A brief and impromtu holiday

Amsterdam is full of surprises with a fresh adventure around every corner and yet another canal in whichever direction your instinct takes you. Dil and I, (Dil is my husband for the uneducated amongst my readers) arrived on Friday and by the end of Saturday evening we'd seen the edges of the red light district, smelt and probably inhaled a good bit of cannabis as we passed by the "coffee" shops. There was a T-shirt in the window of one of these establishments which summed up what the normal practice is. It said, "smoking allowed, tobacco banned"! Needless to say they were selling the wrong stuff for us. In our 36 hrs here we've paid over the odds for many cups of coffee, eaten much delicious food (the best was in a restaurant called CAU which I can recommend wholeheartedly), and munched our way through some rather strange boiled sweets, 'Old Dutch Rainbow Mix'. There are very many churches here, all very large and mainly inaccessible and uninviting. The largest one is supposedly the biggest church in Europe and Rembrandt is reputed to be buried there, though no-one really knows if either of those 'facts' is really true. One attraction I really wanted to visit was Anne Frank's house. We found it along with a queue that went round several corners and we decided not to bother as it was raining heavily and we didn't want to go there enough to warrant a soaking. We discovered later that it would have taken anywhere between 2 and 4 hrs to get in. I couldn't help wondering what Anne would think of the museum and cafe which cleans out the wallets of the tourists, it's all rather distasteful really. Instead we took a canal cruise to see the city's waterways and view from them. Then hand in hand we strolled the streets and passageways that meander alongside the canals and connect them by Amsterdam's myriad of pretty bridges. It was the most delightful couple of days. The only thing that spoiled it slightly for me was seeing, and hopefully not being identified with, the stereotypical 'Brits' who stood out like a sore thumb due to their drunkenness and dress (or lack of it!)

We found the Dutch people friendly and extremely efficient and at the same time quite 'chilled out'. They were respectful and seemed to appreciate our presence in their fair city! (Would I be cynical to comment that it was our money that makes us welcome – it has been a very affluent society and they do tourism extremely well) My recommendation - "Visit and pray"

Lindy Morgan - Firestarter: The Moravian, 24-7 Prayer and me and 'Miss Daisy'

Lindy Morgan - Firestarter: The Moravian, 24-7 Prayer and me and 'Miss Daisy'

The Moravian, 24-7 Prayer and me and 'Miss Daisy'

Something quite profound happened to me when I visited the Moravian Church at Brockweir during the recent Border Prayer Room project.

It wasn’t simply the church with its history tracking back to the early 18^th Century and Zinzendorf’s estate at Hernhutt in Germany, or even the sweetness of the presence of God there, or the prayer stations in various pews which took the pilgrim on a journey to a deeper faith with their questions and challenges.  It was the meeting of two lives lived separately but somehow and strangely connected through two great movements of prayer. This was the meeting of myself and the Moravian pastor Thom.  He has the Moravian church in his blood and as I met him it felt that through 24-7 Prayer I do also.  He was taken first to the Moravian Church in the USA by his grandmother who later moved to California and to a church plant there when he was 15 yrs old.  It wasn’t just the story of his journey but the joining together of two histories, ancient and modern that overwhelmed me.  I was completely undone and continue to be in that state of not totally understanding what I’ve experienced here. 

It felt like this was the end of my pilgrimage from Chester, down the border to this point.  Though my destination was to be Chepstow here I found the end of my personal journey, and yet the end is the beginning! I’ve had to come to the end to reach the beginning point.

Thom put it well when he described what I felt by quoting T.S. Eliot – ‘What we call the beginning is often the end, and to make an end is to make a beginning.  The end is where we start from.’

But what did this mean?  I didn’t yet understand.

The next day I came to Chepstow and saw the point where the River Wye enters the River Severn.  Then together these two rivers, who both have their origin on Plynlimon in Wales, enter the sea.   I heard the Lord speaking to me about the coming together of two great prayer movements.  And in this tumultuous coming together of the two rivers I had something of an explanation to what I felt when I met Thom.  The Moravians, as he told me, didn’t stop praying at the end of a hundred years.  As a church worldwide they carry on the prayer vigil that began in Hernhutt.  

So this river of prayer continues to flow and into it come many tributaries.  24-7 Prayer is but one, but what a great flow of prayer it is and totally in keeping with the Moravian ‘model’ of prayer leading to mission and justice which leads us to prayer and so on.  And so, onwards the two rivers, the Wye and the Severn, break out into the Bristol Channel and into the sea.  Likewise the prayer continues. 

The Moravian church, is still praying.  The 24-7 Prayer movement is still praying.  Both continuous, and both leading those who chance to open their hearts and lives to pray, into a place of no return. 

There’s no turning back for hearts that burst with a desire to change the world or at least the streets in which we live. This is a tide of mission and justice that breaks the banks of our ‘normal’ tidy lives.   The river can’t turn back, even when the tide turns the river continues to flow downstream and into the sea.  The prayer, even when the tide of opposition rises, even when friends forsake us, even when the body is weak, it continues.

 It continues.  

It continues on into the heart of God and accomplishes that which it set out to do. 

And so I thank the Lord for having met Thom.  For it was at this juncture, this meeting, that my life, my river joined with the great and ancient river that flows now on into the sea of prayer that has its origins in the heart of God.

