Questions and Answers: An Interview with Darlene Zschech by Nicky Gumbel

On 28th November, Ryan arranged babysitters for us and we drove down to HTB London for the 1630 Service with Darlene Zschech (who even though I don’t know her I will from now on refer to her as Darlene). I have followed her on twitter for some time and her life is inspirational as a Mum, Grandma, Friend, Pastor and Worship Leader – I assumed she would love life – she really does Joy is her signature. Imagine if that would be true of my life too

The worship was truly beautiful, hearts across the building were worshipping, we were invited to praise, to love and to lean in towards the One who is worthy of it all. I loved it – I loved how my heart could worship in the atmosphere; a place with a rich heritage of worship.

During the interview; by Nicky Gumbel (who I now also follow on twitter – you will have heard of him –  Alpha, The Marriage course and so much more! I heard about him more this summer when Mike P (Soul Survivor) was talking about faithful leaders and named Nicky as an excellent example of one of them).

I did not transcribe the interview, I just took notes – like I do in most services I am in, as I was deeply impacted by her life I wanted to make sure I could refer to it again. I know by reading this you will be inspired, blessed and you too will want to know how your life can be more joyful and give honour to God. Words in italics are my additions.

In answer to a ‘top tip” for those in HTB, Darlene answered: Serve the Lord with gladness. In everything you do. Not in a cheesy ‘do it with a smile’ but deep inner joy. Throughout the evening, she reinforced the scripture that His Joy is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 for the joy of the Lord is your strength! (NLT)

She explained that this joy and the notion of serving with gladness is woven through the Bible.

Isn’t that amazing? How easy is it for us to serve without gladness –  you know, to do the housework, or prepare dinner and for it to really be a chore. Rather we should see it a delight to serve those around us. And surely that joy will be infectious to those around us – I know it is impossible for my children to resist a good laugh or to be in with a joke they may not fully understand. Rather that joy be infectious in our home than sadness.

Often, Darlene refers to ‘drawing near or leaning into Him’. She explained this based on

James 4:8 he WILL draw near.

For the Lord will never disappoint. Lean in to Him, for the Father delights to be with us!

Nicky asked Darlene: How to be a follower? She answered that to be a follower is to give your all, she then desribed her journey from salvation as a teen, moving to Hillsongs Sydney and then the journey to become a Worship Leader.

Her pastor encouraged her, pushed her and she described Brian Houston as a good leader who sees in you what you don’t see in yourself.  He saw the gift of worship in Darlene’s life and even though she didn’t see it herself was willing to see that gift brought to life.

When talking about the ‘Heart of worship’, she demonstrated that is was not just within the music; but our response in encountering the creator. To worship which is to serve, to kiss towards, our(imperfect) lives poured out as an offering.

To worship ‘In spirit and in truth’:

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. John 4:23

She asked everyone a question: What does that look like? Answering it is having permission to be all he created us to be.

She talked briefly about her recent book: The Art of Mentoring.  Culture of Service-

Mentoring. A Holy Spirit inspired type of mentoring – she was challenged to replace yourself 10 times, quickly.

Darlene was aware that a traditional model of mentoring is to get permission from say a leader to do things they would like of you; but she felt that people needed to be discipled and given to permission to be themselves, to be raised up and released rather than have a bottle neck of many awaiting permission: where you instead of becoming a mentor stiffle creativity and ideas as they must fit the original mould as opposed to the new thing.

(We bought the book, it is hiding somewhere as Ryan thought it would be a great gift for me for Christmas/Birthday. I hope it’s for my birthday as that’s 2 days before Christmas so a little sooner! I will imagine that I will write about the gems of truth as soon as I am given the book!)

The next part of the Q and A’s spoke so clearly into my life right now. Here I am, raising a beautiful family, loving the friends God has given to me, writing  blogs and devotionals, preaching the occasional sermon, seeking to find Joy. I am fully content with my season and at the same time knowing that there is more, but not yet! 

