September 09
‘Just One’
One woman started a movement that fed over a million hungry and thirsty mouths, one man spoke out against corruption in the Church and birthed a worldwide reformation, one woman started a revolution against racial prejudice that would change the face of a nation forever.
One.
One.
One.
It takes just one.
Ever heard yourself saying ‘but what can I do’? It’s those kinds of thoughts that get in the way and seek to rob us of everything that God has for us.
I’m sure Moses felt like this when God called him. Faced with a whole nation to deliver from the oppression of the most powerful world leader of his day. Moses even had a stutter. What can one man with a stutter do?
Sometimes it’s easier to pretend to yourself you’re not really called. To listen to the lies that say you don’t amount to anything and believe that there are at least a thousand people out there who could do it better than you, or even are already doing it better than you. At least then you can abdicate from the responsibility of actually living out your purpose.
But while there are still hungry people in our world there is a job to do. Whilst there are still millions of trafficked people there is something fight for. Whilst there is innocent blood shed on every soil, millions of children needing families, wars and sickness and injustice - there is something that everyONE must do.
God gave Moses a stick. One stick. What do you have in your hand? What can you give? What can you do? What can you rise up and say?
Is there something on the inside of you that longs for a change, longs for justice, longs for peace? God is calling you to a new season where you need to stand. Stand for that change, fight for that justice, work for that peace. He wants to use you. Will you rise up and make a difference?
There is no more time for excuses. There is someone who needs you right now.
Mother Teresa was one.
Martin Luther was one.
Rosa Parks was one.
Moses was one.
You’re the one.
October 09
‘Supernatural Sight’
2 Kings 6
15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. 16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
Often in the natural when we look at our circumstances, like Elisha’s servant did, they can seem overwhelming; the odds seemed stacked against us, common sense tells us that there’s no way things could work out, and we can feel like we are anything but about to ‘arise and shine’. God however is calling us to open our spiritual eyes and look supernaturally at the situation. He has called us to a new season and we must believe He has the power to deliver on everything He has promised - for you, for LGCC, for Letchworth and for the United Kingdom.
As we as a church rise up with the goal of plundering hell and populating heaven we must be ready for a fight, we are in a war and the opposition won’t like you plundering their troops! Remember the whole of God’s army is on our side and just like Elisha’s servant did, get a fresh supernatural perspective on your situations.
The day to day grind of life - work, cook, clean, sleep, work cook clean sleep, workcookcleansleep, can dull our spiritual vision if we don’t take time to be in God’s presence and meditate on His power, we can become shortsighted to the things of God - only seeing the here and now. My prayer is that when you are in your next prayer time God will give you supernatural vision to see what He is doing right now, and what He plans to do in the future.
Reading the rest of the story will show you just how much God is in control of protecting those who serve Him, and just how effective our simple prayer of faith can be.
In this new season there is no time for doubt or worry. Open up your supernatural eyes of faith, see what our awesome Lord is doing, and trust that ‘all things are possible for him who believes’.
November 09
‘Pregnant with
God’s Seed’
Luke ch 1
26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God."
38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
What a wonderful time we had at the women’s Just One conference this month! A big THANKYOU to everyone who helped make the day such a special one. We had over 110 women attend at different points during the day which was a fantastic turn out. Do send in any testimonies you have to the office so we can give glory to God for everything He is doing.
Remember you are Pregnant!
If you were unable to attend you can get CDs of the sessions with Dominic, Jodi and Sarah from the office.
It’s my privilege also to officially introduce our female pastoral team , I know many of you were blessed by their fantastic seminars at the conference. The team exists to support the women in the church pastorally, they are a great bunch of women who I know God has anointed to really make a difference to our generation!
January 10
‘Consecrated
and Chosen’
Esther ch 1:12
'Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics'.
There is something so beautiful and attractive about a woman who has set herself apart for God. Living a life of holiness and integrity, she possess an air of strength and courage that transcends any human attribute. I have had the privilege of meeting a couple of women like this, and they just radiate the presence of God - they walk in a room and light it up. I'm not talking about being outwardly physically pleasing to the eye, super fashionable or skinny and tall, but I'm talking about an inner beauty and peace that makes this woman different and noticeable.
Esther was one of these women, from many hundreds she was chosen by King Xerxes as his new bride. We read about her in the book of Esther in the Bible. One part of her story that always grabs my attention is chapter 1 verse 12:
'Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics'.
