no water!
It is warm There are butterflies, and red poppies are growing out of the ancient walls. Later we visit the church which is there and was especially reconstructed for singing acoustics, so we all try it out for ourselves. It’s not good for preaching because of the echo.
After this we go through the Lion’s Gate (St Stephens Gate) and to the Antonio Fortress. Excavations here revealed the actual Praetorium where Jesus was tried and flogged by Pontius Pilate. It is much smaller than depicted on films. The roof overhead is low, the place dimly lit. I took my worship flags to this visit. It was quite awesome to see the Roman stones. Though this is a busy place where tours followed each other quickly through, the place was suddenly cleared to allow a private time there. It was a sacred spot. A lady walks by in a sundress; she glances at the notice and hurries on. The significance is totally lost on her. There was a Roman game etched in the ground where the soldiers would cast lots for the clothing of the prisoners clothing. They did this to Jesus according to the Bible account. It’s quite awesome to sit here a while. I can hardly take it in.
Jesus stood before Pilate on this very spot. It is quite awesome. Isaiah would write hundred’s of years before Christ, of this time,
“By His punishment we have peace
By His wounds we are healed.”
We are soon outside again into the bright sunshine and stop for an early lunch at a Pizzeria. Chris and Lindy and B. know all the staff everywhere.
We then went on to the Museum of the Holocaust. It was very moving. The large building which commemorates the children is dark and full of lights which shine like stars. We sit a while and contemplate. It is cool in here and very warm outside. There were some very poignant things elsewhere- paintings done by prisoners to give to their children who had been left behind as their parents went to concentration camps.
We had an early evening meal at the Crowne Plaza and set off to the Western Wall, which was through a gated barrier.
It was explained to us by B. how Herod’s building programme had sliced off the top of what was originally Mount Moriah and what was equivalent to a huge platform had been placed on the top, like a tea tray upside down!. This required huge retaining walls around the edges. It was on top of this that the Temple had stood in Herod’s day. A portion of the Western wall is above ground, but most is below ground. Some of the stones of the retaining walls were about 40 feet long and 6 feet thick, and brought from Solomon’s Quarries, but no-one knows quite how! We now go underground. A small section of the underground revealed an 10 foot section of pathway which was present in the time of Christ. He would have walked along it to the cross. There were the original columns there and there is a section of pavement too and a stone banister to stop people slipping. I sense a presence of the Christ there- totally humble and a servant, walking resolutely the path of the cross for me. Someone starts to be ill here. They call for the nurses, but I am mesmerised to be standing on the pathway of Jesus. I want to take it in without interruption. We then come close to the place of the wall closest to where the original Holy of Holies would have stood. Devout Jews are here, nodding towards the wall and reciting their prayers. We saw underground water courses which would have fed the Temple Mount. There were huge underground rooms for water and courses cut into the rock. You really needed to be less than a size 20 to squeeze through some of these! Then we were outside once more to the Western Wall which was above ground. There is a huge marble piazza and we visit the Women’s section of the wall. As we began to walk towards the part of the wall which would have been closest to the Holy of Holies, I began to feel the most profound peace. It was hard to leave. The evening was warm and very pleasant. There was a beautiful atmosphere everywhere. Some of the children there were as devout as their parents, reciting the Torah and their prayers devoutly at the wall.
We got back about 10p.m. and Irene and Chrissie asked us back to their room for a chat.
POOL OF BETHSAIDA, CRUSADER CHURCH, THE LIONS GATE (ST STEPHENS GATE), THE ANTONIO FORTRESS, MUSEUM OF THE HOLOCAUST, THE WESTERN WALL AND THE WESTERN WALL TUNNEL
Passed through a village in Jerusalem where he survivors of the Holocaust built houses.
Our Tour guide (B) is a secret Jewish believer. She knows everything there is to know about Jewish history. We passed some embassies and a Muslim Cemetery which the Jews have left intact in the midst of Jewish streets. Most of the archaeological levels in Jesus time were 40 feet below the ground levels we see today. Some of these places have levels which are accessible. Much has been excavated in the last 100 years and often using the Bible as a guide. So in some places we can walk along the actual ground that Jesus walked on. We learn that stones which have borders around them are stones used by Herod in his building projects.
We can see down(about 20 feet) into the original pool of Bethsaida, or the Sheep Pool, where Jesus healed a man who had been laid there for 38 years. A great number of sick people would have laid right here on these steps, although now there is no water!