She reminded us not to despise the day of small beginnings. That the gold is in the journey. Use what God puts in your hands today. Watch him work the miraculous over your life. Use what he has entrusted to you – the good gifts and a time to grow in the journey and in our faith. To truly do what God has put in you. Use what’s in your heart and trust him to put it in your hand.

Worship and Justice are intwined for Darlene and she details a heart response to worship: Truthful worship in song. When we encounter a living God our response is right, we may kneel, weep, fall, fast or feast. Meanings of the word: to serve.

Often our first response when we are saved is: what can I do to serve? After time, we lose this.

Through music and song: Worship is therefore a vehicle for human heart to express  to God.  A way that our human heart can experience the divine. In a quote from Mother Teresa: You’ll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have got.

So, whether worship is worship for you is up to you. You decide to worship.

remember the times you’ve been to Church and not ‘felt’ like worshipping? Or the band wasn’t quite ‘right’ or the song choice was ‘poor’ or ‘I could have done better’. Ahhhh. Yes I have had all of those thoughts. Admittedly, but not recently. Worship is my gift to God and when I have the chance I want to do it as fully and with my whole heart as much as I can – and even though more often than not in worship at Church: I will be carrying little Ben or sorting out some crayons for Beth or rescuing a flag from disturbing the person next to me. Worship in my heart, in my home is beautiful. I am alone, there are no distractions and I can feel His Presence – for me it is not then about the band, the song choice it is only about my will: Will I worship or will I do something else?

Darlene referred to the ‘blanket of sadness’ laid over the world by the enemy. This is shown by the statistics that more money is spent on anti depression pills than the money spent on overseas aid.  Sadness stops you from giving.

And not just financially. It is hard to give life if you are overcome by a blanket of sadness. It is hard to rejoice in another if you are slumped by sadness.

She suggests that by walking with joy puts people at ease.

In closing, Darlene gave some glorious gems which I list below:

• The ‘genius’ serve with humility.
• Thank God for where he has put you today.
• Dream really big.
• Thank Him all the way.
• Keep praising even of it looks like all hell is breaking loose all over the world.
• Choose to lead and to serve.
• Lay down your life to serve.
• Trust God with your future.
• You have been placed on earth on purpose, entrusted with these days.
• Trust God and do well with what He has put in your hands.

Can you tell why I was so inspired listening to her? Her life is full of Joy, she knows what it is to give, and to life a full life. Thank you for sharing your precious heart. Love a xox

Blog 100: Life after Death

At Church yesterday I observed the most beautiful, heartfelt, profound worship in another person I have yet seen in the face of death. Let me explain. A wonderful lady, mother, grandmother and friend died on 1-9-11 due to an embolism. She had been fighting cancer.  I knew her to chat to and have always seen her worshipping at the front of Church in the worship times. Sometimes holding her grand-daughter who is a similar age to Ben. And sometimes with her hands raised in abandonment to God. My husband told me that she had always said ‘the cancer will not kill me’. It didn’t.

The daughters and family were at Church on Sunday, and somehow I expected them to be well, ‘in mourning’. They were. But it was the most beautiful way of expressing their gratitude for their mother’s life. The way they worshipped and praised God, the way I saw their tears fall as they knelt before God. The way they did not let their emotion get in the way of worshipping God for His greatness in the midst of the passing of their mum. I learned so much by watching this precious family in a few minutes. Honestly, to begin with I didn’t realise who they were. Until I looked closely – I don’t usually watch people in worship, as it is such a personal thing. And I quite like to close my eyes in worship so I can forget about that which is around me and not have to concentrate on my surroundings, and possible distractions… As I looked I suddenly burst into tears. Silent tears. They knew their Mum was in heaven. This was the end of her life as a mortal body and the beginning of her life in heaven, with God, with Jesus, with Holy Spirit. Her body will be made whole – in a spirit kind of way! Her past hurts, fears, rejections will all be understood and moreover, will be healed as the Great Healer breathes life into her again. As she entered into Eternity, she will experience Heaven. She will actually live there in its physical place. She will worship. What ever she was good at on Earth she will now be most excellent at. She will live, fully and – forever.

