I am trying to type this message without typos. I am in a different country, on a computer set to a different language with keys all in the wrong place. Or is it me that is different and everything around me in normal?
Dilema?
Answers please but not too harsh due to my delicate state being so disorientated.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
One of those days
Yesterday was 'one of those days'. You know what I mean. It begins with problems and goes on either downhill or on the same level.
First of all my morning routine was disrupted. We eat as a family together most days and breakfast is sacrosanct, prompt at 7. That way we know what each other is doing. That went well. Seeing as my my day is more flexible I usually let the others sort themselves out and leave the house then I get ready. Not yesterday, I was sitting in my PJ's watching the news when Mrs P came and said her car wouldn't start. Avoiding the usual humour (she didn't look amused) I quickly dressed and decided I would have to take her to work in my car and sort the issue out later. After getting back I got ready to go out to help an OAP out and then to a lunchtime business meeting.
The errand for the oldie was easy enough. His tumble dryer had broken, he had ordered one on the Internet and asked me to pick it up. Simple, apart from the fact that when he had said 'Tesco' and 'Beggars Bush' I had assumed that it was this store I was getting it from. So I duly arrived at Tesco's with enough time to pick it up, drop it off and get to my business meeting in Erdington on time. I went to the customer service desk and was directed with a puzzled look to the electrical desk. After explaining to the girl on the electrical desk she got her manager. After explaining to the manager she got the store manager. I assured them that this was the right place and even saw a couple of tumble dryers with the same make waiting to be picked up. They rang extension numbers I had and told me the extensions didn't exist. Things were made worst by the fact that my mobile phone had no signal so I couldn't ring the guy to ask him. After half an hour I decided to go and use the store's public telephone and sort out the issue. I spoke to my friend and told him where I was and could I have the reference number he had given me again. "Why are you in Tesco's, its Curry's you need to go to" Now I am sure no such word was used the previous day. I left the store quietly. So off it was to Curry's who produced the tumble dryer in five minutes and wished me a 'nice day'. Not sure I can ever be seen in Tesco's again!
Anyhow, dropped the thing off and managed to get to the meeting with seconds to spare. Turned out to be one of those meetings where they want all of your knowledge for the cost of a free lunch. Still it was a nice sandwich.
So now to sort the car out. I sussed out that the problem might be the battery. Mrs P had made one of those useful comments, 'It has been starting sluggishly the last few days'. So after a word with my mate Bob the mechanic it was off to Halfords for a replacement battery. Why do these places never make it clear what goes with what? Another wasted half an hour trying to work out which one to buy. (I was never very good at asking) Finally sussed out the coding and bought one.
Now the debate in my own mind about fitting it. Do I attempt this or not? Then I get a flashback to the last time I did this and the way I eventually rounded off the head of the nut trying to get the retaining clamp off. So off to my mate's garage in Tamworth (via a petrol station, how come when ever I get into my wife's car it has no fuel). This is always an interesting time. He is a Penty if you know the terminology, and the worst kind, a converted Baptist Penty. The job takes two minutes but is interspersed with him telling me everything about everything that is happening in his church and closes with an invitation to go one Sunday.
By the time I get away I have a mad dash to Wylde Green to pick up the Mrs via a crowded rush hour Sutton. To cap it all it is my turn to cook!!!!
I often look back on days like yesterday and wonder what I managed to accomplish and was it worth it all. I can be guilty of feeling that if I haven't prayed for an hour or been 'spiritual' in some other way then I haven't done much. Then I realise that what to me was a dull day had done a lot for an Old Guy who can't get out of the house and had blessed my lovely wife in sorting out an issue that if I had not been around to do would have ruined her day. Maybe it is in these type of 'serving' moments that the real blessing lies. In fact I am sure of it.
So its into another day. Not sure what it will bring but we have prayed this morning that we will walk into God's opportunities so here I go.......
First of all my morning routine was disrupted. We eat as a family together most days and breakfast is sacrosanct, prompt at 7. That way we know what each other is doing. That went well. Seeing as my my day is more flexible I usually let the others sort themselves out and leave the house then I get ready. Not yesterday, I was sitting in my PJ's watching the news when Mrs P came and said her car wouldn't start. Avoiding the usual humour (she didn't look amused) I quickly dressed and decided I would have to take her to work in my car and sort the issue out later. After getting back I got ready to go out to help an OAP out and then to a lunchtime business meeting.
