It's easy to forget what God does throughout the course of a day, let alone the course of a year! I really want to be someone who remembers and regularly gives thanks to God for His lavish goodness. 2009 has been an incredible year...here are just a few of my highlights:
1) Life changing trip to Bethel in February - Revelation of God's goodness; Sozo; Impartation (I'm hoping to go back for more in 2010!)
2) Provision of my good friend Becky to take over leadership of Innovation (King's Arms youth group) She has done an amazing job and Innovation continues to grow from strength to strength
3) Starting up of TSM - Training for Supernatural Ministry. Basically my dream job! It has been an absolutely incredible first term!
4) Provision of incredible friends and deeper healing in my heart to allow me to be me -I feel the most free to be and enjoy who God has made me to be at this point than at any other time!
5) God's Kingdom breaking out (both in the church and out on the streets) - Healings, deliverance, salvation, peace, joy, His presence...It just keeps increasing!
6) Discovering Costa (specifically Vanilla Lattes!)
Obviously 2009 has had its highs and lows. I have had to work through some really tough times in the midst of the joy of breakhrough and freedom...and I continue to do so. The amazing thing is that because my heavenly Dad is always working for my good, He has always brought good out of every circumstance. There are still goals that haven't yet been fulfilled (I still long to see cancer and deafness and blindness submit to the name of Jesus) But I feel increasing courage to go after these conditions. It is only a matter of time.
Most of all I'm grateful for how my relationship with the lover of my soul has changed this year. As we approach the end of 2009 I feel so much closer to my God than I did at the beginning. Now, more than ever, it feels like a relationship. I've recieved life changing revelation this year of who He is and who He says I am and I will never be the same because of it. I end 2009 being more like Jesus than when it began, That can only be a good thing!
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Treasure in King's Lynn
TSM had its first Mission Outreach opportunity a few weekends ago. 20 of us made the hour and a half journey to King's Lynn to serve Andy Moyle and the church he's leading there. We had such a great time as God broke in on the streets (as He always does!)
One of my highlights happened along the waterfront in the freezing cold. Nothing 'outstanding' took place, but I was reminded again of how incredible God is at bringing clues together at just the right time and how He has such a brilliant sense of humour. I think God loves treasure hunting because His kids are totally dependent on Him and He gets to blow their brains!
So one of the clues I had was yellow coat. As we were waking along the waterfront, up ahead I spotted an older chap cycling towards us wearing a very bright yellow coat. I pointed him out to the team and then we spent the next few minutes trying to decide whether or not we should stop him - would it be too dangerous to try and stop him as he was cycling? He was moving pretty slowly so it could be done, but would it bless him?? He was literally a few metres away from us when I made the call that it would be too dangerous to try and stop him so we decided to move on. That's when God broke in.
I kid you not, as the chap in the yellow coat got directly next to where we were he slammed on his breaks and stopped to watch a flock of birds taking off from the water - UNBELIEVABLE!! God clearly wanted us to speak to this man and as we did we found a whole load of clues that showed us he was God's treasure; He attended St Margaret's church; He had problems with his knees; his name was Bob. As it turns out he didn't want any prayer, but he left feeling blessed and we left feeling very encouraged. Being in relationship with God is so much fun.
One team during the course of the afternoon had an incredible encounter with a bunch of teenagers where they saw God break in to heal 6 or 7 conditions in one hit! Listen to Nicky share the full story here.
(The journey back to Bedford was lots of fun too. We were playing the animal game in our car and I won! For more details about the game and how to lose all your points speak to my friend Ruth :o))
One of my highlights happened along the waterfront in the freezing cold. Nothing 'outstanding' took place, but I was reminded again of how incredible God is at bringing clues together at just the right time and how He has such a brilliant sense of humour. I think God loves treasure hunting because His kids are totally dependent on Him and He gets to blow their brains!
So one of the clues I had was yellow coat. As we were waking along the waterfront, up ahead I spotted an older chap cycling towards us wearing a very bright yellow coat. I pointed him out to the team and then we spent the next few minutes trying to decide whether or not we should stop him - would it be too dangerous to try and stop him as he was cycling? He was moving pretty slowly so it could be done, but would it bless him?? He was literally a few metres away from us when I made the call that it would be too dangerous to try and stop him so we decided to move on. That's when God broke in.
