David’s Tent. What a glorious slice of heaven here on earth. Year upon year we are all so radically blessed by this beautiful gathering that has shaped countless lives, friendships, families, encounters, songs, anthems, mindsets and even nations. And it is an utter privilege, joy and honour to be in the mix of something so precious. Every year is always so glorious but this tenth anniversary year was more special than ever before. In so many ways. For so many reasons.
And being part of the hosting team was an absolute dream. Thank You so much beautiful Jesus - what a privilege to worship You and know you intimately. Be glorified.
And as we all recalibrate after such a beeeautiful time, I just want to encourage the worshipping community to stay seated at the table. Let’s keep feasting. Let’s keep the fire burning. May our praises rise daily. May we truly run our race to win. May we keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus - the most beautiful One. And may we daily pour our oil upon His feet. Laying it all down. Because He alone is worthy.
xx
📸 Don Mould
MAGNIFY
So often we can find ourselves amplifying our problems, our flaws and weaknesses or someone else's shortcomings - whenever we run into problems. Yet God wants us to magnify His nature, His faithfulness, His love and His Word over ALL of our circumstances, no matter what we may face or how bleak a situation might seem. This is where the power, peace and heavenly perspective is truly found.
Because whenever we magnify who God is and His triumphant finished work, not only do we experience supernatural peace that garrisons and mounts guard around our heart and mind, but we invite God into the situation. Our perspective also changes, so that we can actually see through the lens of our heavenly citizenship and not our earthly minitations! So, the next time you are tempted to amplify your problems, simply magnify God, His goodness and faithfulness and watch everything change!
Watch the full video here
#magnifygod #heisfaithful #praisehisname #donotfear#godsword #godsgotyou #shereadstruth #flowers #pink#christianinspiration #christianlifestyle #livinginlight
The Narrow Road
I’m writing this blog whilst riding on the overground train in east London. Feeling slightly miffed to be honest but choosing to enter into rest and make the most of this little faux pas. You see, I am on my way to West London and I am cutting it fine time wise, but providing I get this train I won’t be too late. My phone says the next train leaves in 3 minutes. So I get to the station and as usual there are two trains. But there are no signs to say which one will go first and no one to ask.
Eeesh. Dilemma. Which one do I get on? I see that there’s a train full of people so I naturally jump on that one thinking that is the wisest thing to do. I disregard the check in my spirit and I ignore the train at the platform with only a few people on it, instead jumping on the one that is most full.
No One Seems Miffed
You know where I’m going with this right? Yup, so the time comes to leave the platform and our train doesn’t seem to be leaving. I’m properly watching my clock now wondering what pray do tell is holding this train up. When suddenly the train that barely had anyone on it, that was nonchanantly chilling on the other platform - quietly leaves - now on its way to where I needed to go. Oh. I can’t believe it and I ask someone in disbelief “Erm has the other train just gone first?” The girl responds “yes” , shrugging their shoulders - “that’s just what we were saying.” But aside from that no one seems fazed. People seemed literally unmoved. Perhaps they were miffed, but they just didn’t show it.
I’m now looking at my watch and so aware that I am going to be superrr late and I’m gutted because I left home with plenty of time. I’m frustrated that there were no signs and no one at the platform telling people which train to get on. And I’m a little annoyed at myself for simply assuming the train that most people were on, was the right place to be.
The Narrow Road
Yet as I sit there God immediately reminds me that this whole scenario is just like the narrow road to heaven. And the sobering truth is that the majority of people are going along with the masses thinking that surely this must be the right way. When in fact it’s the few sitting on that other train on their jack jones looking like fools, who have actually found the narrow path to life.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 AMP
And just like all the passengers on the station I was at, required a sign or a station inspector or share what he knew, in order for us to reach our destination before it was too late - when it comes to eternal salvation, unless someone hears what the right way is from someone who is “in” the know, how are they even going to know which the right route is? Unless there are signposts to follow how are they going to be led to the narrow path????
How Will They?
Unless we believers are sharing the gospel how are the lost going to hear the message? And unless we rise up as signposts toward the gospel the lost will just keep sitting in darkness - at times rather comfortably and unfazed about the eternal loss they will suffer, unless they discover the truth.
