Amazed & Confused

The problem of pain...

 

Feeling a little exposed this morning... I decided to share something of our personal journey in the last few years on today's LOVE:EASTER podcast from 24-7 Prayer.  The passage we're looking at is John 11, the death and raising of Lazarus, and for me that story, that encounter, will forever be inextricably linked to our journey to pregnancy.

I don't like pain.  If I could I would constantly avoid it.  But... I can't deny, that through our small experience God has taught me so very much and been so very close.  I may not have always appreciated that at the time, but looking back now, I don't think I would have traded that depth, that compassion for an easy life.  

"The number 1 thing that shapes you... painful experiences." Rick Warren

"Jesus Wept" John 11:35

Far greater writers than I have wrestled with this topic so I won't go on much more.  I'll only say this.  I know this is true - pain is better with Jesus in it, than living under it's weight alone... A heavy start to easter week but I guess this is the dark before the light :)  Looking forward to Easter Sunday.

How will you LOVE:EASTER?

Monday morning the first of a new season of the 24-7 Podcast begins for Easter.  I always find the words of my friends around the world inspiring, challenging and a walk of greater depth.  If you fancy joining me on this walk through the last days of Jesus' life, His death and the day that changed all others then subscribe!

The first episode is by yours truly and a bit of a personal one.  More info in the trailer below...

'Everybody's here! New music from the Push Community - you decide what it costs

I love being part of the Push Community.  I get to be with my hubby, worship with my friends and be a small part of seeing talented people get their new music out there.   

Today is a good day for that!  Today the Push Community has released it's debut album 'Everybody'... and you don't even have to pay for it if you really don't want to.  

One of the core values of the community is to produce music that serves the Church so if you want to listen to some fresh congregational songs, intimate balads and kooky folk tunes written by worship leaders for worshippers, then go to our bandcamp page, download and make a donation if you're able :)

Once you've had a listen tell me what you think in the comments below.  My particular favourites are tracks 1, 4 and 11 :)

Social Media Challenge: Tweet your thanks on International Women’s Day

Take part in a global event and bless the women who’ve shaped your faith and life the most!  



Today is International Women’s Day. It began in the early 20th Century when women rose up to protest gender inequality in voting rights, education and pay.  Though some issues still exist a century later, International Women’s Day is now also a celebration of the progress achieved globally, and a chance to honour the women in our life. (In many nations it shares a similar status to Mother’s Day!)  



To celebrate this day, 24-7 Prayer has social media challenge to you…



Choose one woman

• She can be famous or familiar, but choose someone who has had a big impact on your faith 
• Thank God and pray for her today  
• Tweet, blog or Facebook a photo of them and tell the world why you’re grateful for this person on #womensday 

My choice is above!  Bernie Trundle, my Mum.  She has taught me about selfless love, faithfulness to God and a good sense of humour.  Thank you Mum!



Who will you choose?  Pray, post a photo and spread the word about the #247challenge on #womensday. 

This thought was originally posted here.

'Tis the season: Christmas starts here

 

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming... I can't wait for Christmas!  Two things are amping up my seasonal excitement today:

1. The aftermath of our annual Proxy Christmas celebrations - Turkey, tree and tonnes of friends celebrating Christmas on the 25th November.  It's almost a decade since we started this little tradition and now it marks the beginning of the season in the Harding household.
2. 24-7 Podcasts are back for Christmas - Yay!  The second tailer which features yours truly is above. 

How will you encounter Jesus this Christmas?  Subscribe to the 24-7 Podcast and pray each weekday with amazing people from around the world :)

Hearing a heartbeat...

After two and a half years of trying for a baby, every step of my pregnancy feels like a little miracle.  I've never been more thankful.  Just ten months ago I was struggling with a deep sadness and fear that children weren't in our future, now, as Christmas approaches I'm into my second trimester and can't believe our life is about to be turned upside down in the best possible way.

Baby Harding will be joining us, ready or not, around the 22nd April.  We've started collecting second-hand cots, bouncers, blankets etc. and a little list of names for the newest member of our family.  

Yesterday I had my second appointment with our brilliant midwife Jo.  As she navigated my tummy with her goo assisted Doppler device, Steve and I got our second and clearest hearing of our little one's heartbeat.  It was so fast and strong.  A bold declaration of the life growing inside.  I cried... of course... What a beautiful sound.

The whole experience is causing me to marvel anew at the power and creativity of God.  A lot of prayer went into the arrival of this little one but the more I learn about how it's growing the more I think that every life is an amazing and miraculous gift...

A night at BAFTA and an unexpected award

Thursday night Steve and I put our glad rags on and made our way to BAFTA's headquarters in London.  In these rather plush and prestigious surroundings we were gathering with some of the 24-7 Prayer team and other hopeful nominees for the Jerusalem Trust Awards.

Each year the Jerusalem Trust sifts through thousands of entries to find the best audio and video content in the Christian arena that year.  Around the room were independant film makers, organisations like ours, independant radio broadcasters and lots of lovely people from the BBC.  24-7 was nominated in three categories and to our total astonishment we actually won one!

24-7 Prayer was awarded the 2012 prize for Social Networking.  Well we are rather friendly :)  The award was specifically given for our work around our lent season of the 24-7 Spaces podcast and the interaction and feedback it provoked on our website, as well as on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.  It was very humbling to win, especially in the presence of so many amazing groups.  We celebrated with a glass of wine / cranberry juice and some rather impressive canapes (a wafer cone of cornation chicken anyone?)  It made for a brilliant night out and I wanted to say thanks to the two teams that considered and chose little old us for the award.  Lady Sainsbury was a particular highlight as she shared her passion for sharing Jesus and encouraged everyone in the room.  She was very lovely when I bumped into her on the way to the loo too!

Is 'evangelism' a dirty word?

***This photo has nothing to do with this post but when I was scanning my images I burst out laughing when I saw this amazing memory.  Mud sliding with friends - there are few things more exillerating! Now, on with the post!***  

Is 'evangelism' a dirty word?  

This was the question that kick started my talk preparation last week.  I think Christian evangelism is highly unpopular in today's culture, and though we are free in this nation to do so, it can seem like a kind of a cringeworthy duty at times. (Maybe it's just me!)  

I find it a great personal challenge therefor that sharing our faith in Jesus is one of the last things said man told us to do before returning to His Father in heaven...

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefor go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20

So how to we go?  How do we grow in confidence in what we have to share?  What's the heart behind the great commission?  These were the questions that inspired me as I pieced together my talk for my Revelation Church community last Sunday.  It was an interesting journey.  I realised that something I thought I wasn't very big on, is actually closely tied to one of my core passions in life...

A recording of my talk has just gone live on this new Revelation Church podcast stream.  If you have any thoughts on the topic have a listen and let me know what you think in the comments.

Are some people predisposed to be good at prayer? What if you're not one of them?

I just read a fascinating email exchange between a good friend and a fellow smart person.  The topic of conversation was "Are some people predisposed to being good at prayer?"  An interesting question.  As I considered the thought that some people are just good about being regular and disciplined - and one's suggestions on how materialism, technology, self control and more affect our psyche, I was brought back to a brilliant book I read over the summer that gave me real hope for prayer amateurs.

Prayer and Temperament by Chester P. Michael and Marie C. Norrisey won't be everyone's cup of tea.  Based on the four core Myers Briggs personalities it explores how our strengths, weaknesses and methods of perception and process affect not only how we interact with God but which Gospel writer's account of Jesus' life we're most likely to connect with.

