Hello everyone,
Sorry it's been a little while since our last blog, we've had some trouble with our laptop which has not been ideal. But we press on regardless. Feels weird not being able to use our laptop. What did we do before computers? And after just watching the film Social Network, what did we do before Facebook? Incredible how things have changed so quickly and everyone seems to have Facebook now.
Anyways, wanted to update you all (or y'all for any Americans that might be reading) on what's been going on.
Since starting back at school after the Christmas Break everyone, especially in our house, has realised just how quickly time here is going. That soon it'll be May and school will be over and we'll be back home and will anything have changed. So I think we're trying to be more intentional about implementing what we've learnt and agreed with and getting as much out of our time here as we can. The importance of taking ownership of our walk with God is so key to maintaining our devotion to Him. And by that I don't mean religiously strive to keep the flame burning for God but realise Christ died to restore us to a place of relationship and enable us to live as sons and daughters of God, as He originally intended, and as part of that we have the choice to respond to His call. Because He is love, God doesn't force himself on us or force us to choose Him, it is our choice to make.
And it would be so easy for us to have loved our time here, learnt a lot, been inspired by all that's going on, but to not actually have changed or to have been impacted by the idea of God but not by the person of God. So we're all trying to get as much out of the last few months as we can and really live the life that truly satisfies.
With that in mind, we've had a great week. Bill was in Tuesday after just arriving back from a trip to the middle east. The way Bill conducts himself is a lesson in itself. He has so much integrity and strongly believes in the local church, that's why he really tries to make time for the students.
Wednesday we had Kris Vallotton talk to us. It was his birthday and his wife and some of the staff surprised him on stage by walking up behind him with presents and balloons. Was a very nice touch and everyone gave him a big cheer. Afterwards we had a great time with our revival group. Some of our very good friends were struggling financially and unable to make a couple payments so our revival group decided to bless them with money to show how much they are loved and valued by everyone. Was a really good time, very emotional.
Thursday saw a guest speaker in the form of Ray Hughes. He was great and brought an amazing message about the different Hebrew words in the Old Testament that are translated in English simply as 'praise'. Our, particularly, Western church services, miss so much of what it meant in, for example, the time of King David to worship God. We normally just sing a couple of songs or hymns and it's job done. But what the Scripture really meant was a complete range of things. Ray was really inspiring.
Today (Friday) was another good day. Our main speaker today was Jason Vallotton, who talked to us about a subject very close to him after he had to deal with a divorce. He spoke about working through pain and gave many practical tips on how to do it in healthy way.
Anyway, it's late now and I've gone on for far too long. Really hope everyone is well and has an awesome weekend. Thank you to those who have kindly supported us both in prayer and financially. It's much appreciated.
Until the next time, God bless you all.
Izzy and Liam
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
20 degrees in January??
-Russell Evans, and Bill Johnson, doing his usual stance
Hello to everyone who reads this!
Welcome to another blog post from Redding, California!
What a couple of weeks we've had. I know we updated you a little bit about last week at school, but I just wanted to fill in a few details.
Steve Backlund was incredible. We had him speak to us Tuesday and Thursday and he possesses such a contagious joy. He's so funny and warm. His role at the church is mainly linked with Global Legacy, the network the church runs with other churches and church leaders around the globe. His talks were great and really practical, concerning mindsets we form in our brain and act out in our lives and how these mindsets need to be victorious if we are to live effectively for the kingdom of God. He also talked about hope and what that looks like for us as Christians, and how hopelessness can so easily creep in.
Wednesday was another great day as we had Paul Manwaring speak to us. Paul is a fellow Brit, so it was great to hear a somewhat familar accent from the stage for a change!
He spoke a lot on the subject of glory, some really powerful stuff. It was really helpful to see Paul, and we spent an evening at his house last week with some other Brits that are here too, to see how he and his family have adapted to life in the culture here. Paul really is an inspiration, embracing most if not all of life here and how they do things while at the same time remaining, somewhat resolutely, British. He has certainly taught us lots on how we in the UK can take and live many of the principles out that they have built here in Redding.
