Saturday 1st October

Week II & III

Today the mid autumn heat wave is in full swing and I have my first hockey match in 18months, but push back is at 4.30pm so I thought I’d testify of the Lords work as the anticipation builds. Life is getting busier, which I love. So I’ll run through some of the key areas of life.

St Saviours

God has set me up. When I committed to Nottingham, to be near the one I love, I fully believed God had the perfect place for me. It’s beautiful from this end testifying of such a place that He has carved for me. The church family is wonderful. They’ve looked after me so well and set me up for success. I have joined the staff team volunteering one day a week which gives me opportunities to serve and minister as the occasion requires.

Initially I have been taking time to get to know the family, understanding different folks hearts and what calls and gifting they have, then asking God the eternal question, what would you like me to do? The first call seems to be to serve. I have lots of dreams, but whole heartedly recognise the importance of going in low.

There are various testimonies I hear of the grace that God has poured on projects through the blessings of generations moving together – the hearts of fathers and sons collaborating and joining strength. As a son, I love finding fathers with a vision to serve.  St Saviours have that, and whilst Dave, the vicar, maybe a young father he has big vision to bring transformation to an entire region. I like it.

As I write the church is about to begin a new season, shifting the focus from Sunday gatherings to Thursday House Church. This past week I discovered that St Saviours was founded as a house church above a shop some 100+ years ago. This week we’re re-digging the wells and walking in the inheritance laid before us. There will still be space for corporate worship on Sunday’s but through opening up homes the close community is deepening and looks set to multiply, increasing the impact of the gospel through the intimacy of fellowship.

I’ve been impressed at Dave’s ability to follow the Lord’s calling and bring an established church with him. In the body there is wonderful space to pursue your dreams and realise you destiny. In St Saviours God has given me a wonderful family that loves His name, seeks to follow in His ways and honour wholeheartedly His direction. It is a wonderful Apostolic Prophetic community, full of life and blessing. I’m excited to see dreams realised and freedom reigning.

Prayers of course would be gratefully received. There is a great deal of new shoots pushing through. Pray for the success of the vision. Pray for the strength and boldness of the leaders to continue to walk out His word. 

Pray for the family of faithful followers to deepen in relationship and dependency on God and His family. Pray with faith for a Holy Spirit uprising in the Meadows. God is doing a great work in preparing His church, still, I want to see the harvest, that which the body is prepared for.  Lord, give us boldness to dream, see and pray, 

to hear, love and reach out.

University

For the remainder of my weekly days I will be based at the University of Nottingham studying a PhD in Sustainable Energy Technology. Again I believe this to be the perfect place God has set out for me and I live with my eyes open looking to see the space He has provided for me to flourish, release and see blessing in.

This past week was registration week. Ste (a friend from St Saviours who is studying a Masters in the same department) and I spent most of Wednesday on campus, checking out freshers fair and registering for our course. All went smoothly and I now have a pretty student card to last me for the next 3 years. After registering God gave me a wonderful blessing, He enabled me to meet my supervisor after lunch.

It was a casual meeting where my supervisor shared some of his expectations for me, all of which I loved, and suggested some potential research areas. We’ll meet again next week to nail down the specific area and formalise some of the paperwork. I know it will require me to work hard, but I’m relishing the opportunity. I’m excited to work for him.

It seems God has positioned me again under an excellent father. He is a leader in his field with a real heart to invest in his students and see them succeed. He shared various testimonies of students who have gone before me and achieved great things. As he shared I felt a whole side of me begin to bristle inside. This feels like the right place to bring my strength, the ingenuity and innovation God has given me.

Do pray for an abundance of favour and breakthrough. Pray for kingdom science to reign in the halls of Nottingham University and God to be glorified as the world is blessed through the innovations that come. Pray for simple brilliance. The key breakthroughs feel an arm’s length away and the collective context of University and Church seem to be providing beautiful vehicles for their manifestation.

On Thursday Ste and I spent some time soaking and storming, waiting on the Lord and brain storming together. We both have a heart to bring innovative energy solutions that bring communities together, demonstrating the kingdom at every level. Quite what the time scale and process will look like we will discover as this year goes by, but the initial set up of people in the right place has begun.