It is warm There are butterflies, and red poppies are growing out of the ancient walls. Later we visit the church which is there and was especially reconstructed for singing acoustics, so we all try it out for ourselves. It’s not good for preaching because of the echo.
After this we go through the Lion’s Gate (St Stephens Gate) and to the Antonio Fortress. Excavations here revealed the actual Praetorium where Jesus was tried and flogged by Pontius Pilate. It is much smaller than depicted on films. The roof overhead is low, the place dimly lit. I took my worship flags to this visit. It was quite awesome to see the Roman stones. Though this is a busy place where tours followed each other quickly through, the place was suddenly cleared to allow a private time there. It was a sacred spot. A lady walks by in a sundress; she glances at the notice and hurries on. The significance is totally lost on her. There was a Roman game etched in the ground where the soldiers would cast lots for the clothing of the prisoners clothing. They did this to Jesus according to the Bible account. It’s quite awesome to sit here a while. I can hardly take it in.
Jesus stood before Pilate on this very spot. It is quite awesome. Isaiah would write hundred’s of years before Christ, of this time,
“By His punishment we have peace
By His wounds we are healed.”
We are soon outside again into the bright sunshine and stop for an early lunch at a Pizzeria. Chris and Lindy and B. know all the staff everywhere.
We then went on to the Museum of the Holocaust. It was very moving. The large building which commemorates the children is dark and full of lights which shine like stars. We sit a while and contemplate. It is cool in here and very warm outside. There were some very poignant things elsewhere- paintings done by prisoners to give to their children who had been left behind as their parents went to concentration camps.
We had an early evening meal at the Crowne Plaza and set off to the Western Wall, which was through a gated barrier.
It was explained to us by B. how Herod’s building programme had sliced off the top of what was originally Mount Moriah and what was equivalent to a huge platform had been placed on the top, like a tea tray upside down!. This required huge retaining walls around the edges. It was on top of this that the Temple had stood in Herod’s day. A portion of the Western wall is above ground, but most is below ground. Some of the stones of the retaining walls were about 40 feet long and 6 feet thick, and brought from Solomon’s Quarries, but no-one knows quite how! We now go underground. A small section of the underground revealed an 10 foot section of pathway which was present in the time of Christ. He would have walked along it to the cross. There were the original columns there and there is a section of pavement too and a stone banister to stop people slipping. I sense a presence of the Christ there- totally humble and a servant, walking resolutely the path of the cross for me. Someone starts to be ill here. They call for the nurses, but I am mesmerised to be standing on the pathway of Jesus. I want to take it in without interruption. We then come close to the place of the wall closest to where the original Holy of Holies would have stood. Devout Jews are here, nodding towards the wall and reciting their prayers. We saw underground water courses which would have fed the Temple Mount. There were huge underground rooms for water and courses cut into the rock. You really needed to be less than a size 20 to squeeze through some of these! Then we were outside once more to the Western Wall which was above ground. There is a huge marble piazza and we visit the Women’s section of the wall. As we began to walk towards the part of the wall which would have been closest to the Holy of Holies, I began to feel the most profound peace. It was hard to leave. The evening was warm and very pleasant. There was a beautiful atmosphere everywhere. Some of the children there were as devout as their parents, reciting the Torah and their prayers devoutly at the wall.
We got back about 10p.m. and Irene and Chrissie asked us back to their room for a chat.
ISREAL TRIP MONDAY
MONDAY
BETHLEHEM, THE HASS PROMENADE, The GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE, THE HOUSE OF CAIAPHAS, THE ZION GATE, THE CARDO, THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
Bethlehem was too dangerous to enter at the present time, but we were taken to the Shepherds fields above Bethlehem. This is where the angels appeared to the shepherds in the nativity story. This is where the lambs would have been born and bred for the Passover sacrifice. It is a steep rocky place with scrubland and olive trees. The day is getting hotter. Chris is expounding the scriptures to us. Chris is telling us that after the birth of a child, the family would normally have gathered to celebrate the birth. In the case of Jesus, Mary and Joseph were way from their families, but God provided the wise men to come and celebrate His birth, bringing Gold which was costly, Frankincense, for Holiness, and Myrrh which was a healing balm.
Jesus was born here!
We went next to the Hass Promenade. This is a viewing point on a hillside, with stunning views of the Old City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and the Kidron Valley.