After Bill Johnson being away for the last week or so we didn't think we would see him in school for a little while so it was a great surprise that he came and spoke to the class on friday. Bill was his normal, peaceful but powerful self, speaking mainly on the topic of the Holy Spirit and how to host Him. Good stuff.
We had a great, restful weekend, punctuated by Sunday's services which, as always, were amazing. Sunday lunch was different, Josh and Em, who we live with, invited their friends Brandon and Caleb round, so Brandon brought some Venison meat with him. So we had a bit of a roast dinner, something we miss from back home. It was the first time we have had venison, which was interesting. It was ok, can't say I'm desperate to have it again. But we had a great time and the weather over the weekend and into this week has been amazing. It's been about 20-21 degrees! In January! It's like a British Summer! It's brilliant! I can't stop using exclamation marks!
Today (Tuesday) we were back at school again. Danny Silk, one of the senior leaders of the church, was in to talk to us. Danny always has media savvy presentations, full of funny videos and clips which is entertaining. We're currently reading one of his books for our homework, called 'Culture of Honour' (or Honor for the Americans, but I can't bring myself to write it without the 'u') It's a brilliant book so far, highly recommend it. Really like his explanation of the five fold government of the church and his outlining of what the New Covenant in Christ means for us, not a new set of laws but of freedom to manage ourselves as sons and daughters of God.
Really hope everyone is doing well, wherever you all are. We're having an incredible time here, God is so good, teaching us so much. We're still needing money for our missions trips to Ecuador, so if you want to give into that then click on the link to the side of this blog. Many thanks to those who have already given to this and to us in general.
Please do get in touch and let us know how you're doing, what you're up to etc. We love to hear from people!
Until next time...God bless you all.
Izzy and Liam x
'Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? ....I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord'
Romans 8:35,38-39 - That's some pretty Good News!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Hello lovely peeps, SOOOOOOOO much to talk about this week and its only wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! like literally loads, I don't even think i can write it all down. Two amazing speakers. We had Steve Backlund, Paul Manwaring. Paul especially was just so good. I wrote so many notes, it was about glory. You should have been there....:) I had a presentation for my kingdom creativity track. I had to present to my leader and her interns. I showed my latest painting that the Lord showed me to paint, and my book illustration, yes i am illustrating a book.:) im partnering with Lynda Chud my wonderful friend who is writing it. So my track leaders love my stuff, it was so good to hear them talk about it, and they really loved my illustrating. They just kept saying 'you have to keep going, do more, its so good', so that was really encouraging. I really felt like i read what i wanted to say confidently, i feel like i am becoming more confident in who i am, and my gifts that God has given me.
This afternoon we had revival group time. Our pastor and interns called out names from a box and we were given a task, like sing a prophetic(God given) song over someone, ask Holy Spirit to give you 10 prophetic words for someone etc. so on my turn i had to ask Holy Spirit for a girl in my groups mums middle name, her dogs name, and an actor she liked. well i heard the name Jean...so i said well i hear Jean its probably not right. Then she says, it IS!! thats her middle name. was so cool, everyone started cheering and clapping. I love it when God just suprises me, and i LOVE hearing from him. Lils task was to say a prophetic poem to someone, he heard some really good words, then even made them rhyme.:) so good. Its really good to be stretched like this, doing things we wouldnt normally do.(esp lil)
We went to my lovely friend heidis house for dinner then had our missions meeting. We praise thank God for everyone who has given, if you havent and would like to bless us you can on the right of this blog. Thankyou.
We are at home now relaxing and doing homework, we got given a new book today. Heavy Rain: how you tranform the world around you by Kris Vallotton. we are looking forward to reading it. We really recommend it!