The Border Prayer Room Project Final Report

It was a vision dreamed up in the heart of God and given to His Bride through the obedient work and prayerful dedication of Yvonne and Paul Mason.   All the way through to the end Yvonne referred to herself simply as God’s secretary or PA.  She heard what the Spirit was saying and followed His instructions.  When He said “wait”, she waited, when He directed her to contact a certain person in a certain place, she did so, without question but with abundant confirmation from a few trusted advisers.  From the time of the projects conception to its completion was exactly two years and that is the time scale that God gave Yvonne at the outset.   She’d had a picture of the Wales/England border with points down the length of it joined together by stitches or sutures.  The places were strategic, why the specific locations is only known by the Holy Trinity, and chosen by Him.  Each place would be twinned with another across the border being the site of a prayer room operating for 24 hours with blessing prayers being prayed across the border to its twin in the relay.  The effect of these blessings freely received and freely given upon both the spiritual atmosphere and consequently in the physical realm was profound.  We saw and experienced the coming together of two nations divided throughout history by wars and oppression which had led to deep seated animosity and resentment.  To see these border people coming together with one heart and mind totally committed to what the Lord was speaking to them about being one in Him was truly humbling.  Where Yvonne had started out intent on obeying God’s voice others had taken up and were likewise obedient to the move of His Spirit and prayer rooms were conceived and born in places where 24-7 Prayer had hitherto been unheard of.  Of course there were places where prayer was already active and there were places ‘on route’ where the Holy Spirit was clearly stirring and releasing treasures which had been hidden in darkness for generations.    There were several locations where 24-7 prayer rooms had functioned in the past and were very comfortable with setting up a creative and interactive space for people to freely engage with God in prayer.  In either case our prayers joined with theirs as heaven touched earth revealing the glory of God all down the border-lands.

 Concurrent to this there was a team who walking Offa’s Dyke which is the ancient border between the two countries.  These intrepid saints covered approximately 176 miles through rain, wind and sunshine over 14 days, starting at Prestatyn in the North and ending at Chepstow in the South.  They visited as many of the prayer rooms as was possible on route, were given food and accommodation wherever they stopped for the night and made friends along the way ... some of whom even walked with them a while.  Every step that they took was a prophetic declaration of blessing to bring unity between the nations where there had been age old disharmony.  ‘How blessed are the feet that bring the good news’ – indeed!

Also following the route were Andy Hughes (Urban Saints Wales), Greg Levers (Children’s Evangelist) who led children and youth prayer sessions in each location splitting the work between them with the help of Jon Price (Church Army) and Chris Deer (Hymn translator/Worshipper).  It was thrilling to hear the young people engaging with prayers of blessing across what once was described as a divide. 

Lindy praying and praising all the way in Miss Daisy - Llandrindod Wells – Leominster

I arrived late for the hand-over of the baton and book at Llandrindod Wells.  As I drove into the town a loud roaring shout rose up from deep inside, which I recognised, as the night before leaving Aberystwyth I’d had the same experience as we prayed for the project.  It was a battle cry in the spirit which broke the advance of oppression over the area.  I arrived expecting to hear what the battle was about.  Everyone, however had left the church except for two gentlemen who were praying in the beautiful prepared room which had been temporarily borrowed from the youth.  We spent a good half hour proclaiming blessing and speaking life over the Baptist Church and the people and town of Leominster.  As I tried to leave the town I was turned back by the Lord’s prompting and returned to the church in time for the children’s hour and spent much of the afternoon in fellowship with the lovely folk there learning what the spiritual needs are in the town and discovering what this barrage of oppression that I’d come against was.  I finally left knowing that the prayers being prayed in Leominster would be powerful and effective to break down strongholds. 

Of course this is Sunday and so there was going to be an evening service, which would be led by Greg Levers.  I was deeply impacted as he shared from the story of the feeding of the 5K, that we should be ready to give away all that we receive from Father God – and of course this is the very essence of the border prayers – ‘freely we’ve received so freely we give.’

The prayer room here was full of people right through the night.  It was vast, busy and full of really effective promptings and creative means of prayer.  And again God was, or should I say, IS tangibly present. 

“What I’ve found refreshing is that some of the older people who have come in to pray out of a sense of duty have been visibly softened as they’ve read the prayers and needs for prayer.”  This was a comment made by Katie Smith as their 24 hours come to an end.  There has been a paradigm shift in people concept of prayer and I don’t think they will ever be the same again.  As I sit in the prayer room writing this I’ve just heard an elderly gentleman mention that it has been a place of easy access to the Lord and that the Lord has been kept busy.

And all glory and honour and praise be to our God.

Amen

A very long couple of days with Miss Daisy - Craven Arms – Knighton – Ludlow – Preseigne

Craven Arms – Knighton – Ludlow – Preseigne

I came into Craven Arms earlier than expected.  When I went back to Miss Daisy to settle down for the night I couldn’t settle.  Then I heard the Lord telling me to pack down the van and to move on.  He said, “I want you to leave here NOW!”  So I drove to Craven Arms and in not finding a place near the church to park and with the lateness of the hour I was unable to ring anyone for help so I parked in a lay-by.  I spent the night buffeted by the wind created by the big lorries as they thundered past during the night and especially in the early hours of the morning.  I felt really uneasy about this to start with and wouldn’t get into my pjs or sleeping bag until the Holy Spirit reminded me that Jesus had promised His angels to protect me.  So I settled down and slept solidly until the morning when I was exceedingly blessed to be able to prayer walk out on a country walk near the town which I accessed just opposite where I had parked.  Later I was told about about an incident which had happened just before I’d arrived at Church Stretton the day before where a man had stabbed his wife and then cut his own throat.  Neither had died but it explained the heaviness and dis-ease that I felt in that place.  When I came into Craven Arms Evangelical Church I was overwhelmed by the tangible presence of God.  I spent an hour and a half on my face, involuntarily,  and then stayed in the church until about 6.30pm drinking deep of the Spirit so freely poured out there and partaking of the food which was delicious and very much needed for my body.

Just to put you in the picture a little about what it’s like living, sleeping and travelling in Miss Daisy – when I arrived at Knighton, after staying and praying for a while I went to Pauline’s house and had a good long soak in a ‘Badedas’ bath.  Oh the bliss!  I felt almost human again.

Much of the night time slot was taken up by a priest from the Catholic church.  I stayed only a short time with him before bed beckoned me but he was an interesting character and clearly set on praying fervently for his English neighbours. Yes!!

