Category: The Collins Connection

Goodbyes Come in Waves.

Michelle Collins2 Comments

For everything that happens in life, there’s a season… Ecc 3:1

A few surprise Hellos this week.

The O’Boyles after 17 years! Missionaries for YFC who have lived in Cyprus, Dubai, Thailand and Denver – we got to hang out with this fabulous family and have Neil preach at Willow Park before they head back to the homeland. Neil is taking on the role of National Director of British Youth for Christ. Loved this moment of being their last stop before heading home.

Kande our friend from our hometown in UK who lives in Japan was visiting family in Kelowna this week. Kande looks as beautiful as ever! We enjoyed a lovely lunch and catch up.

Jolyon on business in Vancouver popped over to Kelowna. We love you Brother Jo.

And it’s…

Goodbye or an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo to Chloe our 13-year-old student from Korea who has been with us for the school year. She has coped well with the Collins clan and leaves us with a good grasp of the English language, a love for Canada and a slight English accent.

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Goodbye to Emily as she heads off on the yellow bus to Watson Lake in the Yukon for a couple of weeks. Emily and a team from our church will be running a youth camp on a reserve, just 3 days North. Love your heart Emily.

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DSC09107Goodbye to Jessica as she heads to Green Bay camp on their discipleship training program for 3 weeks (a 20 minute drive over the bridge) Proud of you girl and remember Hawaiian Tropic Oil is not sunscreen.

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And now…

Goodbye to my friend Esther. The one who has been by my side here in Kelowna. She’s prayed for me, cried with me and laughed a lot with me. She has understood me (except for my texts) She’s watched my kids overnight when we have needed a getaway. What a gift you have been Mrs. P – Tuesday mornings will never be the same. Seriously – who will laugh so loud at my stories that Starbucks is bought to silence. As for Christmas Eve, I promise that the Collins family will take part in a pajama hunt in honour of the past few years.Your gift of leading us in worship has been beautiful, you and Chad have both been huge cheerleaders of Phil and I in Willow Park, we are so grateful to God!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Praying for you ALL as you head to Texas. You guys will be a gift to your community. Love y’all.

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Let us see the richness of ever changing seasons as God weaves these wonderful moments, we embrace them and are thankful. Even the goodbyes or should I say au revoir – until we see each other again.

May you know God’s love and presence this week,

Love, Michelle xo

“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.” Frederick Buechner.

Dear Church

Michelle Collins13 Comments

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Dear Church,

It’s our 5-year Canniversary!

Yes – 5 years since we landed on dry Canadian soil and began the deep dig of calling this place our home.

Let’s backtrack because sometimes that’s necessary to bring the present into a healthy perspective, in other words ‘look how far we’ve come’…

The time up to our farewell was a frenzy of giving away, selling up and saying sad goodbyes – all woven with a divine thread of a call Kelowna and Willow.

It was over the Atlantic where the reality of what we had done hit me, not the best point as there was nowhere to run to, strapped into a tiny seat over an ocean. I remember Phil looking at me and knowing. That feeling lasted – my apologies to those who encountered me in the first while (a year or so…)

We landed in Kelowna, Me, Phil, and our babes Josiah (3) Bella (7) and Em and Jess (11) and as the warm air hit us at Kelowna airport – so did the welcome. Willow Parkers with gifts, flowers and all things red and white. We all smiled while Phil appeared presidential, shaking hands and kissing babies.

What a five years! I have climbed mountains, ran half marathons, faced bears, tripped over snakes, learned to slow, learned to cook, experienced new freedom and found the joy of writing.

It’s not been an easy 5 years, just because we are called doesn’t mean we are comfortable, because we live in the California of Canada doesn’t mean it’s all play and no work but this note is not about the challenges!

I think the beauty of calling is knowing that those around you are your tribe, whether they are like you or not and knowing that because you are in that place God’s purposes and plans are fulfilled.