I'm sure amongst the diversity of women here at LGCC there will be those of you who say 'O yes please! A year of beauty treatments - bring it on', and others of you who would undoubtedly say 'beauty what??' - I'll leave you to work out which category I'd be in. Whichever you fall in, I'm sure you made or would make that extra special bit of effort to get ready for your man on your wedding day. God has called us to be a holy people and He is coming back for a bride without blemish or spot.
Just like Esther had to for Xerxes, while we are on earth it is important we get ourselves ready and spend time looking at how we can prepare for that day when we will meet God.
Esther was set apart for the King and remained only his. As followers of Christ we are called to do the same, consecrating ourselves to God. However, living in a world that focuses so much on self fulfillment we can sometimes struggle to remain loyal to the call - facing struggles with purity, integrity, and with our heart's desire. This January we have planned an evening of consecration where we can search our hearts and lives and make fresh choices for the new year, leaving behind the failures of the past and focusing on the future.
Hebrews 12:14 'without holiness no one will see the Lord'.
This new year, let us aim together to be a purified, holy, different, set-apart, noticeable group of women that honor God with every part. And let the world take notice of Christ's bride.
Come out to our evening of consecration where we can come before God and get right with him.
What a fantastic time we had at the STORM consecration evening last month! Many thanks to all those who helped to make the night so special. I know lots of you made a fresh start with God and I’m really excited to see where that leads.
The choices we made on the evening were important and I know the enemy will want you to go back on them, so this coming month be determined to resist every temptation and live holy and blameless before God.
I do encourage you to look through any notes you have of the things God spoke to you about on the evening and remind yourself that you are truly loved by your heavenly Father. God’s grace can keep you and hold you, and even if you do slip he will command his angels concerning you.
Being formed and moulded by the Potter takes time, so keep a soft heart so he can continue working on you. These consecration evenings aren’t a quick fix, but they are the beginning of a new openness to his prompting and changing. Thank God he loves us too much to just leave us as we are. He will take us from glory to glory!
Leading on from January I thought it would be good to highlight some of the key points from the consecration evening so we can hold onto them as we live our everyday lives throughout 2010.
No matter what, God’s grace is enough for you!
No matter your race or family
Rahab
Rahab was an unlikely candidate for the grace of God from the world’s perspective. But God likes to touch and use the weak of this world to shame the wise. No matter what your background, no matter what family or country or lifestyle you come from, God’s grace is sufficient and he can use you. He wants to use you. There is no one beyond God’s saving and redeeming grace. Even Rahab was used significantly by him and became a descendant of the Lord Jesus himself.
No matter your sin
Eve
When you sin so badly that it’s not just yourself that is hurt, when it seems like the consequences of your sin will go on forever, or that you have also led others astray - remember that God has a plan of redemption. His grace was enough for Eve and it is enough for you. God will cover your shame. Just like he covered Eve’s nakedness with the animal hide, Jesus will cover your sin and shame by his blood. No more smelly animal skins! If you are in Christ you can walk with your head held high, praising your Saviour because you are now clothed in his righteousness, robed in his glory!
No matter what other people think of you
The woman caught in adultery
When others call you all manner of negative things, remember that God’s name for you is beloved, chosen, righteous in Christ. Even when you’ve been thrown on the rubbish pile, condemned by others and sentenced, Christ is there, full of grace, stretching out his hand to pick you up off the floor.
Remember all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. But even if you were the only sinner on earth, Christ would have still died for you. Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. Whenever you struggle with temptation, remember his grace that has lifted you up, remember that with his help you are strong enough to be able to “go and sin no more”.
No matter your past present or future
Esther
God is there for you every step of the way. When Jesus died for you it was for ALL your sin. All the sin you had committed up until you gave your life to him, and every day after it. We live by his grace today and not by our own works. However, like Esther we must be brave and courageous in our stand for what is right. God’s free ticket into heaven does not also give us free license to indulge in sin.
As we go ahead let’s determine to be so full of God’s grace that it overflows from us to others. Let’s show one another the kindness and undeserved love that we have received and be like Jesus to all those around.
Remain on that Potter’s wheel. He wants to make you into the most beautiful masterpiece - then all people will give glory to him because of you.
In our pursuit of holiness, let us continue to help one another. Let’s continue to hold on to the decisions we have made to become the spotless bride that he deserves.
March 10
‘Grace Full’
I once read a children’s book called “You Are Special” by Max Lucado. In the story the wooden characters go around all day sticking dots and stars onto one another. Stars are given if a person is seen to be doing something impressive, or if they are particularly attractive. Dots are given if someone does something clumsy or stupid and is viewed as having little worth and nothing to contribute to the town. The story follows the journey of one character, Punchinello, who only has dots and how he goes on to discover his creator’s unconditional love and acceptance whilst learning how to not let the dots placed upon him by others stick.