Back to Jerusalem and we find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane right opposite the Golden Gate in the City Walls. The walls shine with Goldenness due to the special Jerusalem limestone from its own quarries. It is quite stunning to see. We are having a private viewing of the garden in a part which is not open to the public. It is so special. This is the place that Jesus hung out with His Dad. He would have sat in this very place to connect with the Father in quiet prayer. It is the most beautiful and sacred spot. Everything is so much closer together and compact than I imagined. The Mount of Olives ascends from the Garden of Gethsemane and everything is so close to the city walls. Some of the Olive Trees here are more than 2000 years old. I wish they could talk. These trees are still thriving and bearing olives. There trunks are immensely thick. Christ’s agonies and decisions for our sake were made here. The Golden Gate is so very close. It’s so warm here, now about 10 a.m... Julie and I prayed in the garden. It was good to be able to thank God for making the decision to die for me, here in the garden.
A group photo was taken of us all outside the Golden Gate.
We went next to the House of Caiaphas, the high priest whose house Jesus was taken to when first arrested. Jesus was taken here first during His trial. It is said that he would have been flogged here as well as in front of Pilate. We were shown holes in the tops of doorways from which ropes would have been hung to hold prisoners as they were flogged. Also a pit in which Jesus could have been imprisoned for some of the time, as is indicated in Psalm 88:6
“You have put me in the lowest pit. In the darkest depths”
We all stood in the pit whilst Chris read the Psalm to us.
There were lots of ruins around the House of Caiaphas and we saw the actual wall where Peter would have warmed himself by the fire and denied that he knew Jesus.
We then went a short walk from the House of Caiaphas into the Old City through the Zion Gate, on the South side of the city. This was under Jordanian occupation until 1967 after the six day war. The Gate was a site of contention at that time and hence is full of bullet holes. It was then taken by the Israeli’s and they took occupation of that part of the city. They have since made many repairs and renovations to the inside of the old city, so that it is lovely to walk through now. There are all nationalities there now and immense peace as we walked through the narrow streets of the Old City- not at all like it is portrayed in the news.
We saw parts of the Old Cardo which had been excavated. The Cardo was a wide North to South Main Street which was typical of Roman Cities. It would be lined with pillars and columns and have shops and market stalls on each side and would be the hub of city life. We saw some of the restored columns of the Jerusalem Cardo. Thirty foot down from where we walked were illuminated archaeology sites. They showed some excavations of city walls going right back to way before Christ. We were being told so many things it was hard to take it all in.
We were also quite close to the site of Mount Zion, David’s city which is outside of the city walls, and close to the house of the Last Supper, but we were not taken to these places.
Phew, stopped for lunch about 2:30 in some lovely shady back streets in the Old City
Next stop was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This was built in the 4th century and the alleged site of Golgotha- Christ’s Crucifixion and burial. It was covered with all sorts of buildings, belonging to Catholics, Armenians, Orthodox, and a Franciscan Monastery.
It was very stuffy and religious although there were some beautifully painted ceilings etc. It was heaving with people from all over the globe. There was a long stone where it was supposed that Christ had been wrapped in cloths and anointed with spices, and people were touching and kissing the stone and spreading out family photos on it etc.
We have seen so much in a day.
A quick relaxing swim in the lovely glass covered hotel pool, and then a great buffet with the group.
BETHLEHEM, THE HASS PROMENADE, The GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE, THE HOUSE OF CAIAPHAS, THE ZION GATE, THE CARDO, THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
Bethlehem was too dangerous to enter at the present time, but we were taken to the Shepherds fields above Bethlehem. This is where the angels appeared to the shepherds in the nativity story. This is where the lambs would have been born and bred for the Passover sacrifice. It is a steep rocky place with scrubland and olive trees. The day is getting hotter. Chris is expounding the scriptures to us. Chris is telling us that after the birth of a child, the family would normally have gathered to celebrate the birth. In the case of Jesus, Mary and Joseph were way from their families, but God provided the wise men to come and celebrate His birth, bringing Gold which was costly, Frankincense, for Holiness, and Myrrh which was a healing balm.
Jesus was born here!
We went next to the Hass Promenade. This is a viewing point on a hillside, with stunning views of the Old City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and the Kidron Valley.