I was busy at a conference in Newtown for nearly all of Saturday so only had time for a brief visit to Ludlow.  The church was all given over to praying for Presteigne.  They were totally selfless in seeking Jesus’ face to bless Wales.  Wonderful. 

I arrived in Presteigne in time to help Greg and Jon with the youth session.  There were just two young men there.  Brothers who both clearly know the Lord and were touched as we prayed for them.  The Lord graciously speaking to them through prophetic words and visions.  May they be blessed and grow on into the fullness of all that Christ Jesus has poured out for them.

We are enjoying greatly the fruit of the prayers prayed as the first week has been completed.  The flow of blessings and joy follows, overtakes us and comes back at us as we travel on.

Just some of what we've heard Father God saying ....

Today I want to tell you some of the prophetic words and pictures that the Lord has been blessing several people with.  This is just a sample.

o   I already told you a vision the Lord gave me of the battlements of Shrewsbury being passed through by a small child as the walls were like curtains.   I’ve been advised by two different people that this is a picture of the fulfilment of a prophecy given by Sharon Stone about Shrewsbury in which the Lord said that a small child (representation of Jesus) would go through the gate in the walls of Shrewsbury, and slay the dragon.  There was more that I’m sorry I don’t remember – if you do please put the whole prophecy,  up on the comments at the end of this blog. 

o   About Llangollen – The opportunity for Llangollen isn’t what the church can do for the National Eisteddfod but what the people of faith from other nations will bring to Llangollen that needs to be embraced.

o   This one is in the blessings book.  There were massive numbers of dandelion seed heads and the seeds were seen blowing across the nation(s).  This was the blessings, the Holy Spirit, new life, revival – and the dandelions were multiplying in number.

o   There is an increased urgency about the work.  The vision is in God’s timing.  Big days are coming when we will ALL turn to face the Lord.

o   In sewing together the two nations of England and Wales, down the border, we are sewing together the new wine skins!  Thank you Lord.

o   Cherry from Brockton saw the Offa’s Dyke walkers as a golden arrowhead.  There were angels going before as they forged their way through.  The track behind them was burning, like through paper as they zigzagged down the ancient border.

o   As Jenny prayed for Daphne Godwin at the launch on Friday night she saw two zips.  One was black and it was being undone, and the other was red, underneath the black one, and it was being done up.  The black zip represented the evil border being undone.  The red zip represented the two nations being brought together in the healing blood of Jesus.

o   Then today, as I prayed in the Newtown prayer room I saw a large pool, similar to a swimming pool.  There were many people sitting around the edge of the pool.  I knew that these people represented all of the people in all of the churches in Newtown.  Everyone was relaxed and happy and very much at ease with each other.  It felt like a holiday scene as everyone was dressed in their ‘bathers’.  Then the Lord showed me that this was like the pool of Bethesda (Bethsaida) and when the angel stirred the water everyone go in together.  No-one went first and no-one was left behind. Everyone entered the water simultaneously.  There was a healing of all the hurts and divisions in the body in the town and a unity in heart, mind and spirit.

o   Tonight I’m in Church Stretton.  Lord, please pour out your spirit of intercession on the younger generations.  They are blessed here to have some stalwart intercessors who would love to pass on the baton to those who are younger.

So the journey continues on into the heart of the nation with blessings going before us and blessings coming behind.  There’s no need to brush off the dust from our feet because we are being blessed everywhere that we go.  Praise the Lord.

Another day and night and day and night with 'Miss Daisy'

Llangollen to Oswestry to Llanfyllin to Shrewsbury

The prayer room in Llangollen was a peaceful haven or should that read ‘a piece of heaven’?. As I walked in I felt that I was home. Liezel had wonderfully facilitated a place of dwelling for the Lord and the Holy Spirit was gloriously present. I could describe the prayer stations but I’ll leave that to the film crew to give you a visual presentation (check this out at www.borderprayers.co.uk for those who are reading this on fb). I was there whilst the children’s prayer time was happening and ‘escaped’ into one of the quiet tents to be alone with God. We had business to do. For the first few days I’d really been feeling the battle and needed time alone to seek His face for the road ahead. My prayers were answered as the Offa’s Duke walkers came and we all prayed together for the blessings that are going back and forth across the borders but also for each other. I was so blessed by the Lord that by the time I got to Oswestry I was again full of hope and expectation and of course the Holy Spirit. It’s ok, those who know me know that I’m quite used to driving under the influence of the Spirit!! He always keeps me safe. It would be lovely if you could bless Liezel and Nathan in your prayers as having recently suffered a bereavement they have taken on the leadership of the church and that’s along with caring for a very young family.

And oh Oswestry. I love to worship and pray with like minded/hearted people and here I was welcomed as a long established friend. We prayed together into the evening and then I returned to pray in the morning having had a refreshing 2nd shower since leaving home! If anyone wants to bless me along route you can offer me a place to park my van, maybe electricity hook-up (I’ve got the necessary cable with ordinary plug) and a SHOWER ... lovely!

But it’s not about me. I’m glad to be a part of what God is doing.
I started yesterday by visiting Llanfyllin where the Lord has brought together some wonderful people who had set up a very intimate prayer room from the heart of a fellowship which was already releasing blessings into their community and are united as brothers and sisters of both nations to do so. The mix of Welsh and English Hymn singing was a great start and, as Yvonne commented, would not have been possible not that many years ago. ‘How good it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity’ Psalm 133:1 I saw here in this place what it will look like when these border lands are totally reconciled and have risen up in their destiny and give all of the glory and thanks to God.