I am a firm believer that prayer is for amateurs, that God excludes no-one from conversation, relationship and the chance to be changed and change the world around us.  If people find prayer hard - they simply haven't found their language yet.  This book took by intuition (oh yes - I'm an 'N') and gave me some solid reasoning as to why some personalities find prayer easy and others struggle.

Most fascinating was the exploration about how different streams of the church teach prayer in ways tailored to only one personality type.  (It goes into detail on this looking at different monastic traditions.) If you find prayer hard maybe the way you've been taught isn't for you?  

What do you think?  Read, experienced or discussed anything around this topic?  As our conversations amidst friends evolve I may blog again about where we're heading with it.  Until then - conversation in the comments.

Learning to tell the story

"Where and how you begin the story, and where and how you end the story, shape and determine what story you're telling." Rob Bell

I'm two teachers into my new season on studying the art of preaching and teaching and both Jon Ortberg and Rob Bell have given me much to think about.  January to March has been a busy season of sharing and speaking for me as I've prepared and taught more than I have before and felt like I am embarking on another steep learning curve. 

Three or four years ago I realised that if I wanted the honour of speaking to people about Jesus then I needed to tame my gab and feed my heart and mind.  After taking a year and a half hiatus from speaking to study a bit and pray I dove back in with a new passion and a real joy in God's word.  (Wow - there was I time I never thought I'd say that!)

A few years on I feel I've made a good stab at implementing the things I've been learning and focussing on and I'm feeling a renewed season of focus and stretching is needed.  I'm seeking out resources!  Anyone got any?  

I started with Jon Ortberg's sessions on Crafting Life Changing Messages (lots of food for thought!) and now I'm working my way through Rob Bell's Poets & Preachers videos.  (Absolutely brilliant!)  I have such a long way to go, and so much to learn… but I want to be a courageous encourager to my Revs church family and others I get to hang out with. 

As I look afresh at my study life, the way I approach messages and my identity as a daughter in God I am so grateful that I get to do this.  I never want to lose sight of what an honour and joy it is. 

Stream of consciousness / update over.  If anyone has any suggestions of books or speakers who could stretch and shape me on the topic of preaching and teaching I'd love to hear about them in comments :)

Making spaces...

It's a strange sensation when months of preparation, hard work, hope and travel come to fruition.  Last week, one of my greatest focuses of the past few months finally went live.  The 24-7 Spaces podcast (short, daily, videos to help you pray through lent) have gone out to who knows how many people around the world.  Amazing!

I love my work but there are a few projects and opportunities that shine among the rest.  Spaces is definitely one of them.  It something I feel we should be doing not just a could be.  I love hearing stories of how people use them and the dreams, ideas and prayers they inspire.  My favourites included hearing about families using them at dinner time and the couple who watched one whilst in the early stages of labour!  I wonder how they'll be used this season?

Pete kicked off the season amazingly last week (so wise!) and this week it's my turn.  Here was Monday's episode about one of my heroes, Mary the mother of Jesus:

 

Then today's episode about Jesus clearing the temple...

 

These episodes were a pleasure to prepare and film.  There are few things more fun then making something like this with good friends that helps other connect with God.  I'll post the remaining videos below as the week goes on but if you're interested in following the whole season then find out more here.

We are what we eat...

We are what we eat, what we buy, what we consume. That’s how it goes right? What you obtain, what you invest in, where your heart dwells and where you spend your time… these are the things that shape and disciple us. Physically, emotionally, mentally… but how do we know when the things we consume begin to consume us?

Today much of the Western Church embarks on Lent, a journey toward Easter. An annual rhythm that challenges our role as consumers at the centre of a service orientated society. A time of denial and self-control. The season to stop, breathe and ask ourselves the question: what and whom am I living for?

“Get ready the road for the Lord.” John 1:23

I have an eclectic church background; before finding my community I sampled a selection of the flavours the wider Church has to offer. My current church doesn't make a big deal of lent. We’ve not rejected it we simply don’t closely follow any traditional church calendar. However, observing lent is a habit I picked up young and has stuck with me. When I dive into the season I’ve found that God gives to me more than I ever give up for Him.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” Matthew 4:1-2

What do I hunger for?

Mimicking Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, I’ve joined many in fasting, praying and facing big questions and temptations. Each year God reveals something new in my character or faith journey. In my early twenties fasting make-up gave God room to talk with me about my worth and value. Last year when I gave up music on my daily commute He opened my eyes to the ways I shut myself off from the world around me. When I fast from food, and my stomach grumbles, “Lord, teach me to hunger for your presence” has skipped off my lips.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, 
so my soul pants for you, O God. 
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 
When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2

This morning millions will have woken to a new fast, preparing hearts and minds to walk through death and into life and hope on resurrection Sunday. Be it a challenge to give something up or the establishment of a new holy habit, we’re examining our hearts and minds and inviting the light of Jesus shine in our darkness…

“Lent is the time for trimming the soul and scrapping the sludge off a life turned slipshod. Lent is about taking stock of time, even religious time. Lent is about exercising the control that enables us to say no to ourselves so that when life turns hard of its own accord we have the stamina to yes to its twists and turns with faith and hope… Lent is the time to make new efforts to be what we say we want to be.” Sister Joan Chittister

In an individualistic world, lent is a corporate act of humility that looks to Jesus and says; “I want to love you more than myself.” Whether you follow the Western or Eastern Church rhythms, or if like me you’re from a stream that doesn’t jump into lent, why not consider engaging in the pre-Easter journey in 2012. Lent is just an excuse… it’s unimportant when you start, end or how you calculate 40 days. The journey from now to Easter is an opportunity; an invitation and all are welcome…

As I embark on this year’s fast I find myself drawn to balance my denial with delight, my fasting with feasting. This Lent as I open one hand and let go of something for a time, I stretch out the other take hold of a new rhythm. From today to Easter Sunday I, like thousands of others, will be consuming the gospel of John in prayer.

Join the 24-7 Prayer community as we make 5 minutes, for 40 days to walk through the life of Jesus. Subscribe to the 24-7 Spaces podcast and watch short devotional videos hosted by people caught up in this movement.

This week launches with Pete Greig sharing from John chapter 1. Find out more and watch the latest videos here.

“Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; 
be merciful to me and answer me. 
My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ 
Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalm 27:7-8

Guts, gore, law and bore: seeing love in the OT

On Sunday I tackled one of my most challenging talk briefs to date: God's love in the Old Testament. When I received the talk brief from Dan I got terribly excited; partly because of the challenge (30 minutes - 30-odd books what do you focus on!), but mostly because the OT is the part of God's word I've been on the biggest journey with.

I used to dread reading it; honestly, I thought it was something to be endured until you reached the good bit (Jesus).  When I actually did read it I discovered some absolutely gorgeous bits that I would then read repeatedly: Psalms, Proverbs, adventures and amazing role models. If I'm honest I would skip past or skim read the guts, gore, law and all the stuff that bored me. It was difficult to understand, almost alien in it's worldview. It wasn't until I read the Bible using the God Story technique that I started to see the grand sweep of God's love and intention, from the moment of creation to the growth of the early church.  It was from that nine months of reading and studying that my love for the Old Testament grew.  

Much study, thought, prayer and discussion went into capturing some of that journey for Sunday's talk.  If you're interested in the outcome then you can download it here: 

 

Download God's Love in the Old Testament

 

(The sound goes a little odd two minutes in but is swiftly fixed by the wonderous Malc Garda.)

Studying and preparing for this talk has crystalised the journey of learning and teaching (and learning about teaching) I've been on for the last four years.  On one hand I can see how far I've come.  On the other, I am always accutely aware of how much more I have to learn.  