Now I understand why the family were worshipping. I understand my hope of Heaven is very real. But it is easy. Too easy I think. To put your circumstance in the way of worshipping God. To put your emotion before worship. To choose to with hold worship from God. I have done it. But I watched a beautiful lesson yesterday and it enabled me to understand this verse in a new dimension, John 4:23-4 (Amplified Version):

A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.    ²⁴God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).

At the end of the worship, we began singing Phil Wickhams’ ‘Your Beautiful’: 

I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful

When we arrive at eternitys shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

With a forever hopeful heart! A xox

What I’m reading/baking/doing/thinking

I’ve woken up before everyone else this Sunday morning, it’s been a relaxing Friday and Saturday so far. I realised I hadn’t done any ‘brain’ work so that must be the reason to wake up early. Yes the pot of coffee is in front of me. And no, it’s not lazy sunday – I opened the wrong one, it’s Lavazza and actually tastes quite nice (with a chocolate brownie…. I know… It’s Nigella’s recipe, you want it? wait a minute, here’s the link. They are scrummy. She said to add two chocolate bars. I don’t have chocolate in the house anymore unless it’s a gift, this way it’s still a treat Anyways. I did have a ‘polar bar’ for the children’s snacks – it’s a take off of the penguin bar (really) and we squashed that up really small and added two of those and it tastes great as a substitute.  Oh and bc we always add/edit recipes instead of 1 cup plain flour I added 1/4 cup polenta. The grittiness of the polenta/mealie meal (remember I’m married to a Zimbabwean ) makes it really special.

A few weeks ago I cut out all of the pieces to make bunting. Beautiful pink triangles with hot pink bias binding, it was for one of Beth’s best friends’ birthday. Anyways. I never got round to making it so I bought some cute as can be but turned out to be ever so small bunting……. I got the sewing machine out the other day to complete the project. Well. What do you know. My trusty Singer 522 had a small problem. Every other time my machine has broken it’s stopped working. Fixed by adjusting tension, rethreading etc… This time was different.  It just wouldn’t stop. I turned the lamp on and off it went whizzing invisible thread. I turned it off, used it’s super power to wind the bobbin, and it was too speedy that it broke the thread. I thought ok it’s obviously the pedal (which during this entire time I hadn’t put my foot on….!) so I pressed the pedal. Then I smelt a nasty, burnt out smell. The pedal was smoking. I threw it outside into the rain. I imagined a fire on the kitchen table, burning my kitchen floor and waking Ben from his sleep. Oh dear. Yes, I think throwing it outside was the best thing to do. Sigh. No bunting. But you’re smiling, right? So now, where can you hire a sewing machine from? That’s right. I totally had a dream that I could hire a machine, and then if the tension goes all crazy, or the pedal just has a mind of it’s own you return it… In the midst of my calls to a Singer repair shop I have found out that my Old Fashioned Singer Machine (the ornament) is from the 1950′s. In what? 40 or so more years it will be a proper antique!

I’m reading two books at the moment (properly) I have a third, but I haven’t got very far so will write about that one another time. I’m reading Anna Smith’s: ‘Meet Mrs. Smith’ again. I love her heart for her family, her love for justice and the way she and her husband have compassion and act upon it to change situations. She writes about the reality of family life – ie leaving the house with toddlers in such a compelling way that I’ve been laughing at it even though it’s a daily reality!

My second book is more a devotional book: ‘Barefoot in the Kitchen’ by Alie Stibbe. A friend bought this book for me when Bethany was little and reading it now Ben is ‘little’ (oh he is, even though he has such l-o-o-o-n-g legs). The chapter on a simple life reminds me of another book I dip into entitled something like ‘how to live a simple life’ which crudely summed up refer to a life emptied of clutter. Cupboards, wardrobes and junk are all in order – so to reflect your inner self.  Must have affected me as yesterday I cleaned out the bureau, the under-stairs cupboard and under Beth’s bed. Well, all of this is good to have your house in order, so to speak. And to have your heart in order. But I’m not yet feeling the connection. I am sure I will when I can’t find {anything I’ve lost} and it is neatly put away saving me time? Energy? Anxiety? We shall see. I did however find a cute red coat that I had forgotten about, and a baby sling – which I was certain I’d given away

Alie’s book is a series of short devotionals and I am now reading a chapter on ‘Lord of the Pots and Pans’. She writes about St Benedict and how he urged the cellerar to ” provide the brethren with their regular allowance of food, without fuss or keeping them waiting, so as not to make for them an occasion to sin”

The Alie writes:

If the kitchen had become my holy ground, the the cooker and sink that I worked at and the table where we ate were my alter. Similarly, the pots, pans, cutlery and crockery were the holy vessels – and I should treat them as such.

