Newsletter

Out with the old,

In with the new.

Straight swap:

One for the other;

Better over Best;

Great for good.

Ultimately —

Life over death

Choosing today life, Better, Great, the One!

The season draws out emotions rarely aired in any other setting. In the space of 90mins, there is laughter, crying, cheering and sinking in dismay. Nothing is withheld as 22 men play on some turf with one fixed gaze – to put the ball in the back of the net. Some win, some lose. The passion is obvious as you see grown men cry before thousands defeated and deflated whilst others do flips and jump with sheer joy, excitment and glee.

Amidst one such game, I pondered this life in relation to the passion I see here. I remember many a time when a pastor stated that we need to have as much passion, worshipping and giving our all in life, as is seen on and off the football pitch. What a challenge when you closely observe this competition.

My choice today is to give my all in life, in worship, in loving.

Sending Rain to a dry and weary land,
Forming the Streams in the Desert.
Standing in the gap as the rain begins to fall,
Watching as the dams are filled.

A song arose, O Cyprus, Stand with the Righteous. A gathering of people from all over the Island with one accord. Worship and Intercession over a small very significant island called Cyprus. Over this past few weeks, our community has hosted a conference for the Island bringing them together to learn more about worship and intercession. Following this, a group from Paphos came to our base to learn about evangelism. Our presence on the Island has increased more and more and the years progress. God is using this community to impact a whole nation – North and South – I believe. In a couple of weeks, the second year team will be heading to the northern part of the Island to walking the footsteps of Paul! We are expectant to receive an even greater burden to see this Island united under God. Testimony of the people of this nation stepping out with words of knowledge, prophectic words and releasing blessing. What an amazing time.

Our 5 hour delay did not stop our Joy as we finally landed in Israel:

Our hostel was really a bit grotty so we took to the beach for our first sleep and a brunch of Falafels:

For the past few days, I have been busy along with the rest of the team working on a Moshav – clearing the grounds and cleaning the windows in preparation for a retreat centre! This morning the sun arose to a rather misty land.

A golden year, or so they say
A year for growth, life, sweet things
The incense of worship arising
Day to day I submit more
Expecting more of God and less of me.
A year of release
A new, improved living
That’s the motto for this year
My golden year!

Only once in your life do you turn the age of your birth date. The surprise for me was that the 2nd year staff leader also turned the age of her birth date just a few days prior to mine. Significant I do believe.

After dinner on my birthday, I was blindfolded and driven for what seemed like a rather long time to the GTS II leaders home. They kept me blindfolded as they ‘aroused my senses’ by passing incense bottles under my nose. It was really strange having a conversation not knowing who was in the room at any given moment. I sat for a rather long time before they were ready to show me where I was and who was there…

When all was revealed, Indian party music was played and the staff waved a long sahari over whilst some danced under it. I laughed and it was amazing! We had a great night with hot chocolate and a beautiful desert with cream – what a treat. I am so grateful for the effort put in by all the staff to make my birthday a great night playing games, laughing and lots of pictures!

So very weak, and you are strong.

With your strength I can do all things,

Bought by a price: I am not my own, I belong to Christ.

In humility, I died to self and am alive to life in Christ,

Wholeheartedly, I submit to God, resist the Devil and he flees.

Today I CHOSE LIFE, Your life, and Life in abundance,

Lack is no longer a controlling factor in my life,

Abundance is my portion.

It is easy sometimes to make declarations and not take them with you after you say them. I believe it is important to declare things over your life even when it’s hard. The power contained in our words is far beyond what we give it credit for. I am ready to release declarations over my life that point to Yeshua – my Lord and Saviour. You see, without Him my life has not meaning or point and become a self focused self dependant mess with no hope. I am thankful for all that GTS has taught me over the past few years and I choose not to forget the goodness of God in this year and whilst living in the present, I deal with the past and change the future!

Today my prayer for you is that you also will discover the Shalom of God in your life. Last year I discovered the true meaning of the word so commonly translated as peace! It means right order – Godly order.

TO BRING FROM A LOWER PLACE TO A HIGHER; TO LIFE UP; TO RAISE; AS, TO ELEVATE A WEIGHT, A FLAGSTAFF ETC…

TO RAISE TO A HIGHER STATION; TO PROMOTE; AS, TO ELEVATE TO AN OFFICE. OR TO A HIGH SOCIAL POSITION.

TO EXALT; TO ENNOBLE; TO DIGNIFY; AS, TO ELEVATE THE MIND OF CHARACTER.

TO RAISE TO A HIGHER PITCH. OR TO A GREATER DEGREE OF LOUDNESS; SAID OF SOUNDS; AS TO ELEVATE THE VOICE.

Phil 3:12-14

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”

Tears and smiles are common as we approach the throne room of Almighty God. I have noticed that there is not always a reason for these, but they can even go hand in hand. During worship today, I noticed that all the debris had collected at the end of dam. My mind immediately was reminded that our lives can end up like this – with out the overflow of God in our lives, we can be like a dam that is not full with all the debris clogging it up. What causes this to clear is the overflow of love from the Father, today I am so thankful for the overflow of love that, married with His Grace, clears the blockages of my own life leading me directly to Himself!

Well, Cyprus is cold, a wee bit rainy/stormy… Not really what you expect, yet it is their winter and at 0C it is winter here without the snow, for now!

This is the block of houses that I have lived in for the past two years and again, I live in the middle house my bedroom is behind the tree. I have now lived in all three of these houses and in all three of the bedrooms!

The main offices/classrooms/worship room/kitchen/dining area, a.k.a. the base, has moved location down the hill a bit. The new kitchen is great with 4 sinks we are spoiled for choice and doing dishes is a lot easier with running hot water and a spray hose.

During my flight over, I dosed and rested until I woke up quite quickly. I looked outside the window and there was the alps – wow I was gobsmacked by the beauty and the grandeur of the mountains and the artistry of our Creator!

My roommate is Chelsea, a girl from Colorado who has gone through the past two years with me. It is an exciting time as all the students are now here and going through their orientation. With regard to my ‘duties’ here, I am still in the dark with regard to most of them, however do know that I will be working with the staff team of the second year programme. I will be involved in the worship team twice per week playing flute/whistles. There will be other duties such as making lunch, helping with the kids, manning the office and so forth. I will update with more information after tomorrow when we have our orientation (induction as I have been calling if for the past week!)

This week I have cleaned the cabins, dressed the beds, tidied various areas, cleared leaves, general preparation for the school starting this week.

On Friday, after I arrived in Cyprus, I had the privilege of joining the staff for my first Shabbat this year with the Wilks at their holiday house in Paphos. With beautiful views of the sea and a freezing pool, I only wished it was a little warmer so I could have gone swimming!!

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A flower that grows seemingly random,
emitting a warning so clear and right,
seen amongst the dead, in fields live with war,
Poppies all around red, vibrant and bright.

Cenotaph’s surrounded all over this land,
remember those who’ve gone before,
The sharp sound of the bugle playing the “Last post”
Plunged into mournful silence until “Reveille” is played once more.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”

Recited and wreaths are brought forward and placed
a prayer prayed for the families that remain, respect given for the lives lost.

Many brought to rememberance of those who gave their lives to protect and defend countries, both the land and the people. T’was the 11th hour, 11th day of the 11th month 1918 when the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare. I remember many tales of the miraculous – angels and the remarkable hand of God intervening on behalf of soldiers from my nation, my town. What a memory, what experience, only a few remain from the world wars now, yet many have followed – fought and won, fought and died. Those also are remembered.

A solomn moment, yet precious in God’s eyes.