The Orchestrator behind the Symphony

The best time to drive around central London is midnight.

If you think he's cute... click above:

In twenty days time, my brother, sister, brother in law and I will be running the Edinburgh Marathon as part of a Relay Team! Some haven't ran at all before, and some of us are just getting back into running again so training hard.. but it wouldn't be worth the pain or time if it were not for this wee chappy.. our nephew Oliver. Please donate any little amount you feel.. money all goes towards the charity Love Oliver to help families whose children have cancer live comfortably and get the treatment they need.

The Edinburgh Relay Marathon involves teams of 4 running total of 26 miles and we will be lovingly competing with Oliver's other side of the family.. so all encouragement for the Barber-Gills much welcomed! (;

To donate: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/loveoliverrelay

To their website: http://www.loveoliver.org.uk

My latest a cappella chorale piece, Evening Snow, was written as part of a competition run by St.Andrews University - to write a piece of music, any style, set to lyrics given by Peter Davidson.

The piece paints the landscape and scenery of New Zealand - which can often be described as a larger and sunnier version of Scotland (my home town).. So I was keen to write music that captures both the space and surroundings of the vastness of New Zealand whilst adding a slight Scottish feel.

Lyrics: So far, so late, so distant and so cold. How faint the mountains in the fading day. North of the waters, snow down to the shore. South of the waters, stone fields, storm blown thorns. Snow in the dusk now, and night winds that move. Over vast waters to the farthest stars.

One of my favourite things to do when decorating a new room is to put up fairy lights. There is something simple and beautiful, a small sparkle, that they add to make a room look special.. even a simple candle glistens beautifully in an empty room..

Simon reminded me this morning in his sermon that when Jesus was born, Light shone in the middle of the night, and when Jesus died, darkness came in the middle of the day.. It made me think how often we say and read in the bible that Jesus is the Light of the World.. but what does that look like today? how do we shine brightly? The message puts it a little like this in Matthew 5..

'You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.'

Like an artist who starts with a blank canvas, or a composer who begins with silence, creativity brings out colour.. if we choose to draw..! Before creation, there was nothing. God created the world when he began imagining from a blank canvas.. When we create, we can tap into the creative mind of our Father.. we can hear melodies from heaven.

Being light in the world is a daily decision, we can choose to keep our head down on our commute to work, or we can choose to look up and smile.. we all know when somebody smiles our way we can't resist a tiny bit of happiness, and joy!

I guess if Jesus said he was the light of the world, and we are to be light in the world, then being close to him is a pretty good place to start.. for when we spend time with him, we begin to be like him. If you're like me, the moment summer begins to lighten up the sky you can't wait to get outside and enjoy the warmth.. you can usually tell (especially the british) when we've been kissed by the sun, we tend to glow a little more 'rosy' on the cheeks! When we spend time with our Father, in his presence, the love that he radiates to us overflows in our lives.. for in him we experience perfect love.. if we choose intimacy..

'Let us all meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of Love.' Mother Teresa

After all, time with Father God in intimacy puts everything in perspective and brings an unmeasurable peace. We know in him there is always good ahead, even when we can't see the light.. As Bill Johnson says so well, intimacy is: In-to-me-you-see..

Since moving into a lovely little flat in Kingston, I have been getting familiar with a new route to school. Walking past the river with many well known landmarks in London, I’m trying to walk down a new street everyday. It amazes me just how creative this city is and allows me to see such wonderful familiar landmarks yet from slightly different angles each time. Beautiful.

Recently, I have been learning a little bit more theology, a little bit more of how to experience God’s presence creatively, and some of his more miraculous acts. A couple of weeks ago, outside Westminster Cathedral, one of our interns experienced the joy of seeing a homeless man begin to realise he was absolutely loved by Jesus and after spending time with him over the year, he embraced her with thee biggest hug. The next day his face was glowing so bright, he was walking down the streets of London carrying a new identity where he understood he was Jesus’ precious son! A broken life made new.

The other week we went into a local betting shop and asked Jesus for someone to bless.. We got chatting to the guy on the desk and after praying for him we shared a few prophetic words that spoke directly into his life about some dreams and desires he had for his life. We shared how much Jesus loved him and as he even came out from behind the counter he received a deep heat through his hands which he could not explain, and as we explained the gospel to him he gave his life to Jesus!

Last week we went to offer some prayer to a local charity. During one of our prayer sessions with a guy who had bad back pain we realised he had one leg shorter than the other and that could be why he experienced back pain. We asked him if we could put our hands on his legs and then asked God to come and grow his leg to be the same size, the way he intended them to be! Within 2 seconds, his leg had grown to equal length. Praise God. 

Seeing God in the creativity of our cities always astounds me, and hearing him day to day in our own lives is such a gift, but when we take risks and see him perform the miraculous in other peoples lives, it’s an incredible privilege.

I always love reading about Abraham, such a man of God, and was struck recently by how he probably spent a huge part of his life waiting on God’s promises to be fulfilled.. yet during that time he remained patient and spent time just worshiping God. He knew who he was in God’s eyes, and he knew the beauty that was to come!

Living with Jesus in our lives is an adventure (always makes me think of Lord of the Rings, but with less of the curly hobbit hair..!) Adventures don’t always mean easy straight forward paths, it’s a journey, much like in LOTR, there are going to be hardships along the way, but Paul reminds us in Romans that: 

Troubles do not separate us from God’s love. Romans 8.35

Rest isn’t the absence of activity. It’s the presence of peace. Steve Backlund

God is faithful. He has this incredible way of bringing real peace in hard situations, and beautiful melodies out of broken chords..

It occurred to me last night just how precious and miraculous our God is. Meeting friends and chatting away all night was a testament itself to what God has done. This time last year I was flying home from a family trip to Vietnam and it left me sleeping the weeks away unable to go out.. One of my closest friends came all the way down from Aberdeen just for the afternoon.. and bless her, I slept the majority of her visit.

Last week I ran 8 miles, and still woke up the next day. God is a miraculous God.

God has opened up a little opportunity to move back to London and I am so incredibly thankful for his provision in going back to the city that I love. I could write a thousand stories of how God has blessed this year, how God has been at work, how we can be joyful through suffering, but I just want to echo the words of James..

Consider it pure Joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

One big thing I've learnt this year, is that it is not just an amazing peace and joy we can experience through whatever trials we encounter.. but also a complete joy knowing that God is working out a plan.. and meanwhile he is still speaking to us and providing for us what we need daily. Sometimes it is hard when his timing feels late, or non existent, but we know that it is because he is just saying not yet.. it will come when the time is bang on right.. it always does.. meanwhile he wants us to just be captivated by him, seeking his heart, praising him, and he will give us the peace to wait.

This song below is a declaration to chase after the things of God. Life's a journey.. an adventure.. and if we really seek to chase after our Father we will enter into his amazing paths experiencing more than we could ever imagine.. 

Heart, You've won me heart and soul And where You lead I'll go I want to be where You are

From the moment I rise, to the moment I sleep My affection is for You, and even as I dream I want to know you, I'm after Your heart This life, this love, was always meant to be A wild, crazy adventure, discovering The thrill, the rush, the more of You I see The more it leaves me wanting You're everything, You're everything.

(click here to listen) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCGJUcor30M