The errand for the oldie was easy enough. His tumble dryer had broken, he had ordered one on the Internet and asked me to pick it up. Simple, apart from the fact that when he had said 'Tesco' and 'Beggars Bush' I had assumed that it was this store I was getting it from. So I duly arrived at Tesco's with enough time to pick it up, drop it off and get to my business meeting in Erdington on time. I went to the customer service desk and was directed with a puzzled look to the electrical desk. After explaining to the girl on the electrical desk she got her manager. After explaining to the manager she got the store manager. I assured them that this was the right place and even saw a couple of tumble dryers with the same make waiting to be picked up. They rang extension numbers I had and told me the extensions didn't exist. Things were made worst by the fact that my mobile phone had no signal so I couldn't ring the guy to ask him. After half an hour I decided to go and use the store's public telephone and sort out the issue. I spoke to my friend and told him where I was and could I have the reference number he had given me again. "Why are you in Tesco's, its Curry's you need to go to" Now I am sure no such word was used the previous day. I left the store quietly. So off it was to Curry's who produced the tumble dryer in five minutes and wished me a 'nice day'. Not sure I can ever be seen in Tesco's again!
Anyhow, dropped the thing off and managed to get to the meeting with seconds to spare. Turned out to be one of those meetings where they want all of your knowledge for the cost of a free lunch. Still it was a nice sandwich.
So now to sort the car out. I sussed out that the problem might be the battery. Mrs P had made one of those useful comments, 'It has been starting sluggishly the last few days'. So after a word with my mate Bob the mechanic it was off to Halfords for a replacement battery. Why do these places never make it clear what goes with what? Another wasted half an hour trying to work out which one to buy. (I was never very good at asking) Finally sussed out the coding and bought one.
Now the debate in my own mind about fitting it. Do I attempt this or not? Then I get a flashback to the last time I did this and the way I eventually rounded off the head of the nut trying to get the retaining clamp off. So off to my mate's garage in Tamworth (via a petrol station, how come when ever I get into my wife's car it has no fuel). This is always an interesting time. He is a Penty if you know the terminology, and the worst kind, a converted Baptist Penty. The job takes two minutes but is interspersed with him telling me everything about everything that is happening in his church and closes with an invitation to go one Sunday.
By the time I get away I have a mad dash to Wylde Green to pick up the Mrs via a crowded rush hour Sutton. To cap it all it is my turn to cook!!!!
I often look back on days like yesterday and wonder what I managed to accomplish and was it worth it all. I can be guilty of feeling that if I haven't prayed for an hour or been 'spiritual' in some other way then I haven't done much. Then I realise that what to me was a dull day had done a lot for an Old Guy who can't get out of the house and had blessed my lovely wife in sorting out an issue that if I had not been around to do would have ruined her day. Maybe it is in these type of 'serving' moments that the real blessing lies. In fact I am sure of it.
So its into another day. Not sure what it will bring but we have prayed this morning that we will walk into God's opportunities so here I go.......
Monday, January 01, 2007
Looking Back
I am not someone who normally looks back much, there's too much happening to dwell on the past, but for me 2006 was a special year that I will remember for all kind of reasons.
It began with getting to know two very special people, Matt and Heidi. January was our first get together for a meal. It was an evening of great fun with lots of banter. It ended with us praying together as God spoke into lives. It was from this that I started to meet Matt regularly and we developed a very special relationship. It was two-way, he often spoke into me and in turn I passed on the new things God was showing me. For a period when work was being done on his home that affected him working there we shared my office. Not sure how much work got done but many meaningful conversations took place that cemented the friendship. He soon became part of our family with 'fridge raiding' being one of his favourite pastimes. He even had his own key for a time. Matt introduced me to many things: lunches out, blogging, cricket and many more. My last memory of him is watching God use him at one of our Friday evenings. It was meant to be a worship session but the musician couldn't come so we just waited on God. The Spirit began to stir us using the prophetic which ended up in ministry. I sensed Matt had somethings to pass on so when he looked at me I released him. He spoke into many lives that night and some are different because of it. It ended up with him and Alan rolling around on the floor laughing in the Spirit. We finally parted with a big hug, a hug that I have clung on to during some of the darker times. Two days later Matt went to be with the Lord who he loved and I lost a son. It was a short friendship but one of the most lasting in its effect on my life.