I have been reading and re-reading this, trying to make better sense of it! Well, I get it. My life as a Mum isn’t just about raising happy, contented, enthusiastic, educated, delightful children  - which I really enjoy doing. It’s about every area of my life for the glory of God. The washing up? The cleaning? Joel Osteen talks about the same kind of thing as he urges you to wash your car, keep your house clean, be the best you can as God has given it to you to steward/look after! I want to do the best with all  I have been given. The ‘talents’ that God has entrusted to me. I want to be like the one in the parable of the talents who invests wisely, and does a ‘good’ job to make their Master proud and to have a good return for their work! I want to be rather like the one who doubled what God gave and then was given more. Not just doubled it like one of them in the story. Nor do I want to hide what I have in the ground and make up an excuse about my time, or my effort.

With love and thankfulness for all I have, A xox

Matthew 25 (the message bible)  ^14-18“It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

^19-21“After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

^22-23“The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

^24-25“The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

^26-27“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

^28-30“‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

Who does God Bless?

I was at Soul Survivor this Summer with 20 youth from our Church. One of the speakers was Mike Pilivachi. He spoke on who God chooses to bless. Here I want to post my notes from that meeting at SSA. Remember that most of the work is his, and I will write my own notes to go along with it/how it relates to my life. Therefore his words will be in italics.

God chooses to bless those who are interested in others. By being interested in someone else’s dream, being one who helps someone else fulfill their dream is to be a blessed person. How about what I wrote in an earlier post – not so sure about it now, what do you think?

God loves community. Today the disease of society is isolation. Doing it alone. Loneliness. The world, in its loneliness is looking for a family – not for giftedness! Gifting without character hurts people. Learn to serve another person’s agenda, to serve another person’s dream.  I don’t think I can add to this. I will be more serving and find out what others want, where they have dreams and will come alongside…

You give things up for the one you love. You would give up sin for the Love of Jesus. Boom! See how he said that?! What kind of sin? The small (ha) gossipy kind of sin? The huge sssh don’t tell anyone about it kind of sin? Nah. No scale. Just sin. I want to give that up: critical attitudes, negativity, jealousy: That kind of sin. That keeps me at a distance from God. Have you got a sin? Something that keeps you from God? Something you wish no-one knew? God with His abounding grace wants to take ‘that’ sin and remove it from your memory. Make you brand new. And take the memory of the sin you did/was against you. Forever. Free.

Serve someone else’s agenda, interpret someone else’s dream and live for Jesus. By doing these three you will life life fully! Not sure if you notice here but this is the life of Joseph. And Jesus. Extraordinary parallels for us as we live life today.

I want to be someone God chooses to bless. I want to bless others. I want to see Kingdom Come. And my guess on what that looks like is wilder than yours (unless you want to see mine and raise me! ha!) I want to be interested in others, more than my needs. And I want God to fulfill the dreams I have.

With Love, A xoxo

Servolution

I was in ‘the green room’ today, and we were having lunch with Ryan Wyatt – one of the speakers at the conference our Church is hosting. I love listening to these conversations, taking part and pondering on what they are saying. Anyways. Today Ryan mentioned something called ‘servolution’. The Serving Revolution.

It all started with us talking about music. And the music we love. We started with Hillsong’s ‘Aftermath’. If you don’t have it BUY IT… Don’t wait a second longer. In the mean time click here for my all time favourite song on the album – which is currently playing in my car, and has been non stop for almost 2 months. Bethany sings along with most of the words and Ben rocks his head like a rocking guitarist (still have no idea where he learnt it from !)

