Poignant Pageant

Reawakenings cd2

Cello music by Corinne Frost

Suffer-Reign

Reawakenings cd2

Bach Adagio Toccata

Let all mortal flesh keep silence

Rekindle ancient giftings

High King of heaven,

comfort victims of shock and loss and double cross;

and all who feel aimless as the result of suffering great injustice.

As we lift specific people and situations to You now

those we know or have heard about, and those You know, dear Lord,

we bring them as representative of all who are

caught in the grip of misery.

Stretch out Your hand to empower those who are walking an emotional tightrope and give them daily grace to cope.

Let the pummelling they have received

neither shrivel their longing

nor confound their passion to press on.

May the Lord lift them up on eagles’ wings,

and swivel their gaze from earth to Heaven,

to diffuse the abuse on their body, soul and time.

If your hearts are open

to be set free from bondages

caused by transference and soul ties,

then, in Jesus’ name, we unhook the trauma

that has taken such tight hold.

We unlock the pain that is pressing in

and pray strength into your spirits once again.

Inspire us to reach out to hurting souls

lest we inadvertently add to their sense of isolation.

For it is less wise and inspired solutions they desire so much as our physical presence and support.

Then let us add to the heartsores’ comfort store

by knowing the difference between timely intervention and brittle meddling.

Rekindle ancient giftings and blow on those who have grown stale and dispirited.

Pierce the fog of self satisfaction

and the dank dark clouds that hang above our land.

Penetrate the fog of war,

the fear of famine,

the loss of influence,

the lament of loneliness,

the bars of cruel imprisonment,

and the loneliness of life without You.

You bring many of us to the place where we must surrender all to you

Even as you gained a greatly multiplied harvest when Abraham was willing to make his sacrifce on Mount Moriah.

Your peace comes

when we reach this splendour of a fuller surrender,

submitting to the yoke that we must bear –

then living powerfully through what must be.

For others, the key time comes

when they challenge their constrictions

and seek to break the mould.

And just as You led Elijah to the careworn widow

as she picked up sticks to make a forlorn fire

and serve one last meal before she died,

reach out to embrace these ones who have been deeply knocked

and so badly hurt that they are no longer spiritually alert.

Marshal Your resources on behalf of these dear ones

so that the fire of thorns becomes once more a happy family hearth.

Our feet may well be pierced

Reawakenings cd2

Pergolesi

Dont' let the ensuing down-drop prove a dampener from pressing on

In God's economy this may yet be a Divinely appointed forerunner

that paves the way for the real thing to come to pass.

For in much the same way no one could predict what a tomato would look like from its seed, so what you sow does not come to life until it dies.

Give special grace for those who are finding the ridge between theory and practice too steep a gap to bridge.

Shake their spirits free from all such impositions and grant the ability to move beyond all critical noise to hear the inner promptings and 'Well Done!' of Christ.

So few are willing to risk much for You,

yet still they wonder why so little is accomplished;

bless those who are prepared to risk much more for love of the Crucifed.

As You lead them far beyond the beaten track

to interact with people’s pains and pleasures,

their feet may well be pierced

by the thorns that fall from Your crown of thorns.

as they too find themselves a spectacle

before men and angels alike. [1 Cor. 4:9]

(Gold Cord ch. 39, Highways in their heart - Amy Carmichael)

‘Tomorrow has two possible routes:

the path that is fear’s own sphere

and the green swathes of Godly faith.

Help us resist the chant of the Fearings,

for when our heart is conquered by Your beauty

we will achieve much, simply because You ask for all.

When the enemy tells you that things will not work out,

and that you will never achieve anything worthwhile –

or, if that tack doesn’t work, that you have done quite enough

and thoroughly deserve to rest from all your labours.

refuse the temptation to swing to either extreme,

and pray for endurance to take the next step forward

and then the next one after that,

until breakthrough comes

and all becomes clear.

Bless those who refuse to allow the powers of darkness challenge our stance,

and some whom we trust may find the heat too intense

and turn and snap at us, ‘the staff we have been leaning on

splintering and piercing our hand.’ [Gold Cord]

But rather resisting and overcoming and staying true to the very last.

All that You have been to us

The heart of the wise is always to push on, even though ultimate victory often seems to depend on our willingness to be trampled underfoot.

I let men ride over your heads;

you went through fire and water,

but I brought you to a place of abundance. (Ps. 66:12)

The less full you are of self

the more room there is for the One

who became poor for your sakes.

Lord, “You became what we are in order that You might make us what You are.” (Athanasius)

May we not permit the chilling winds of disappointment to daunt our buoyant hope, or allow ourselves to be drawn into sideways in-fighting.

‘Better to be disappointed a thousand times than to fall into suspicion and hardness, and to miss one single chance to help a soul. The love of God suffices for any disappointment, and in that love resides the energy of faith, and the very sap of hope.’ (Amy Carmichael: ‘The Love of God suffices’ in Gold Cord).

By Your might and main You will one day enable us to see Your face and to sit at Your table to reign for ever; with Your name upon our foreheads – (Rev. 22:3-6): a name that perfectly sums up all that all that we have been to You — and all that You have been to us.

Flute and cello trio

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honoured his name.

“On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will leap with joy like calves let out to pasture, for I will save My people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock, and you will sparkle in My land like jewels in a crown.

Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

I Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, (1:20) “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes, take the free gift of the water of life.

Holy Highway

Reawakenings cd2

Words and music by Carol Sampson

A reflection loosely based on John 17, and on the hymn ‘O Jesus I have promised.’ Peter and Shirley Richards have beautifully blended two of the best-known versions of this, the tunes Wolvercote and Thornbury, while Robert and Ros Weston lead us in this reflection, which was recorded under lockdown conditions.

Psalm 139 - composed and sung by Linda Entwistle

Here's my heart - written and performed by Carol Sampson

Reawakenings cd 3 track 1