I kid you not, as the chap in the yellow coat got directly next to where we were he slammed on his breaks and stopped to watch a flock of birds taking off from the water - UNBELIEVABLE!! God clearly wanted us to speak to this man and as we did we found a whole load of clues that showed us he was God's treasure; He attended St Margaret's church; He had problems with his knees; his name was Bob. As it turns out he didn't want any prayer, but he left feeling blessed and we left feeling very encouraged. Being in relationship with God is so much fun.
One team during the course of the afternoon had an incredible encounter with a bunch of teenagers where they saw God break in to heal 6 or 7 conditions in one hit! Listen to Nicky share the full story here.
(The journey back to Bedford was lots of fun too. We were playing the animal game in our car and I won! For more details about the game and how to lose all your points speak to my friend Ruth :o))
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Picked out on first visit!
If you've read my previous posts you'll know that I've been trying to stretch myself when it comes to my words of knowledge gift. Jesus said that if we're faithful with what we have more will be added to us. Up until recently I'd been playing it safe in bringing words of knowledge at the front of church. A teaching session at TSM gave me fresh motivation and so this Sunday evening before our service at King's Arms started I spent time asking God who He wanted to speak to.
I felt He gave me a few words but one was particularly specific. He showed me someone who suffered with regular blackouts - about 2-3 times a week - that meant they weren't able to drive. When it came time for words of knowledge to be given at the end of the service I shared what God had given me and waited, but no-one responded. That is until I was praying for people right at the end of the meeting!
A girl I'd not seen before came up to me with her friend. She said she wasn't sure that she was the person God wanted to speak to because she doesn't really suffer with blackouts any more but when I asked her for details it was clear to me that she was the one God was picking out. It turned out that when she was in her teenage years she suffered from a-typical migraines which would lead to her having blackouts. These would take place about 2-3 times a week and meant that when it came time for her to learn to drive she wasn't able to (which was a big deal for her because she lived in a village and was desperate to be able to get about)
What was even more fun for me was that this was her first time visiting the King's Arms. She'd just moved back to Bedford from Cambridge and has been in and out of church for the last little while. She'd never experienced anything like this before and had come along that evening to see if this could be a place she could see herself getting involved. God picked her out - I'm fairly confident she'll be back!
And the next lesson for me in growing in my gift? Be asking God if the specifics of the word are happening right now or if what I'm seeing happened in the past. We'll see what next week brings!
I felt He gave me a few words but one was particularly specific. He showed me someone who suffered with regular blackouts - about 2-3 times a week - that meant they weren't able to drive. When it came time for words of knowledge to be given at the end of the service I shared what God had given me and waited, but no-one responded. That is until I was praying for people right at the end of the meeting!
A girl I'd not seen before came up to me with her friend. She said she wasn't sure that she was the person God wanted to speak to because she doesn't really suffer with blackouts any more but when I asked her for details it was clear to me that she was the one God was picking out. It turned out that when she was in her teenage years she suffered from a-typical migraines which would lead to her having blackouts. These would take place about 2-3 times a week and meant that when it came time for her to learn to drive she wasn't able to (which was a big deal for her because she lived in a village and was desperate to be able to get about)
What was even more fun for me was that this was her first time visiting the King's Arms. She'd just moved back to Bedford from Cambridge and has been in and out of church for the last little while. She'd never experienced anything like this before and had come along that evening to see if this could be a place she could see herself getting involved. God picked her out - I'm fairly confident she'll be back!
And the next lesson for me in growing in my gift? Be asking God if the specifics of the word are happening right now or if what I'm seeing happened in the past. We'll see what next week brings!
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Street Addresses and Miracles!
I had the privilege of speaking at a women's conference in Northampton on Friday night at Kingdom Life Church. I had such a lot of fun! As I was spending time with God the evening before I felt like He gave me some words of knowledge for the event. I love it when God speaks!
During the day on the Thursday at TSM I'd been teaching on how to grow in the prophetic and had talked about the importance of stepping out and taking risks. I love the fact (most of the time!) that when you teach on stuff you often then have to model what you've taught. One of the words of knowledge I felt that God gave me was a street address; 42 Victoria ___?___ (I couldn't decide if it was road or drive - neither really felt right) When I told a good friend of mine he suggested that I start the evening at the women's conference by bringing this word. My immediate reaction - FEAR! So I decided it would be a good thing to do!
So I brought the word and was totally blown away when a lady responded who lived in Victoria Gardens! She didn't live at number 42 but somehow that really didn't matter anymore. I got to prophesy over her about being royalty and having influence and she was moved to tears as God spoke into her situation. Wow!