“But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”” Romans 10:14-15
In the end I was twenty minutes late. Not exactly ideal but certainly not the end of the world. Yet the sobering, deeply convicting and terrifying truth is that when it comes to knowing the right route to salvation and finding the narrow road to eternal life it will literally be the end of their world for countless image bearers of Christ who may never know the truth unless we show them the way. Countless souls who will otherwise find themselves in eternity without Christ.
Time Is Of Essence
Time is so short my loves. The majority of people are on the broad and wide road heading to destruction. Those of us on the narrow road must ensure that we are not simply following the masses but we must stay at our posts and radiantly shine our light, rising up as signposts towards eternal life in Christ. Messengers of the gospel, ministers of reconciliation who simply cannot afford to let the masses stay on the wide and broad road. The cost is far too high and time is far too short.
May you and I be so deeply stirred us to share the gospel to our family, friends, colleagues and to those in the highways and byways, like never before. May compassion for the lost arrest us radically. May we boldly disciple nations in every sphere of influence and may we long in our inmost being, for Jesus, the precious Lamb that was slain, who is now seated upon the throne, to receive His full reward.
xx
Tragedies, Treasures and Triumphant Turnarounds.
I never tire of watching God turn tragedies around. I never cease to be utterly amazed at how something can seem so pants one minute and then suddenly everything changes and nothing but Jesus matters. It’s wild. And each time that happens it serves as a fresh reminder that we are of another world. A world that isn’t led by our circumstances, our emotions or our limitations. But we are of an eternal, unseen world. We are of a heavenly kingdom. A kingdom that is utterly besotted with its King. A kingdom that revolves around the Lord and His beauty. A Kingdom that is unshakeable no matter what. A kingdom that in all things can give thanks.
Fleshing Out
That’s exactly what I found myself doing this week when my phone got stolen. Initially though I am not gonna lie, I did flesh out. Oh yes. That I did do. I found myself getting upset first. A little bit moody. Regretting taking my mum out for dinner and then out for some shopping - because that was what I was doing when my phone got jacked. I was mumbling away in my head thinking that “man that turned out to be an expensive night. I mean I was tryna be a blessing right Father - and now I am hundreds of pounds poorer!! I mean Lord!! Why did you let that happen?” I ever so silently, subconsciously demanded. “I covered myself by the blood this morning right, Lord? I prayed and read the Word declaring your best over my day. Soooo…what happened Lord, pray do tell.” I moodily pondered.
And then I came home, I blocked the phone and reported everything to the police and then O2. It was so late by now. And then I sat feeling sorry for myself. Smiles. Drama queen. And then I went on Facebook. You know, as you do.
Worthy Of The Calling
But then this is gonna sound crazy but I was on my own profile and I suddenly found myself clicking on a post of me preaching at an event in the Summer. And then next thing I know I’m properly being ministered to through my own preach. Like what??? I flipping love that. I literally listened to my whole message! And then before I knew it, the preach is finished and I was so pumped by the anointing that I hadn’t even been thinking about my phone or my loss. All I was thinking about was God and His Kingdom. And how much I wanted to be found worthy of the calling that He had given me. I began to cry out filled with so much passion and zeal. Next thing I know, I am interceding all over the place.
And then I started reflecting on today’s date which was 2.2.22. Mate, that devil made a BIG mistake getting someone to steal my phone on 2.2.22!! Because suddenly a word I read bit earlier that night from a Prophet came back to me. It was about taking back the keys and putting a demand on everything that had been stolen from us! By now, I was filled with righteous indignation. I blessed the person who stole my phone and then I started commanding that the enemy had to restore back everything that he had EVER stolen from me with COMPENSATION! I was taking authority all over the gaff. Declaring that the doors God had opened for me and for the bride of Christ no man could close, and what God had closed no man could open! Woohooo!
Everything Changed
It was gone midnight by this time and I was so so full of energy, so full of hunger and desire for the Lord. For His will to be done here on earth as in heaven. And then suddenly the Lord began breaking my heart for some stuff. I’m now literally on my face weeping for the people He began laying on my heart. Everything changed. Everything. All I wanted was more of Jesus. More of His way. I didn’t care about anything but doing His will.
