With Us: Oikos (Behind the Scenes at Home)

Here are a series of stories of dear friends who have journeyed through their own valleys but who also have awesome testimonies of the faithfulness of Jesus constantly being with them. Thanks so much to Jo, Naomi, Andrew, Josh, Roger and Sheena who plucked up courage to go for it!

The video also explains a little about my deep desire to see our homes increasingly becoming our Head Quarters of radical prayer and worship where we retreat to be with Him together and from where we advance, filled with the Holy Spirit, full of faith and love, to reach those black and blue but who are without hope and without God in the world (what a terrible thought – see Ephesians 2:12)

Our stories shared from black and blue seasons in life can help us all stand on our bedrock foundation that “God Is With Us”. Why not share your own black and blue stories with others – when God has always been with you – they’re unique, powerful testimonies that will bring others much-needed sanity! (See: 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5) 

 

With Us (Live & Extended)

We all know what it’s like to feel black and blue – battered by life, beaten up and bruised by stuff that we go through along our journey of faith. Sometimes we feel like we’re on our knees and that God’s no-where to be found. But He always comes through for us, and, whether we feel Him near or not, He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

My prayer for you watching this is that you would know the presence of Jesus with you wherever you’re currently at, whether mountain or valley, and that faith would arise in your heart that the very real, living and all-powerful Comforter is with you as you listen and sing your own new song.

The extended track with a powerful spontaneous “You’ve saved our souls, You’ve healed our hearts, You’ve helped our minds, You are the Christ” section at the end can be listened to by clicking on the link under the video

 

*apologies for technical issues we had on the night with vocal monitoring (this is very much “live”)

 

National Trust launches appeal to buy Bantham but now we need your help

My favourite beach in the world: Have a look, have a think how you could help

Adrian Colston's avatarA Dartmoor blog

Yesterday the National Trust announced that it was launching an appeal to try and acquire Bantham beach and part of the Avon estuary in south Devon. The National Trust has committed £4m of its own funds but needs to raise an additional £2.6m. You can read the Trust press release here and donate to the appeal here.

We have received extensive media coverage, for example in the Guardian, BBC and the Western Daily Press. We have also received some very high level support – for example Richard Branson has blogged his support, along with Sarah Wollaston MP and local banker James Rossiter who has pledged to raise a lot of money via a sponsored swim – see here.

Images By Steven Haywood - National Trust - Bantham Village, South Hams Devon.Bantham beach is probably the best surfing beach in south Devon – photo by Steven Haywood
and the legendary surfing website Magic Seaweed are supporting our appeal

??????????????Looking up the…

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The Presence Project Intro

Just before With Us is released in the next few days, here is a reblog of the last #fbn2 worship project from 2013 with intro and finished track/video. I hope it nudges you toward seeking more earnestly our timeless, unchanging treasure of the presence of God in our lives. For,

“…anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb.11:6

firebrandnotes's avatar

STUDIO2

On July 24th and 25th 2013, I took a bunch of mates into Peak Studios in Bradford, England, to record The Presence Project.

The project combines a beautiful worship song that will encourage you to treasure the presence of Jesus above everything else in life and a video inspiring you to pursue Him more than ever before.

The Presence Project will be available here to view for free at the beginning of September 2013.

Here’s the new, mid-September edit – Presenting the Presence Project:

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Divine Mitosis

One of the most regularly viewed posts from #FBN2 #Prayer

firebrandnotes's avatar

When the Bible shows us Jesus praying it’s a big deal. When the Bible gives us a whole chapter of Jesus praying this is an even bigger deal.

I think we all struggle with prayer to some extent and at different points in our lives. Feelings can rise up in us like: “But I’d really rather watch the football…or I’d rather chill out at the movies or watch x-factor…or have an hour more in bed.”

At the root of this is the issue of our desire to pray. Are we fulfilling some kind of obligation because we know it’s good for us much like going to the gym or eating brussel sprouts?

One verse in the Bible that I think is really helpful with this is where Jesus asks Abba that we would be granted the love in our hearts for Him that Abba has in His heart for Jesus…

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Smudged Scriptures

My Dad, before he retired, was a Civil Engineer. If ever there was a major road development scheme or bridge-building project (a literal one) in Torbay where we used to live, he would most likely be on site making sure everything was going to plan. Continue reading “Smudged Scriptures”

Sirens and Buses

I’m approaching the end of a year at Holy Trinity Richmond serving as worship pastor, come September. The time for Mairi and I has been a cultural shock in many ways but mainly of adjusting to the relentless busyness of living in London….going to bed with the sounds of sirens and buses…waking up to the sounds of sirens and buses.

Continue reading “Sirens and Buses”