OK was trying to post a link of my favourite song. But I can’t decide which one it is. Here’s a sample….. someone actually spent time making this……

Well, there we are. Back to the album. Ryan was explaining how the song writers had given the music a break and had gone back to their local Church, Hillsongs, Sydney. And they were serving. Giving all they had to the Church. Giving their energy and passion to God and serving.

And LOOK what happened. The most beautiful lyrics detailing what it is to be abandoned to God, and music that is so emotional that you keep hitting repeat!

Here are the lyrics to Rhythms of Grace:

Verse 1
My life is a light for Your cause
My will laid aside for Your call
And reserved are the depths of my heart
Only for You
Verse 2
I’m caught in the rhythms of grace
They overcome all of my ways
Realigning each step everyday
To live for Your glory
Chorus 1
There’s none beside You God
There’s none beside You God
Verse 3
You’re there in the dark of the night
While holding the sun and it’s light
Through the triumph and trials alike
There’s no-one beside You
Verse 4
Your voice called the stars by their name
‘Cause You whispered them all to their place
To testify to Your wonder and praise
Both now and forever
Chorus 2
There’s none beside You God
There’s none beside You God
I love my life to shine Your light
‘Cause there’s none beside You God
Bridge
No eye has seen
No ear has heard
The depths of Your love, Lord
No mind can fathom
The love You deserve
How great You are

From: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/hillsong_united/#share

Reminds me to keep on doing the very best I can at everything I am asked to do. Whatever it is, whether it’s looking after my children, entertaining friends, keeping the house tidy, cleaning the car, if I do my very best – as unto God – remember that scripture…? In the emails I reply to, the people I talk to. If in everything I do I serve to the best of my ability , encourage, thank, show kindness (etc) with all that God has given to me then I am beginning my revolution in servanthood…  My servolution has begun. xox

Servolution is a book by Dino Rizzo: I found a place you can get a sample of on amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Servolution-Starting-Revolution-Leadership-Innovation/dp/0310287634

Furthermore, here is a quote taken from the foreword: ‘some leaders push me, some inspire me, some challenge me, but dino rizzo is a leader who messed me up. In the best possible way’

OK enough of the sample…. Going to buy this on my ipad/ibooks app. byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee x

Exciting, inspirational week!

Yesterday my friend took me out for breakfast. We usually go to Starbucks, but today I just didn’t feel it. (Remember, I’m a feeling person and I have to ‘feel like it’!) Good job we didn’t, as half of  Starbucks was destroyed, obviously refitting but Ben would have been into EVERYTHING! So, we found the old faithful Golden Arches We had such inspiring talks, prayers and shared our hopes for our lives. Talked about things that affected us weeks or even months ago and realised that we were not even bothered in the slightest by those any more. Isn’t it amazing how God can change you so much in such a short period of time that as you release forgiveness, or deal with your own actions and heart motives that you are no longer held back by ‘could have, should have, would haves’ about a situation?

This week, we have Heidi Baker and Ryan Wyatt at our Fresh Awakening Conference at Church (www.revivalfires.org.uk). My children are getting so much better at coming to conferences, they love to rock out with their dance moves to worship. Ok Beth has always loved dancing – Ben however is just learning to groove…..! I will have to video him before he forgets this dance move, or moves onto more advanced dancing!!! It’s more like a fast step on the spot with a nodding head. I know, words can’t describe his awesome, self learnt move!!

I am really looking forward to hearing the speakers and to see what ‘fresh awakening’ God has for my heart over this conference. Last conference was Lance Wallnau and I was really encouraged by his speaking and the way he pursues God. I am looking forward to these speakers and hearing their life journey adventure with God!

Have a fab rest of your week, whatever you do, where ever you go, who-ever you have breakfast with!

Love xox

Encouragement part 1: What is encouragement?

Here are some of my notes from my study on encouragement:

To encourage is to:

1. To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence; hearten.

2. To give support to; foster: policies designed to encourage private investment.

I have found a handful of ways that we can get encouraged as Christians:

Acts 9:31
The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.

