Marcello 1st movement oboe concerto in D minor

We focus so much of our energy on our external appearance; how we are coming across, what we are wearing and so on. As a dear friend used to say, ‘If we could just get that amount down by a few percent, it would leave so much more room for the Lord to work.’

We can’t afford to underestimate how much effort the powers of darkness put into distracting us. The devil knows how to spin a plausible yarn, and how to level his guns at us. It takes courage to call his bluff, and to realise that these guns may not be loaded – or, if they are, that the Lord can still deflect and protect us. This is serious spiritual warfare.

Lord,

we want to ask that You will help us discern what is our task

and what is Yours and to really know the difference.

For this will help us to be clear when it is right to take steps to defend ourselves,

and when we can safely leave You to do all the defending for us.

Provide close confidants with whom we can pour out our hearts,

without needing to adjust our terminology,

and worrying whether we are getting our politics and theology quite right;

for this is this flow of trust that You love to honour most.

Music composed and played by Linda Entwistle

O Lord, there are so few in love with You

So few to worship You,

Whose hearts touch Yours in purity and prayer

and Lord, lead us on high upon the heights

and take us down into the valley

that we may worship You

that we may worship You

O Lord our God, your holy love is spurned

and righteousness despised.

So let our hearts be filled with love for You

And Lord, lead us on high upon the heights

and take us down into the valley

that we may worship You,

that we may worship You.

O Father, we give ourselves to You

accept our heart's desire.

May we be true and just in all we do

and Lord lead us on high upon the heights

and take us down into the valley

that we may worship You

that we may worship You.

O Lord, there are so few in love with You

so few to worship You.

Whose hearts touch Yours in purity and prayer,

and Lord, lead us on high upon the heights

and take us down into the valley

that we may worship You

that we may worship You.

Written by Robert Weston in 1983 with Linda Entwistle (2019) and Colin Owen (2020)

May the Lord lead us into great heights of worship - and then outwards as He leads in fervent prayer for many.

At this time when millions are feeling deeply unsettled by so much that they had taken as normal being suddenly removed, Joshua’s tremendous and challenging declaration came to mind as I was pondering these things:

‘Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’ (Josh. 24:15) Like Joshua, though so much remains uncertain, may we find many ways to serve Him!

There are numerous occasions when this phrase is used in the Bible. You will be familiar with them, of course, but I have drawn many of them together in this presentation and set them to beautiful music, like ornaments in a band. Sometimes, like Joshua, the verses are markers laid down for us as we determine to move purposefully forward, embracing our calling and commission. At other times they are a cry from people in intense and immediate need.

As Sally Mowbray, Colin Owen and I read, the music ranges from the contemporary to the very ancient, beginning with Maria es libre, a lovely piece of music composed and played by David Booth from Malvern for guitar; a powerful piece called The Scottish Connection that our friend James Horsfall from Jersey wrote; a beautiful Song without Words by Mendelssohn – and then the oldest extant piece of music in existence: Seikilos, which was found on a tombstone in Turkey and dating from the first or second century.

How amazing that this has survived – and that it still sounds so contemporary! The whole is beautifully resolved by a wonderfully ‘settling’ piece composed in lockdown itself, by Justin Coldstream.

Here are precious truths and promises to hold on to and apply!

Vivaldi LaudemasTe Instrumental by Ruach Breath of Life

La Stravaganza Instrumental by Ruach Breath of Life

Set to Vivaldi's glorious Laudamus Te (“We bless, praise, worship and glorify You") from his inspired Gloria, this heartfelt track celebrates just how much we are known and loved by El Shaddai, the Lord who comforts, cares and rescues us.

Massive thanks to the soloists, Patricia and Harmony, for singing this brilliant declaration of praise so beautifully, accompanied by Peter Richards on keyboard, with Shirley Richards, Nick Evans Pughe and Jo Garcia on strings.  

The second piece of music you will hear is from Vivaldi’s brilliant violin concerto La Stravaganza, in which Shirley Richards is the soloist.

El Shaddai, our hearts are sighing for the sound of Your voice

You have written every one of our days in Your book

Open wide our hearts and minds to understand the truths that You would show us today

We bless, praise, worship and glorify You.

How can we know which path to take unless You make it known to us?

What can we accomplish by our own unaided efforts

You are the Source and Fount from Whom all true Knowledge comes,

and our hearts are longing to receive the truth that You would show us

Nothing takes place without Your knowing, and no one can take Your place;

You hold the keys to all understanding, all heights and depths and mystery

all majesty, might, unfathomable depth.

O Lord, You invite us to come close and closer still,

Pressing in to know as we ourselves are known

We are in Your training college, Lord, and You are preparing us to reign with You.

As each day dawns, we turn to gaze on You in praise and prayer

with hearts and hands wide open to receive

Your passion inspiring us to gain a heart of wisdom,

Your courage imbuing us with the courage to plan and plant.

We bless, praise, worship and glorify You

You say, ‘Fret not yourself when troubles come pressing in;

Don’t permit them the pride of place that ousts Me as the focus of your soul.

Subdue their strife as they stalk your mind.’

When raging forces are ranged against us, compelling us to cry out morning, noon and night,

in the thick of the rampage we cry out, ‘Intervene, Lord Jesus,

and intercede that we may not be torn asunder.

Direct our words and order our steps in the face of each injustice

beyond the reach of each new threat.

Heed our tears and dispel our griefs and tears that these tribulations bring.

When swiping blows come raining thick and fast,

we cry aloud to You, and pour out our lament, for no one else can help.

But the Name of the Lord is a very strong tower

wherein all help lies concealed and will be revealed.

From deep within the secret place Your Spirit broods,

You measure out the treasured watchwords that sustain our subdued souls,

then open living springs through sovereign acts of power.

So strong the call and so great the goodness You have stored up for us,

We bless and forgive every heart of steel that tries to spike us.

You deliver us from every danger that imperils

and redeem every strike that stings our heel

Keep our souls and spirits safe so that we may praise Your Name,

O Watcher of our souls, El Shaddai, Immanuel, the God Who rescues us.

Psalm 116 The God who rescues us (Part 2)

One day when I was feeling very low, the Lord led me to Psalm 116. I 'blended' a traditional version with Eugene Peterson's take on in it The Message, and set it to Zipoli's beautiful baroque composition, 'Elevazione.' If ever a piece was made to measure to suit!

Christiane von Albrecht plays the organ for us here, with Amy Roberts on oboe.

'A tempestuous piece for our times'

The music of Beethoven's world-renowned Pathetique sonata is restless and probing, conveying something of the anguish as well as the triumphs that Beethoven was experiencing at the time when he wrote it, yet still brings joy, pleasure and consolation.

For that reason, it struck me as being a particularly poignant and appropriate piece to release in the tempestuous times that we are going through.

Stella commented, “It reminds me of how anxious – terrified even – the disciples were when they were in the storm boat with Jesus. They felt panic-stricken, fearing that their end was looming near – yet all the time, Jesus was in complete control despite what was going on around Him, even when He appeared to be asleep.

“How anxious we get, the moment we take our eyes off the Lord, or when we look at things through our narrow, tunnel vision. Yet He remains in total control, able to calm the raging seas and enable us to complete our journey.”

Special thanks to Sam Booth, who made this recording with us some years ago.

La Stravaganza, Vivaldi by Ruach Breath of Life