I brought a couple of other words at the end of my talk. One about a frozen right shoulder which had restricted movement. A lady in the front row responded and I called a 13 year old girl to pray for her (I'd already prophesied over the girl about being used by God in a mighty way) After two bursts of prayer the shoulder was completely healed with full restoration of movement and no pain!
The other word of knowledge God gave me in the worship and was to do with someone who didn't have the ability to smell. To my surprise 3 woman responded. Later I heard that one of the women was also unable to taste but she had come to the meeting expectant of her healing armed with a bag of cola bottle sweets to test it out after prayer. Sure enough after she was prayed for and stuffed the cola bottle sweets into her mouth with excitement she discovered that she was completely healed! Yay God!
During the day on the Thursday at TSM I'd been teaching on how to grow in the prophetic and had talked about the importance of stepping out and taking risks. I love the fact (most of the time!) that when you teach on stuff you often then have to model what you've taught. One of the words of knowledge I felt that God gave me was a street address; 42 Victoria ___?___ (I couldn't decide if it was road or drive - neither really felt right) When I told a good friend of mine he suggested that I start the evening at the women's conference by bringing this word. My immediate reaction - FEAR! So I decided it would be a good thing to do!
So I brought the word and was totally blown away when a lady responded who lived in Victoria Gardens! She didn't live at number 42 but somehow that really didn't matter anymore. I got to prophesy over her about being royalty and having influence and she was moved to tears as God spoke into her situation. Wow!
I brought a couple of other words at the end of my talk. One about a frozen right shoulder which had restricted movement. A lady in the front row responded and I called a 13 year old girl to pray for her (I'd already prophesied over the girl about being used by God in a mighty way) After two bursts of prayer the shoulder was completely healed with full restoration of movement and no pain!
The other word of knowledge God gave me in the worship and was to do with someone who didn't have the ability to smell. To my surprise 3 woman responded. Later I heard that one of the women was also unable to taste but she had come to the meeting expectant of her healing armed with a bag of cola bottle sweets to test it out after prayer. Sure enough after she was prayed for and stuffed the cola bottle sweets into her mouth with excitement she discovered that she was completely healed! Yay God!
Thursday, 26 November 2009
'That Doesn't Happen?!'
A friend of mine has been ill with a bad heart for a long time. He's had one operation already which didn't work and is due a second in a weeks time. Unfortunately when he went to the hospital recently to have a check up, a blood test revealed that his blood levels were dangerously high at 7.8 (basically what this meant was that his blood's ability to clot was virtually non-existent - not a good situation to be in when you're due to have an operation)
When he came to small group on Tuesday night (the day after this blood test was taken) he told us that if his blood levels didn't improve dramatically he wouldn't be able to have the surgery that he so desperately wanted. He's been living with a poor quality of life for a while now - not being able to walk anywhere without having pain in his chest and taking ages to walk short distances due to shortage of breath. The last thing he wanted was for this operation to be postponed. So we prayed!
Apparently there's an ideal level for blood clotting and therefore having an operation. We didn't know what it was but knew that God did (since He created it!) So we commanded my friend's blood levels to reduce immediately to the level they needed to be. We knew he was heading back to the hospital the next day for a further check up - we were looking for an instant breakthrough.
So, I got a text earlier today. My friend had gone to the hospital and the consultant had given him another blood test to check his blood levels. When the result came back the consultant was totally blown away. The blood levels had gone down to 2.6 within 24 hours of the first blood test result. The consultants response, 'this doesn't happen!' As it turns out my friend also found out the ideal level for blood clotting and therefore having an operation...you guessed it; 2.6! God had not only lowered my friend's blood levels, He had lowered them to exactly the right count! My friend is now miraculously all set for his operation next week. COME ON!
When he came to small group on Tuesday night (the day after this blood test was taken) he told us that if his blood levels didn't improve dramatically he wouldn't be able to have the surgery that he so desperately wanted. He's been living with a poor quality of life for a while now - not being able to walk anywhere without having pain in his chest and taking ages to walk short distances due to shortage of breath. The last thing he wanted was for this operation to be postponed. So we prayed!
Apparently there's an ideal level for blood clotting and therefore having an operation. We didn't know what it was but knew that God did (since He created it!) So we commanded my friend's blood levels to reduce immediately to the level they needed to be. We knew he was heading back to the hospital the next day for a further check up - we were looking for an instant breakthrough.