Back to Jerusalem and we find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane right opposite the Golden Gate in the City Walls. The walls shine with Goldenness due to the special Jerusalem limestone from its own quarries. It is quite stunning to see. We are having a private viewing of the garden in a part which is not open to the public. It is so special. This is the place that Jesus hung out with His Dad. He would have sat in this very place to connect with the Father in quiet prayer. It is the most beautiful and sacred spot. Everything is so much closer together and compact than I imagined. The Mount of Olives ascends from the Garden of Gethsemane and everything is so close to the city walls. Some of the Olive Trees here are more than 2000 years old. I wish they could talk. These trees are still thriving and bearing olives. There trunks are immensely thick. Christ’s agonies and decisions for our sake were made here. The Golden Gate is so very close. It’s so warm here, now about 10 a.m... Julie and I prayed in the garden. It was good to be able to thank God for making the decision to die for me, here in the garden.
A group photo was taken of us all outside the Golden Gate.
We went next to the House of Caiaphas, the high priest whose house Jesus was taken to when first arrested. Jesus was taken here first during His trial. It is said that he would have been flogged here as well as in front of Pilate. We were shown holes in the tops of doorways from which ropes would have been hung to hold prisoners as they were flogged. Also a pit in which Jesus could have been imprisoned for some of the time, as is indicated in Psalm 88:6
“You have put me in the lowest pit. In the darkest depths”
We all stood in the pit whilst Chris read the Psalm to us.
There were lots of ruins around the House of Caiaphas and we saw the actual wall where Peter would have warmed himself by the fire and denied that he knew Jesus.
We then went a short walk from the House of Caiaphas into the Old City through the Zion Gate, on the South side of the city. This was under Jordanian occupation until 1967 after the six day war. The Gate was a site of contention at that time and hence is full of bullet holes. It was then taken by the Israeli’s and they took occupation of that part of the city. They have since made many repairs and renovations to the inside of the old city, so that it is lovely to walk through now. There are all nationalities there now and immense peace as we walked through the narrow streets of the Old City- not at all like it is portrayed in the news.
We saw parts of the Old Cardo which had been excavated. The Cardo was a wide North to South Main Street which was typical of Roman Cities. It would be lined with pillars and columns and have shops and market stalls on each side and would be the hub of city life. We saw some of the restored columns of the Jerusalem Cardo. Thirty foot down from where we walked were illuminated archaeology sites. They showed some excavations of city walls going right back to way before Christ. We were being told so many things it was hard to take it all in.
We were also quite close to the site of Mount Zion, David’s city which is outside of the city walls, and close to the house of the Last Supper, but we were not taken to these places.
Phew, stopped for lunch about 2:30 in some lovely shady back streets in the Old City
Next stop was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This was built in the 4th century and the alleged site of Golgotha- Christ’s Crucifixion and burial. It was covered with all sorts of buildings, belonging to Catholics, Armenians, Orthodox, and a Franciscan Monastery.
It was very stuffy and religious although there were some beautifully painted ceilings etc. It was heaving with people from all over the globe. There was a long stone where it was supposed that Christ had been wrapped in cloths and anointed with spices, and people were touching and kissing the stone and spreading out family photos on it etc.
We have seen so much in a day.
A quick relaxing swim in the lovely glass covered hotel pool, and then a great buffet with the group.
ISRAEL TRIP SUNDAY
ISRAEL TRIP APRIL 25TH –MAY 2ND 2010
With “Worldwide Christian Travel”
A Pilgrimage Tour led by Chris and Lindy Hill
The trip I took to Israel in April with Julie has to be one of the best things ever to have had the privilege to be a part of. The insight and perspective given to the Bible and its land and people was really invaluable. Also the couple that led the tour gave us a very intense educational time taking us to as many sights as they could fit into the six days of sightseeing. Most days we were on the coach before 7:30 a.m. and had seen many sites by the time we stopped for lunch at about 2 p.m. each day.
God created a special “window” in the middle of the “Ash Cloud” crisis. Instead of Ash Clouds we saw “Glory Clouds” in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord
SUNDAY
TRAVEL TO HEATHROW, TEL AVIV, JERUSALEM
We set off from Chesterfield coach Station at 6:20a.m. As Paul & I waited for Julie & Robin some wild geese flew across the Station, honking as they went across. They reminded me of a Godrey Birtill song about the Holy Spirit and wild geese. It was a good start!