Shrewsbury was my last visit for the day.
A place where we stopped and rested. We prayed with the regular Tuesday prayer meeting and actually hijacked it, quite intentionally, for we do come with an agenda, and fully prompted by the Holy Spirit we worshipped and prayed with these good people of Hereford. Then I had the joy of returning with ‘the walkers’ to pray again and we were greatly blessed to be joined by Richard Spenser, the vicar of Holy Trinity Belle View who has written a book called ‘Living Together in the Presence of God’ which tells the story of what God has done in their midst. We prayed a blessing over him and he us before we left and headed home to our hosts for a good night sleep.

This I saw as I prayed for Shrewsbury –
I saw the battlements around the town, not knowing if there are high walls but this is what I saw. Then a small child approached the wall sweeping it aside as a curtain and walked through it. I understood the Lord showing us that the battlements, the huge walls of hostility that have been defending the town of Shrewsbury from the Welsh is no longer solid but flimsy enough to be pushed aside even by a child.
I praise God for this. Hallelujah!

On the Road with ‘Miss Daisy’ From Chester to Flint to Wrexham to Whitchurch

The Chester prayer room was immense. It was a huge space with three zones. The first a place of seeking intimacy with the Father, oh yes! the second to pray for Chester and the surrounding area and the third to pray blessing on Wales. The station I loved most was for ‘praying against injustice’. It was so simple that I wondered why I’d not thought of it! A paper chain from which you broke one of the links and wrote your prayer on it. I just love the symbolism of breaking the chains – genius!

Flint was a very different prayer room. It was simple and uncluttered. There were two elderly yet sparkly old ladies there, and they prayed. Oh how they prayed. When the youth came into the prayer room they went into another room and they prayed some more. Then through the night abour 6 committed prayer warriors took up a vigil. I was so blessed to be included for a part of it. One of these intercessors was a lady who has been healed of lupus, her testimony is both inspiring and challenging as she speaks of the hope that she has for others who suffer from the same disease.

The Wrexam prayer room, situated under the tower in St Giles Parish church, was again simple. The most dazzling view from the top of the tower, which was 151 steps up a very narrow circular stairway, reminded me of Matthew 5:15-16 ‘Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’ As I looked out across to Whitchurch, my next destination, the Lord showed me that if I could see places away in the distance, so could they see the tower on which I stood, with the right vantage point. So the church of Christ needs not to be hidden but for His glory to be on display so that everywhere He will be visible. In the churches yes, but on the streets also. Streets that are littered with the consumerism and love of money which characterises the society we have created, littered with the hopelessness and despondency of generations who have forsaken God. For these two nations to be changed, we, the bride of Christ have to be responding to the cry of Father’s heart. And this, I believe, is what Go is stirring. As one nation speaks out blessing to another and as the other does likewise, ancient wounds are being healed. We heard from one intercessor that God had spoken these words last week, “I have moved the tectonic plates Wales.” She’s shared this with her son later and he told her that he’d heard an American speaking in Cardiff the night before and he’d said exactly the same thing! Well with God shifting the ground under our feet the only safe place to be is in Him, responding to Him, totally in step with Him.

As I went on to Whitchurch I had a headache that had been with me through the day, I was feeling very much in the battle, and really longing for this move of God that is unseen yet known to be, because sight is so much more than seeing with our eyes, or knowing with our emotions. I longed for the Holy Spirit to reveal to me, to my as yet unseeing eyes even a glimpse of the victory that we are walking out (or driving out in my case!). And at Whitchurch during a time of worship and corporate prayer He came and moved among us and touched us with His grace and mercy. My headache was lifting and then as I chatted with my great friend Lynne all of the tension that I’d been under dissipated and sleep came wonderfully and restoratively. Thank you Jesus.

I go on to Llangollen with an even greater understanding of God’s hand at work through this project. I’m a part of it and I know that He will sustain me through it and provide for all of my needs – because He already has in Christ Jesus.

The Border Prayer Room Project - On the Road with 'Miss Daisy'

For the fortnight of 14th to 28th May I am on the road in my camper van, 'Miss Daisy' and I'll be visiting and encouraging 28 seperate prayer rooms.  the purpose of thesse prayer rooms is for people on the welsh side of the border to pray and declare blessings on those who live in england and the same back the othert way.  To read more about the project go to http://www.borderprayers.co.uk/.  Stay here to read my blog of my travels.

On the Road with ‘Miss Daisy’

From Chester to Flint to Wrexham to Whitchurch

The Chester prayer room was immense.  It was a huge space with three zones.  The first a place of seeking intimacy with the Father, oh yes! the second to pray for Chester and the surrounding area and the third to pray blessing on Wales.  The station I loved most was for ‘praying against injustice’.  It was so simple that I wondered why I’d not thought of it!  A paper chain from which you broke one of the links and wrote your prayer on it.  I just love the symbolism of breaking the chains – genius!  

Flint was a very different prayer room.  It was simple and uncluttered.  There were two elderly yet sparkly old ladies there, and they prayed. Oh how they prayed.  When the youth came into the prayer room they went into another room and they prayed some more.  Then through the night abour 6 committed prayer warriors took up a vigil.  I was so blessed to be included for a part of it.  One of these intercessors was a lady who has been healed of lupus, her testimony is both inspiring and challenging as she speaks of the hope that she has for others who suffer from the same disease.

The Wrexam prayer room, situated under the tower in St Giles Parish church, was again simple.  The most dazzling view from the top of the tower, which was 151 steps up a very narrow circular stairway, reminded me of Matthew 5:15-16 ‘Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’  As I looked out across to Whitchurch, my next destination, the Lord showed me that if I could see places away in the distance, so could they see the tower on which I stood, with the right vantage point.  So the church of Christ needs not to be hidden but for His glory to be on display so that everywhere He will be visible.  In the churches yes, but on the streets also.  Streets that are littered with the consumerism and love of money which characterises the society we have created, littered with the hopelessness and despondency of generations who have forsaken God.  For these two nations to be changed, we, the bride of Christ have to be responding to the cry of Father’s heart.  And this, I believe, is what Go is stirring.  As one nation speaks out blessing to another and as the other does likewise, ancient wounds are being healed.  We heard from one intercessor that God had spoken these words last week, “I have moved the tectonic plates Wales.” She’s shared this with her son later and he told her that he’d heard an American speaking in Cardiff the night before and he’d said exactly the same thing!  Well with God shifting the ground under our feet the only safe place to be is in Him, responding to Him, totally in step with Him. 

