May18

Songbird.

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Our week in Kelowna. The Collins Clan drove down to Omak, Washington and drove back over the Canadian border within 24 hours. With one purpose – to renew our visa.

A couple of hours, lots of questions and obstacles overcome.

We were granted 3 more years. Our adventure continues!

A friend of our Hope Centre is having twins and before she heads off to Vancouver to deliver her babes – we threw her a baby shower. Love to bless!

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We held a day of service on Thursday with Heritage Christian School Grade 8′s who served the church with great hearts and attitude. It wasn’t all hard work though, when our youth and children’s department get involved so do water guns, cotton candy machines and slurpees. Thank you again Heritage.

We hit the skate park with Josiah and Bella. Heart in mouth – need knee pads.

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The fair came to town. Oh yes it’s ‘Maydays’ which brings excitement to our home. As the twins were doing there own fair thing. We took the little people and to Josiah’s delight he was allowed on the ‘scary’ rides which he took on without fear.

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Bella and Josiah on the ‘stomach left somewhere in the sky ride.’

With my Friday Faves done, you don’t mind if I squeeze in a five minute Friday do you? Ah good.

The word for this week is ‘Song’. There are so many paths I’d like to travel down with this word. But I have 5 minutes and I’m heading down a muddy path to find a song.

START.

They call it a dawn chorus. It’s more like a rock opera outside my window every morning, and it begins at 4am. Our lives are surrounded by songs. This week I reminisced as I listened to songs from my teens. Then I cried as I listened to one particular song as I thought of my Dad’s funeral service, then remembered it was actually from Mom’s wedding. Tears soon turned to laughter.  I’m sure there’s a song attached to every month of my life. I love music.

Then…

I meet you with no song. Friends who’ve lost their song.

Who cry out as David did in Psalm 40. I waited…I’m waiting patiently, expectantly for the Lord.

How long Lord?

You cry out in your waiting and veiled silence.

How long?

Patience, while positive, isn’t pretty.

Singing from pits echoes your own voice as you strive to hear another.

Steve Bell wrote this piece last weekend. An image of freedom, and the often painful road we need to take to reach it.

‘Today I freed a songbird who was trapped in our garage

And flapped against the pane that rendered freedom a mirage

I had to further terrorise the frantic feathered beast

Who could not know that capture was the terms of her release.’

Psalm 40 continues…

‘At last he looked; finally he listened.

He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud.

He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip.

He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God.

More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.’

Whether you are in the pits, or on the rock – here’s a truth to absorb.

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty saviour. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17

The Hebrew word used here to describe how Father sings is ‘rinnah’. It means to express a ringing cry, a loud shout, a proclamation of extreme joy and an expression of gladness.

Wow!

Praying you a hear His song over you this weekend,

Love, Michelle xoxo

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Five Minute Friday

May9

Rainbow Falls

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“The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard” Psalm 19

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Our view.

Phil and I have just returned from a few days at the beautiful Harrison Hot Springs. Phil spoke at the ‘Pastor and Spouse retreat’ with 250 from our BCMB family. We got to meet and hang out with some brilliant pastors, church planters and ministers, and felt very welcome. It was great to see how the conference really look after and care for their pastors.

We also got to hang out with some of our staff team, which we loved of course!

One of my highlights was renting a boat with our crew for an hour and heading out onto Harrison Lake. After half an hour we came across ‘Rainbow Falls.’

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We disembarked our Glastron and looked for adventure.

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We walked the well worn path into the Northern rain forest. Enormous trees chopped down decades ago to make way for explorers. Mist and sunlight drifted through the trees and ferns. We marveled at the life filled scene which appeared to be set on Instagram  Xpro II. As our magical path turned a corner, it was easy to imagine the Sasquatch right at home, lounging on a cushion of moss.

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Instead, we faced a different giant. Rainbow Falls. The deafening waterfall cascaded, pushing and heaving, forced into the river below.

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We were drawn to the moment. That deep response we feel in our soul? It has to be a deep stirring of spiritual awe for the Creator, God.

Making Himself known. 

Creation singing His story. 

Have you known that response?

In Psalm 42, David asks questions of himself, his soul – his evident depression. He understands the intensity of the imagery of the waterfall before him as wave upon wave figuratively pounds upon him, cascading over his soul, pushing him deeper.

At this point of tumultuous torrents, the Psalmist acknowledges that deep calls to deep. We can know the deeper we go down, that God meets us, having known deeper still.

