God in my future

Because of my day job working in human rights in supply chains, the pandemic period between January 2020 to now has been intense and perhaps the hardest I’ve worked in my life. As the virus spread from continent to continent impacting the food, clothing and homewares coming into the United Kingdom from all four corners of the world and the abuse of workers in those supply chains escalated, the sheer volume of work has been overwhelming. 

The gift of hindsight

Moving out of this wretched pandemic with the workload easing has given me time to reflect on the last few years. I've been paging through my journals & blogs. With hindsight and a scan of the last four years, I can say quite confidently say, it’s been one almighty period of upheaval and transition BUT evidently clear that God was already in my future.

When I reflect on the various pictures and Devine happenings over the last ten years our Father in His mercy has mapped and prepared me for the change that lay ahead. In many respects, He was raising the bar on the horizon, warning me of pitfalls and encouraging me to keep going through His word. 

Strategic direction and counsel

In November 2016, I recorded a blog call Red carpet welcomes the new season. In this was a clear set of indicators of a step change, a break from an impoverished heart & mind-set and the promise of the best is yet to come. 

Going back further, November 2013 was all about Joshua’s Road map to taking the promised land. This in particular has been strategic guidance that helped me navigate the last four years of change. It’s been a total minefield and somehow, I’ve muddled through it, but these bullet points have been pertinent each step of the way.

• God sends the most unexpected help to get us on our way
• We have to dip our feet in the water first – as an act of faith – before the waters part
• Time to take stock – ensure the past is dealt with and cut away
• Expect things that you have been used to change – sow into the future for the future
• Expect to meet “The Commander of Heavens Armies”
• Worship brings walls down and gets the enemy on the run
• Defeat is revisited with success
• The past may at times seem better
• Be on the guard for deception which can lead to compromise
• The battle does intensify and appears to come at you from every angle
• Believe it or not, you get stronger with every skirmish

God in our futures

Significant though, a word way back in 2012 underlines the certainty that HE was already in my future and the words from Zachariah 3 have been repeated at different stage in this transitional period. In the last few months as I've entered a new phase of the ‘day-job’, this has started to unfold: 

• New tasks: will be revealed possibly with a change in direction and a paradigm shift in thinking about "ministry" and doing "formal church", 
• New personal understanding, gifting, knowledge, and skill set to meet the tasks,
• New covering and clothing which I believe is the resourcing for the new task,
• New authority to ensure His will is done here on earth as it is in heaven,
• New boldness and courage - not to be afraid .... but indeed, be happy! (Acts 18:9-10) says; "Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

Back to 2016 and happenings that led to Nehemiah 4 with a call for ‘all hands on deck’ to build the wall.  Again, the strategic nature of God’s word, the blueprint it provides and step-by-step instruction for application in our modern day lives has been massively encouraging. 

We're not there yet!

I see the time of upheaval and transition continuing for quite some time but knowing HE is with me, guiding me and showing me the way brings peace and comfort. Perhaps cliché’d to say but say it I will, I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. The part that chokes me up though is knowing HE trusts and loves me and yes, knowing He’s already in my future.

With love

Joy

Childlike expectation

The well is open. The waters have broken. Waters that were once bitter are now sweet! Let the era of joy burst forth with dancing, praise, and worship.

The photographs here were taken on a prayer walk around Wells Park (SE London) in autumn 2012. What was so special about the prayer walk is that over three generations different people had had the same vision specific to this area and these wells laid on their hearts. 

This vision has been contested in many ways but there is a clear connection between the health of the physical wells and the spiritual health of our community.

The vision though has been consistent; to see the spiritual wells restored and the water sweet again to bring healing to our community.  All three generations were part of the prayer walk. 

A child's heart 

The prayer walk was gentle and uneventful. As we entered the play park area and tried to jump on the fountain triggers - nothing happened - we were praying again, and a child ran onto the pads and the fountains "burst forth".  

Almost simultaneously we collectively had an insight into the Father’s heart. We could hear the heavenly chuckle at our surprise that all our adult ‘super spiritual’ attempts were trumped by a child running with abandon to play in the spray. Somehow that childlike faith had triggered the water spray – the exuberant simple fun filled act of faith had opened the well.  

Ten years later the memory is still vivid and perhaps more so now than ever the word of Jesus as recorded in John 7 (37-38) are relevant. Jesus says, "If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink - whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from them."

Background history of the wells in Sydenham 

The history to the wells and the subterranean water beneath Sydenham is fascinating and I’ve added some detail below for ease of reference.

Wells Park is named after medicinal springs were found in Sydenham in the seventeenth century and became a popular spa whose numerous visitors included King George III. Twelve wells were eventually opened – but all form part of an underground network of streams. This attracted crowds of people to the area. Some of the former wells in the area are within the park's grounds and the springs are still active.

• https://runner500.wordpress.com/2018/02/28/wells-park-stream-an-almost-lost-sydenham-stream/

The Old and New London: Volume 6. Originally published by Cassell, Petter & Galpin, London, 1878, states “The waters, according to one authority, were of a mild cathartic quality, nearly resembling those of Epsom; another writes, that they formed a purging spring, which has performed great cures in scrofulous, scorbutic, paralytic, and other stubborn diseases; whilst a third asserts that the waters are a certain cure for every ill to which humanity is heir." 

• https://www.british-history.ac.uk/old-new-london/vol6/pp303-319

First shared and published in the autumn of 2013 

http://deepuntodeep-joy.blogspot.com/2013/