I haven't been to Bible college, I don't have any formal training but I do love learning and have been searching for good resources to really stretch me in the area of preaching and teaching.  My good friend Wendy Andrews and I were skyping recently sharing our studying and speaking journies and swapping recommendations for resources and mentoring.  It was when we were listing what's really helped us that I realised:

1. Interested mentors have been one of the most helpful things in my journey (Pete Greig and Ellie Armstrong particularly)
2. We're hungry for teaching and resource on the art of communication and preaching but don't know where to find them (I have listened to Rob Bell, John Ortberg and Mark Driscoll on the topic, read the odd book and the like but what else is out there that you don't have to go to college to get?)
3. We don't know of any women teaching about teaching.  We know female teachers, but haven't heard them on this topic - anyone recommend any?  Is Danielle Strickland, Elaine Storkey or anyone else wading in and shaping young, studying women?

So dear blogasphere, does anyone have any recommendations?!  If you study and preach, what's helped and shaped you?  Who are the people, what are the resources and rhythms you've developed that have most grown you as a speaker?  Let's share the learning wealth, I for one would be most greatful :)

40 days, 5 minutes, 1 Gospel...

 

8 planes, 8 faces and four nations; that's what will have gone into this video prayer podcast when we wrap in a few weeks.  This season of 24-7 Spaces seems the most exciting yet with people I love, leading us in prayer a week at a time through the Gospel of John.  I've been so tied up in helping make this happen it's bizzare that it's come round for release already!  If you're interested and want to know more then click play and find out what Pete Greig (England), Tash Creaney (Northern Ireland), Ralf Neumann (Germany), Brian Heasley (Ibiza), Adam Cox, Jon Petersen and Joe Steinke (USA)... and me too... will be talking and praying about this lent. 

Freezing my nose off to help thousands pray

Travel has been my watch-word for the last two weeks with retreats, prayer weekends, trips to Northern Ireland and now Germany taking me away from home and off into the big wide world.

It's been challenging, exciting, refreshing, tiring, inspiring, fun, thought provoking and much more to be away with lovely people in interesting places.  I'm looking forward to this little splurge of travel coming to an end tomorrow night as I fly back home to my waiting hubby and get my teeth stuck into all the work that's been awaiting my return.

The last trip in my schedule is to somewhere new.  Today I fly from Gatwick and arrive in Berlin!  Though I've been to Germany many times I have never landed in it's capitol city and though I only get to drive through it, I look forward to waving hello through a car window.  From Berlin airport Chris Stone and I will drive to Neubrandenberg for 24 packed hours with the great Ralf Neumman.  This rather brief jaunt is to film Ralf's contribution to the upcoming 24-7 Spaces podcast; a 40 day video podcast that helps anyone interested in praying through the life of Jesus in the gospel of John this lent.  So far the contributions people have made have been inspiring!  I can't wait for it to begin.

However... if passion is determined by how much you are willing to suffer for something you love then I must be passionate about Spaces.  I got a text today informing me that it's currently -16 in Neubrandenberg!!!  What!?!  We are totally going to freeze our noses off filming outside in the Datzberg.  Oh well shoud be fun.  If frost bite has spared my fingers I shall blog about it upon my return.  Here's to a new city! 

Is my Dad going to be OK? Please say yes...

The title of this post was a real prayer, found in a prayer space... Few things move me more than honest encounters with God.  In 24-7 Prayer Rooms and Spaces in churches, workplaces, prisons, community hubs and schools, people poor out what they really think, what they really want, how they actually feel deep down where no-one else can see.  Sometimes it spills out into an artistic explosion, other times a simple prayer or question... but if all I do with my life is walk with and encourage communities making space for this, I'll die a happy woman.

As this movement continues to... well... move... a new swell has emerged in the ordinary schools of our nation.  Prayer Spaces in Schools began only a few years ago yet they've spread like a wild fire across the UK & Ireland.  These creative, holy spaces in hosted in primary and secondary schools for a day or week, provide space for a generation to encounter a living and interested God.  We ran two here in Chichester and both times I was floored by the truth, questioning and genuine response evident on the walls / cargo nets / paint spaces / crosses.  It was messy, uncertain, unfinished and absolutely gorgeous. 

It's also spreading...

There's been interest from a few different nations about taking prayer spaces to schools but one that has just run with it is Uganda.  Yesterday I heard that a group of schools are joining together to host spaces back to back filling the academic year in 2012!  A generation, praying through the academic year.  Amazing!  

Yesterday the teaser film for the new Prayer Spaces in Schools video was released in the UK.  Take a look and let us know what you think... Could this be something for your local schools?

Prayer Spaces in Schools Teaser from Prayer Spaces In Schools on Vimeo.

 

Moments captured in the aperture of the mind

Today I opened a new journal... I'd set aside the practice last summer but it's been calling to me so I return to it again.  There's a lot happening right now.  Lots on my mind.  Good things, great things, things to make decisions about.  I don't want to lose the big picture so have turned to marking pages with streams of conscious to capture every aspect of what lies ahead.  It gave me peace...

Often I marvel at where God/life/choices have taken me.  As I emailed a 24-7 Prayer Room in the Dominican Republic I stopped to wonder how on earth we became connected.  Where did they find out about 24-7 Prayer?  What made them pray?  This movement never stops moving :)

The photo above was a beautiful moment in a rather hectic week.  Chris (the camera man), Scot (taking the photo) and I found ourselves on West Witterings beach at sunset.  We were filming an episode of the 24-7 Spaces podcast for this lent.  The bleak vista and an amazing passage from John combined to make the moment beautiful.  How did I end up there?  How come I get to do this?  I am so grateful.

If I don't capture these moments in the aperture of my mind they would pass by with little appreciation of their worth.  Journalling, blogging, conversing - they make me grateful.  Looking back, around and ahead I know that there's much that's happened I need to remember and much yet to be done that I must consider.  

Here's to today, a fresh page and a poised pen...

New Dawn: It's prayer Jim, but not as we know it...

From the 28th - 29th January (just a few weekends time) Theresa Stone, Emma Nicholson and I are going to eat, sleep and pray on a big beautiful boat with a whole bunch of other people :)  Why?  Well the CYE sailing centre have invited our little 24-7 Prayer team to come and lead a group of people through a weekend on prayer.  Theresa and I worked on our sessions this morning and got rather excited by all the dreams and schemes we have planned.

It's going to be a cornacopia of teaching, experience, space and creativity. I can't wait.

If you're in the UK and fancy join in I think there are still some spaces left.  If you want a chance to look at deepening your conversation with God by looking at who we are, how your personality affects your prayer life, trying prayer in ancient and modern ways and getting some inspiration and encouragement, then come and join us. More info here.

Post-it Notes of hope

Last night, I slept badly. I tossed and turned, mind half awake and waiting for my alarm to sound. It was deeply frustrating. I was wakeful because I was worried. There's a lot ahead of me this weekend, not bad things just stuff that needs juggling. Each challenge felt like another ball I must keep in the air and I was mentally limbering up for today's throwing and catching.

After a bracing pre-dawn walk, the door of the 24-7 Prayer Room closed behind a friend and I found myself alone with God.  After a poor night of rest I was up early and here was my opportunity to splurge my head noise in prayer. I kneeled down to pray the entering liturgy we've written for the week and started to hand God everything in my head. One line in particular jumped out at me:

"In this hour I will give myself to the work of prayer, this is about God's concerns not mine."

It pulled me up short, I could easily fill the hour with worries and pleas (and this wouldn't necessarily be wrong), but what if God had other ideas? I walked around the room looking for how the space had changed since my last visit - it's one of my favourite things about these sacred spaces. I love seeing the prayer room fill with prayers , dreams, ideas, art work and catch a glimpse of what God's up to in our community. Each day it's different, each day another 24(ish) people have taken an hour out of life to see what happens when they say 'hi' to Jesus.  

