Archives October 2016 Hello to all my regular readers & any new visitors to the site. This is the last post on the Seasonal Blog for the time being, but previous entries will continue to be available to help direct attention to the passing seasons. Use the CATEGORIES section at the right of the page to find a topic which interests you.
An essential part of fruitfulness is the expectation of harvest. The farmer’s year revolves around this prospect. As Christians we need to develop an expectation of a harvest of souls: people who have a life-changing encounter with Jesus.
One way to develop that expectation is to read accounts of ‘harvests’ in our own countries or regions. Not only does it help to change our perception of what can happen in our day, but it alerts us to the spiritual inheritance attached to particular locations.
Digging into our history reveals some amazing stories. We are often aware of awakenings in the past such as the Welsh or Wesleyan Revival, but perhaps don’t know the details. And many Christians are unaware that the UK has a revival history which goes back more than 1500 years.
Paulinus was a Roman monk who was sent as a missionary to the kingdoms which were eventually to become England, in 601, by the Pope Gregory. Initially his mission field was in Kent, but when the Kentish princess Ethelburga married Edwin King of Northumbria, he was instructed to accompany her in order to spread the gospel in the north. Paulinus had great success, first the king responding, then his countrymen. He continued his mission throughout the north – travelling, instructing and baptising people throughout the area which is now Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Tyneside, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
What has gone before in our region, is part of our spiritual inheritance – and something we can lay claim to....
Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled.
Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. [Genesis 26:17,18]
This is what the LORD says:
"In the time of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, [Isaiah 49:8]
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. [Isaiah 58:12]
An interactive site about this particular extract can be found at: http://www.pastperfect.org.uk/sites/yeavering/ms/bede_cover.html Do some research. Which ‘wells’ can you lay claim to, in your country or region? Click on the icon above to get in touch. Comments won't be published wothout permission.
We are called to affect the climate around us, to cause people to change their way of thinking & acting, to align themselves with the Kingdom of God. One of the things we can do to change the climate is worship. King David erected a tent in Jerusalem for the purpose of building a worshipping community (1 Chronicles 15, 16). In it he put the Ark of the Covenant, on which rested the presence of God. This tent broke all the ‘rules’: the Ark wasn’t placed behind a curtain, it was on view for all the priestly worshippers to see. David himself, from the tribe of Judah (meaning ‘praise’), representing a new priestly order, was able to worship unhindered before it. David’s ‘tabernacle’ became the scene of 24-hour prophetic worship. It looked forward to the time when the presence of God would be manifest amongst His people, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and every follower of Jesus would be a priest. And this worship was characterised not by religious form, but by whole-hearted celebration, including speaking (Psalm 34:1), singing (Psalm 47:1), shouting (Psalm 27:6), lifting hands (Psalm 63:4), playing instruments (Psalm 33,2-3), clapping (Psalm 47:1), standing (Psalm 134:1), bowing down (Psalm 95:6) and dancing (Psalm 149:3). ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name’, says the Lord, who does these things, things known from long ago. [Amos 9:11,12 (Septuagint), Acts 15:16-18] When James quoted the Septuagint’s translation of Amos 9, at the Council of Jerusalem, he was clearly expecting that the restoration of the spirit of worship demonstrated in David’s tabernacle, would so affect the spiritual climate, that ‘the rest of mankind’ would seek the Lord. What if you made your house, not only a House of Prayer (see last post) but also a House of Worship – what effect might that have on your neighbourhood? Read 2 Samuel 6. In the privacy of your own home, try out an expression of worship that's outside your comfort zone - remembering that it's all about Him! Click on the icon above to get in touch. Comments won't be published without permission.
In the Old Testament, the legal principle was laid down that a testimony had to be confirmed by two or three people [Deuteronomy 19:17]. No one could be convicted of a crime on the say-so of just one person. For matters to be legally established there had to be two or three witnesses. Jesus applied this understanding to issues of discipline in the church [Matthew 18:15-17]. Then, having addressed the physical realm, which is always the shadow of the greater reality, He moved on to the spiritual, and gave the same legal basis for a ruling: "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in My Name, there am I with them." [Matthew 18: 18-20] When we pray in agreement in twos & threes, with our friends, housemates or partners, not only are we expressly promised the presence of Christ, but we also set in motion the legal framework for an answer to prayer. What a promise for our households! Just think what effect we could have on our neighbourhoods, by taking hold of that one promise! Why not make your house, a house of prayer for your community? Click on the icon above to get in touch. Comments won't be published without permission.
It is interesting that the specific fruit Jesus mentioned in His discourse on the vine, was answered prayer:
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples. [John 15:7-8]
The Bible is unequivocal, answered prayer is God’s will for us. Check out these verses:
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Click on the book covers to be redirected to Amazon*.
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Drawing on his experience of growing up on his family's vineyard, Jacobsen's book takes readers on the journey to harvest, paralleling the seasons of the vine to the seasons of life. Sadly, this book appears to be out of print, but second hand copies can be bought from Amazon*, by clicking on the image opposite.
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Removed as we are from the provenance of our food, sometimes we can forget how blessed we are with the rich variety produced in this country. In order to focus on the earth's fruitfulness, take some time out this month to visit farm shops , farmer's markets, wayside stalls and other outlets of local produce. Experiment with some new recipes - the internet is an excellent source - and praise God for His wonderful provision. |
Artichoke Aubergine Beetroot Broad bean Broccoli Carrot Celery Courgette Fennel Fig Lettuce | Marrow Peach Peas Peppers Radishes Runner beans Samphire Spinach Tomatoes Water cress | Apricot Blackberry Cherry Gooseberry Nectarine Raspberries Redcurrants Strawberries Water melon | Grouse Crab Halibut Mackerel Salmon Tuna Whiting |
Life rushes past: weeks, months, years with relentless haste. Connecting with the seasons slows us down, connects us to the earth’s rhythms and gives our lives ‘breathing spaces’. Each season has its own attributes, colour, shape & purpose. By taking time to ‘stand & stare’ we tune in not only to the mystery of creation, but into what someone has described as the ‘divine breathings’. We put ourselves in the way of an encounter with the Creator Himself. |
In England, the beginning of August was known as Lammastide (probably from a corruption of ‘loaf-mass’), when loaves were baked from freshly harvested wheat & brought to the churches to be blessed. Large sheep fairs were held in many areas of the country & were the scenes of general festivity. Lammastide heralded the Season of Fruitfulness. |
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Please note: commissions are supplied by Amazon; there are no hidden costs for visitors to this website, and all resources shown are genuine recommendations, |