As I went on to Whitchurch I had a headache that had been with me through the day, I was feeling very much in the battle, and really longing for this move of God that is unseen yet known to be, because sight is so much more than seeing with our eyes, or knowing with our emotions.  I longed for the Holy Spirit to reveal to me, to my as yet unseeing eyes even a glimpse of the victory that we are walking out (or driving out in my case!).  And at Whitchurch during a time of worship and corporate prayer He came and moved among us and touched us with His grace and mercy.  My headache was lifting and then as I chatted with my great friend Lynne all of the tension that I’d been under dissipated and sleep came wonderfully and restoratively.  Thank you Jesus.

I go on to Llangollen with an even greater understanding of God’s hand at work through this project.  I’m a part of it and I know that He will sustain me through it and provide for all of my needs – because He already has in Christ Jesus.

Lindy

PrayWales 2011 - a year of unbroken prayer for Wales!

I’ve been re-reading Pete Grieg’s book ‘God on Mute’ recently and musing about ‘Revival’ in relation to Wales in particular.

Could it be that it was because of a Holy Saturday silence - misinterpreted as God’s absence - when He was in fact calling His children to come deeper and to seek Him with the whole of their hearts, that the past revivals have diminished into the history books rather than producing generations who continue to love the Lord with heart, mind and soul.  Or is it that the faith of the fathers had to die with them so that the ‘new thing’ could spring up through the sons?

I keep hearing it said that often we pray continuously, waiting patiently for a suddenly of God – could this be a time that we are praying and expecting a suddenly?  I know that I am.  I feel like a woman who has long passed ‘full term’ and am crying out, “when will this baby be born?”  And just like the delivery of a baby, God is true to His promises.  He is always faithful and will deliver at His appointed time.

So we need to keep praying, expectantly, building on the prayers of the generations before us, who have been waiting for a move of the Spirit of God unlike anything experienced even in the revivals that we look back on so longingly, hoping and praying that God will do it again!

What is ‘IT’?

There have been times in the history of the church across the world when we, or at least those who have gone before us, have witnessed unprecedented moves of God.  There are times when every prayer appears to have been answered and friends, colleagues and family members become eager to come to know Jesus and embrace faith.

We’ve not known a season such as this in Wales for several generations now.  The last recorded ‘revival’ was more than 100 years ago!  Some have become students of these wonderful outpourings of the Spirit and are convinced that He will do it again in our time.  The ‘it’ that is hoped for varies and is sadly often dependant on a faith in revival rather than a seeking for the face of the Reviver.  This is a bold statement and here's another that is firmly rooted in scripture –

2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and I’ll heal their land”

Those who have ears to hear have been hearing this scripture from the Father’s heart for easily 10 years now and there have been pockets of humble repentance for seeking our own ways above His ways; forgiveness for seeking our own ends instead of lifting up the poor and for fasting and praying for our own needs without responding to His heart for our neighbours.  

During 2011 we’re calling for the body of Christ here in Wales to humble ourselves and pray and seek God’s face for our nation to be turned back to Him; for our neighbours to be loved and blessed selflessly by us as individuals and as the manifest body of Christ – His bride.  We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – isn’t that a fact?  But we are also children of the living God who brings restoration and forgiveness to a broken world, so let’s pray continuously for our loving, living God to forgive and restore in our time, in our nation.

If you’d like to be part of the unbroken prayer for Wales to cover the year of 2011 follow this link http://www.24-7prayer.com/signup/b83d14 or paste it into your browser and book some time.  Maybe you are already praying regularly for Wales – if so then would you put your regular times down on the diary so that others can be encouraged as we see the year being filled.  However, if you are going to organise a day/week/month!! of prayer could you register a prayer room through the web site  http://www.24-7prayer.com .  You’ll have to register first  (top of page) then register the prayer room (you’ll find the link at the bottom of the page)  If this is too much bother then send me an email [ lindy.morgan@24-7prayer.com ] or phone me [07946611992] and I’ll do it for you.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Graveclothes? What graveclothes?

     Anyone who knows me will know that my heart is for prayer and the power of God that is released as we pray.  My overwhelming desire over the years has been to see the saints released to walk out that which Father places on our hearts as we look upon His face and into the eyes of Jesus.  I believe that our faith if it lies dormant festers and becomes as dirty rags before the Lord.  Lazarus was told by Jesus to "come forth" and the disciples were commanded to remove the grave clothes.  Many in the body of Christ are responding to the heart of the Father to remove the graveclothes from the church so that the saints can walk in His Spirit and bring life to a world that is hungry and crying out for Him.  If you're up for it you will find that your faith in the Lord will soar as you step out and meet the needs of the world headlong.  Holy Spirit will move you to respond with Father's love for the lost, the broken and those who have been marginalised by society.  A society that thinks more about its own belly than those who are not blessed with three meals a day and a comfortable bed on which to lay their heads.  A society that despises slavery and forced prostitution but does little to stop it.  A society that blames the social services for not doing a job that they are unable to do because the need is so great.  (I ask, "where is the God of Elijah?  Where is the church?") A society that spends more money, even in a time of 'recession', on eating out and entertainment than it would cost to pay for every hungry person under the poverty line to have three meals a day.

     Come on.  What are we thinking?  What are we doing?  What are we praying?  Are we willing to be the answer to our own prayers?  Are we willing to walk free of our graveclothes so that we can take hold of peoples hands and pull them out of their hopelessness into the arms of Jesus?