Here is a link to my DJ friends Kingdom creativity track project, have a listen its really good:
http://soundcloud.com/oopsydaisy/the-ravings-of-an-ecstatic
For a recent personal project I recorded a mix of mine, including a selection of amazing revivalists - Kathryn Kulman, Heidi Baker and Joaquin Evans.
Hope your all having a brilliant week,
lots of love izzy xxx
This afternoon we had revival group time. Our pastor and interns called out names from a box and we were given a task, like sing a prophetic(God given) song over someone, ask Holy Spirit to give you 10 prophetic words for someone etc. so on my turn i had to ask Holy Spirit for a girl in my groups mums middle name, her dogs name, and an actor she liked. well i heard the name Jean...so i said well i hear Jean its probably not right. Then she says, it IS!! thats her middle name. was so cool, everyone started cheering and clapping. I love it when God just suprises me, and i LOVE hearing from him. Lils task was to say a prophetic poem to someone, he heard some really good words, then even made them rhyme.:) so good. Its really good to be stretched like this, doing things we wouldnt normally do.(esp lil)
We went to my lovely friend heidis house for dinner then had our missions meeting. We praise thank God for everyone who has given, if you havent and would like to bless us you can on the right of this blog. Thankyou.
We are at home now relaxing and doing homework, we got given a new book today. Heavy Rain: how you tranform the world around you by Kris Vallotton. we are looking forward to reading it. We really recommend it!
Here is a link to my DJ friends Kingdom creativity track project, have a listen its really good:
http://soundcloud.com/oopsydaisy/the-ravings-of-an-ecstatic
For a recent personal project I recorded a mix of mine, including a selection of amazing revivalists - Kathryn Kulman, Heidi Baker and Joaquin Evans.
Hope your all having a brilliant week,
lots of love izzy xxx
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Hello lovely wonderful people who are all each one of you amazing.
We had a brilliant day today. We have moved home to Olive house and our new room is so lovely, and we had yummy chocolate and lovely letters for us to welcome us home.
This morning at school Russell Evans came to talk to us. He was just fantastic. He's an aussie and started the movement planetshakers. http://www.planetshakers.com/
His talk was mainly his story, how he became a leader, when his english teacher in schoool said he couldn't communicate or write at all,
'In 1997 they founded Planetshakers Ministries, launching Planetshakers Conference in Adelaide, South Australia, with 300 delegates. They have seen it grow to over 20,000 national delegates.'
Some of his powerful talk was very quoteable for example:
We all then went out to our communities, so Liam and I went back Shasta Lake City, and there were quite a few people out. Me and Toby decided to do some prophetic art, so we sat down and got out paints etc, then a guy came over and talked to us for a long time, we were able to paint/ sketch pictures for him to have and take home, he was so blessed and they meant a lot to him.
Our missions trip is drawing ever closer, here is some of the things we will be doing:
'We will have an amazing opportunity to release Kingdom Mercy and Justice in a variety of outlets in Quito, Ecuador. We will be ministering to youth in youth prisons, ministering to and feeding malnourished children in their feeding program, and distributing supplies and loving on women and their babies in the nation’s largest maternity hospital for impoverished families. We also will reach out to prostitutes and love on them. We’ll be taking to the streets for treasure hunting and prophetic evangelism, as well as ministering to local believers through a conference. In addition to being in Quito, the team will have the incredible opportunity to travel to a small village off the Ecuadorian coast where we will deliver supplies (food, clothes, etc.) and bring the Gospel to a hurting community.'
Its going to be such an exciting time. :)
God Bless you all, and thankyou for reading about our lives, we are SO blessed that you would give up your time to read.
We love you,
Izzy and Lil
xxxxxxxxx
We had a brilliant day today. We have moved home to Olive house and our new room is so lovely, and we had yummy chocolate and lovely letters for us to welcome us home.