As I reach the Wailing Wall / Wailing Cargo Net I spotted a prayer I had written just yesterday. I'd scribbled it in tears and it represent the thing I've wrestled most with in the last year. On top of my little yellow plea was a green post-it note. On that green post it note someone had written a few simple words, an echoing prayer. It did my heart the world of good to see that someone else cared enough to spend part of their hour praying for me. That was it - all my plans were out the window. The next hour wouldn't be about my stress, my concerns; the next hour would be about the other prayers pinned to this slightly musty smelling net.

I worked my way along the wall reading the anonymous prayers of others and the little Green post-it notes of encouragement stuck to them. As I began to add my amen to those who'd gone before me I felt the stress I'd been carrying start to ebb away. I was moved by the single word pleas, the three different posts about struggling with cancer and the beautiful heartfelt prayers of love and hope.

To end my hour I posted a prayer on blue paper for assistance with my day. By the time I finally wrote my prayer I felt entirely different about it. I placed it among dozens of others and knew I was leaving my life in good hands. As the next person knocked on the door, my fatigue and the day ahead seemed demoted in my awareness and gratitude had taken it's place. Prayer Rooms are good for me :)

(Written Friday, posted Saturday)

An Unassuming Sacred Space

There are sacred spaces in this world, some are marked with signs and heralds, others with great art and paths well trod by pilgrims, but there are many that can be passed by unnoticed; unnassuming places that have nothing visible to point to the encounters that have happened there.  The conference room in the Revelation Church Warehouse is one such sacred space.  

Teenagers gather in it, businesses and groups meet there, performers have used it as a green room and club nights as an entrance.  I wonder if anyone of them knew that the carpet tiles they were standing on are holy ground?  

It was in this rather boring looking room that I learned how to pray.  There were words, thoughts, movements, paintings, tears, music and many other expressions involved in my search for a language...  but this was the space in which my 18 year old heart learned to connect to God's.  In a smelly, beautiful, messy and glorious place later named a 24-7 Prayer Room. My life's direction has been set by my solitary lessons in God's love and conversation over a few short months in 1999.  Now I pour myself into helping others do the same.  

Today as I stood in that conference room, surrounded by my Revs family, tears slid down my cheeks and my heart was moved.  We gathered to welcome 2012, a new day a New Year with the launch of our first 24-7 Prayer Room in a few years.  As I worshipped I realised that if I'd had some stones to hand, I'd have been piling them there.  This room is my Gilgal.  The place God brought me, a watershed between one part of my life and the next.  Today I remembered the time I had spent there, the prayers God had responded to and the way we were changed.  As I remembered I longed.  Revelation is striding into a new adventure; we're looking forward.  We don't want the glory days gone by, we want the presence of God and His mission for us now.  This sacred space is a key.  

I have numerous hours alone and with Cymbrogi set aside in this room in the week ahead.  Lord I'm coming to meet with you.  Could this be a new watershed for me, for all of us?  Speak Lord, your servants are listening...

Don't know what 24-7 Prayer is?  Check out the website and this nifty little vid below...

Christmas is a coming...

I cannot wait!  I love the twinkly lights in the shop windows, the slight panic when I think about gift shopping, the food, the drink, the parties and the prayer... oh yes... the prayer. Here are just three ways I'm finding that Christmas feeling in the coming month.

This Friday the Harding household plays host to our annual Proxy Christmas celebration.  The month early celebration of Jesus birth where we share Christmas dinner with over a dozen of our friends.  For over five years this rather barmy (and very early) Christmas party has launched our holiday season with our Chichester family helping us decorate the house, put up our tree and have our own near-thanksgiving celebration.  

The following Monday before I jet off to Malaysia (can't wait!) I'll be joining thousands of others in praying through the advent season with the 24-7 Spaces podcast.  I loved our wee podcast that took us through lent earlier this year and as I prayed with my mates I felt connected to them despite the distance.  Find out more about the podcast in the preview vid below and pray along with subscription info here.

Grab a stone, pray for Turkey...

Turkey is reeling and rescue attempts continue after the worst earthquake in decades hit the nation on Sunday afternoon. The BBC are reporting that 239 people have died and over a thousand have been injured. Sadly the death toll is expected to rise. Looking at the photos and videos of rescue and rubble online, it's hard not to be moved by such devastation.

How can we respond and pray for the people of Turkey at such a tragic time of crisis? Honestly, today I found it difficult to know where to begin. I spent a some time reading reports online and asking God how we should pray…

Here is the simple way the 24-7 team have come up with - why don't you join us?

Go and find a stone and keep it with you all day. When you see it think about the situation in Turkey and prayer for:

1. Strength and protection for the thousands of rescue workers and medics working to free and treat people still trapped in the rubble. 
2. Comfort and our loving God to be with the families of those found dead or still awaiting news of loved ones. 
3. The tens of thousands of people who slept outdoors in freezing temperatures last night. For the shelter and for the government to respond quickly and efficiently to protect and house those now homeless. 
4. For God to protect the nation of Turkey from common after effects of earthquakes like water contamination and desease.

A matter of life and death

I find it an humbling and slightly frightening privilege/challenge to talk to people about God.  I've been speaking as part of the team at Revelation Church for some years now, but the opportunity and responsibility is never lost in me.  Particularly when I'm looking at such a profound and life altering passage like John chapter 11.  

Last Sunday I shared a few thoughts on the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and it felt like a week of thought, prayer, tears and conversation were reaching a head.  This was a challenging one...  I had to do some business of my own with God before even thinking about what from my study and prayer I'd share with the Revs family.  I think it was true to say I was a little apprehensivetalking about life, death, grief, pain, hope, heaven, paradox and what it means to follow Jesus here and now.  In case you missed it I blogged a little about it last week.

"I am, right here and now, the resurrection and the life...
Do you believe this?" Jesus

Obviously Jesus is pretty spectacular in this passage, but I've become a bit of fan of Thomas, and I don't mean the Tank Engine.  It was the small, blink-and-you'd-miss-it role this disciple played and his ongoing journey of doubt, joy and determination that challenged me most as I studied last week.  As I shared about his journey and the perspectives of Jesus, Martha and Lazarus, I was moved by the number of people who shared my reaction.

If you're interested in listening to where I got to in my reflections you can download a recording or listen online here.  A special thanks to those who prayed as I prepared.

Has prayer been feminized? My thoughts.

This morning I switched on my tweetdeck to read this post from the lovely Brian Heasley:

"Anyone else ever worry that prayer has become overly feminized http://brianheasley.blogspot.com/2011/09/feminized-prayer.html I posted some thoughts @247prayer"

Brian is a brilliant blogger, I've been reading his Curious in Ibiza musings for many a year and I love how he can take a topic and stir up a bit of debate.  The one he's hit on today is an interesting one and mirrors my thoughts from this past weekend particularly.

Fundamentally I agree with Brian's concern.  Within European circles there do seem to be a lot more chicks than blokes involved in leading and taking part in prayer.  (I don't think this is true in other continents but let's limit this to a close to home discussion.) I do lead the prayer team he mentions and he's right over the years we've had two (amazing) guys and seven women involved.  This is actually been something of a concern for us and though we've actually sought to include more men we've found that difficult.  It's not that there aren't many men with deep prayer lives, more often that their primary energy in serving and leading is channeled elsewhere.  For example the corresponding 24-7 Communities team is all male.  

Are women drawn to prayer and men drawn to community leadership?  Is the trend a gender or cultural bias?