I was soooo delightfully charged up as began journalling a while later and thanked Him for once again flooring me with His capacity to take what that enemy meant for harm and using it for His good. Cause let’s face it if I had, had my phone in my possession like normal, I would never have found myself journeying down this highway to heaven in such a glorious way. This beautiful beautiful road to the sweetest redemption would have eluded me and though it initially felt like a valley of sorrow and sadness it had become the most delightful pool of blessing that has marked me in the most blissful way.
Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings. They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:5-7
All The Way To Zion
Wow. I just don’t know how He does it, but He does it EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. He ALWAYS turns things around so beautifully, so miraculously. So admirably. Wow. Only in the Lord are we able to become so encouraged and full of hope - no matter what! Only in Him are the circumstances of life COMPLETELY and so DEEPLY overshadowed by the beauty and goodness of Him. Literally nothing else compares to Him. And when we have Him, we have everything. No matter whatever else we may or may not not have. He truly is the greatest treasure of all. And those that have Him have indeed hit the eternal jackpot. Seriously. Kerching. All. The. Way. To. Zion.
He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me
-Oh how He loves - David Crowder Band
x
THE BEST YES...
Today is my birthday in Jesus. Exactly 17 years ago, on October 26th 2004 I stood in a Christian bookshop and totally surrendered my life to the Lord. I decided this was it - I was never going back to the world. In that moment I was radically delivered from the kingdom of darkness, the drugs, alcohol abuse, promiscuity and striving and was brought into the eternal kingdom of God’s love! Woohoo!
And since that heavenly encounter, my heart has never stopped blazing for Jesus and I’ve been compelled to tell anyone and everyone that will listen about the incredible, liberating, glorious and satisfying love of God! Saying yes to Him was the best YES of my life. Wow, what an adventure - to belong to Him. Here’s to another 17 billion years being yours Sweet King of Glory - and woohooo we are ONLY just getting started!
P.s. It was such a blast to share the gospel at Parliament Square in Westminster on Saturday (Feel free to check out this vid for a snippet of the street preach). While I was sharing this message a precious homeless man called Rob heard my voice from the other end of the square and kept being led to us - until he was standing right in front of me as I shared. He ended up giving his life to the Lord and had thee most glorious encounter with Jesus while we prayed with Him. He was so overcome by God’s love and peace that he was weeping and holding onto our hands so tightly, wiping his tears with our hands and after he prayed, he had to lie down on the grass for the longest time because the encounter had totally floored him and he was basically having a Lovefest. It was utterly glorious! This is how beautiful Jesus is.
And if you don’t know His love please say yes to Him today because a YES to Jesus will truly be the best YES you will ever say. x
UNLIKELY MESSENGERS
A few weeks back I found myself planning a very tight couple of days as I headed to David’s Tent at the end of last month. For those that don’t know, David’s Tent is the slice of heaven that we get to encounter every August Bank Holiday weekend (bar the odd plandemic that is) for 72 hours of nonstop worship - in glorious West Sussex. So there I was all set to do several key things before I packed to make my way down there on the Tuesday afternoon.
Time was of essence and I really did not need anything to go wrong. So imagine my slight distress when my brother knocks as my front door the day before I am due to leave to spend this week at DT and he informs me that he has had a break up with his girlfriend and so she shall not be able to look after my cat Bella while I’m at DT! And I’m like whaaaaatttt???! Nonononononooooo. That’s just not feasible Ajay (that’s his name) cause I just can’t leave Bella with anyone else!! Sock horror. And if Claire can’t look after Bella then I’m just not going to be able to go anywhere. And I’m going to let so many people down. Panic panic. Please Aj have mercy on me!!
My brother graciously relents to all my begging and says fine - she’ll have to stay with you then. And so she does. Claire comes over about an hour later and she is so distressed. Any chance of packing or getting through my vital list of things to do completely goes out of the window and I just sit with her as she grieves about my brother. And as inconvenient as it all is, I am just so grateful that she is still going to be able to look after Bella that the least I can do is sit and comfort her.
The beautiful thing is that as we are talking, I share with Claire that she basically needs Jesus. That even if she reconciles things with my brother life will never be truly free and fulfilling until she surrenders her heart to the Lord. And so amazingly she does. She accepts Jesus’ beautiful gift of eternal life and invites Him into her heart. We spend the next few hours talking about a fresh start for her, praying together and just having a real little heavenly lovefest.
