Things have been a bit quiet here for a little while.

The reason is mostly to do with something really exciting that’s happened, and something that’s also involving lots of hard work, and keeping me busy! 

It’s a whole new road I’m on in my work.

It came down to this one day in September. It’s strange to think you can wake up one day, and have no idea quite how different things are going to be by the end of it.

For a while I have been thinking about returning to university to do more postgraduate study. It’s such a passion for me, but each time I looked into it, there was always something that made it somehow out of reach.

But this one day, on the eve of Michaelmas term beginning, I made a phone call, and as if everything were just waiting there, ready to fall perfectly in its place, by the end of that day, I had been accepted into a Master’s programme full-time, in Theology.

For me, it’s providence.

The opening hand of the Unseen.

The good gift of a Father truly perfect in goodness.

That’s how I feel. As if He has gone before, made the way ready, and when the time has been right, given something so unexpected and for me, special, it takes my breath away.

And though I’m learning so much about God in so many ways through all of this, the thing that stands out for me is this – that the goodness He has for us, so far exceeds anything that I could ever plan for myself.

He creates experiences that bring such joy, that I never could have even thought up on my own.

And that in His will, there is no obstacle. Nothing withstands His hand. His grace.

While I don’t want to give the impression that experiencing God’s goodness in quite the way it is now, is an everyday thing for me, or ignore the heartache and unanswered questions there can be; in this new opportunity, for me, God’s goodness and beauty in a hundred different ways, has been beyond words.

I really hope to be able to share stories along the way, even from these first few weeks, my love for the chapel being one (it is so beautiful there!) Just to say for today though, that the photo here, is from a visit there yesterday.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” – Jeremiah 29:11.

[Just to mention too for any friends from Revelation TV, that everything stays the same with the programmes I’m involved with, alongside my study].

Though it may not make sense now, He is there.

From what may seem messy and confusing, He brings purpose and great beauty.

Join us tomorrow for Flourish Women’s Conference!

The vision of the Conference is to equip and encourage women spiritually to be all that God has called us to be, and the theme for this year is ‘Total Dependence on God.’ See the flyers for all the details, and we would love to see you there! 

Wait calmly for God alone, my soul,
because my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my Rock and my Saviour—my stronghold.
I cannot be shaken.

My salvation and my glory depend on God.
God is the rock of my strength, my refuge.

Trust Him at all times, you people.
Pour out your hearts in His presence.
God is our refuge.
Selah

Psalm 62:5-8

"Come to Me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept My teachings and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.”

~ Jesus, Matthew 11: 28-29

I love Amy, and I love this worship. I’m preparing for a conference at the moment, where I’m speaking about God as the Almighty God, the unchanging One, the all-powerful One, El Shaddai. And so this worship has very much been part of the background so far. I love the words, the Names of God, the way these reveal aspects of Who He is, the peace it brings to be reminded. I hope you enjoy it too, B ox

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El-elyon na Adonai,

(God Almighty, God Almighty, God in the highest, O Lord)

Age to age You’re still the same,

By the power of the Name.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkamka na Adonai,

(God Almighty, God Almighty, I will love You, O Lord)

We will praise and lift You high,

El Shaddai.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

To every thing there is a season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,1.

In case we needed the encouragement today, with love, B ox

"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood …” Jesus, John 15:5-8.

Deadwood.

How I know the feeling of it, this brittleness of spirit. Where fullness in You has seeped away, Your nearness, Your voice, the joy of You, something of yesterday.

And I could speak to You of a hundred reasons why, but You know already, before a word is even on my lips.

The pace of my days. The weariness of my body. A heart captured by something else.

You are the Vine, and You speak of this union with You as our life-blood.

And so it is I discover, as the heart becomes arid, and the spirit faints.

Without You, there is poverty, and only the meagre crumbs of an evening spent, to offer up for today’s fill. And it is not enough. Apart from You, we can do nothing.

But Your covenant with us is an everlasting covenant.

Your love reaches to the heavens, and Your faithfulness to the skies.

Your Spirit, a gentle breeze in my world once more.

And then it falls. 

Grace, like the rain.

Grace, like the rain.

The soil of heart, softens.

What was parched and arid, turns a leaf that is green.

Life, once more.

You speak of this union with You Lord, as intimate, organic. The place from which our lives spring, and flourish in a thousand colours for You. The place we find our pulse, our strength and our vitality. The place of harvest.

Jesus, may Your Spirit of grace rain on our hearts. May we hold fast to You, our Vine. And In You, may our lives flourish, the harvest, rich.

Photos and Prose by Birgit Whelan © Copyright 2011

With Love, B ox