Set below are the videos we have made so far - each set to beautiful music to inspire worship, praise,
intercession and meditation.
All the material in these publications can be used without
obtaining our permission providedthatno
commercial gain is involved. We would be grateful if specific
quotations could be acknowledged.
At a time when there is so much
emphasis on how evolution explains everything, it is precious to
remind ourselves that it is the Lord who creates and holds
everything together. This presentation from the book of
Ecclesiasticus (also known as the book of Sirach) reminds us of the
primacy of the Lord God of hosts, and His work in creation.
The powerful music is by Linda Entwistle. As with so many of our
presentations, the words music and photographs are too deep to fully
absorb at one showing!
Darkness falls across the sky
as the day begins to fade.
Jesus wants us to cross over to the other side,
so we all get into the boat thinking "it's gonna be alright."
We see our Master resting in the stillness of the night.
But something stirs the peaceful scene so very unexpectedly;
a lashing wind, a mighty gale.
We're so afraid our hearts they fail
so we cry out "Oh Master, don't you care that we're gonna drown?
Can't you do something to save us 'cos this ship is going down?"
"Peace be still!" Jesus cries.
And the storm quickly subsides.
"Oh you of little faith, why do you fear?
You ought to know by now I'm always here when you need me.
Peace be still.
When the storms of life surround,
Peace be still."
Still today just like then, fear grips the hearts of men,
because in our boats so tossed and torn,
we find it hard to bear the storm,
so we cry out in desperation, "God where can you be?"
If we take the time to listen, He'll whisper quietly,
"Peace be still," hear Him cry
and your storm will quickly subside.
"'Oh you of little faith, why do you fear?
You ought to know by now that I'll be here when you need me.
Peace be still!
When the storms of life surround,
Peace be still."
A beautiful song by Linda Entwhistle - inspired
by Psalm 121.
Illustrated with photographs of the Malvern Hills taken by Alan Forsdyke
I lift my eyes to the hills.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord whose song
fills heaven and earth.
I lift my eyes to the hills
and move my sluggish feet
and wonder where this path will lead.
What purpose can I serve?
He won't let your foot slip.
He'll guard you while you sleep.
He watches over all He loves
and never will give up.
He watches over you
in all extremes of life
from the brightest day to the darkest night.
He holds you in his sight.
I lift my eyes to the hills.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, whose song
fills heaven and earth.
I lift my eyes to the hills
and keep my sights above
and knowing that I'm in his love
and knowing what I'm worth.
He'll not let my foot slip.
He'll guard me while I sleep.
He's watching over all He loves.
He never will give up.
The Lord watches over you
in all extremes of life
from the brightest day to the darkest night
He holds you in His sight.
He watches over you
He watches over you
He watches over you
both now and forevermore
He watches over you
He watches over you
He watches over you
both now and forevermore.
Please see below for the prayer poem that Ros and I have composed: a prayer
of yearning from a woman on her knees in the province of Leyte on behalf of
her storm struck nation.
At extremely short notice, Sally brilliantly scoured for royalty free
illustrations and turned our words into a work of art. With Colin's help we
have set it to Grieg’s beautiful Solveigh’s Song from the Peer Gynt Suite,
which we recorded last March, with Andrew Whettam on the marimba, his wife
Rebecca playing the cello part and Grace Lee the violin. Please do make good
use of this presentation in your homes churches and fellowships.
The Song of the Wind marks my first
sortie into the world of composition, and there's quite a story behind it.
It goes back to a return trip we made to Shetland just over a year ago when
I woke up to hear the wind outside sighing and, as it were singing. I was
able to pick out some notes on a piano - and they form the start of this
piece, which I went on to develop (with the help of Colin Owen and Justin
Coldstream). Sally Mowbray has illustrated it beautifully, and I hope you
will be really blessed by it.
The music starts with a sense of grief and loneliness that you might
associate with the Highland clearances - or with the tragedies of our own
time – highlighted this week by events in Kenya, the Navy Yard in New York,
the bomb that killed so many in the church in Pakistan and the ongoing
desolation in Syria.
Just as a grief is a process one has to work through with the Lord’s help,
so the music moves on, taking us through a variety of moods and experiences
before reaching its joyful conclusion in the style of a South American
rumba.
Many of the pictures were taken by either myself or Anna Ralph in Shetland.
May the wind of the Spirit blow afresh through your hearts as you listen and
watch!
Beyond the Storm Usingseveral of her own stunning photographs, Sally has designed a
really beautiful Youtube to accompany these simple words, which come as if
from the Lord.
The hauntingly beautiful music is from violin concerto RV 365 by Vivaldi,
played for us by Grace Lee.
May your heart. . .
seek out still places
and know the deep simplicity of life with me
recalling richer rhymes and rhythms
as I re-dress all lingering loss
May your heart . . .
trust in Me
as you filter out
all that is faded foolish and fearful
and have the courage to set sail
drink in the fullness of my presence
and you will perceive the true meaning and beauty of things
as you lift people, places and professions before My throne
and I turn sight into insight
May your heart . .
be a furnace of love
where I hold first place
and where you give
and do not count the cost
Let it be a spring of hope
and a fountain of praise
May your heart . . .
find favour . . .
your presence makes a difference
and your faith moves mountains!
May your heart . . .
know my deep soothing rest
as the wind of my spirit
sweeps through
The idea of praying for the Lord ‘to give us tears’
is something the Chinese church understands far better than we do.
For there is a cry in the Lord Jesus’ heart every time a child is abused,
a woman is raped,
and people die in pain.
There’s an ache in His heart when false allegations fly
and havoc ensues;
when families and fellowships stutter and divide,
and fear and alienation set in.
He feels the pain when godly wisdom is set aside,
good work in progress comes to nought
and honourable men and women take terrible knocks.
Lord of shattered dreams,
Who sees and shares our tears,
Restorer of ancient ruins,
Raise up those brought low
and impart Your very present help.
Too many lives are broken in two
Too many people never pull through.
How many times have they lost hope
because they can't cope.
How many children wander the streets
so angry with each person they meet.
Aimless lives with no where to go.
They're really alone.
But if you're called by His name heed His call.
He needs you to pray, to get up on the wall.
Leave the safe haven of your inner space.
Come out here and seek His face.
Too many souls are lost without cause.
Too many men mowed down in our wars.
We can't keep up with news that's so bad.
It just makes us sad.
Too many countries live without peace.
Too many leaders turn into beasts.
Yet our complaining has no effect.
It cannot correct.
But if you're called by His name heed His call.
He needs you to pray to get up on the wall.
Leave the safe haven of your inner space.
Come out here and seek His face.
And if you're called by His name, hear His voice.
This isn't an option. It isn't a choice.
Can you not hear His voice from the skies.
Can you not hear how He cries.