Initially my expectations put Willow Park into a box. Don’t you find the expectations box can lead to disappointment, disconnection and distraction?

God is so kind and gracious and oh so patient with this girl who likes things in a certain way (almost ex control freak) I thankfully found my way out of ‘boxed in expectations’ and stepped into expectancy – an expectancy that keeps God in charge, that knows He keeps His promises and is always faithful.

I love all that God is doing in our community.

I have loved how you embrace the teaching on hearing God’s voice – and how you chase intimacy and desire to know His voice in your life.

I have loved watching so many of you experience Encounter God retreats – recognizing this is not just a weekend but living a life in the practice of confession, turning away from old habits and living in freedom.

You all know that our favorite meeting is our Willow One prayer. You are faithful pray-ers – keep on faithful ones. I am excited about Willow Park becoming a house of prayer.

The introduction of our Pursuit young adults service is a gift, and not just because I have a couple of young adults of my own…we will always be the biggest cheerleaders of Joel, Melissa and the next generation of our church.

I love how our doors have been thrown open to our wider community, please come and join me in the Hope Centre where the gospel is alive at the table over great food, where the gospel befriends and loves people outside of our church walls – let us become the centre of hope in our community.

Thank you for loving us and encouraging us – you have been super gracious to this English family and we are grateful…and a special thank you for loving this outgoing, introverted pastor’s wife.

Here’s to the next 5 years and beyond with you all, my prayer today is ‘may the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you’

Love, Michelle

‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven’ Matthew 6:10

Beloved: Do you believe it?

Michelle Collins9 Comments

Hi family, friends and readers from around the world. Thanks for reading! Here’s a snapshot of my week and some words of truth about YOU.

A week of being celebrated as a mother of this brood.

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Check out the best answers from the boy.
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Summer snow.

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We relocated the Robin’s nest as it didn’t appear to be the best place. Robin had other ideas and built another bigger and better nest, same area, slightly higher. (On a similar note, our immigration situation is ongoing. Thanks for prayers!)

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And our cutest new addition. Cloudy.

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A word I am carrying is ‘You are Beloved of the Lord’. Scripture is full of us children of God being addressed as Beloved of the Lord.

e.g“God’s beloved; God’s permanent residence. Encircled by God all day long, within whom God is at home.” Debt 33:12

Today I’m cheering each of you with this message. So, take a couple of minutes to hear this truth about YOU.

What does it mean to know I am ‘Beloved of the Lord?

It means I know who I am as a child of God. Knit together in my mother’s womb. Created with imagination and care. A piece of art, a poem. I am loved, favored. This is not some wishful thinking. Nor is it some delusion of grandeur. This is the truth of who I am as God’s child.

Henri Nouwen in his book Life of the Beloved writes:

“When we claim and constantly reclaim the truth of being the chosen ones, we soon discover within ourselves a deep desire to reveal to others their own chosenness. Instead of making us feel that we are better, more precious or valuable than others, our awareness of being chosen opens our eyes to the chosenness of others. That is the great joy of being chosen: the discovery that others are chosen as well. In the house of God there are many mansions. There is a place for everyone – a unique, special place. Once we deeply trust that we ourselves are precious in God’s eyes, we are able to recognize the preciousness of others and their unique places in God’s heart.”

Love. these. Words.

Do you believe you are created for his purpose and his plans? That you are significant? That you have a God given voice, with words of a significant contribution to those around you, which is unique and only you can offer.

The person next to you cannot do what you do. Ah that person next to you. That one so easily triggers inadequacy – insecurity. Envy even…

I believe when we know our belovedness – these feelings will begin to disappear. Bob Sorge says this. ‘We need to find ourselves in Christ, when we learn the secret of living for an audience of one. Envy will no longer be an issue.’

God has named you, it’s time to let the thoughts God has of you define you, His thoughts are infinitely more important than what others think of you.