This morning at school Russell Evans came to talk to us. He was just fantastic. He's an aussie and started the movement planetshakers. http://www.planetshakers.com/
His talk was mainly his story, how he became a leader, when his english teacher in schoool said he couldn't communicate or write at all,
'In 1997 they founded Planetshakers Ministries, launching Planetshakers Conference in Adelaide, South Australia, with 300 delegates. They have seen it grow to over 20,000 national delegates.'
Some of his powerful talk was very quoteable for example:
Then Chris Overstreet, Outreach Pastor here at Bethel Church, came up to talk about outreach and let two second years speak about how their neighbourhoods are getting transformed though love and Gods power. People are getting healed and supernaturally set free from addiction, on the spot. God is so GOOD!
We all then went out to our communities, so Liam and I went back Shasta Lake City, and there were quite a few people out. Me and Toby decided to do some prophetic art, so we sat down and got out paints etc, then a guy came over and talked to us for a long time, we were able to paint/ sketch pictures for him to have and take home, he was so blessed and they meant a lot to him.
Our missions trip is drawing ever closer, here is some of the things we will be doing:
'We will have an amazing opportunity to release Kingdom Mercy and Justice in a variety of outlets in Quito, Ecuador. We will be ministering to youth in youth prisons, ministering to and feeding malnourished children in their feeding program, and distributing supplies and loving on women and their babies in the nation’s largest maternity hospital for impoverished families. We also will reach out to prostitutes and love on them. We’ll be taking to the streets for treasure hunting and prophetic evangelism, as well as ministering to local believers through a conference. In addition to being in Quito, the team will have the incredible opportunity to travel to a small village off the Ecuadorian coast where we will deliver supplies (food, clothes, etc.) and bring the Gospel to a hurting community.'
Its going to be such an exciting time. :)
God Bless you all, and thankyou for reading about our lives, we are SO blessed that you would give up your time to read.
We love you,
Izzy and Lil
xxxxxxxxx
Monday, January 3, 2011
Hello 2011
I'd like to start by saying how saddened we are to hear of what happened in Cheddar on New Years Eve. We both grew up with Jim and have so many good memories with him and are so shocked we'll not get to see him again. I've delayed writing a new blog entry because I didn't know what to say, I had no words to express how sad and shocked and gutted we were, especially for his amazing family. Our thoughts and prayers are with The Hewlett family and friends and Cheddar as a whole because the community has truly lost a great man, who in his personhood and character expressed many of the great things that the Cheddar Valley offers and represents. Even though recent years had seen us grow apart, I still cherished the childhood we had together and respected him so much. Jim was funny, warm, caring, light-hearted and so much more. He could bring laughter to the most tense situation, something which I cannot replicate now. We both miss you and honour you for who you are and are so gutted we can't be back at home at this time. You may have gone, but you live on in the lives of the many, many people you've touched however short they have known you, such was your charisma.
As for us, we had a quiet New Year. We spent it with some friends at our house on Olive Avenue and with the Heather family who are over here visiting. We had a good time, mixing eating, chatting and playing games. Unfortunately though we had no Jools Holland to see us into the New Year and instead had to fake a countdown because none of us could agree on definate time. Midnight saw some snowfall too, which was exciting. The Aussies we're staying with were particularly excited by the snowfall, the first they had ever seen. Crazy.
We really enjoyed staying at our mission leaders' holiday let for a little while between Christmas and New Year. It was so peaceful and relaxing to stay there, as well as having a great small library of books to keep me in particular occupied. Many thanks to Ben and Sheena George for allowing us to stay. If anyone fancies popping over to Redding to see us or the church then we can definately recommend staying at Kabod House (http://www.kabodhouse.com/) - Check it out.