We soon met up with the others at Heathrow. The tour group had about 30 people of all ages and backgrounds. One of the first we met was Chrissie who was a friend of John & Maria. She was coincidentally on the same tour with her Mum, Irene. We soon got to know them, sitting near them on all our coach journeys and enjoying fellowship and laughter with them.
We flew with El-Al, the Israeli Airline. The plane was reassuring new looking and very comfortable- a Boeing 777. We were surrounded on the plane by men in long black coats, black hats and corkscrew black sideburns, (yes they kept their hats on!) and their Jewish looking wives, chasing restless babies who crawled up the isles when the trolleys were not coming around.
We arrived in Tel Aviv when it was night after 4 ½ hours flight. Had to pinch ourselves in Tel Aviv – Yes this really was Israel.
Towards midnight we were driving up the hillside to Jerusalem which is 2,500 feet above sea level. The narrow motorway was lined with Jewish flags left over from the anniversary of 62 years of Jewish Independence. Chris mentioned that Joshua fought the Gibeonites right here and the sun stood still, in this very place. We stopped at midnight for Schnitzel, feeling a little disorientated. Never mind, we thought – we will get to sleep in a little tomorrow- no chance! They were kind to us that first day, Monday- it was 8 a.m. on the coach!
We stayed at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem which was quite posh and did the most wonderful buffet meals.
With “Worldwide Christian Travel”
A Pilgrimage Tour led by Chris and Lindy Hill
The trip I took to Israel in April with Julie has to be one of the best things ever to have had the privilege to be a part of. The insight and perspective given to the Bible and its land and people was really invaluable. Also the couple that led the tour gave us a very intense educational time taking us to as many sights as they could fit into the six days of sightseeing. Most days we were on the coach before 7:30 a.m. and had seen many sites by the time we stopped for lunch at about 2 p.m. each day.
God created a special “window” in the middle of the “Ash Cloud” crisis. Instead of Ash Clouds we saw “Glory Clouds” in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord
SUNDAY
TRAVEL TO HEATHROW, TEL AVIV, JERUSALEM
We set off from Chesterfield coach Station at 6:20a.m. As Paul & I waited for Julie & Robin some wild geese flew across the Station, honking as they went across. They reminded me of a Godrey Birtill song about the Holy Spirit and wild geese. It was a good start!
We soon met up with the others at Heathrow. The tour group had about 30 people of all ages and backgrounds. One of the first we met was Chrissie who was a friend of John & Maria. She was coincidentally on the same tour with her Mum, Irene. We soon got to know them, sitting near them on all our coach journeys and enjoying fellowship and laughter with them.
We flew with El-Al, the Israeli Airline. The plane was reassuring new looking and very comfortable- a Boeing 777. We were surrounded on the plane by men in long black coats, black hats and corkscrew black sideburns, (yes they kept their hats on!) and their Jewish looking wives, chasing restless babies who crawled up the isles when the trolleys were not coming around.
We arrived in Tel Aviv when it was night after 4 ½ hours flight. Had to pinch ourselves in Tel Aviv – Yes this really was Israel.
Towards midnight we were driving up the hillside to Jerusalem which is 2,500 feet above sea level. The narrow motorway was lined with Jewish flags left over from the anniversary of 62 years of Jewish Independence. Chris mentioned that Joshua fought the Gibeonites right here and the sun stood still, in this very place. We stopped at midnight for Schnitzel, feeling a little disorientated. Never mind, we thought – we will get to sleep in a little tomorrow- no chance! They were kind to us that first day, Monday- it was 8 a.m. on the coach!
We stayed at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem which was quite posh and did the most wonderful buffet meals.
Wednesday 26 May 2010
Pioneers
Like the pioneers... that blazed the way
Cheering us on are the angels and saints
With our eyes on Jesus Captain of our faith
We press on in the race...
We press on in the race...
We may be grieved by trials
And circumstance
We cannot change
And brought to our knees again
But in the testing fire
He will supply sufficient grace
Leading us to the place
Of genuine faith....
We are determined
By the future
That God has promised us
Determined
By the future
That God has promised us
Rather than the past that we have made...
So let us do the things that get through heavens gates!