So, I got a text earlier today. My friend had gone to the hospital and the consultant had given him another blood test to check his blood levels. When the result came back the consultant was totally blown away. The blood levels had gone down to 2.6 within 24 hours of the first blood test result. The consultants response, 'this doesn't happen!' As it turns out my friend also found out the ideal level for blood clotting and therefore having an operation...you guessed it; 2.6! God had not only lowered my friend's blood levels, He had lowered them to exactly the right count! My friend is now miraculously all set for his operation next week. COME ON!
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Is your name Janet?
One of our TSM students was on her second ever treasure hunt last week and had the most incredible encounter. Listen to her story here.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Accurate Words of Knowledge
One of the things God promised me through a prophetic word in the Summer of 2005 was accuarate words of knowledge - names; streets addresses;dates. For many years now I have been stepping out in bringing words of knowledge at church on a Sunday and I've seen a fair amount of accuracy, but to be honest I feel like I've been a little bit slack with my gift. I've often settled for the minimum amount of information without asking God for more details. Last night I feel like I went to a new level.
I went to Stamford with some friends of mine to minister to a church there. In the prayer time before the meeting I felt God give me 5 words of knowledge, 2 of which were pretty specific. As it got towards the end of the night I got to share what I felt God had given me. Here's what God did:
1) Someone in serious debt - Had the amount £30,000: An older couple responded and we got to pray for them for financial provision from God. I think this time I got the amount wrong, but God brought encouragement and grace to this precious couple who were counting the cost of supporting a troubled son.
2) Someone who used to do ballet who now suffered with bad ankles: No-one responded to the ballet part but we did get to pray for a lady with bad ankles
3) Someone who had only 40% lung efficiency: No-one responded to this at the time, but as we were praying for people later on a girl was 'dragged' over by her boyfriend. She used to be a dancer but has a condition that's basically eating away at all her muscles. The most recent part of her body to be affected were her lungs.
4) Someone who was feeling fearful about their womb area: A young mum reponded saying she'd been ill at the weekend and the doctors thought she may have a cyst on one of her ovaries. She was fearful it would affect her ability to have more children. We got to command healing to her womb and ovaries - she has further tests on Monday.
5) Someone for whom March 2007 was a really tough and painful time: A lady responded saying that March 2007 was the time that her marriage started to break down - her husband has recently filed for a divorce. We got to minister God's love and peace to her.
When I met with PJ (an Elder in our church) a few months ago, one of the challenges he set me was to fail miserably at least three times when bringing words of knowledge from the front of church. In other words, to really go out on a limb with specifics. The fun thing is that I have absolutely nothing to lose because my identity is secure in Jesus. What risks are you taking?
I went to Stamford with some friends of mine to minister to a church there. In the prayer time before the meeting I felt God give me 5 words of knowledge, 2 of which were pretty specific. As it got towards the end of the night I got to share what I felt God had given me. Here's what God did:
1) Someone in serious debt - Had the amount £30,000: An older couple responded and we got to pray for them for financial provision from God. I think this time I got the amount wrong, but God brought encouragement and grace to this precious couple who were counting the cost of supporting a troubled son.
2) Someone who used to do ballet who now suffered with bad ankles: No-one responded to the ballet part but we did get to pray for a lady with bad ankles
3) Someone who had only 40% lung efficiency: No-one responded to this at the time, but as we were praying for people later on a girl was 'dragged' over by her boyfriend. She used to be a dancer but has a condition that's basically eating away at all her muscles. The most recent part of her body to be affected were her lungs.
4) Someone who was feeling fearful about their womb area: A young mum reponded saying she'd been ill at the weekend and the doctors thought she may have a cyst on one of her ovaries. She was fearful it would affect her ability to have more children. We got to command healing to her womb and ovaries - she has further tests on Monday.
5) Someone for whom March 2007 was a really tough and painful time: A lady responded saying that March 2007 was the time that her marriage started to break down - her husband has recently filed for a divorce. We got to minister God's love and peace to her.
When I met with PJ (an Elder in our church) a few months ago, one of the challenges he set me was to fail miserably at least three times when bringing words of knowledge from the front of church. In other words, to really go out on a limb with specifics. The fun thing is that I have absolutely nothing to lose because my identity is secure in Jesus. What risks are you taking?
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