I think there is an element of what you see is what you replicate. Though many streams of the church have embraced female leadership in the last century there seem to be more men that women leading in this context.  Could women be more involved in prayer because we've lacked male champions to point the way for their peers?

Now I am speaking in very broad generalisations because I actually know a lot of very prayerful men.  Ian Cole, Etienne Piek, Pete Grieg (the leader of 24-7 Prayer!) and Brian himself (to name four of many) have led the way in this area.  I think men can and do have deep personal prayer lives and many in my community meet regularly to pray with one or two other guys. But, as I said, in general and in my own community experience, corporate prayer does seem more regularly and eagerly engaged with by women than men.

Why?

Sorry Brian I don't think it has to do with women traditionally staying at home or men going to work and the time that potentially gives you. (All the home Mums I know are very busy women!) 

I think style has something to do with it.  As our church circles have moved more in creative and contemplative prayer we may arguably not have considered both genders in our approach.  I've generally found that extreme and active prayer times attract a more balanced cross-section of the genders, where as our regular prayer breakfast has a ratio of about 2-1, women to men. 

What do you guys think?  I take this issue very seriously as it's something I really want to see change.  Do you think there is an imbalance in the genders in prayer?  Do you have any inklings as to why? What could we do to make it more open for all? (Read Brian's original blog post here.)

Ten years since the towers fell

What can you write on a day like today?  What can you say about that day ten years ago when millions of people held their breath and watched in shock at an attack and a catastrophy unfold, live, before our eyes. Has the world changed since the 9th September 2001?  

My good friend Scot is writing a piece for 24-7 Prayer on what's happened since 9/11 and how the world has been impacted.  To help him collate his thoughts he sent me a many others three questions.  I wanted to mark this day somehow, but I wasn't sure how... so, here they are; my answers.  If you're able why not tell me yours in the comments...

1. The world is reminded almost daily that everything changed 10 years ago with the terrorist attack on America. What were you doing when you first saw the news broadcasts what was your response and what changed for you that day? 

I was in the 24-7 Prayer office in Chichester. We were just a small team then, unaware of how far this movement would spread. I was volunteering in my free time whilst studying at Chichester University. A friend walked into the office and told us the news. We were so shocked, it didn't feel real. I headed home and many of our friends gathered in our living room to watch the news.

2. What if anything has changed over the last 10 years with regard to Prayer movements and initiatives? have you seen or sensed an increase in prayer in the church nationally, in your region and around the world?

I don't know if it's connected but there has been such an acceleration in prayer across the globe in the last ten years. At the celebration for the Global Day of Prayer last year I was amazed by the number of movements that have sprung up throughout the last decade. God has called us to pray. It may look, sound and feel a little different from place to place, generation to generation, but there seems to be no doubt the heart is the same. We need him. The world needs him. We must pray.

3. Jesus said 'blessed are the peacemakers' looking forward to the months and years ahead what can we do to become bringers of peace to a world in conflict?

I think the key to peace is love, so the question I'm challenged to ask is "What does love look like?" Love is more than a word, an idea, a command, it's the pivot around which Jesus asks us to centre our lives. When faced with tragedy, with someone who's hurt us, with a need, or a thanks, or an opportunity, we can ask... What does loving prayer look like here? What does loving action look like now?

It takes courage to have hope

Prepare yourself for a random stream of thought... Courage, hope, life and compassion are the themes rummaging around in my head this week.  On Sunday I'm speaking to my community, Revelation Church, on Jesus' words,

"I am the resurrection and the life." John 11:25.  

It's an incredible passage.  Jesus arrives to find that someone he loves (Lazarus) has died and in verse 35, the shortest verse in the Bible, it says that "Jesus wept."  Jesus... wept... Jesus who went on to raise Lazarus to life... who knew the future hope... who had the power... stopped and wept in present pain.

Pain and Joy. Loss and hope. Death and Life. 

We each live with these opposites everyday.  You don't have to look far to see the promise of life in a new born baby or a relationship reconciled.  You don't also have to look very far to see brokeness, injustice, depression, disconnection...  The kingdom of God is here; and it's fullness is yet to come...

People living with the eternal perspective of resurrection life have to be able to be comfortable with paradox.  How do we keep sight of Jesus, of the hope and life he offers?  How do we remain courageous hope-rs even in the face of apparent failure or death?  

I WANT COURAGEOUS HOPE!  

A hope that is rooted in something deep and stable, in someone loving and good.  A hope that will carry me through life and all it has to throw at me.  Everytime I'm knocked down I want to get back up and dare to believe that things will be better, that God is moving.  I want to pray with that hope, love with that hope, live like that hope and life and love is all that matters.  I want a heart like Jesus' that can be fully present in pain but with the courage to bring life through God... 

I think that I can't talk about resurection hope without talking about brokeness and pain.  Feels a bit heavy and I'm nervous.  Lots of praying and thinking and reading to do between now and Sunday but I guess I'll get there.  If my current thoughts are headed in the right direction then God will give me a way to express them...

Hmm this all reads very negative but it's actually really positive in my head.  What use is hope if it's not needed.  There is a lot of need.  How do we live as people praying, breathing, living, bringing ressurection life here and now?  Don't hold me to this stream of thought - I reserve the right to end up going in another direction with this passage on Sunday, but here and now, its provoking some interesting conversation... x

A Passion for Pioneering - birthing the Push Community

 

I'm incredibly proud of my handsome husband at the moment.  At the end of this month the worship/songwriting collective he's been part of pulling together, will say a big hello to the world.  For years now Steve has longed to try something a little different in the sphere of music development.  In 2010 he found two friends who felt the same way and together they began Push. 

The Push Community is not terribly easy to describe because it doesn't fit neatly into previous industry categories.  At it's heart it's a community of Jesus followers who are particularly passionate about worship and creativity in song writing.  They're from different churches, different towns across the UK but they come together to create together and share what's working with the world.

Steve, Tom and Doug are committed to seeing each one be able to stay in their local community whilst being developed spiritually and musically.  They've already begun recording the songs that could be used nationwide and aim to help each song writer get their song out there without having to sign a record contract that locks them in beyond that song (often it can be for a number of albums or years.)

This very open approach to development and publishing could backfire I guess, but I love that there's only community and the value of growing together, rather than a piece of paper, that's going to keep everyone in this.

The first larger gathering of song writers was Sunday night. As they worship, prayed and shared the songs they were working on I was moved by the depth and passion in the room.  There will be some amazing sounds to fill our churches coming out in the next few months.

I've been supporting Steve and helping out where ever I can with writing (er blogs not songs... my songs would suck), editing a cool little video, and generally taking notes, offering social media advice, praying and making tea.  There's a real energy to this stage in their development.  Reminds of what it's like every time the 24-7 community takes a plunge off the deep end following God somewhere new.  There's something in me that lives for these times.

The boys are working on a website as a hub for those interested in connecting with the community and I'll let you know when their cyber home and their Twitter account, Facebook page and YouTube channel is up and running.  If you're in the south of England they're launching with a live event in Bognor Regis, in the church of the first worship leader they're publishing.  The lovely Sophia Jenkins is just 17 years old and has a beautiful heart and voice.  I'll be there, let me know if you will be too :)

Externally processing/praying

Sometimes I don't realise I've learned a thing until I start writing about it.  That may sound a little odd but go with me.  I had this article to write for 24-7 Prayer the last couple of weeks and if I'm honest the challenge totally daunted me: 800 words on 'How to Pray for Your Nation'.  Yikes!  I was very tempted to delegate to a wiser member of my prayer team, but a niggling voice in the back of my head told me I should give it a go... I may surprise myself...  