As a theatre director I know what it is to be judged by others and to be given ‘stars’ for the work I do. Five stars often means that the reviewer likes your work and would strongly recommend it to others, and no or few stars mean that the reviewer saw faults in your work and would warn others about seeing it. A review can have the power to make or break a show at the box office, but it is only one person’s opinion.
It would be rather shallow to judge the whole product of my work as a director on the ratings I am given by the press. However, the case is often that people do judge my work by what they read rather than going to see it and deciding the value for themselves. In my career so far I have had both good and bad reviews and I have come to understand that although I would like everyone to enjoy, accept and agree with my work, not everyone will.
In life many of us experience the same judgement that I describe above. We may not be given stars or dots by others that are stuck to us or written in the papers so everyone can see, but nonetheless we are judged and can become unintentionally marked on the inside.
Parents, friends, colleagues, bosses, leaders, etc. all have an opinion of us. We must make sure the value we place on their opinion, whether good or bad, is not too high. Our security and self-esteem cannot be founded on what others think about us because people’s thoughts are fleeting and as changeable as the wind.
We must also be careful how we pass on opinions and information about others - careful that it doesn’t become harmful gossip. Churches, communities, friendships, marriages and families have been torn apart by gossip, negative talk and rumours. The Bible is clear about how God wants us to use our words - to build up and edify one another and not to tear each other down.
I once had a friend who listened to and believed another person’s inaccurate account of something I said/did, and then, without even talking to me about it, decided to cut off all contact with me. I guess gossip tests the strengths of true friendship, because if they were a true friend they would have come and spoken to me in person to see if the “information” they had been passed about me was correct. True friends will form their own opinions of you out of their own relationship with you - they won’t listen to negative gossip or bad words whatever source it appears to come from. They won’t look at the black dots given to us by others - or the stars for that matter.
Sometimes I wonder how many people and relationships are hurt or affected by negative, inaccurate opinions which have been passed around. Let’s not judge and criticize each other or listen to gossip. If someone is saying something negative about someone to you behind their back, think what this person might be saying about you behind yours.
God also has an opinion. His opinion is that he has made you a masterpiece - unique and one of a kind. His judgement is that He loves and accepts you in Christ unconditionally. And that is the opinion that ultimately matters.
What is the value we place on other people? On their talents, skills, appearance and intelligence? And why do we ascribe more value to certain things than others? We often have made up our mind about someone before we have even said hello. Let us see others through God’s eyes and endeavour to form and pass on his opinions of them. And let us make a decision to be true friends to one another.
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Coming Soon
Hope and Healing for the Future: New 6 week support group for women who have suffered a miscarriage or the loss of a child. Led by Liz Maposa, this informal gathering seeks to give support, teaching, understanding and prayer to women who have had to deal with the loss of a baby. Starting Friday 9th April, 8pm, in the Youth Building at LGCC.
February 10
‘Grace Full’
Just about to leave school after my GCSE’s to go to London, I remember having a conversation with my best friend Vicki as we parted when I was 15.
‘I’ll meet you by the Hollywood sign in LA when I’m 21 - I’ll be a famous director then so if you want I’ll put you in one of my films’
I had wanted to be a director from a young age, but the funny thing looking back is that I ACTUALLY believed I would be a famous director at 21. I thought I would be the youngest director to break into Hollywood. This was my ‘faith’ - I absolutely believed with God’s help anything was possible.
I guess in many ways my young faith was commendable, I really trusted God with all my heart and saw him as my superhero. But there was something I had missed - I thought God had given me a dream and that He would give it me NOW - I hadn’t considered the time it would take for God to get me there.
If I had understood the way He works a little more I may not have been so hasty to make such a strong assertion to my friend. Perhaps if I had considered how God shaped nature, or looked at the process of birth I may have had more of an insight into how my life might pan out. Maybe if I had considered the great oak and compared this to a sunflower or bamboo and had noted how the strongest things take the longest time to grow.
As things turned out at 21 I was not yet the famous director I had wanted to be, I had not yet outdone Stephen Speilburg at the box office or contracted Leonardo DiCaprio to star in my next smash hit. In fact as I approached by 21st birthday I was just finishing Bible school and getting married.
When I didn’t suddenly turn into a famous director overnight my childhood dreams never died but disappointment did start to creep in as I tried to work out what I had done wrong. The truth was though that I hadn’t done anything ‘wrong’, I had just misplaced the timing and thought in our fast-food instant culture that God had wanted me to reach the peak of my career at just 21 years old.