     I'm going out with friends this evening to celebrate a birthday and I've determined to have the cheapest thing on the menu and to put the difference between that and what I would have liked to eat into my Uganda jar.  I'm not telling you this to make you think about how good I am.  Rather it's so that you might think of ways that you might be an expression of Christ Jesus in this world by being a part of the answer to your own prayers - if you dare pray them.

     If you feel that you're being smothered by festering graveclothes all you need to do to break free is to ask Jesus to show you His heart.  He will bring you close to people who will help you to remove the graveclothes.  Then take hold of His hand and walk with Him.

Love you.

At the end of a busy God worshipping Sunday

Frankly, I'm completely blown away by just how much God loves me.

Shepherd's Stream

I spent the day breathing in the beauty of God's creation as I travelled to and spent time with friends Gill and Peter at their beautiful retreat in the mountains of North East Wales. Winding through the hills in my little orange motor every turn brought another "Wow God" from my lips. If you don't know the back roads of Wales then you are missing so much. However if you all came to visit you'd spoil it so don't all come at once....please!? By the time I arrived at their place I had a grin that was firmly fixed on my face. Gill promptly gave me a tour of their five and a half acres of land which has a stream running through it that was running fairly low but when it rains gushes down the hillside forcefully making the statement that God's presence is here! And there is the tangible presence of God in that place. As we prayed the Lord's Prayer together at midday, sitting on the hillside, I could feel Jesus sitting there with us bringing us before the Father and joining with us in our worship to the one we love.

Later, after eating lunch, we went to one of their log cabins to talk and pray away the afternoon. Father showed us much about being at rest and being attentive to Him. Peter spoke of how a sheepdog watches his master intently waiting for the command to go and only moves when he receives that instruction...likewise we are to wait until we see what the Father is doing and do only what He prompts us to by His Spirit. Gill was intently writing everything that the Lord was saying in her prayer journal...she'll get through a forest of trees before she's done!! As we prayed there was an overriding sense that God wants us to hold what He's given us loosely in our hands and not to possess our ministries but to allow Him to work in and through us for His glory. I say Amen to that. For Gill and Peter, I believe that the Lord will provide all that they need to fulfill the vision that He's given them. They need people to come alongside to help with building and they need the resources with which to do it and we know with certainty that Father has that work planned and paid for so committing it to Him is the easiest thing. How wonderful it is to be able to rest in that knowledge.

I returned home in the dark after enjoying a hearty meal. I drove the roads as they need to be driven, ironing out the bends as the moon reflected the sun and brightened the way ahead. I almost didn't need my headlights...even at night the beauty of God's creation sang His praises.

How utterly blessed I am to know the One who created such a wonderful world...if only we (I) appreciated Him more for all that He's done!

Every day holds a fresh encounter with God

I hear criticism of those who seek one experience after another of the Holy Spirit and I agree that living by our experiences alone, focusing on our emotions alone is a dangerous thing. God calls us to live by faith, not by feelings.
So how do we experience faith?
By reading His Word, through prayer but also by serving Him and loving others. All of our experiences of God are valid and help strengthen our faith in Him. When we look at Hebrews 11 we see so many faithful men of God who experienced Him in powerful ways. There was Noah who when warned of things to come, built an ark and was the laughing stock of those who were to die in the flood. There was Abraham whose faith was so great that he was willing to sacrifice his much longed for son. Their experiences of God were of obedience and waiting - and so it is for us. Often the Lord meets us in a place of solitude and stillness, often in the turmoil of our busy lives; He also meets us in the dry and difficult times. There may be times of sweet refreshing where we see daily the wonderful outpouring of His provision, His power and His love. All of these states hold experiences of God, encounters with Him. If in the dark times, the times of sadness we are able to look to Jesus, we will experience a side of His character that we do not find at any other time – His heart of compassion. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23.
Jesus doesn’t leave us when our friends turn from us; He doesn’t leave us when we struggle with temptation; He doesn’t forsake us when we are weak in our faith and unable to see Him. He is gracious and compassionate, doesn’t anger easily and loves us a whole bunch! So whatever state you feel that you are in physically, emotionally or spiritually, if you’re tired or sick, sad or feeling a long way from God, Jesus never leaves you and every day you are having encounters with Him even when you don’t realise it. But how do you know? With the eyes of faith. I think of faith as being hindsight before the fact. With hindsight we look back and see that God had His hand on us and that everything worked out as He planned. With faith we can look forward and see that God is in control even when (or especially when) we’re not. By faith we know that Jesus will always be with us, because His Word says so. Do you know that? He will never leave us or forsake us. Do you know that in your heart as well as your head?
But what about those God encounters that we don’t realise we’ve had? What are they?
When did you last help someone who was in need? Maybe a friend with their coursework or an old person with their shopping. Have you ever had someone let you go first in the queue? Ever had a friend tell you that you look good when you feel rotten? Ever had a baby smile back at you? Ever given someone a hug when they’ve really needed one? Ever prayed for someone who’s sick and asked God to heal them? I could go on giving you examples but it’s for you to come up with memories of the encounters of God that you have experienced and thank Him for them. Consider where the love came from behind all of those acts of generosity and grace that you give and receive every day. Simple things. Sometimes it’s that we’ve woken feeling moody or unwell and realise a few hours later that we feel great – maybe someone prayed for you? It is as simple as that; by praying for someone you are touching the heart of God. He showers us with His love and comes and meets with us in ways that we cannot always understand or recognise. God would love us to be able to recognise Him in all of the simple ways that He loves us and loves through us every single day. Start praising Him for the simple expressions of His love and your faith will grow ... maybe one day He’ll ask you to build an ark!