‘Let us live our lives you were exactly who Jesus thinks we are’. BG.

This truth is found in scripture, it’s found by being in his presence living aware of creator God, mindful of him. It’s no quick fix or 3 steps to ‘belovedness’ – let us allow ‘belovedness’ invade all we think, say, do.

Lets work together to break through oppression and lies about ourselves that life has forced, breaking off the stuff that keeps us down. For some of us it’s not breaking off it’s allowing God in. His embrace will break the anguish in you.

Or as Henri put it, “First of all, you have to keep unmasking the world about you for what it is: manipulative, controlling, power-hungry, and, in the long run, destructive. The world tells you many lies about who you are, and you simply have to be realistic enough to remind yourself of this. Every time you feel hurt, offended, or rejected, you have to dare to say to yourself: ‘These feelings, strong as they may be, are not telling me the truth about myself. The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God’s eyes, called the Beloved from all eternity, and held safe in an everlasting belief.”

Praying this truth over you today,

Be.Loved.

Michelle x

Hiking and Hiding.

Michelle Collins8 Comments

Love this time of year… can you smell the lilacs from our garden?

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Time for a catch up.

Baptism… Phil and I were privileged to baptize Emily on Easter Sunday. What a joy to see her say yes to Jesus and own her faith. I just love the model of our youth work.  When we arrived in 2010, the twins were 11 and entering into Juice at youth – it was here they were placed into a care group and allocated care group leaders. These same leaders have been with them through their teen years, supporting mentoring, praying – having a lot of fun, adventures and endless YOLO nights. It was no surprise to see one of her leaders sitting on the steps of the baptism pool cheering her on and the others wait to pour out some love and prayers. It’s no surprise – but I acknowledge the awesome blessing that it is. Our youth pastor Joel and his family, our youth staff and interns need our prayers daily as they give so much week in week out to hundreds of youth in our city.

Immigration…the process continues, we are now proving to Canadian government that Phil is the right man for the job!

For the Love…. I am so excited to be part of a launch team for Jen Hatmaker’s new book ‘For the Love’ which is released in August. EVERY LINE brings a ‘yes’ or an ‘amen’ or ‘I wish id have written that’!!! Watch this space over the next months for a review, endless quotes and no doubt a giveaway when the book is released, preorder here.

Until then here’s a few lines to be going on with.

‘Be Kind. Be You. Love Jesus. That’s about it. Everything else will fall into place’

‘If folks don’t recognize God is good by watching His people, then we have tragically derailed’

‘You know that person who does great things for you and says those things that make you feel so good? Try that on others’!

Spring… has sprung and Phil is starting to work on the veggie garden. We are enjoying a weekly hike on Phil’s day off, choosing a different mountain each week. Our Pastor Gary spoke of life on the mountain this week, you can watch it on the The Abbey Facebook page, our Mountain Monday gives us the view and focus to get back down to the valley for real life.

IMG_1392Hiking on Okanagan Mountain – deer, crane, coyote… and the Ogopogo – can you see it?

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Also, I really like hiking and I really, really like my husband.

On Hiding… I will leave you with this thought. Prompted by the 5 minute Friday word prompt ‘HIDE’.

Hiding often comes easy to me, how about you? I am an INFJ character and often overthinking and sensitivity and the familiar villain of fear can cause me to withdraw into my world where I find encouragement in scripture and in God’s presence, and that alone. Yes, my life is hidden with Christ in God and I live that but as you know one of favorite lines is ‘Created for Community’. I think the enemy of our soul wants nothing more than to isolate us in loneliness – hiding away in a world of silence and unreality. This needs us to make a change – stepping out, being vulnerable and honest, inviting people into our imperfect house and world.

I love the idea of community where are arms are wide open, where judgment is abandoned and encouragement is the norm. Community allows light into the dark places, I’m running after true community.