The Hebrew word for deep is “tehowm,” which refers to a deep place, an abyss (an immeasurable deep chasm, depth, or void). The Hebrew word for calls is “qara” which means to call unto, to summon, to invite.

The Strong’s concordance says that “qara” also conveys the idea of someone accosting you by boldly and aggressively calling you to come closer and meet.

Deep calls to deep.

Our depths are quickened to life. And we hear the whisper. I am here.

A couple of final thoughts on my waterfall musings… The closer I got, the power of the waterfall reverberated and the area took on new life.

There is a richness that is produced when we hit the depths and it’s not just about you, when we can bring forth riches from the depths of our inner life, we will find that other lives will be deeply affected.

The closer we got we caught glimpses of rainbows. Sometimes just momentarily. We needed to be in the right position to catch that glimpse.

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The rainbow? It’s there…

As you know, I am a rainbow chaser. I challenge you to look out for rainbows this week, sometimes it’s simply about altering our perspective.

Be encouraged!

Love, Michelle xoxo

Apr27

On Dr. Martens and Friendship.

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I chatted to my friend this week in the UK.
She said she keeps up with my blog and I said I’d give her a mention.
Who knew that five minute Friday would be the word ‘Friend’ so I have 5 minutes to write – no editing no backtracking *cough*.
Remember:
When we were in school together…and you spelt your name with a ‘y’. So cool.
We topped and tailed in my little single bed. A lot.
When my side the friendship talked the other into taking a day off school. Hmmm.
When I required big scrunched hair, you were my scruncher – diffuser and all.
When you saw my home as yours. My family as yours. That was good.
When we decided to say yes to the Jesus who invaded our lives with love and freedom.
Our mature years (late teens) – of even bigger hair and such sensible clothes, Benny Hinn and dwelling in four dwellings.
And then the wandering and wondering and meeting up again.
And all those babies.
And now…
Your eldest sits his leaving exams and my littlest sits his weekly spellings.
Your eldest says ‘Mom, I want physics and psychology and art.’
And my littlest goes to bed asking ‘Is it OK if I just tell God  He’s cool because of His superpowers.’ We’re doing a great job!

You’re more than my mate Kayt, your my sis.

Nearly 3 years ago, I stepped off a plane and had to start friend making again. And that’s been hard. It takes time doesn’t it?
Time. Energy. Effort. Courage…there’s that word again.
We are all meant to be friends with someone. We cannot do this life alone.

Jesus loves friendship.

I spent my Thursday at the Hope Centre.
I chatted with my biker tattooed bro with his UK imported Dr. Martens. I let him know his boots were having a major fashion moment in the UK. That kids, teens and Moms alike were wearing them with pride. The boot, designed after a ski injury back in the 60′s has made its air cushioned sole through decades of punks and skinheads to style mags and catwalks.
(I was the 9 year old skinhead down the Lye with waist long hair and docs) Seriously.

My Hope Centre friend. He told me he wasn’t sure if he fit in there because he was so different. ‘I mean, just look at me’ he said.
I told him everyone in the Hope Centre was different so he would fit in just fine.
As he was leaving he came up to me and said
‘Hey, English. I had a great morning.’

I could say its because of the Patti’s sandwiches or my excellent coffee or Esther’s hospitable skills. But I think it’s more than that.
You see there’s something that connects us all.
Whether homeless, happy, frantic, fed. We are made for connection.
For friendship. For community.
Whether living life together day by day, a weekly visit to the Hope Centre or friendship across the pond.

Friendship, is gift to be treasured and not taken for granted.

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(not the boots HC bro was wearing, the boots I would wear;)

My prayer is that you will find courage to allow yourself to find and to be a friend.

Yes courage.

‘The root of the word courage is cor—the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage literally had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has actually changed, and today, courage is synonymous with being heroic or performing brave deeds.
Heroics and bravery are important, but I think we’ve lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we and about our experiences (good and bad) is the ultimate act of courage. Heroics is often about putting your life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting your vulnerability on the line. In today’s world, that’s pretty extraordinary’ Thoughts of Brene Brown.

And finally…
Back to my mate kayt. She wears docs.

Have a great weekend friends!
Love,  Michelle. xoxo

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” CS Lewis.

Five Minute Friday

Apr23

A chat with my blogging Muse.

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You haven’t written for a couple of weeks Michelle. 