Uganda School Building project

Building a School in Uganda

From the 22nd July to the 7th August a team of mainly adults will be going to the remote hilltop community of Kigazi in South West Uganda to build new school rooms. This is the place where a team from St Michael’s Church constructed two 100,000 litre storage tanks for the safe collection of rainwater in 2007 (as seen in the photograph). The provision of water made it possible for the children to attend school more regularly instead of walking for water every day. This provision has made a huge difference to the lives of many and the children are now able to attend school more regularly because they no longer have to spend up to two hours twice a day to fetch water from the bottom of a very steep hill. The existing school rooms are inadequate for the increased numbers of children attending and although the roof of a new building was constructed to catch the rain, (to fill the water tank) 2 years on the walls still remain un-built. We are looking to raise sufficient funds to facilitate its construction. Lindy and Dilwyn Morgan are taking a small team of volunteers from Aberystwyth to assist the local builders who will also be paid out of the funds raised.
You may wonder why it’s necessary for teams from the UK to go and build, and you may be asking why they do not build a school for themselves. The answer to this question is two-fold. The community survives on subsistence farming and when there is surplus crops produced to the needs of the families the excess is sold at market to cover the cost of sending the children to school or in the worst cases the man of the house will squander the proceeds on alcohol. So there is no financial provision to facilitate the building costs. Also, there is a culture in many areas such as this where the women work the land and care for the children and the home whilst the men meet together to make decisions and often drink. The only way that these customs will ever change is through educating the children. Many of the men aren’t interested in change but the children have a desire to be educated. Our going to build the school for them will bring lasting change to this remote community that would otherwise probably not happen.
It will be fantastic to return to this village where we have already formed relationships and see how their lives have been changed through the provision of water and to offer these further opportunities through building the school. It’ll be hard work but well worth it to know that we have been the agents for change and blessing to these wonderful people.
If you would like to contribute financially to this project please contact me by email. (windylindy24-7@hotmail.co.uk)

Walking on water without getting wet! Matthew 14:25-33

Matthew 14:25-33 (NIV)
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

29"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Do you know how it feels when you know that God is asking you to do something but you don't have the courage to break through the fear and follow Him in obedience to Holy Spirit's prompting? If you do, then you will have an idea of how I was feeling leading up to Christmas. All of the seasonal stuff was wonderful. Having my family together to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus; allowing ourselves to spoil each other with gifts and simply enjoying each others company - it was the best. At the same time I knew that I was not walking totally in step with the Holy Spirit so there was a dis-ease or disquiet in my soul.
What was it about?
I along with some friends from our emerging 24-7 Prayer community in Aberystwyth had viewed and prayed in a building in the centre of town for use as a permanent prayer room/base. I knew that I was to make an offer but was coming up with excuses as to why not to do it. I was actually paralysed with fear! After being in bed with the 'flu' for 5 days I emerged knowing that I was to get on with it. The Lord spoke to me. He said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." He delivered me from my fears - and.....I've offered the owner £5K less than the asking price (the figure that both I and a friend heard in our spirits). I'm now waiting on God to place it on the owners heart to bless us. I know that I have nothing at all to loose, least of all my reputation because it is the Lord's idea and so He will provide. I've stepped out of the boat, I'm enjoying the process and don't feel even the tips of my toes getting wet. I'm simply trusting God in this. If I take my eyes off Jesus I'll sink, so I'm fixing my eyes on Him and whatever He wills I'll do for His glory.

Holy ground

We were walking slowly and silently through the park that day. Each one of us wrapped up in our thoughts or even devoid of active thoughts but being silent before the Lord. I love this kind of thing, you know the stuff that scares so many people - being close with the Father and Creator of me. The one who knows me more intimately than anyone else does. The one who put me together in my mother's womb. The one who loves me unconditionally. The Lord God Almighty. I love to be close with Him. Jesus walked closely with the Father, and by His Spirit that is alive in me I can walk closely with Him also. Anyway, I was walking through the park and in front of me I could see Tom taking off his sandles and walking barefoot through the grass. I stopped to watch him and as I looked God spoke to my spirit. He said, "the ground on which you are walking is holy because every step that you take is in my footprints. " As I walked on I was aware of the Lord stepping ahead of me, just ahead of me, in such a way that as I placed my feet on the ground I knew that every step was hallowed. This immense sense of the Lord's presence stays with me still. I'm aware of His delight as I acknowledge Him in all my doings and beings. I'm aware of His displeasure as I grieve Him and of His embrace as I repent. He is my strength and the very air that I breath. As I walk this journey with 24-7 Prayer I am so zealous to see His Kingdom come that there are times when I get out of step with His Spirit and I long for that not to be so, but He has a wonderful way of bringing me back in time with Him. I have wonderful friends who pray with me and for me and are precious enough to me to be able to correct me when I'm going too fast. I bless the Lord for them. He created us to live in community and to love as He loves us. How wonderful it is to be loved. Dear friends, if you don't know the Father's love ask Him to reveal His heart for you to you. Ask Him to bring you into line with His will and purpose so that you can walk with Him, in His footsteps. It's a lonely road if you travel it alone, but with Jesus it's the greatest adventure.

This prophecy was given to me by Brendan McCauley on Sunday 20th July.

Those who know me and those who have read my blog in it's entirety will know how correct this word is!!

'What the Lord said to me was, "Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clements." "Your sound, the sound of a bell goes way beyond the parish that you’re in, it will go, the sound of it will go." There's something about the bell, the Lord has called you to be a bell ringer, to warn people to be a watchman, waken up, listen to the time, hear the sound. And the colours - I think orange and yellow, they talk about - the yellow speaks about welcome, friendship. The orange is perseverance - there's a lot of the perseverer in you, and your ministry, whatever it is needs perseverance. You need to persevere and keep ringing the bell. Watchman - there's something about the watchman, watching over the flock, watching over the people. You're called to be a watchman, on the wall, ringing the bell, bringing people together. Persevere at it, you're welcoming people, welcome the people in. Welcome them to come and join you, you're ringing, you're ringing a call. What you're doing is you're giving out a call. There's a call - you're saying come, come. The call is going out so ring that bell loudly. Don't be afraid to ring it, don't let anything stop you, just keep ringing it. It will go beyond the parish you're in, or in the situation or fellowship or whatever you're in. And that's ok. They will come. If you will ring it, they will come. If you ring it, they will come. And some people will come over walls. Some people from divisions will come over walls to whatever for whatever you're doing. Then maybe they'll go back over the walls or whatever I don't know. There's something you're calling - you're sending out a call, you're going to send out a call or something like that. Does that make sense?'