Yesterday (Sunday) we had a great day. Church in the morning was a good time with Bill Johnson again speaking. I never fail to be amazed by his teaching, if you can please do get hold of a copy of his talk. Just amazing. A lovely lunch in Giant Burger was followed by a lazy afternoon sleeping and relaxing which was nice. The evening was incredible. Heidi and Rolland Baker were in town and so Heidi was scheduled to speak at the evening service which started at 6 but people arrived as early as 2.30 to get good seats. We arrived at 5.15 thinking that was early but we only got seats in the 'bleachers' but it was still great. After a great time of worship, Heidi took to the stage and in her usual manner just continued to worship and deliver a powerful message. Amazing. I was particularly excited to see Rolland too, as I have a great respect and admiration for him and as he wandered around the sanctuary praying for people, the power he has was so real and tangible. An incredible couple who are doing amazing things in Mozambique, feeding literally tens of thousands of families and children every week. Maybe we'll get to visit their ministry one day....Rolland was wearing a t-shirt that many of you will enjoy too. The slogan on the front said 'iThink therefore iMac' which made me chuckle.
Today we're just relaxing and catching on homework. School starts again tomorrow which will be good to get back into it. We have a deadline on Wednesday for our next missions payment for our trip to Ecuador. Please if you had been thinking of supporting us or feel compelled to then please do contact us or our parents for how you can get it to us. It's going to be an amazing trip, where we'll get to help and bring support to many amazing but needy people. Prayer is sought for this too as well as financial provision.
Really hope everyone is well. Again, our thoughts and prayers are with the Hewlett family and friends and the community of Cheddar. May the peace and love of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Lots of love
Izzy and Liam x
As for us, we had a quiet New Year. We spent it with some friends at our house on Olive Avenue and with the Heather family who are over here visiting. We had a good time, mixing eating, chatting and playing games. Unfortunately though we had no Jools Holland to see us into the New Year and instead had to fake a countdown because none of us could agree on definate time. Midnight saw some snowfall too, which was exciting. The Aussies we're staying with were particularly excited by the snowfall, the first they had ever seen. Crazy.
We really enjoyed staying at our mission leaders' holiday let for a little while between Christmas and New Year. It was so peaceful and relaxing to stay there, as well as having a great small library of books to keep me in particular occupied. Many thanks to Ben and Sheena George for allowing us to stay. If anyone fancies popping over to Redding to see us or the church then we can definately recommend staying at Kabod House (http://www.kabodhouse.com/) - Check it out.
Yesterday (Sunday) we had a great day. Church in the morning was a good time with Bill Johnson again speaking. I never fail to be amazed by his teaching, if you can please do get hold of a copy of his talk. Just amazing. A lovely lunch in Giant Burger was followed by a lazy afternoon sleeping and relaxing which was nice. The evening was incredible. Heidi and Rolland Baker were in town and so Heidi was scheduled to speak at the evening service which started at 6 but people arrived as early as 2.30 to get good seats. We arrived at 5.15 thinking that was early but we only got seats in the 'bleachers' but it was still great. After a great time of worship, Heidi took to the stage and in her usual manner just continued to worship and deliver a powerful message. Amazing. I was particularly excited to see Rolland too, as I have a great respect and admiration for him and as he wandered around the sanctuary praying for people, the power he has was so real and tangible. An incredible couple who are doing amazing things in Mozambique, feeding literally tens of thousands of families and children every week. Maybe we'll get to visit their ministry one day....Rolland was wearing a t-shirt that many of you will enjoy too. The slogan on the front said 'iThink therefore iMac' which made me chuckle.
Today we're just relaxing and catching on homework. School starts again tomorrow which will be good to get back into it. We have a deadline on Wednesday for our next missions payment for our trip to Ecuador. Please if you had been thinking of supporting us or feel compelled to then please do contact us or our parents for how you can get it to us. It's going to be an amazing trip, where we'll get to help and bring support to many amazing but needy people. Prayer is sought for this too as well as financial provision.
Really hope everyone is well. Again, our thoughts and prayers are with the Hewlett family and friends and the community of Cheddar. May the peace and love of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Lots of love
Izzy and Liam x
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)