2007 was also special because in it God began to link me with people who would be used to open doors for me in my role as Prophet. In April I travelled to France to meet up with Wayne and Wendy Hadley in St Etienne. The trip started with my flight being cancelled which meant I arrived a day late. Wayne and I spent a day in prayer and out of that time it was agreed that teams from the UK should visit there in Easter 2007. I also reunited with Apostle Andre Pelser from Cape Town. I had met him the previous year when he prophesied over me in a leaders meeting in St Etienne. This encounter was during a weekend of meetings at which he was the main speaker. Out of this time he invited me to South Africa which led to me going there to celebrate his 25 years in the ministry. I had an amazing time and saw many new and exciting things God was doing in the earth. That one trip opened many doors for me. From South Africa doors were opened in France, Scotland and the USA (from where I am writing this posting). God is amazing and His ways are so much higher than ours.
It was a year of letting go, not only of Matt but of my son Ben. Not for good but into a new era in his life at Leeds University. This reminds me that me baby, Jenny, will also be on her way before long. That is difficult to adjust to but as a parent you want the best for your children and their progress is reward enough. To see God in both of them is the main thing and that gives us so much joy that the letting go is made easier.
So its into 2007. For Mrs Prophet and me it is a time of change. I am sure there will be more adventures and more heartache. That's life. How we react to these things is what is important. So far I have more trips to France planned, a possible trip to the Faroe Isles and maybe a summer tour in South Africa. All of that seems exciting but with it will come challenge. I have been stretched last year and I don't see 2007 as any different in that regard. Travelling may seem an adventure and it is but being away from the ones you love is not easy. One thing I am sure of, God has gone before. If I simply desire His path, His way and His destiny, then whatever comes, good or bad, easy or challenging, will come with enough grace to see me through.
Blogger friends, have a God filled 2007. I pray that you will rise to meet the challenges and don't forget that its all about HIM, King Jesus.
It began with getting to know two very special people, Matt and Heidi. January was our first get together for a meal. It was an evening of great fun with lots of banter. It ended with us praying together as God spoke into lives. It was from this that I started to meet Matt regularly and we developed a very special relationship. It was two-way, he often spoke into me and in turn I passed on the new things God was showing me. For a period when work was being done on his home that affected him working there we shared my office. Not sure how much work got done but many meaningful conversations took place that cemented the friendship. He soon became part of our family with 'fridge raiding' being one of his favourite pastimes. He even had his own key for a time. Matt introduced me to many things: lunches out, blogging, cricket and many more. My last memory of him is watching God use him at one of our Friday evenings. It was meant to be a worship session but the musician couldn't come so we just waited on God. The Spirit began to stir us using the prophetic which ended up in ministry. I sensed Matt had somethings to pass on so when he looked at me I released him. He spoke into many lives that night and some are different because of it. It ended up with him and Alan rolling around on the floor laughing in the Spirit. We finally parted with a big hug, a hug that I have clung on to during some of the darker times. Two days later Matt went to be with the Lord who he loved and I lost a son. It was a short friendship but one of the most lasting in its effect on my life.
2007 was also special because in it God began to link me with people who would be used to open doors for me in my role as Prophet. In April I travelled to France to meet up with Wayne and Wendy Hadley in St Etienne. The trip started with my flight being cancelled which meant I arrived a day late. Wayne and I spent a day in prayer and out of that time it was agreed that teams from the UK should visit there in Easter 2007. I also reunited with Apostle Andre Pelser from Cape Town. I had met him the previous year when he prophesied over me in a leaders meeting in St Etienne. This encounter was during a weekend of meetings at which he was the main speaker. Out of this time he invited me to South Africa which led to me going there to celebrate his 25 years in the ministry. I had an amazing time and saw many new and exciting things God was doing in the earth. That one trip opened many doors for me. From South Africa doors were opened in France, Scotland and the USA (from where I am writing this posting). God is amazing and His ways are so much higher than ours.
It was a year of letting go, not only of Matt but of my son Ben. Not for good but into a new era in his life at Leeds University. This reminds me that me baby, Jenny, will also be on her way before long. That is difficult to adjust to but as a parent you want the best for your children and their progress is reward enough. To see God in both of them is the main thing and that gives us so much joy that the letting go is made easier.
So its into 2007. For Mrs Prophet and me it is a time of change. I am sure there will be more adventures and more heartache. That's life. How we react to these things is what is important. So far I have more trips to France planned, a possible trip to the Faroe Isles and maybe a summer tour in South Africa. All of that seems exciting but with it will come challenge. I have been stretched last year and I don't see 2007 as any different in that regard. Travelling may seem an adventure and it is but being away from the ones you love is not easy. One thing I am sure of, God has gone before. If I simply desire His path, His way and His destiny, then whatever comes, good or bad, easy or challenging, will come with enough grace to see me through.
Blogger friends, have a God filled 2007. I pray that you will rise to meet the challenges and don't forget that its all about HIM, King Jesus.
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