This is my Support letter for being a prayer missionary in Wales

INTRODUCTION Why am I writing to you?
In 1999, 24-7prayer stumbled into existence with a vision to ‘turn the tide in youth culture/s’, ‘to transform the world through communities and movements of Christ-centred, mission-minded prayer’… 8 years on, this vision has seeded all over the world - with 24-7prayer rooms and Boiler Room communities in 70+ nations… including Wales.
Over the last 5 yrs, I’ve become gradually more involved in this crazy prayer-mission-justice movement, and having recently been invited to join 24-7’s UK Leadership Team, I believe that the Lord is now leading me to take on some responsibility for 24-7prayer in Wales.
I am convinced that there has never been a more urgent time to get on our knees, to pray and contend for young people and for our nation/generation. The purpose of this letter is to tell you a little bit about me and what I hope to be doing, and to suggest ways that you can get involved, and/or support me. I can’t do this without you!


A little bit about Lindy Morgan… a ‘firestarter’
For the last ten years, I’ve been working with (encouraging, listening to, interceding for…) hundreds of young people… and sometimes they break my heart.
It seems to be the norm for most young people to be brought up by one parent, not to have attended church on a Sunday or to have experienced prayers in school. For many it’s more important to be politically correct than to believe in Jesus or to even consider His moral teaching. Drug and alcohol abuse are at almost epidemic proportions and seeking love through early sexual relations is considered the norm. I’ve worked in schools as a youth worker, attempting to show young people how to have greater self worth and what can be achieved without having high grades in their academic work. I’ve also taught accountancy to underachieving young people, and have seen their hopes rise as they master these simple skills. And for the past five plus years it’s been my privilege to serve as a youth pastor for St Michael’s Church in Aberystwyth.
It’s clear that many ‘churched’ young people face the same difficulties and pressures as their ‘unchurched’ peers. And it’s not easy for them to live life like Jesus, to live contrary to the world’s values. However, it’s not impossible… I’ve seen prayers answered and hope restored in so many lives through prayer, and especially in 24-7prayer rooms. I believe passionately that prayer is the beginning of the answer for young people across Wales, which is why I’m ready to take this ridiculous risk and respond to God’s call…


What I’m planning to do…
1. Help catalyse 24-7prayer rooms across Wales;
I’m convinced that God is sending me into Wales as a kind of ‘prayer missionary’ on behalf of 24-7prayer UK… to call young people to pray, and to encourage the older generations in the Church to support, equip and join them. This will probably mean travelling around Wales quite a bit, meeting people and sharing stories, supporting groups, ministries and churches as they seek God for their own towns, villages and communities. I will be available to speak to churches and groups about 24-7prayer. I will be responsible for new prayer resources and websites in Wales. I will be training at least one 24-7 ‘Wild Goose’ intern, who will help me to help organise and set up 24-7prayer rooms (short/long term) and support to those who are praying. I also plan to draw together a ‘24-7prayer network’ across Wales, which will help us to fuel prayer through story-telling, training and encouraging one another. I have a feeling that I could be very busy!!
2. Help develop 24-7prayer in Aberystwyth;
2 Chronicles 7:14 is a call to humility, prayer, seeking God’s face and turning from wickedness… unfortunately, this doesn’t come easily. What I have found, over the past four years of 24-7prayer rooms in St Michael’s Church, is that when a place is set aside specifically for prayer, people will make time and are eager to come into God’s presence and seek His face. And for most people, these are wonderful times of breakthrough and blessing. (You can read our stories on the 24-7prayerUK website!) The Lord placed it on my heart during Easter 2006 to set up a prayer room that could be open 24-7-365 in Aberystwyth (probably not in a church building). We recently prayed non-stop for six weeks, 2nd February - 14th March 2008, in the old Theological College opposite the Aberystwyth promenade - I’m hoping that this was a foretaste of something permanent? (This 24-7-365 thing will, we hope/dream, become a base for 24-7prayer across Wales… funding this is a whole separate story though. Let me know what you think?)



How to support me
I’m writing to you, my friends, family and community, because I value your kindness and generous encouragement a great deal… I would be very grateful if you would prayerfully consider these practical ways that you can support me;
***prayer-friends: During our six weeks of 24-7prayer I felt the power of the prayers that people were praying for me… now, as I ‘leap into the unknown’, I would be grateful for a band of 10 friends who will regularly pray for me. Right now, I need prayer; a) that I will find favour across Wales, b) that the right doors will be opened to me/24-7prayer, and c) that the funding will be provided. If you would like to be one of my prayer-friends, please email me.
***money-friends: I have handed in my notice at St Michael’s, and my plan is to be available ‘full time’ for this new role from the end of August 2008. This means that I need to find about £1500 each month (if necessary, I will find some part-time work to support myself, but this will obviously reduce the time I have available). If you would like to become one of my money-friends and support me as I serve 24-7prayer across Wales, you can give a fixed monthly donation (£5? £10? £50? £100? …standing order is best, because I can claim Gift Aid), or a one off gift (please fill in the enclosed form for either).
As part of my partnership with you, I would love to send you regular prayer letters to keep you up to date with how I’m getting on and with some of the 24-7prayer room stories. Much love, Lindy. Email: windylindy24-7@hotmail.co.uk