After a prolonged period of writers block, last week's riots here in the UK prompted a torrent of ideas.  As I actually prayed for England I had one of those 'oh yeah!' moments as I examined my own prayers.  I guess I've learned a lot from God and my friends in this global prayer movement, much without consciously realising it.  As I sat down to condense and refine the experience and lessons I had to share, it flowed relatively easy from heart, to mind, to fingers, to keyboard.  Check out my finished article here.

London's burning...

 

In 2011 many have taken to the streets.  Across nations like Egypt, Lybia and Tunisia people have protested for change, for freedom, for political belief.  The dust is yet to settle in North Africa and the Middle East, which makes the events of the last few nights here in London seem a mockery of their struggle.  

What does it say about the soul of Britain that tonight some fight not for freedom or justice, but for Plasma TVs & cans of Red Bull?

I've sat in tears and prayer watching the breaking news on the BBC, the damage, the looting and the attacks on Police Officers and the emergency services have seemed utterly senseless.  I've ranted, I've prayed, I've felt ashamed... do we have it so easy, that we are utterly blind to what we have?  How can so many people feel entitled to take things that don't belong to them?  How can they put so many lives at risk with fire and glass?

I've read the twitter streams, watched the Facebook chatter and seen many different reactions to the London riots. Disbelief, anger, fear, solidarity and attempts to rationalise why this is happening.  Some have posed political reasons, criticising the government for the riots.  Others have talked of the parents role in the young people's actions and the effect of unemplyment.  To be honest, I mostly see our worst flaws hideously magnified as a society.  Consumerism gone mad.  A sense of entitlement, no matter what the cost to others.  Could this be the mirror we all need to readjust our cultural compass?

I've been deeply moved by the clean up efforts happening across London today.  The affected areas have been swamped by people volunteering to clear the streets.  My lovely friend Pete Greig made the above video on how we can pray from one such site.  Several other friends have written blogs about praying for London (check out Alana's and Theresa's particularly). I loved reading Andy Freeman's thoughts today... as alway's my wise friend brings the grace filled perspective considering the issue from another angle.  Well worth a look. 

So... this evening we hold our breath.  Every gaol cell in London is full, over 550 people have already been arrested and 16000 police officers are taking to the streets.  Please Lord let it end tonight. xx

A new day

Today is a new day.  I'm sitting on my own at the Guildford Boiler Room , cup of tea and chocolate bar to hand.  This morning is the first in a new rhythm of working; goodbye regular days in London, hello three days a week in Guildford.  The sun just broke through the clouds and illuminated my fingers flying across the keyboard.  I think this will be a nice place to work.  

This morning I have an inbox full of emails, some new stories from a brilliant group who've caught the 24-7 bug in Whyalla, Australia, a great video of 24-7 Prayer Room that I'll pop up below and a few blog posts to write of 24-7prayer.com.  Better get to it.

24-7 Prayer Room @ AIW 2011 fd from Bill Cahusac on Vimeo.

 

Why pray?

Why do we pray? Do you know? What do we gain from talking to God? Wouldn’t it be brilliant if there were one catchy sentence that could answer this question in such a compelling and irrefutable way? These are the thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head at the moment. As I think about the next prayer breakfast for my church community, as I brainstorm ideas for a film about prayer, and as I email the organisers of 24-7 Prayer Rooms around the world, this question won’t quit; why do we pray? Truth is; it’s not that I can’t answer the question… It’s more that my answers are too numerous…

We pray because conversation is the heartbeat of relationship…

How else am I going to get a glimpse of the unfathomable God I love? The bible plants the seed of understanding, the Holy Spirit waters and tends to it, but it’s prayer – that continual connection to life’s source – that deepens the roots and brings growth. Prayer is the place where we find out if our faith is real or just a nice idea. It’s the bold 'Hello' that invites a response from our maker…

“I felt like God was stroking my hair”  From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Australia

In prayer room after prayer room around this world it’s testimonies like the above that have moved me most. Real, personal, heart to heart encounters with an interested God. It’s the moment we realise that He really is here, now. It’s a moment of forgiveness, an answer to a question, the assurance that we’re worth something, worth Jesus. These are precious interactions that have the potential to change the very direction of our lives. It’s the intimate stuff relationships are built upon. Why do I pray? I pray because I need to get to know Him, I need to get to know me…

“I’ve been in here for 13 hours. I had to chat about some stuff with my Dad.” From a 24-7 Prayer Room in the UK

We pray because He wants us…

“We have no reason why we are here - we just knew we had to come”  From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Australia

Do you know what fascinates me time and again? That the place of prayer isn’t just life giving for Jesus followers, but it’s attractive to those who don’t know him yet…

“We had 4 teenagers become Christians a few days ago - they came down to the prayer room and the team asked if they wanted to feel the presence of God and we prayed over them and they felt God's presence and said yes to beginning the journey with him!” From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Iceland

From Australia to Iceland ordinary people are stumbling into God’s presence and being invited into the conversation of a lifetime. Could we be praying in order to make space for others to start?

We pray because we need Him…

As I check the news today, I’m reading of war crimes, of shootings near schools, of murder and more. You don’t have to look far to find broken places and broken people; most of the time they’re right on our doorstep. It’s overwhelming, my feeble 'your kingdom come, your will be done', seems insufficient in the face of such pain. But… I have to start somewhere. I’ll repeat those words until my heart finds more…

'Guatemala is a turbulent and violent country...The BBC news recently listed it as being 3rd in the world for murder rates (for a country not at war)… I began asking [God] how could a nation be changed and I felt that he spoke just 2 words...unity and prayer.' From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Guatemala

Each week, contact people praying 24-7 I pause and ask, 'Lord, teach us how to pray'. I pray for everyone, praying with me, in many languages and nations. I ask God for three things:

1. ‘Take us deeper…’ I don’t us to pray 24-7 for the sake of quantity; I want each hour to strengthen the bond between the Father and His children. 
2.  ‘Take us further…’ send us from these prayer-soaked places to be the answer to prayer in our community. 
3. ‘Make your presence felt…’ 

“I SAW an angel in our prayer room!” From a 24-7 Prayer Room in Australia

I still don’t have a definitive answer to my question… maybe that’s because there isn’t just one reason why we should pray… Maybe our lives are supposed to be spent discovering one after another, after another. This however I do know; when you see a spark, a sign of life – pour some paraffin on it and start a fire. When someone is healed, when someone gives their life to Jesus, when lives are changed by an holy encounter my prayer is ‘more Lord, get out the paraffin!’ Will you join me? Why not make a choice now? How will you pray? How will you call your church to prayer? Take the next step, here’s how 24-7 Prayer can help…

Post a prayer or request now on our online Prayer wall
Host a 24-7 Prayer Room at your church, workplace or school
Join us in praying the Lord’s Prayer at Midday
Follow @247PrayNow4 on twitter to receive Prayer Alerts for the world

The Power of Speech & Cyber-stalking friends :)

I was going to blog today about the recording of the talk I gave last Sunday in Revs when it occurred to me… I wonder who else from 24-7 is speaking regularly to a community that get's podcasted or posted.  I did a little investigating, subscribed to a few podcasts and finished with a smile on my face as I anticipate some interesting listening in the weeks ahead.  If you're part of 24-7 Prayer and interested in what I found; then read on...

The 24-7 shop offers downloadable talks from all our major 24-7 Prayer gatherings. I'm usually present to hear them all but it's handy to get my hands on the ones that have really impacted me. They only get updated as we gather though (usually once a year) so more up to date teaching is best found on iTunes.

