A high bar
When it comes to blessing, all is GIFT.
We began this new term with prayer for Gift of Blessing Trust and I explained that we took ages choosing the name of the Trust because most names that include the word "blessing" sound like the Trust might buy me a private jet and my trustees just won't have that! That's definitely not what we are about. We are all about the GIFT of God's blessing - undeserved, lavish, freely given to all who receive it.
It means so much to me that you are all part of the journey of the Trust, many of you there on Saturday night, many who I know are praying even though they couldn't be there.
All is gift.
We began with greatest gift of all, God's gift of himself to us in Christ, God's gift of himself in His Spirit, our welcome into the father's arms. God’s presence was tangibleod as Connor and Kate sung their Throneroom song- awe and glory!
There are so many gifts that I am grateful for -
- a home for the next two years. We asked God to provide and he did - beyond my expectations - and I believe that he will continue to do so.
- a secure start for the Trust
- my work at St. Mellitus
- connections with prison work
- working with Camilla Field of the wonderful Fieldnotes
- amazing trustees, our wise patrons (Bishop Ric Thorpe and Bishop Richard Jackson), Grace Alalade and the fab troup of supporters who provided the calorie-laden table of desserts on Saturday
- Thought of the Day again on Premier Radio - you can listen on catch-up to their Inspirational Breakfast recorded from September 16-21 - around 7:20!
- links with many churches.
We spent time listening to God and were blessed by his promises for the future. There was a sense from a number of people that the Trust will have a global reach but I promise no private jets!!
One prophetic word that spoke powerfully to me was the promise that we will declare truth over the lies of the enemy that would rob us of the gift of blessing. Satan would have us believe that God is mean not generous. As followers of Jesus, we need a high expectation that we will face troubles but an even HIGHER expectation of God's gift of blessing. Let’s set a high bar for blessing.
Bishop Richard Jackson saw the Trust bringing the long view, affirming that all we have been through will bring a perspective that will help others. The heart of my new book is about what it means to live eternally so that hugely encouraged me.
The picture of the tree above is the storm-felled tree that inspired us as we thought about the Trust; the full story is on the front page of the website. I found out this week that it has just been put forward for UK Tree of the Year! If it wins, it will go forward to the European Tree of the Year competition and it’s my tree!
As part of our prayer, we beautified a broken branch of a tree which I had wrestled into my car in Richmond Park, ignoring the raised eyebrows. Our prayer is that many lives will be beautified, lit up by God's gift of blessing which makes us a gift of blessing.
All to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely GIVEN to us in the one he loves!