Adding our own parts to God’s plan or words can leave us feeling disappointed or let down, and this was how I felt. A good friend of mine came alongside me and encouraged me with the words ‘take joy in the process’. As I pondered on her statement I started to think about how God made babies and not adults (apart from Adam and Eve), and how seeds create new life. How He must like things to start of small and then start to grow. How He must take delight in this because he wanted it that way.
With all the new babies springing up in the church I have been reminded of this truth, and feel encouraged that God is birthing new things in the church. We may not be a church of 1000 overnight, but God delights to see us grow one soul at a time. Do not despise the days of the small beginnings, have faith that God will fulfill your dreams in the right season and remember that the strongest things take the longest time to grow.
May 10
‘The New Birth: Take Joy
in The Process’
April 10
‘14p Ketchup’
Clare How can I even take myself seriously. I’m a joke
Rebecca glances to her left and curls up the corner of her mouth. Children shouting loudly can be heard from the adjoining room.
Clare It’s like I’m stuck here with nothing. Everyday. Nothing changes for me
Rebecca That’s not true - look where you were this time last year
Clare I’m just ordinary Becky. And I think the sooner I come to terms with that the better. You know I got an email from an old class mate yesterday - you know what she said. (Slightly emotional) She is now the executive manager of this really big company - five thousand people she is responsible for. Five thousand! At thirty one. And there’s me, reading her email - one kid stuck to my chest, the other three screaming in the lounge that Tommy has just knocked his hot chocolate down - my ruddy dinner boiling over and the chips burnt! I can’t even do stay at home mum right.
Rebecca (Simultaneously) Clare
Clare (Simultaneously) Useless
Rebecca You’re not useless
Clare No you’re right. I have my uses - I’m a baby machine at least.
Silence
Clare And even reading the Bible is making me angry. It’s like page after page of success story. I mean why didn’t those guys write about the ordinary people. What about the ones who didn’t get chosen by King Xerses who were left in the harem for years, the ones who didn’t slay a giant, or.....died poor? It’s like the more I try to get out of this rut and make something of my life the more I face rejection and the more I stay ordinary. I can’t bare to be ordinary. I was brought up on Bible heros! Campions. Conquerors. I want to do something worthwhile not be stuck in this crammy box getting deaf and eating burnt chips covered in 14p ketchup.
Rebecca They won’t stay young forever Clare
She looks at the children, who have gone outside, through the window
Clare But in the meantime everybody else rises around me until I’m years behind in experience and have almost no contacts left. I know you’re trying to help Rebecca, but you can’t understand. Look at you - you’ve got it all - beautiful - successful -
Rebecca I don’t have it all
Clare Don’t be modest. I hate it when you’re modest. Just admit it - you’ve done well
Rebecca I can’t, because I haven’t.
Silence
The one thing I want I can’t have.
Clare Don’t be silly - you could have anything you want - just get Robert to pay for it!
Silence. Rebecca cries
Rebecca What about the ones who didn’t get the miracle......In the Bible. Like you were saying. Page after page of women who prayed and cried out to God and got a baby. What about the ones who didn’t. Where are those stories?
Silence
Clare I didn’t know
Rebecca It’s OK.
It’s just. When you were talking. I started to realise how much of a failure I am.
Clare You’re anything but a failure. So many women admire you.
Rebecca No. I’m a failure. The one thing I want to do I can’t. If I died today who would notice? Robert might be upset and there might be a few distant family members and work collegues at the funeral. But really. Honestly. The world would go on regardless. At least you are needed. Really needed. Really wanted. Irreplaceable. I just....function.
Silence
Clare I guess Jesus didn’t feel like much of a success story hanging there naked
Sorry. I’m just thinking out loud.
I guess we all place different value on different things. There were things Jesus wanted that he didn’t have. I’m sure he wanted to see everyone saved, but he died there in the end with even his closest friends turning their back on him. I guess then the palm waving didn’t mean too much.
Rebecca But it hurts so much to want something so much that you can’t seem to have
Clare You know you might not get what you want out of this life, even God doesn’t - I wonder what he had to go through when His son was treated so badly. But He must understand. He knows pain. And sadness. And the feeling of rejection. He wasn’t a glamorous superhero.
Rebecca And I bet if He was brought up now Mary would have had him on 14p ketchup.
They laugh
Clare Can I pray for you. I seem to have an anointing when it comes to babies!