Jen writes ‘and as we witness this beautiful community, we aren’t just observing vulnerability but rather chains breaking, darkness receding, victory rising… when enough bright places are created, the dark has nowhere else to hide.

To do this we have to be seen.

Love, Michelle x

On Finding Gold

Michelle Collins9 Comments

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At the end of our Oregon road trip we popped across to Bethel Church in Redding – an 8hr drive, we’ve got this road trip thing down. We love Bethel’s worship and teaching and often tune in.

A few friends asked us ‘So… what’s it like at Bethel’

We were so blessed to be in touch with the pastoral team through our friend who arranged for us to receive prayer from the Bethel pastors. Of course they took it to another level and saved us seats, a parking space and blessed us with a gift bag of books and cds – reviews and book clubs to follow 😉

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We were prayed for during the course of the day by several of pastors who immediately felt like friends, who loved us, encouraged us and called out dreams that had only been whispered in secret places.

We heard Carol Arnott speak on Sunday morning and Bill Johnson on Sunday evening. During Sunday evening we saw over 60 physical healings – of injuries and sicknesses, many of which had been around for years. We saw freedom from pain… and feathers floating.

All this time the ‘man’ didn’t run around praying for people, nor did people run to the man, no glory was given to anyone except God. It was very low key and almost understated in terms on man’s involvement. The involvement came when Bill encouraged those in the congregation to pray for one another or in his words ‘church family you have a job to do.’

I love all of the above – there was so much we took away from Bethel, mostly the genuine culture of honor, which is fostered among ALL the people. You might know the book ‘Culture of Honor’ written by Danny Silk. He writes that ‘Honor means relating to someone according to his or her God given identity… Honor looks for gold in people’.

Danny Silk writes that honor – accurately acknowledging who people are – will position us to give them what they deserve, and to receive the gift of who they are in return.  Honor relinquishes the desire to control, accepting risk and trusting freedom.  Honor leads with love and creates zones where people feel safe and important.  Through honor, masks come off, walls come down, and hearts come out.  People’s gifts are revealed, affirmed, and released. Life flows through honor.

He also writes: A controlling God, who is usually represented by a controlling church leadership, is just not good news. How can church leadership create freedom and not more rules? How can we bring out the best in human beings and keep it at the surface even as we deal with their problems and shortcomings? Can we empower others and release them to live from their best natures and from the truest reasons they are alive?

Imagine if we all grasped hold of this truth and were able to say:

‘I carry something that no one else carries. I must develop and release my gifts into the Church and the world and do my part in bringing Heaven to earth’

Does it feel like a difficult, risky task to verbally identify someone’s identity through honor? Possibly for some – our own insecurity might prevent it, underlying judgments that the person does not deserve it, maybe? Fear? Don’t know what to say? Start with ‘you are loved…’ and go from there.

That’s what I carry from Bethel to Willow Park. To see the gold in people of our community, our city. ‘In a culture of honor, leaders lead with honor by courageously treating people according to the names God gives them and not according to the aliases they receive from people’

YOU are loved!

Michelle x

On the Road

Michelle Collins3 Comments

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This time last year Phil and I walked the Worcestershire Way. You can read about it here. This year we are road trippin’ Here’s my road trip musings – part uni exercise – part fill in my non-social media peeps. This trip was planned for last August but life postponed it until now. This time we made it – minus 2 of our kids who are, as I write, feeding hungry people on Venice Beach.

Phil finished work at noon on Sunday and drove 8 hours from Kelowna to Olympia on Sunday afternoon. Rain pelted relentlessly, winds blew fierce and puddles deluged our Jeep, they’re hardy little things the Jeep. Thank you Chrysler.

The kids traveled dreamlike with gadgets and DVDs, one after the other. Not forgetting of course car bingo, which took them all the way over the bridge in Kelowna. Note to self, start playing the game on the Coquihalla where visibility is non-existent and the game is a tad more challenging.

