Track 5 A Letter from Heaven:

Vivaldi Concerto RV 565

Improvisation by Linda Entwistle

If I was to ask you to name a sin, touchiness would probably not be the one that springs immediately to mind – but which of us have not struggled with the words and actions of irritable and oversensitive people, whether in our own immediate circles, or in positions of power? Living or working alongside thin-skinned people, who bristle and bridle whenever their will is crossed soon reminds us why this is such an important subject.

No wonder John Bevere called it 'The bait of Satan!' in his excellent book on the subject. And why we must watch out for areas where we ourselves are unduly touchy and make life unnecessarily hard for others.

Let’s explore and pray into this important subject it in this very brief meditation, as Julia Herzog plays a beautiful theme from a sonata by Vivaldi for us.

Who am I?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote this poem in prison shortly before Hitler ordered his execution.

Handel Sarabande; Vivaldi Recorder Sonata (Julia Herzog)

Track 2 Loneliness or Solitude?

Patmos: place of exile, place of revelation.

Marcello Oboe Sonata, Allegro (Thomas Herzog); Chopin Opus 72 cont’d. (Jo Foote); Flute Improvisation (Elizabeth Pocock & Christiane von Albrecht)

It had happened to him!

In exile on Patmos – the beloved disciple John.

Improvisation on Schopfer alle Himmel; Chopin Opus 72 (Jo Foote); Marcello Oboe Sonata (Thomas Herzog)

Waiting for You

There is something about this exquisite 'stilling' song by Anne Laure Jackson that both soothes and inspires. May it particularly encourage us during our times of waiting to entwine ourselves in the Lord who loves us so much.

Written and sung by Anne Laure Jackson, accompanied by Megan Mellamphy, Julia Herzog, Shirley Richards, Jonathan Lee, Grace Lee, Nick Evans Pughe, Corinne Frost and Christiane von Albrecht. Recorded at Brockhill, Malvern.

Ruach Breath of Life Ministries 2017.

Trade with the gifts God has given you.

A powerful exhortation from the sixth century by Hilda of Whitby.

Celtic music by Francis Cummings followed by The Last Rose of Summer

Music (for Preface) composed especially for this project

by David Booth of Malvern

Welcome to this heartfelt compilation of mineral-rich meditations

which set out to capture the yearning of our heart for God,

and of His towards us.

As we tune our hearts to the Eternal Rock from which we were hewn

lets embark on the greatest love story of them all, exploring far ranging themes, that take us far beyond the purely personal to the prophetically panoramic, allowing their poetic reality to sharpen our capacity for contemplation, as the fragrance of Heaven draws near.

The themes are too nutrient rich to absorb at one sitting,

but you’ll find the words online, and you can always press the ‘Pause’ or listen again, allowing fresh associations to come to mind

until these precious truths become embedded in your heart.

Since we have been raised with Christ, let’s set our hearts on things above,

where Christ is seated at the Father’s right hand and think for a while about the things of Heaven, for we have died to this life, and our real life is hidden with Christ in God – and when Christ who is our life is revealed, we too will share in His glory. (Col. 3:1-4)

So many people argue the toss about whether they are pre or post tribulationalists, but let’s focus less on the means by which God will bring about the promised signs of the times.

freefoto.com and more on how things will be

beyond the labour pains

as the result of the Cross,

when Earth itself is rebirthed

as the home of perfect righteousness

Music written by Francis Cummings for 'Fire from the North' Conference 2005

The new heavens and the new earth

Look, I am creating new heavens and a new earth,

and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.

(Is. 65:17-18)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,

for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared.

The sea also was gone.

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem,

coming down from God out of heaven

like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying,

“Look, God’s home is now among his people!

He will live with them, and they will be His people.

God Himself will be with them.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes,

and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.

All those things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said,

“Look, I am making everything new!”

“Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

(Rev. 21:1-5)

Reawaken us, Lord Jesus, to the call of how Heavenly things will truly be. Selah

Where the limitations of our earthly roles and responsibilities

have placed too tight a constriction on our perspective,

and led to so many routine repetitions,

we choose now to eagerly consider the heavenly rewards you spoke so much about and to anticipate the Epiphany of our Lord.

We discard from our hearts all that tends to the ‘What’s the point?’

– and even the assumption that all will be so well catered for in Heaven

that there will be nothing for us to do.

Expand in our mind the Narnian cry of “Further up and further in;”

for even in Heaven You have so much more in store for us.

For nothing of value that You direct us to on Earth

will ever be lost, in a Kingdom where seeds acquire

their fullest expression and all we long for

finds its richest outworking.

On the night before He died, the Lord Jesus said,

“I will not drink the fruit of the vine again until I drink it anew with you

in My Father’s kingdom”

(Matt. 26:29).

Food and drink will therefore have their place in the utterly grace-filled sphere that You have prepared for the redeemed human race, where God-belovèd animals will lie down at peace with each other and at ease with us,

leaving us free

When souls saved by Christ fall asleep they emerge from the tent of their bodies and enter the realm of Paradise: a place of parkland rest and refreshment, of blissful reunions with those in Christ whom we have loved,

and with those who persevered beyond their trials to the infinitely better resurrection beyond.

(Heb. 11:35,38)

Let’s not end the story at what may prove to be but the end of the beginning:

the call of God will appoint the meek to return with Christ to reign and rule on Earth.

This is our ultimate calling, and how we respond in life will determine our fitness for service there, where Beauty personified renews the earth in glory,

and so fulfils the prophecies of old. (Hab. 2:14)

Bill Klein plays this piece for harp from his album ‘Lauda.’