I know, I know. Hmmm. I have many excuses… Lots of half finished pieces, thoughts whirring and so many ideas dancing, but to translate that into a coherent post is another matter. I write when I’m inspired, but I have to allow Inspiration time to flow and to direct my thoughts. My words.

What happened to your Friday faves?

I am inundated with some wonderful writers in my inbox. The last few weeks have been thoughtful and respectful pieces on depression, suicide in the body of Christ and our understanding of mental health in the church – highlighted by the death of Matthew Warren. We continue to pray for the Warren family.

As this is an area so close to my heart and prayers, writing about the ‘fave things’ I had enjoyed that week seemed a little shallow.

Remind Me of your passions, maybe  new blog posts will emerge from  them.

Oh where do I start.

* I help run our church Hope Centre every week. Those who visit have found a place of community, friends and free flowing coffee. I love to feed people, but more than that to see hungry people being fed. We also give away quality, donated clothes; it’s awesome to see people kitted out. Last week I gave a super expensive sleeping bag to a friend of mine who was sleeping on the street.(Thanks youth department lost and found – sorry parent whose teen lost your sleeping bag.) Yes! I’ll blog some Hope Centre stories soon.

*My passion is to see our church and community introduced to a new place of healing and freedom in Christ. Wholeness. There is no doubt that this is where our calling and vision lie. Last week, Phil and I went down to New Life church to visit the Eyes and Wings Prophetic conference. God shone light on our future with words around transformation, overcoming, creativity and presence through Charles Stock, Stacey Campbell and James Goll as they prayed and declared prophetic destiny over us. We spent today reading through and absorbing our words, then took time to pray over the city.

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I have no doubt I will continue to write stories of healing and freedom and encountering God.

Any more areas of passion?

Teenagers! You do know I have worked intermittently with teens for many years and have received training and qualifications in this area? Oh yes.

So all that expertise really helps now that you have your own teens right?

(insert own nervous loud laughter here)

Wrong.

But.

I am reading the best book on parenting teens I have ever read.  I will summarize each chapter for the many parents of teens (or soon to be) who read here.  Such great nuggets of truth and lights on moments. Sound good? Look out for those posts!

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‘my very own teens’

All this talk about writing, how is your writing degree?

Ironically, that would be another reason I haven’t posted my musings as often.

I am mid assignment. I am currently writing a screenplay on the life of John Harper. More to come on that as I am nowhere near complete.

Narrative, dialogue, outlines, treatments – it’s all new to me.

There are a trillion writing facts/quotes, here are a few for this week:

‘Tolstoy had thirteen kids and wrote War and Peace.’

 Someone asked Somerset Maugham if he wrote on a schedule or when struck by inspiration. ‘I write when inspiration strikes he replied. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.’

‘I have advice for people who want to write. I don’t care whether they’re 5 or 500. There are three things that are important: First, if you want to write, you need to keep an honest, unpublishable journal that nobody reads, nobody but you. Where you just put down what you think about life, what you think about things, what you think is fair and what you think is unfair. And second, you need to read. You can’t be a writer if you’re not a reader. It’s the great writers who teach us how to write. The third thing is to write. Just write a little bit every day. Even if it’s for only half an hour — write, write, write.’― Madeleine L’Engle

Finally, you love your camera, have you any new photos to share?

I didn’t take this shot, but it really does deserve a post of its own. Don’t you think?  It was taken of my Mom singing at her friends wedding.

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It made us laugh out loud.

A lot.

Still does.

Even right now.

Hope you find something to inspiring on here over the weeks to come.

For you today I pray you know that:

‘God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever’
Psalm 100:5

Lots of love,

Michelle xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apr8

Scars.

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I’m 5 months old lying on the sculpted carpet tiles of the living room floor. All smiley and bald. Mom is in the kitchen. Dad has slipped out the room for a minute. I shimmy along, yes, this non crawling bundle of fun was an expert at shimmying. I move backwards towards the electric fire.

I’m certain the next minutes were screams – intense – loud.

Emotions pointing – blaming – hating, as my little trapped leg was released from the fire.

Three months of daily visits to the hospital. Of scraping baby skin and redressing the wound.

Healing takes time.

The scars on my leg have always been a part of me. That’s what happens with scars isn’t it, they become part of us, our story.

Reminding us of terror, illness, accident, self harm, abuse…

We often overlook the scars, they are so a part of who we are. Then occasionally, we see them anew or someone asks and we recall, or recoil.

I’m reminded this week of my scar, as the mole on my scar has decided to change its appearance. Tomorrow I have it removed, a chunk taken away from my scarred skin.