(Godfrey Birtill CD "Dread God")
I want to see a Revival
I really really mean that
Not just read about it but see it in my life time
God said on Sunday through the prophets
Keep crying out to me for Revival
Don't stop crying out for a Revival
Cry Out to me for my Spirit
So we cried out "God send your Glory"
Lord, "Send your Glory"
So I am saying & crying out
God send your Spirit, God send a Revival
I don't want to live just an ordibary life
To have just lived an ordinary life
Hoping wishing dreaming but never seeing
Want to see you save the lost, heal the sick, change society
In my lifetime
Not just to meet with You in heaven which I know I will one day
But right here & now
On earth and today
Send your Glory
In my lifetime
May the heavens rain down their blessings
In my lifetime
Roll Your Glory clouds over these streets right here
Roll Your Glory clouds over these pavements
Roll out your Glory Lord
Amen & Amen
Come Lord Jesus
Cheering us on are the angels and saints
With our eyes on Jesus Captain of our faith
We press on in the race...
We press on in the race...
We may be grieved by trials
And circumstance
We cannot change
And brought to our knees again
But in the testing fire
He will supply sufficient grace
Leading us to the place
Of genuine faith....
We are determined
By the future
That God has promised us
Determined
By the future
That God has promised us
Rather than the past that we have made...
So let us do the things that get through heavens gates!
(Godfrey Birtill CD "Dread God")
I want to see a Revival
I really really mean that
Not just read about it but see it in my life time
God said on Sunday through the prophets
Keep crying out to me for Revival
Don't stop crying out for a Revival
Cry Out to me for my Spirit
So we cried out "God send your Glory"
Lord, "Send your Glory"
So I am saying & crying out
God send your Spirit, God send a Revival
I don't want to live just an ordibary life
To have just lived an ordinary life
Hoping wishing dreaming but never seeing
Want to see you save the lost, heal the sick, change society
In my lifetime
Not just to meet with You in heaven which I know I will one day
But right here & now
On earth and today
Send your Glory
In my lifetime
May the heavens rain down their blessings
In my lifetime
Roll Your Glory clouds over these streets right here
Roll Your Glory clouds over these pavements
Roll out your Glory Lord
Amen & Amen
Come Lord Jesus
Sunday 23 May 2010
Fertile ground Out of the dead of the desert .....
Out of the dead of the desert
Will come your youth like dew
After the pain and the groaning
Comes celebration you
This is the time, this is day,
Old life behind, new life embraced
No longer desolate,
Let this be fertile ground
Where children of the promise are found
(Godfrey Birtill- Songwriter)
May 2010
HOLES
Warm sunny day and getting hotter. Just noticed what a mess is around me. Garden full of weeds, house dirty and dusty. A total backlog of things going back to last August, especially cleaning and sorting out around the house. Computer jobs which go way back- we lost our address list when the computer went wrong just before Christmas and I am still trying to make a new one and retrieve addresses that we lost months ago!
Been having renovations done but not the sort you normally do! ...................
10:30pm and going down the end of the garden once again to talk to the Great One who made me. I've discovered that He really enjoys this as much as I do, but the more honest I am the better He likes it. Its alarming how much He likes my honesty. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that! Sometimes the stars are out and sometimes not. If they are out I tell Him- "The stars are out tonight and the moon is shining through the branches of the sycamore tree." As if He didn't know that already! I asked Him in January if there was any real renovating that needed doing, thinking of course that He would say, "No we are pretty much up to date"
There were huge holes in me Help! Well I did know there might be a few but they were round the back of me so if I couldn't actually see them they weren't really there were they. But now we are looking and they have all pooled into one big hole that needs mending. Its round the front since I asked about the renovating job and I keep falling into it.
This is so uncomfortable. I mean that doesn't easily begin to describe it really. Before this there was a real nice grey area that I could sit in but now I keep falling into this huge black hole.
I am out on the edge with this great God who when I invited Him for a closer look took me at my word. There was one particular night- it may have been raining- as I found myself having a chat in the greenhouse. I was standing on the edge of the hole that night and pretty near falling in totally. I used to consider myself fairly normal. In fact the blessing of everyday life and its tasks & joys and hassles pretty much fills up the time so you don't notice the holes or even have to think about them. But if you ask ....well thats a different matter. The night I nearly fell in I found myeslf praying my best prayer- "Help" "Can You help me please!!!" I almost did not expect an answer but all of a sudden there was this firm and solid ground. I was lifted up and right into faith. I was right into
JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY and surrounded by the same
With it comes the peace too and we are then in a different world. Before there was a grey but now there is a hole and then the solid ground with no comfort zone between.
Its both amazing and horrendous depending which side of it you are on
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