The border is always a challenge for us; I demand silence in the car, behaving like we are doing a drug run to Mexico. ‘Any food in the car’ asks the officer ‘Just some cucumber’ I stammer. ‘Did you know you’re in the oversized vehicle lane’ she asks. ‘We are so, so sorry, we didn’t see the sign’ I feel like I could cry. She laughs. ‘No worries guys’.

Cue Phil to become best friends with our officer. ‘No, Phil’ my inside voice says ‘Quit while you’re ahead’.

The Ramada hotel in Olympia is our first stop. Landing in at around 10.30. Kids are happy for the 24-hour pool and decide swimming races with Daddy are in order. I judge from the hot tub. Winner.

Josiah begins talking about the endless buffet breakfast at 11.30pm and resumes the same conversation at 7am. Josiah enjoys a breakfast for kings (involving gravy, so wrong) then a nice 3-hour drive to Astoria through Seaside onto Cannon Beach. The clouds clear as the rain finally gives way to blue skies. This helps this white-knuckle traveller no end, I am a terrible passenger as many know. I try to let go, but my imaginary steering wheel seems to work so well, as do the brakes.

So after a few days here are my Cannon Beach highlights :

We had no idea Cannon Beach is a honeymoon destination and should have booked adjoining rooms with our littles, join in the spirit of the place. Loved up couples everywhere you turn. Bless. For now, we sleep in queen beds side by side watching High School Musical 3. Fabulous.

Haystack Rock is a 235-foot sea stack on Cannon Beach, sometimes claimed locally to be the third-tallest intertidal structure in the world and is the most photographed landmark on the Coast.

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Each day we enjoy a treasure hunt of driftwood, shells and tide pools. As the tide goes further out and we enjoy this marine garden of sea anemone, star fish and sand dollars.

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Sunset on the beach. Enough said.

IMG_1077 DSC07680 IMG_1081Indian Beach, in Ecola State Park.Wrapping around Tillamook Head, between Seaside and Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park stretches along 9 miles of coastline. Stunning. Seriously. It’s March.

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The town itself has a very laid back feel. ‘Do you have wifi?’ ‘Err, no, aren’t you on vacation’? Opening hours ‘around 10ish if we feel like it’ – lots of trinket shops, art galleries and antique shops. It always makes me smile when I browse antique shops in North America and basically see my Nan’s living room. I could buy an oceanfront apartment through selling her knives and forks around these parts – and maybe a few pieces of Aynsley china cottage garden.

We do love Cannon Beach – and can see why it becomes a fave place to holiday. Who knows, it might become ours… but there’s more to explore!

Our road trip continues, a short stop in Portland (nice vibe) and a visit to the largest new and used bookstore in the WORLD, Powell’s City of Books. We found our way out (eventually) then drove for hours on the I-5.

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We planned on seeing the Redwoods but bypassed them this time and found ourselves in Redding, Cali.

More to tell as the story unfolds… HAPPY SPRING!

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Love, Michelle x

Let’s Twist Again

Michelle Collins8 Comments

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Isaiah 40:31 is flying around my thoughts. ‘But those who wait on the Lord, Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

I realize you all know this verse – but even so – it’s where I’m at and for those who are in need of strength and encouragement and I hope you find it here.

It’s that divine recurring theme again. Trust. This waiting is not simply ‘making time’ but living in confident expectation that He will do it. Not the familiar running ahead and trying to solve it all ourselves. He is close to those who are weak and who trust Him. This promise speaks of us being a trust people, a hope people moving into a revived and renewed people.

The word in this verse for wait was ‘qavah’.

The figurative meaning of the word is hope, expect, and anticipate. But check out the literal. The literal meaning is ‘to bind together like a cord’. Think binding and twisting together – weaving together threads to form a rope.