A scar indicates the healing of a wound. That the tissue of the scar is stronger than the tissue around it. Scars are a sign that we can heal. Our scars are a witness.

But Michelle. I’m not even scarred. I’m still wounded.

Life wounds.

Anne Voskamp wrote a great blog on Christians and depression today. ‘Don’t only turn up the praise songs but turn to Lamentations and Job and be a place of lament and tenderly unveil the God who does just that — who wears the scars of the singe. A God who bares His scars and reaches through the fire to grab us, “Come — Escape into Me.”

I attended an Encounter God retreat a few weeks ago, read about it here. This past weekend we held our first Willow Park ‘Encounter God’ weekend. 60 people came along to the woods and slept in cabins and ate great food.

And ‘God did what He does best.’

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Lives were restored, healed, marriages made new, as those attending allowed themselves into the healing process.

For many, it was not without a fight, attending the next session was a battle.

Here are a few lines of stories and testimonies from the weekend:

‘When I knelt at the cross, Jesus showed me how to be compassionate’

‘I have been hurt by church people, this weekend has shown me I can trust again’

‘I knew I was forgiven but I still needed to give God the shame’

‘I couldn’t forgive my abuser but through an act of obedience I did. I know that He died for him as much as for me’

‘Bitterness has devoured me – I’m going to stop fearing and start trusting’

‘I’m dealing with this stuff, trusting that my kids don’t have to’

‘I saw where I was robbed of my voice’

And from my purple haired sister.

You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!

This is about an Encounter with our living Lord, who said to Thomas. ‘Look at my hands’.

He remains human. He remains Divine.

 ’I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.’ Isaiah 49:16

This refers to a custom among the Jews who actually tattooed their hands or arms with paintings of Jerusalem or the Temple, thus they would always have a remembrance ever before them. This view is accepted by most scholars and these palm painting representations were called “ensigns of Jerusalem” and were performed in this sort of manner

 

Some left the retreat with scars, wounds healed.

Others scraped a wound that had festered for years.

Some released words to suffocating secrets.

Many invited Jesus right into that wounding situation, hearing ‘I was there, allow me to redeem it for you.’

For some it was just the beginning.

He’s a gentle God. Trust.

So back to my leg. I just found out that my Dad wasn’t the superhero he had told me he was in this story. Guilt has a way of misplacing emotions doesn’t it?

The hero in my story is the One with the scarred hands who has loved, embraced, healed and protected me over the years.

And you?

You know me by now. I’m not talking about a quick fix fantasy or a wishing and waving of wands.

But healing threads weaving through layers of our wounds. The words of Christ mending and binding.

I pray for you today, that you can see Jesus in your tough skin scars, and invite him into your tormented wounds.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

With love,

Michelle xoxo

 

Mar30

Tomb Raider

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“…The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus Who was nailed to the cross. He is not here! He has risen from the dead as He said He would. Come and see the place where the Lord lay. Run fast and tell His followers that He is risen from the dead. He is going before you to the country of Galilee. You will see Him there as I have told you.” They went away from the grave in a hurry. They were afraid and yet had much joy. They ran to tell the news to His followers. As they went to tell the followers, Jesus met them and said hello to them. They came and held His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My followers to go to Galilee. They will see Me there.” Matthew 28:5

C.S Lewis calls it ‘The Strangest Story of all’

The Easter Story.

It’s all about stories.

Those ordinary ones who put him there that day. The men who went home to their wives making dinner, to their kids. Pilate…Caiaphas…Soldiers…those doing their job.

The nameless carpenter who crafted the cross. Doing his job.

These ordinaries remind me of the destructive darkness that lies deep… that we are all capable of.

I am reminded that the cross dealt with that darkness and if I don’t deal with it.

It deals with me.

It’s all about stories.

Your story, His story.

What will you do with your story? Do you live it for yourself. Or do you occasionally allow God an appearance.  Or do you take your story and fully immerse into God’s story.

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole. 1 Peter 1:3 MSG

Yet…

Most of human life is Holy Saturday, a few days of life are Good Friday, but there only needs to be one single Easter Sunday for us to know the final and eternal pattern. We now live inside of such cosmic hope. Jesus trusted enough to outstare the darkness, to outstare the void, to hold out for the resurrection of the forever-awaited “third day,” and not to try to manufacture His own. That is how God stretches and expands the soul, and makes it big enough to include God.  Richard Rohr.