Encouragement from the Holy Spirit – by waiting on His presence, by expecting the Holy Spirit and allowing our lives to be affected.

Acts 13:14-1 “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”

Encouragement through the gift of prophecy/word of knowledge.

—

OK that was really short, gotta go be with my little Ben, look for more updates on this in the coming days.

Love, and be encouraged.

Anna xox

Preaching.

I’ve been asked to preach on Sunday. It was meant to be at the end of the month, but was brought forwards. I am thrilled. I am taking every opportunity that comes my way. I’m looking forward to what God wants to say to His Church through me. Now, the only problem is I have about 8 topics circling my head. And I don’t think I’m allowed to do 8 mini sermons that don’t link together!

Either way, I’ll post my notes after sunday. Or if you want to watch live online, you can go to www.revivalfires.tv (Friday at 7.30 pm or Sunday 10.30am). I’m speaking this Sunday.

Have a wonderful weekend. Love xox

A full house – a house full of dreams

Last night we hosted a Royal Wedding Braii (I should have called it the post-wedding party) I started off with a handful of friends, then I went on facebook and invited some more, then I went through my text messages and invited some more and then my email contacts. Fourty people popped in on us. It was a lovely atmosphere, and there were such a lot of lovely conversations. Early in the evening I was really busy making sure the tables were laid, that everyone had a drink, that there was enough food to go round (there was, almost…….!) that the children were happy, that all of my friends were introduced to each other.

What I was most delighted by was that each person there was so unique. Each with their very own personality, and individual call. There was a lot of destiny in our home last night (there’s still some here!). After talking to inspirational friends last night, and friends in general, it really does seem like there are a lot of people in preparation stage. Almost waiting in the wings for their BIG entry.

Psalm 139 [Amplified]:

¹³For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.

¹⁵My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].

Yes, I know this part! We are formed by God, knitted together, never hidden from God as we were stitched/embroidered with various colour – colour: The uniqueness of character and individuality.

¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

The book of my life was written before I had taken shape.  For years I have known about this book of life for my life. I was amazed when I first read and understood it. I know God has ordained my days, and like I’ve said before, if I go off course (by using my free will) the most precious and graceful Father will redirect my steps to come into alignment with this book. Imagine your Dad hoping that you would succeed in life, and you made choices that led to failure. Perhaps ‘dad’ would have made opportunity for you to come home, to be recovered and to live a life of success. If you didn’t take that opportunity, don’t you think there would be another opportunity, and perhaps another? As I reread this, I have almost paraphrased the parable of the Lost Son.

¹⁷How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!^(E)

¹⁸If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You.

In our home last night we had managers, designers, architects, manufacturers, child-minders, mums, graphic designers, dads, teachers, cake-makers, social workers, jewellry designers, business people, armoured car fitters, missionaries, youth workers, web designers and a doctor.  The teenagers who were here also have big dreams too: one wants to work for pixar, another already has a web design business, another a budding photographer. And I never got round to finding out what the 2 and 3 year olds dream of – must have another meet to ask them!

Not only were people’s professions important (look at how varied our group of friends are). But there was a real depth of personal qualities – people who care, love, share, encourage, look after, inspire, have wisdom, intelligence and so much more.  If I really did count them, they would outnumber the sand!

As I stood in the kitchen with the girls who wanted to load the dishwasher (THANKS A MILLION ) we chatted about where we are headed in life. What God has instore for us. And although everyone I spoke to was content in their life right now, there was an underlying sense of ‘there must be something more’. Not at all in a negative way – but in a way that gives thanks to God for what He has done, and waits for that page to be turned in the book of your life.  I know my page was turned recently, it was more like a new chapter and I am delighted with the new season I am in. It is easy to become frustrated with your present situation, as you wait. But be like those in my home last night – getting ready but content!

With a heart that is thankful for precious friendships A xox

Easter Bunnies. Gosh it’s a LOT more than that

For me, Easter isn’t about bunnies, bonnets, eggs, chocolate, Simnel cake or what not. It is about the ONE event that changed history.

Two pieces of wood. Four nails. One Saviour.