They shall mount up with wings as eagles – Lowth translates this ‘They shall put forth fresh feathers like the molting eagle;’ and in his note on the passage says, that ‘it has been a common and popular opinion that the eagle lives and retains his vigor to a great age; and that, beyond the common lot of other birds, he molts in his old age, and renews his feathers, and with them his youth.’ He supposes that Psalm 103:5, ‘So that your youth is renewed like the eagles,’ refers to this.

There’s so much metaphor and symbolic imagery around eagles but I love the ‘waiting on the Lord’ image here. The waiting is an active waiting. It is the binding together which I’m focusing on. In this waiting and communing with God, He is weaving truth and character through us, ‘… a cord of three strands is not quickly broken’.

Also,

I see that it’s about community; it’s the image of strengthening together. Lets not try and do this alone – that only leads to frayed thoughts and lives. Let us invite others to join in and wait with us, the more strands that are twisted or woven together in a rope, the greater is its strength. A piece of rope can lift huge weight because of these strands. The rope stretches while it is working, pulling the strands closer together, no one individual strand does the work. The strength comes from all strands working together.

Love it!

A few thoughts from the Oregon coast…more to follow,

Love and prayers,

Michelle x

Bloom where you’re planted.

Michelle Collins3 Comments

Canada 893Walks in our Canadian garden.

During worship in church a couple of weeks ago I saw a garden where God walked among us. As I watched him walk, I began to see us – his children – in different scenarios.

The first scene I saw was people sat in tangled weeds and undergrowth – head in hands not knowing where to begin.

The next I saw were people hiding behind trees, glancing out occasionally but hiding.

The next I saw were people who had climbed up trees… familiar story?

I looked across and saw people tending a section of garden, beautiful flowers, vibrant colours – this group had their backs turned to the rest of those in the garden.

There were people wandering around the garden and not settling.

Then there were many giving out from their areas.

The beauty of this picture was as the Lord walked amongst us in our own space – there was no condemnation. He walked as a friend, drawing us, wooing us, pursuing – he had gentleness in His eyes and oozed love.

God walks amongst us.

His presence …

will address any alienation or isolation we might feel.

will pour out love over fear.

will strengthen us to find our way out of the weeds.

will call us to make our home in Him.

will call us to face one another in true community.

This speaks of intimacy – God is calling us to a new intimacy in Him.

The book of Songs is where I am camping out at the moment… I think I’ll be here a while. As we acknowledge our place in the garden. The Lord is speaking this word from Song of Solomon 2:14 “…Let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”

Let him see your face. The real you. Let him hear your voice. He is interested in all you have to say.

This isn’t about sitting pretty in our gardens,

‘It is time to bloom where you’re planted..then you and those around you will know the sweet fragrance of Christ’

SAM_0909Walks in our English garden.

‘Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Psalm 105:4

‘My lover is already on his way to his garden, to browse among the flowers, touching the colors and form. I am my lover’s and my lover is mine. He caresses the sweet-smelling flowers’. Song of Songs. 6:2

N.T Wright writes ‘If you don’t want your garden to grow weeds, one of the best ways is to keep it well stocked with strong, sturdy flowers and shrubs. If you don’t want your mind and heart to go wandering off into the realms of darkness, one of the best ways is to keep them well stocked with wise and thankful themes’.

Hope these words of encouragement bless you – you are loved – you have a place. Let Him see your face and hear your voice.

Stay in touch,

Love, Michelle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matt’s story: ‘Your prayer has been heard’

Michelle Collins30 Comments

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About my little bro Matt…

He was 19 when he was diagnosed with paranoid Schizophrenia. For those who have known this illness, you know it’s not a quick visit to your local GP and an off the bat diagnosis. No, this came following years of pain, torment, violence, and imprisonment.

We were told these words. ‘Prepare yourselves for him to be institutionalized for the rest of his life’.

The 23 years that have followed have been both stable and tumultuous. As pray-ers we’ve wrestled with how to pray, with the dark feel of mental illness, the spiritual influence that accompanies, and the voices that have called us out.