Pete Greig at Spring Harvest and Holy Trinity Brompton

Pete is one of my favourite teachers and communicators.  I find him constantly inspiring whether he's preaching or writing.  Last month Pete spoke at the largest Christian conference in Europe.  An Easter event called Spring Harvest that attracts 35,000 people of all ages over a number of weeks and locations.  Today I found Pete's talk on "A God Breathed World" available here.  Download and have a listen.
If you're interested in hearing more from Pete he also preaches ever few months at Holy Trinity Brompton in London.  You can subscribe to their podcast of weekly teaching here.

Adam Cox and the Kansas City Boiler Room Crew

If you were at Magnify in Scotland last year you will have had the pleasure of hearing Adam Cox, one of the leaders of the Kansas City Boiler Room.  Adam has such a passion for God's word and an amazing way of making it come alive to his listeners.  You can hear Adam and other leaders like Wendy Adams and David Blackwell teach through several different podcasts put out by the Boiler Room.  Listen to their weekly gatherings here and check out the wealth of teaching available through their website.

Little old me

Finally, I also teach from time to time and shared on Sunday with my home community of Revelation Church in Chichester, England.  The Red Moon Rising readers among you will recognise that name as one of the birth places of the 24-7 Prayer movement.  I am still a part of this community and spoke on Sunday about the power of speech from the book of Proverbs.  If you're interested in hearing more you can download it for free here.

That's all for now but I'll post a little update with more suggestions for downloads in the coming months, so if you've found these helpful, keep your eyes open for more.

From the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks

My bank holiday Monday is being spent in blissful silence... ah... peace... All weekend I've been mulling over, and dipping my toes into the talk prep I'm currently immersed in.  Today I finally dove in head first and I'm enjoying marinading in the word of God.  

This Wednesday I'm in Canterbury speaking to young people about prayer and next Sunday I'm sharing with Revelation Church my thoughts on the power of speech from the book of Proverbs.  For the first talk I'm drawing inspiration from my current Bible reading and the amazing life and love of King David, for my second... well... the words of Jesus haunt me on this topic...

"From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34

If there were possibly some way to itemise all the ways I've messed up in my life and to analyse the cause, I would estimate that the majority of my trouble starts with my big mouth.  I do not generally think before I speak.  Most of the time I think as I speak.  Sometimes, to my shame, I think after (often to disastrous results).  I've had to get good and fast at apologising.  

A couple of years back when I took a break from speaking to study more, one of the greatest challenges I felt was the need to tame my tongue.  It's been a journey of exercising self control.  Sometimes I do well, other times... well sorry is a common word for me.  Jesus' words have probably been the biggest help.  When I've stopped to understand the motivation behind a hasty, unkind, anger-filled or 'foolish' tirade, it's been easier to avoid repeating the occurrence.  Learning to bite my tongue (not as easy as it sounds) has been key.   Being willing to swallow my opinion when it's unhelpful, unneeded or unasked for has been a big step forward too.  

Looking through this book of wisdom and what it has to say on the topic has been an excellent refresher.  Lots to mull over before Sunday.  

What you seed is what you get...

The Revelation church community is in the midst of a season of teaching that explores the metaphors Jesus and the New Testament writers use to explore the life, hope and mystery of what God has to say.  Last week the fabulous Will Moore took us through an excellent examination of God's word as light (you can download it here, well worth the effort).  Yesterday I shared for 30 minutes on the culmination of weeks of mulling, meditating, memorising, discussing and refining my thoughts on God's word as seed.

I really enjoyed preparing this talk, mainly because discovering the beauty and life to be had through the Bible has been a slow and edifying journey that's marked my last five years.  There is so much to discover, so much to learn, so much to be challenged by, so much to wrestle with, so much to enjoy.  After years of reading I still firmly believe I am barely scraping the surface.  Looking at the Bible as a seed to be planted, tended and harvested resonated with my experience and hope.  I mused over how to prepare the soil of my heart, how to plant the seed by reading the word in many different ways, how I've learned to water the ground with prayer, and then the most challenging part of all... waiting on God to do His stuff... to bring growth, life, a crop to be enjoyed.  

The whole process was a great opportunity to reflect.  If you interested in what I ended up sharing you can download it here.   

Coming to a halt...

Today I am emerging from a week of running at a hundred miles an hour.  I've gone from a whistle stop trip to Switzerland with the DeLoreans, to two amazing days with the 24-7 Council in Guildford, then a day with the 24-7 Board and Trustees and finally, yesterday, I gradually decelerated whilst cleaning the house from top to bottom. I'm a little weary.  I also have A LOT to blog about.   For now I'm posting two videos from the last couple of days of the PrayerSpaces podcast for lent produced by 24-7 Prayer.  The first is mine...  

 

I had actually totally forgotten what I'd prepared and shared for this episode, and though it's a bit weird praying with yourself on a podcast I was really challenged afresh by the questions and thoughts in humility the Spirit had brought to mind when I read it.  Hope it gives you food for thought... Second vid is Scot Bower leading people in prayer today.  A voice of hope to the hopeless... beautiful...

My turn...

 

Today it's my turn to lead the thoughts in 24-7 Prayer's Prayer Spaces podcast for lent.  It was freezing cold on that bridge but a total pleasure to read this passage and provide questions and suggestions for prayer.  Hope it encourages you... 

Only one sleep to go... I don't think Scot looks like a hobo...

 

Today is Shrove Tuesday.  Scot, Georgina, Pete G and myself are all involved in last minute preparations for Ash Wednesday and the launch of 24-7's new devotional podcast Prayer Spaces.  Scot and I took a walk today, found a sunny spot and filmed each other explaining why we're looking ahead to the lent season with such anticipation.  Though Scot is convinced the video makes him look like a hobo (I disagree), he turned our musings into this nifty little trailer for the prayer spaces series.  Take a look.  The graphics are courtesy of the beautiful Ella and the music was produced by my handsome husband.  Find out more about Prayer Spaces here. 

Will you pray through Lent?

I love this time of year.  The sun is breaking through the winter grey, the daffs are popping the optimistic heads out of the ground and tomorrow is pancake day!  (I am planning a savoury and sweet extravaganza!)  As a child this week was also marked by a trip to Mass on Ash Wednesday so a priest could put a smudgy cross on my forehead to symbolise the start of lent.  Though this Wednesday my forehead will be staying clean, I will be launching into this season of the year with gusto.  I have big plans for this years journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

I will be fasting something specific this year.  I was praying about it and it turned out God had a suggestion for me.  Exactly what it is will stay between He and I but I'm curious about the impact it'll have on the coming months.  On a more exciting note, I've been hinting at it for a few weeks but the day is finally here to tell you all about the new prayer podcast that begins Wednesday!

Through the season of lent the 24-7 Prayer community are inviting you to join in prayer.  The podcast is written to walk us through the life of Jesus with daily inspiration from people like Pete Greig, Etienne Piek, Alana Wiens and others.  (I'll even be making a few appearances myself.) Monday to Friday, from Ash Wednesday (9th Mar) to Easter Sunday (24th Apr), 24-7 Prayer will release five-minute devotional films to help you pray.

Go to the 24-7 prayer page for more info.  Subscribe through iTunes, YouTube, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to receive links or downloads each day.  It's a bit of an experiment for us but I'm pretty excited.  Let me know what you think and if it helps you to pray.  If it's useful and inspiring to people we may have another go at it for advent later this year :)  

How are you praying this lent?  Know of any other good resources out there? Have some traditions that give you life?  I'd love to hear about them in comments.

PS - eek  the podcast is already number 1 on the UK iTunes Religion & Spirituality podcast chart.  It hasn't even started yet... now I'm scared...