Today you are invited into the story of the resurrected life.

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‘But Michelle –  It’s fine for you to talk of this resurrected life, but really, is this story the answer to my life that feels so dead and dark? How do I leave my Holy Saturday life. How do I leave a tomb life. A life of darkness that I can’t see my way out of…?’

Invite Him in.

Invite Jesus into your tomb – your mess – your dark – your dead.

Allow him to lead you out. You might sprint. You might take small steps.

A resurrected life awaits you, a life of life.

Happy Easter.

Love, Michelle xoxo

 

Mar26

Vulnerability on Facebook.

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I recently read a Facebook post from a friend (a teacher) who’s very calling and passion had been questioned and undermined. Who had taken a hit by a fiery dart which had left her hurt, confused, floored.

So, she put a shout out on Facebook asking for some encouragement…

The fleeting thought of judgment of asking such a thing disappeared as I drew on my current focus of living in vulnerability. I soon saw the power of it. Remembering: “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.” Brene Brown.

Here’s what she wrote for me:

‘I guess you could say that my post went viral in my own little world. I received 24 pages of encouraging comments from students, former students and parents of former and present students. Each one had a profound effect on me. They made me cry and smile. They brought back fond memories of every single student who responded. They strengthened me. Each word of encouragement was like an arrow shooting back at the enemy who was trying to discourage me. I was humbled again in a different way and somewhat embarrassed. My mother wasn’t. She said she was proud of me and the comments made her cry and smile too. She was the one who asked me to copy all the comments into a Word Document and send them to her so she could read them to my Dad who doesn’t like reading on the computer. That’s how I know there were 24 pages of encouraging comments. You know what else is significant about that number? This is my 24th year of teaching. Yes, Satan may win a few minor skirmishes, but my ultimate victory is secured in Jesus Christ! Let us never underestimate the power of encouragement!

….I greatly appreciated, and now cherish, the encouraging comments that were given to me last week. Without social media, I wouldn’t have been able to reach out in my need or received such an immediate response. There may be those who see only the “evils” in social media, but I for one have benefited in more ways than one from the positive use of social media. God can use ANYTHING for his purposes!’ Thanks Jo!

I’ve read all sorts of posts complimenting each other lately on being a round person in an edgy world. Raw edges? Shattered? Serrated?

How are you on encouragement? Being an encourager that is.

 ‘Therefore encourage one another and build each other up’                              1 Thessalonians 5:11

F.B Meyer said that if he had his life over he’d spend much more time in the ministry of encouragement.

Yes –  the ministry of encouragement. Is that you?

Healer of serration. Pouring oil on the raw.

Liar fighter. Celebrator. Defender.

Comforter. Hope giver. Creator.

You are real – you know hard stuff happens – in fact doesn’t just happen, its commonplace.

It’s not bumper sticker unreality or

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Cotton candy fluff…

They’re THE Word pinning others down as they spin, holding them up as they fall.

“Words kill; words give life.” Proverbs 18:21

If I lived like that were true – that everything I say or write can give LIFE – I…we would be so much more intentional with words.

There is someone in your life, your family, and your circle that needs a word of encouragement today. It’s more than a positive word. Its more than a pick me up. Words give life. Ask ‘Who and how do you want me to encourage today Lord’?

It could be that only you are in the position to help those you come in contact with.

Become part of Gods plan for someone else’s day…who knows, it might be formative in someone’s life, or it might just get them through the next hour.

‘The generous will prosper;
 those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.’ Proverbs 11:25. 

Be (an) encourag(er)ed!

Love, Michelle xoxo

Mar22

Friday Faves: My Cloud

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Yes, it’s Friday Faves my weekly mashup. (Click on the highlighted words to link!)

Interesting articles:

Why Marcus Mumford’s take on the “Christian” label doesn’t hold up. In Relevant magazine here. 

The not-so-perfect pastors family, thoughts by a couple of PK’s in Christianity today.

Six reasons young Christians leave the church. Do you agree with this?

Fave podcast:

Brene Brown on Oprah. I love Brene and her message. Feel free to make yourself a cuppa click here and watch the interview. Very liberating.

Here is a free book I’ve downloaded but not read yet by Hugh Halter.

I’m reading a dialogue feast for my course: On Beauty by Zadie Smith, various screenplays inc.Waiting for Godot, Ernest Hemingway’s Short Story Collection and Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.

I’ve had my head (and camera) in the clouds this week.