Hockey

I’m keen that my time in Nottingham isn’t just consumed by work, exciting work, but work none the less. I want to model good boundaries, working hard in the hours set aside for that, but resting well also. Hockey looks to be an exciting place to come and rest. This past week was my first week training and it was fun to run about with a stick for the first time in over a year. I met some great guys in the club and even managed to wangle my way into a team for today – which is where the excitement really begins. I’ve missed playing in competitive sports matches, the team spirit and camaraderie; it’s going to be good.

In the next few weeks I’ll discover how much of the university social life becomes a part of my weekly rhythm, but from first outlook I don’t think it will play a large part of my life. I feel like I’ve moved on a little from my undergraduate days and campus life doesn’t seem as attractive. My mission focus appears to be partnering with the church more than the CU I think. The Jazz Band seems to clash with the Youth club and I’d rather play hockey for a club than the uni. But I’m open to God widening my heart and shifting my diary to get me where He wants me.

Bridgford Home

The space at home God has given me through a family in Saviours has been a massive blessing. It’s a wonderful place to come back and be in. The family are wonderfully relaxed and hospitable. They’re also amazing cooks so I’ve eaten well every day since being here.

I have an attic room which also enables me to take time for myself when needed. There’s a beautiful bike shed where my blue falcon slots in perfectly and with grown children there’s wonderful freedom to come and go at any time of night. I feel well loved and looked after. God has blessed me up well.

Moving Lady

The biggest shift in the last two weeks has been the arrival of my gorgeous girl friend from her European adventures. She moved up to Nottingham 10days ago and we’ve seen each other every day but yesterday. It’s been a wonderful blessing having such a powerful woman of God so close in my life. After a year 5000miles apart 2.86miles feels like next door. There was a moment when it crossed our breath to utter of ‘the long walk home’, but we soon remembered the context and praised God that we were even walking home together.

The times together have already been littered with beautiful memories, surprise visits and extended coffee breaks, long goodbyes and regular rendez-vous’. Tonight begins another romantic adventure.

Teaching

I didn’t know where to fit it in, but testimony of a lovely time just over a week ago now. Ste, Sophie and I were having some prayer time in their prayer room. God loosed my tongue. I felt a new permission to prophesy and use that freely, to look from His perspective in all situations.  I’m excited to grow in crazy faith declarations as well. I want to know God more, to understand His ways, to recognise His glory on the earth, to partner His moment by moment utterance with the revelation of the ages. I’ve just begun reading Momentum by Bill and Eric Johnson, good stuff.

Also I received some further revelation from that prayer time about the joy of letting go. There is a song by Laura Hackett called Lowest Place. It’s awesome and so true. Great freedom is ours when we let everything go. These past two weeks, when feeling a little stressed or uncertain, choosing to lay back and hand the scenario over to Jesus. He brings peace that passes understanding. But the specific revelation of 8days ago was the letting go of reputation. It seems obvious, but there is so much freedom when you let go of your reputation, when you stop trying to live up to what you think people think of you, when you allow yourself to relax and be. Freely express who you are, free from ‘should do’s’ alive to living from His heart.

Take hold of your freedom and walk it out.

The other key teaching God seems to be leading me to surrounds eating and drinking Him. Is 55, John 6, John 4 and Rev 7v15-17. Feast on Him and you’ll never thirst again. He is the desire of all nations. There is the importance in our life to fill our time feasting on Jesus. Without this time in our lives our hearts will yearn for satisfaction in futile places. As Solomon found, fulfilment is only found in worshipping God. God is the fullness of joy, of peace, of righteousness, all that our heart desires and finds glimpses of on earth will ultimately be fully found in Him. Delight yourself in His ways, in His word, in His name. He is the wellspring of life. Come drink. J

So there we go. Life is well. Doors are opening before me. God has positioned me beautifully. I’m excited to shine for Him in all the glory He has bestowed upon me.

Keep walking in faith. Hold on for His timing. Desire face-time with our King and let His fruit permeate your everything.

In righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Thom Praise.