Scary close ups & hyperactive double chins...

 

Oh yeah, I've done it again.  Another 24-7 YouTube update where I demonstrate every muscle in my face and get frighteningly close to the camera.  Ah well, keeps me humble xc

Who am I made to be?

Many years ago I was reading a book.  (Wow - not a very inspiring first sentence.  I read  a lot of books, but go with me on this one...)  In this book the author encouraged his readers to cultivate joy mentors - people in your life who give you energy, who make you... more you.  The phrase stuck with me. It stuck with me and it grew.  It grew and the idea got mashed together with another word, another idea...

Who are my cymbrogis... my companions of the heart?

Yesterday I was trying to slog through a whole, terrifying list of administrative tasks, but every few hours I received a welcome interruption from not one but four of the people who fall into the mashed together category of joy mentoring and heart companionship.  Some calls were practical, others philosophical, but one in particular left me with a unique feeling that only these people bring out in me.

A desire to be more myself.

That call came from my beautiful friend Charlotte.  Charlotte is unique.  There is no-one quite like her and no way to fully capture her in words.  She is a force of nature, a catalyst, a friend.  There is no holding this woman down.  Recent months have not been the easiest in her life but as we chat about our days, weeks, months and thoughts we naturally fall into encouragement, honesty and reflection.  She calls me out.  She pieces together puzzles. She reminds me of what's gone and hints at what there could be to come.  She states how God made me, the things He's put inside me and she prompts my tired mind to think in the context of eternity, hope and possibility.  Charlotte makes me more Carla.  And I think, in my own way, I make her more Charlotte.  This is a precious friendship.

At the turn of the year I was reading another book, and as I thought about the beautiful Charlotte the words of that book came to mind.  I went back through my journal until I found the place were I'd noted them down...

"In holiness we become the persons we were created to be..." Richard Foster

I love that idea - holiness is not something imposed from the outside in, not a set of rules, regulations or appearances; but a blossoming from within of the best that we are.  All I need to do is present myself to God, (just as I am, warts and all) and allow him to nurture the buds and blossoms of my heart... to call me out.  

Ah!  Another book I've read just sprang to mind... 

"Know that the Lord is God, It's He who made us, we are His..." Psalm 100:3

Oh dear... now I have Alan Partridge in my head... "Knowing me, knowing you... aha!" (This is a new low.)  The closer I get to knowing more of Jesus, the closer I get to knowing more of who I am made to be, why I'm on this earth and what I have to give.  Seems like God will use the Bible, and people, and the things I read, and the mistakes I make, all to transform me more fully into me.  What a good me to be.

Freezing my fingers off

Today has been fantastic!  I've been chilled to the bone, stared at by passers by and generally made a wee fool of myself all for a good cause. 24-7 Prayer is putting out a series of videos, a podcast in fact, to help lead people in prayer through the season of lent.  I'm one of the hosts/pray-ers for the season and today Georgina, Scot and I tried out our ideas around various spots in Chichester.

There are many, rather embarrassing, outtakes in the possession of Miss Micklewright.  My reputation is in her hands.  Everything from the moment I read "Mary went to the hill country..." as "Mary went to the kill country..." to many explosive laughs and funny faces.  I loved praying through passages about Jesus washing his friends' feet and Mary's song of praise and vines and branches and more.  I think the podcast is going to be brilliant.  

We also filmed a rather amusing little trailer for it that Scot is editing together.  As soon as it's live I'll post it here for everyone to check out.  That's all for me - I think I may need a nap.  Having a camera pointed at you all day is surprisingly tiring!

A Year of Living Biblically - Can it be done?

 

A mate just sent me a link to this video and I found it both fascinating and funny.  AJ Jacobs is an agnostic journalist who decided to live for a year obeying every one of the hundreds of commands in the Bible.  In this TED video he tells a little of his story and what he took away from it.  I admire him - pretty hard core!  

It made me think further about my attitude to the Bible.  Do I take the Bible literally?  Or to phrase it another way, do I believe the Bible is literal?  The answer is... I don't really know.  Ummm no I don't think all of it is meant to be read literally (Is Job a play? Should that affect how we understand it?)  The more I read of this fascinating book of God's word (I'm a twelfth of the way through this year's read through) the more I realise there's so much to it I'm yet to grasp.  There is much I will spend my life time discovering about context, intention, style, purpose, depth, reference and so forth and then there is that undefinable edification and enthusing I ingest from reading it.  The Holy Spirit is at work in me as my eyes move across the page and my mind interprets the black shapes into words and my consciousness assigns them meaning and my heart responds...

If there are two things I feel certain about regarding the Bible it is that I will spend my life reading it's pages and discovering new things, and if I live to be a hundred years old I will never grasp even half of what God has to give through it.

Do I believe that every law written in the Pentateuch is applicable to me - a non-jewish woman living in 21st century England - no.  I'm grateful for the church fathers who in the book of Acts, chapter 15, decided that gentiles, like myself, did not first have to become Jewish (or maybe it's more accurate to say, follow the Jewish tradition in it's fullest) to be saved.  That was a pretty big deal.  Equally, I don't want to write off the law, as I know there is much to learn from it.  As I re-read God's interaction with Moses on Sinai (Exodus 19 onward) I'm struck by how the heart and purpose of the laws they were given pointed to compassion, mercy, justice, freedom, purity and dignity for the former hereditary slaves who now find themselves a free people.  I have much to learn, but with Jesus and the Holy Spirit as my guide I look forward to learning it.

I went and ordered AJ Jacob's book pretty much straight after watching his video.  Should make for a rather interesting read.  If you haven't read the Bible I thoroughly recommend it.  It may require something of you - but it's well worth the journey.

I filmed this in a hurry before we left for the Essex coast...

Carla Harding: Lion Tamer

Lots to think about this week.  Finished the book of Job in my read-the-Bible-from-cover-to-cover-in-2011 marathon.  I have to say it left me confused.  I haven't read it in ages for precisely this reason; I'm never certain what exactly I should take from it.  Job is not a book I've really studied, only read through and it presents God and our relationship to him in some interesting ways.  I briefly chatted to my handsome and thoughtful hubby about it and we touched on plays, interpretation, suffering, the western perspective on God and what we do when He doesn't fit our current understanding.  As I read the last chapter today the thing at the forefront of my mind was that classic Mr Tumnus quote about Aslan,

"He's not a tame Lion."  

He's not a tame God.  I cannot train Him, shrink Him or demand that He fits my world view.  Maybe that's what Job and His friends partly discovered through their experience and interaction.  I don't know.  Anyone recommend any good teaching or books on Job?  I think I wanna know more...

The other thing on my mind is this brilliant video made by a friend of mine.  Those of you who frequent the 24-7 Prayer site will have seen it as this week's feature.  It's called The Ache, and though I'm no longer a University Student, His words, questions and ideas struck a chord with me.  I recommend you take a few minutes and hit play below.

Oh Holy Night

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

I love Christmas music. I don't just mean the latest ballad with sleigh bells plastered across every radio station (though they do make me smile). I mean the old school give you goosebumps carols, songs and hymms that should be sung outdoors at night, preferably whilst holding candles in the snow. There's nothing like a rousing rendition of Hark the Herald or the First Noel to remind me of the beauty and wonder of the nativity. Top of my list though is a song derived from a 19th Century french poem. Oh yes, my favourite is most certaily Oh Holy Night. To bring a little peace into your day I thought I'd share with you a version of the song my husband and I recorded. As you listen to the words why not pause and invite the peace of God's favour to rest on you today...

Oh Holy Night