We have seen God answer many prayers. We’ve fasted; we’ve travailed and cried as the pain of unanswered prayer pushes us to breakthrough for his life. When the time came for hi-security rehab for a while, we prayed and he received the best care. When certain medical intervention was/is needed we pray. When wisdom is needed over meds we pray. We refused to believe what had been spoken and saw the dedication of faithful people praying God’s word. All wrapped in the beauty of a Mom and Dad pouring out unconditional love.

Why do I tell you this? I love to tell God stories. He’s a good, good Father… Love this song. On repeat.

Matt knows God’s love and forgiveness. He has broken free from many addictions. He’s realized the dark influence of occult practices and disposed of anything attached to it. A good friend has been and prayed through his apartment, yes, Matt’s apartment – because he lives independently now. Shopping, cooking, paying his bills. Matt’s an encourager, he has the gift of generosity, he’s a great Dad. He’s currently serving at our old church in Stourbridge – Chawn Hill. Helping to cook meals at Alpha and helping with the Diners club – where a group of guys cook a meal and eat together. There’s the table again.

I tell a snippet of Matt’s story to encourage praying parents, siblings and carers and of course those who are affected by mental illness. Please understand I am not making light of a desperate situation by suggesting a quick fix prayer. I understand the depth of pain. What I do know is that God hears your prayers, every one of them, spoken and not. He sees your desperation. God is committed to answer your prayers. He is committed to show you His heart, He is for you. Remind Him of His promises, stop and listen to Him – He is faithful.

For the moments when you ask why.  The real Jesus turns to our questions of why, why this sickness, who is to blame — and he says it like a caress to the aching,“You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here.” (John 9:3 MSG)… “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him” (John 9:5 NLT). Anne Voskamp.

…and if you’ve run out of faith and hope – tell God that too and find a community who will support you. He gives strength to the weary. When the angel spoke to Zechariah he said ‘Do not be afraid; your prayer has been heard’ Luke 1:13 If you study this word it actually means ‘the prayers that you no longer pray have been heard’. I love that.

Prayer changes things. Answers to prayer reveal God’s love.

Matt’s life is a beautiful testimony of this.

And we are thankful.

Jesus: ‘Remember, what is humanly impossible is possible with God.’ Luke 18:27

‘I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?’ Jeremiah 32:27 

‘For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that.’Jeremiah 29:11

‘The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Love, Michelle x

(Written with permission – thanks lil’ bro)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Prophetic mashup for 2015.

Michelle CollinsLeave a comment

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I have read a lot of prophetic words for 2015 over the past few weeks.

Wow – feels like there is a lot of promise over this year. I have read repeated words that this is a year of acceleration, breakthrough, salvation, healing, overflow and turnarounds.

My prayer as you read through this ‘prophetic mashup’ is that you’ll find encouragement and your spirit will respond with a yes to that which is for you.

Proverbs 4:18 says, ‘But the path of the righteous is like the light of the dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day’ with this in mind 2015 should be our best yet.

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Before 2014 was over I made an intentional decision to deal with the effects of it… whether that was letting it go, shaking it off or any other popular song lyric. No seriously. On New Years Eve I went into my room, locked the door and in prayer, went through the year month by month. When you face heart pain with the loss of a loved one, those closest to you separating, when you experience health scares, face accident…there needs to be healing. It was a significant hour, and healing continues. In addition, I also went through my journal and saw significant answers to prayers I’d forgotten I had prayed. I saw how words and whispers of God define my life. God is far more concerned about what we’ve become than what we have done. I love journaling and highly recommend it as you enter into this new season.

Some headlines of prophetic words for 2015.

Double Portion Year

Or as Jonny Enlow puts it ‘double for your trouble’.

2015 is a year of double portion favor, grace, glory, blessing, provision, jubilee and inheritance.