He did it for me. He did it for you. Jesus took the sin, the sickness, the pain, hurt and ‘all the bads’ as my Beth describes ‘sin’. Everything. Onto that cross. No wonder it went dark for hours:

Matthew 27: Amplified Version [right after Jesus was whipped, hung and nailed to the cross. Even as I write, my heart is eternally thankful for the most brutal act that in the most supernatural way means that His death means life for me. Can I fully understand the transaction of death to life, not really. But, I believe. I am full of faith and I do not doubt.]

⁴⁵Now from the sixth hour (noon) there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (three o’clock).

⁴⁶And about the ninth hour (three o’clock) Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?–that is, My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me [leaving Me ^[l]helpless, forsaking and failing Me in My need]?

God had to forsake His son because of the enormity of sin.

⁴⁷And some of the bystanders, when they heard it, said, This Man is calling for Elijah!

⁴⁸And one of them immediately ran and took a sponge, soaked it with vinegar (a sour wine), and put it on a reed (staff), and was ^[m]about to give it to Him to drink.^(I)

This was to fulfil the prophecy in Isaiah .

⁴⁹But the others said, Wait! Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him ^[n]from death.

⁵⁰And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit.

At this very moment history was changed. Jesus died. He gave up HIS SPIRIT. He chose death over life and in the most selfless act, Jesus cried out and life left him.

⁵¹And at once the curtain of the ^[o]sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split.^(J)

A momentous earthquake. The world shook. Not just the temple quaked but in the way Jesus gave His spirit, the world, the earth created by His father had to respond to the crucifixion.

⁵²The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep ^[p]in death were raised [to life];

⁵³And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴When the centurion and those who were with him keeping watch over Jesus observed the earthquake and all that was happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, Truly this was God’s Son!

They didn’t know before that? What a huge mistake……. Or was it? (I have my own theory here, absolutely NOT a mistake!)

⁵⁵There were also numerous women there, looking on from a distance, who were of those who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him.

⁵⁶Among them were Mary of Magdala, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

⁵⁷When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.

⁵⁸He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

⁵⁹And Joseph took the body and ^[q]rolled it up in a clean linen cloth ^[r]used for swathing dead bodies

Swaddled again in the same way He was when He was born into the world that He was to save.

⁶⁰And laid it in his own fresh (^[s]undefiled) tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a big boulder over the door of the tomb and went away.

⁶¹And Mary of Magdala and the other Mary kept sitting there opposite the tomb.

⁶²The next day, that is, the day after the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate

⁶³And said, Sir, we have just remembered how that ^[t]vagabond Imposter said while He was still alive, After three days I will rise again.

⁶⁴Therefore give an order to have the tomb made secure and safeguarded until the third day, for fear that His disciples will come and steal Him away and tell the people that He has risen from the dead, and the last deception and fraud will be worse than the first.

⁶⁵Pilate said to them, You have a guard [of soldiers; take them and] go, make it as secure as you can.

⁶⁶So they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch.

Well, you know that boulder would not stop Jesus….

Matthew 28:

¹NOW AFTER the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb.

²And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the boulder back and sat upon it.

³His appearance was like lightning, and his garments as white as snow.

⁴And those keeping guard were so frightened at the sight of him that they were agitated and they trembled and became like dead men.

⁵But the angel said to the women, Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified.

⁶He is not here; He has risen, as He said [He would do]. Come, see the place where He lay.

Yes. An empty tomb. No boulder. No security guard. No man could hold Him back.

And that is why I celebrate Easter. Because Jesus rose from the dead. He gave his life for the life of everyone. Like I said before, it takes faith to believe and I am so thankful that God has given me faith. I do not ever doubt the most precious exchange of death to life. My gratitude will never end. The life I am given, the freedom from sin, the knowledge that I will (because of what Jesus did) never die, although my body will come to an end, my spirit will never die. I will meet God – face to face and, not die.

May you know more of His love for you today and everyday. It is not just today that I am aware of the gift of life for me, it is every single day, more than that. It has permeated my spirit.

With a heart full of love A xox