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“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way…”

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“If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth…” Ecclesiastes 3:11      Wesley says ‘Learn the practice of liberality from the clouds; which when they are filled with water, do not hoard it up, but plentifully pour it forth for the refreshment both of the fruitful field and the barren wilderness’.

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Receive refreshing. Be refreshing.

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In this time of need look up and know ‘every good and perfect gift is from above’.

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Emily and Phil climbed Black Mountain on the first day of spring.

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Passed his Masters in Applied Theology!

Brilliant news, so proud of my man. 

Keep looking up,

Love, Michelle xoxo

Mar15

Friday Faves: New things.

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It’s new…It’s Friday Faves!

A mash up of my faves of the week. Photos, snippets, books, quotes etc – you get the idea. Hopefully, there will be something for everyone. Particularly for those friends and family who, for the most part haven’t a clue what I am writing about.

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I started my new module. Focusing on dialogue, script and screenplay. Loving the subject and having the actors staying with us this week – bonus!

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Josiah learned to ski!

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I tried snowshoeing  (accompanied by the famous DR)

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Phil – When in Canada!

Loved Searchlight’s show ‘Chariot’. Their idea of using church based actors worked brilliantly – particularly with our talented bunch at Willow Park.

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Love this pic from the show. Check out more of Chad’s work at ChadPerryPhotography

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And…as the Big White cloud cleared.

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A new cloud appeared. 

Praying. 

Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

Enjoy your weekend!

Love, Michelle xoxo

 
Mar10

Promises, Promises.

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Happy Mothers Day UK!

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Yes, it’s Mothers Day in the UK. I’ve decided to milk it.

‘But Mom, we live in Canada’ declare my children.

‘But I’m English’ I reply.

Then come May 12th…

‘But Mom, you’re English.’

‘And I live in Canada dear children.’

I have two Mothers days – result.

Last year I loved the blog I wrote to my Mom. I re-read and thought – yes that’s a beauty, you can read it here. I don’t want to repeat that, but I would like to share a little something.

The ‘tattooed prayer warrior come party goer’ called me last week shortly after I made reference to ‘moving a mountain’ on Twitter. Now, I was referring to my ironing pile. Mom received #timetomovethatmountain as a Rhema word, lights on, bam, hollering ‘Yes Lord, Amen.’

Pile-of-ironing

A lot of Mom’s life is viewed from the valley, where mountains loom. She called me immediately, armed with her promise book.  As I ironed, we prayed and lifted high the name of Jesus over our family and over the space between us, Mom reminded me ‘there’s no distance in the Spirit our Michelle’ She read promises from her book over the phone. Verse upon verse, one promise after the other,  exuding enthusiasm and faith, as my mountain of ironing slowly decreased.

Mom lives the promises of God. She sees many fulfilled. And many not. Yet.

Mom, do you remember as I went through the mediaeval torture of delivering twins naturally that you and Val (MiL) played outside of my room. Wheeling one another up and down the halls in wheelchairs, laughing, waiting and no doubt being told off.

I remember as you walked into the room, now quiet.  You looked into my eyes, you knew it had hurt, and that hurt you.

As Moms we never stop laboring. We never stop delivering.

And I know today you hurt in your heart, your first, I know. Today you will remember and cry and celebrate our Rosie.

Jesus promises us, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

That verse has taken us through hasn’t it Mom? Don’t get me wrong, suffering still stings, promised strength is not pain immunity. It’s not positive thinking either. It’s focusing on the One who knows. Who sees us through those battles, one breath, one prayer at a time.

Thank you for showing me how this promise life works Mom, I’m thankful my today is partly because of your faithful yesterdays – your faithful prayers of promise.

And now, I speak on behalf of my Mom to you my friends – find your promises, read them, memorize them, shout them, whisper them, sing them and cry them.

Let’s not work our problems out but allow His promises in.

Thank you again Mom for the gift of life.

You shine Mom, and it’s not just your sequins.

Love always,

Shell xx

What promise are you standing with today? What verse is your lifeline? Leave a message in comments, let us encourage one another.

Need encouragement today? Here’s a few promises for you.

Isaiah 54:13 O you afflicted one,
Tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems,
And lay your foundations with sapphires.

I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
Your gates of crystal,
And all your walls of precious stones. 

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
And great shall be the peace of your children.

Isaiah 54:13.

‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit’

Zechariah 4:6

‘Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’

Matthew 11:28-30

‘No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

1 Corinthians 10: 13