‘O hostages of hope. I announce today that I will restore to you twice as much as what was taken’ Zechariah 9:12

Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt. Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever. Isaiah 61:7

This does not mean a life of no challenges – but it does mean a life of greatly satisfying fruitfulness.

Jubilee

Later in the year we will be entering the 70th Jubilee cycle since the very first Jubilee, which occurred when Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land and liberated it from the Canaanites. In a jubilee year, all debts are to be cancelled; all land is to be returned to its original owner. Liberty is proclaimed throughout the land. When the great Day of Atonement in the Year of Jubilee came, every enslaved Jew became a free man once again and repossessed his inheritance.

Outpouring Of The Spirit Of God

We are in the season Joel prophesied about. ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.’ Joel 2

Intimacy

‘Come away with Me My beloved as I am awakening love within your heart’. Come away with me. How does that look for you? Jesus wants to reveal secrets, love, and mysteries to you. The Lord is singing love songs over you, wooing you. Yes YOU. This is my favorite! For a girl who struggled to express any emotion God has restored pure intimacy in my relationship with Him – there is much fruitfulness in intimacy I could write lots on this…watch this space and here’s a love song to listen to.

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Fulfillment of Promises

There have been many of us who have believed God for a miracle, breakthrough or fulfillment of a prophetic word in our personal life over a number of years. Years of waiting will see a turnaround and fulfillment in 2015. ‘For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us’ 2 Corinthians 1:20 ‘…There will be a fulfillment of those things which were told [you] from the Lord’ Luke 1:45

Standing on a promise of the Lord is not wishful thinking, no matter what you’re facing. God’s promises carry their own assurance of fulfillment because ‘God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Nehemiah 23:19

Breakthrough/Hope restored.

As many reach opposition capacity, breakthrough will happen. As doom screams at you – you must keep your eyes on Jesus, praise on your lips and your whole being in his word.

Many have been feeling like they are constantly living in the first half of John 10:10, that the enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy. That they are continually being hit, continually battling his lies and threats to kill and destroy without feeling like they are living in the latter half of John 10:10, that He (Jesus) came to give life and life to the full.

‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure’ Hebrews 6:19  

Where there was disappointment, heartache and pain – God is restoring hope to many in this new season.

‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ Romans 15:13

 

Open Door

‘After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ Revelation 4:1 NIV   He is calling us higher – resulting in a change in our perspective

The Table is Set.

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ Matthew 14:21

‘Come, for everything is ready’ God has prepared a table before us and we are being given an invitation to be part of something big that God has been planning. This represents the spiritual outcasts that God is drawing in now. Another of my favorites. I love the table!

Finding new fruit in your family tree

Your generational gifting and calling will become clearer this year. God is revealing positive, hidden blessings and callings in your family tree. You will no longer be worried about generational curses, because generational blessings will come to the forefront.

I’ll end it there – clearly this is my mash up – taking words, collating them and condensing them. I do this because I know how God wants to speak to our hearts – to encourage us to pursue, to be pursued and to be reminded of/dig out those promises (and also last year people appreciated me reducing 20,000 words to 1,396)

Now that you have read these words – pray over them, digest and absorb them and repeat. Call them out. Own them. And most of all enjoy the journey. Jesus came to give life, and life to the full…

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‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen’ Eph 3:20-21

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. Psalm 65:11-12

 

‘Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.’ God’s Decree.

‘Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for my people Israel:

‘They’ll rebuild their ruined cities

They’ll plant vineyards and drink good wine.

They’ll work their gardens and eat fresh vegetables.

And I’ll plant them, plant them on their own land.

They’ll never again be uprooted from the land I’ve given them.’

God, your God, says so. Amos 9:13

Here’s to 2015. Sounds like it could be legendary.

Love, Michelle

(Words from Jonny Enlow, Lana Vewsar, Doug Addison. Bill Burns. James Maloney. Rick Joyner and last but not least Michelle Collins 😉 and can be found in their entirety on Elijah List.