Pilgrim's Progress

Sign of the Day #1

I Made It!!

I'm sitting at "home" in Canada typing my first Canadian blog post. I can't believe I made it ...

... not just because of the 8 hour flight delay at the airport this morning
... not just because of the grilling I got by Canadian immigration
... not just because I've now been up for 24 hours and could sleep through the Second Coming ...

But because it's been coming for so long now, and all that's had to happen to make this possible.

This really is the first day of the rest of my life ... and I'm so happy to be here now, and am excited about to see what will unfold.'

And I know in my heart that I will never return ... I don't mean that I won't ever return to the UK or Liverpool or wherever, but simply that I kind of know that life will never be the same again. What what is unfolding here seems to lie right at the heart of why I'm on the planet, that when this chapter ends, however long or short it is, my old life won't be there any more. 

More soon ... right now I'm off to have a loooooong lie.

>>> TRANSMISSION ENDS

This is me signing out ...

Next transmission will be from across the Atlantic.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>                                                 >>
>> SIGNOFF: UK_Haydock: 10:41_26:05:08             >>
>>                                                 >>
>> TRANSMISSION ENDS                               >>
>>                                                 >>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What I Learned From the Birds Today

The last few mornings I've been woken up by a chorus of loud cheeping right above the bedroom window. I glanced out the kitchen window this afternoon to see a few little chicks (starlings?) padding around on the patio at the back, looking quite vulnerable and helpless as they faced the world.

The adults birds were there too, but they seemed to come and go. One flew in, dropped some food into the chick's mouth, and then disappeared again.

I grabbed my camera and tiptoed over towards them, but they didn't move, or flinch, or try to escape. They haven't learned to be afraid of humans yet.

Previous blog posts have touched on this, but the last few years in ministry have been like this:

1. Being thrust, feeling ill-prepared, into the real world and having to just get on with the business of learning to fly. There is guidance and help, but not 24/7 and there are many times where no-one is around, and you have to dig deep and remember what you've learned. I am eternally grateful to God for those times.
2. Often feeling exposed and insecure, and wanting to run for cover, but knowing I'd be running in the wrong direction if (and when!) I did that.
3. Sometimes coming up against strong influences or people who, by virtue of their position or personality, have a measure of power over you, and you end up wondering how you'll come out of it.
4. Sometimes not being sure where the nest is.

But underneath all this, I know my faith has deepened a great deal - it just had to. And somehow I can say (without being syrupy) that I know, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, that there is a great, mighty, kind, eternal, loving presence that is watching over the whole thing, even though he isn't always tangibly present, but stands back, like a good parent, to allow us to find our courage and discover the capabilities he's given us.

And the one who takes care of the birds is more than able to look after us.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Mt 6:26).

A number of practical and timely encouragements in my preparations for Canada have brought this home to me again e.g. people offering things I was about to ask for (storage boxes and so on). There is a growing list of these "coincidences". 

And so, as I prepare to be flicked out of the nest again, a prayer:

Father,
Who cares for the birds,
Who, though ten a penny, feast daily at the table of your providence,
Teach me to live like one more valued than a bird,
And grant my heart the serenity of one eternally encircled
The bounty of one richly provided for
And the trust of one tenderly cared for.
Amen.

Everlasting God

Less than 3 weeks till I fly to Canada. Packing and preparing to move is my main task now, but there is time to prepare in other ways.

GOHOP (the prayer community I'll be hanging out with) use a model of creative prayer called "Harp and Bowl" (from Revelation 5). It offers some helpful ways into spontaneous worship and prayer. You can read more about it here.

I've a growing sense that the main purpose of the times in Canada is to draw close to God along with others seeking to do the same, and that the creative stuff will serve that greater end. And so today began with a meditation on Psalm 90. As I pondered this, I started to put a tune together round the theme of "Everlasting God".

Everlasting God (96K MP3; 8 mins; 5.5MB) Right click and select "Save Target As..." Higher quality version available on request for non-commercial use in Christian worship, mission etc.

I heard that something like revival seems to have broken out in Florida and is spreading worldwide. Not quite sure what I think about it yet, but whatever is going on, I'm reminded again that underneath all our endeavours is an everlasting God whose purposes stand firm throughout all generations.

Show yourself to us again, O Lord.
In our day, reveal your power again ...