That evening as I sit on my bed in utter awe of the way Jesus comforted Claire and brought her healing and eternal life I am weeping with joy. My little kitty cat Bella is with me. And suddenly I am so moved by the realisation that Jesus used a cat to bring Claire into His love. All along He knew that it would be so important for Claire to look after Bella and that this would open the door to her actually inviting Him into her heart and starting a relationship with Jesus. That blows my mind. Through my tears and my awe I stroke my beautiful Bella and tell her that she is a minister of reconciliation and that she has just won her first soul for Jesus. Wow. i think that’s actually so crazy exciting and I love it.
Sooooooo basically, if Jesus can used a cat to bring someone into the kingdom surely He can use anyone?
So many people shrink back from evangelising or being available for the Lord to use them - they disqualify themselves for all kinds of reasons and they believe the lie of the enemy that they aren’t bold enough, or spiritual enough or biblically illiterate enough. Or a gazillion other reasons. When the bottom line is that none of that matters. All the Lord is looking for is availability. Obedience. He will cause us to be the catalyst for someone’s eternal salvation if we are simply willing to stop our plans and pause our to do lists and just let Him use us. If we are willing to be ready messengers of the ONLY one true message that this world truly needs.
Colossians 1:23 (MSG) You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, INSERT YOUR OWN NAME am a messenger of this Message.
Like I said peeps…if He can use a cat... x
Say Hello To A Few New Collection Pieces
We are pumped to bring you some updates to the Living in Light Sweatshirt Collection.
This new collection of African Printed appliquéd sweatshirts includes powerful and life-giving words in both Hebrew and Hindi!
As with most of our pieces you can have these fabulous sweatshirts customised for you where you choose the word, the sweatshirt colour and the fabric!!
Super fun, life-giving and personal right?
We decided to throw in a new dungaree too.
Find all the new pieces here.
ACCESS ALL AREAS
Access All Areas. A familiar term to us all. A term commonly used on backstage passes where the bearer has unrestricted access to all areas of the venue. Access available ONLY to those with particular privileges.
For me, the most familiar experience of AAA is the phenomenal worship festival David's Tent hosted in both the UK and the USA. Usually I’m serving in a capacity that gives me access to all areas including the Guest lounge where we find world renowned musicians like the Bethel guys, Housefires, VIP guests and speakers. It’s where all the posh food is, the big fridge with the lush drinks. There is an endless supply of goodies, the speciality coffee is found here along with the lush meals and the delish desserts. Here divine connections are birthed, cultivated and strengthened. Deep chats long into the night happen in this privileged space, ministry opportunities are discovered and dreams are realised.
Sometimes people get this access because of their gifts, talents, perhaps their stature or their name. Other times folk find themselves enjoying this privileged space because they are serving here or one might simply inherit this access through who they are associated with relationally.
And when you’re there you get to wear these fabulous white and gold wristbands that say AAA. These royal looking wristbands signify that you have access to the most special places at David‘s Tent. It also indicates that you have closest proximity to the main stage where the altar is. These wristbands are coveted by most and anyone who wears one or sees one recognises it’s a privilege, a luxury and ab utter blessing to be given this kind of access and to have access to all the fringe benefits that come with this wristband.
And when I consider that we as believers in Christ, get to wear these invisible bloodstained wristbands that give us access all areas to the most a holy throne of God, with a mind-blowing spiritual inheritance and all the heavenly benefits that come with the territory I shake my head in disbelief.
Yet I am amazed at how often I overlook and fail to cherish the privilege, the honour, the great wonder and awe associated with having access all areas to Jesus - the most famous, most celebrated, most glorious, the richest, most talented, most loving, most attractive, most powerful person to ever exist; to GOD. To whom there is no rival. No comparison. He transcends above ALL. God Almighty. God Supreme. Flawless and Love Personified.
In this sermon I unpack our propensity to dilute, ignore and disregard the incredible privilege we have to be able to come boldly and fearlessly into God’s presence as royal priests, the children of God and as the bride of Christ. I unpack a little the beauty, worth and weighty privilege of God’s presence and how failing to absolutely enjoy the fullness of this glorious access is daylight robbery because we were created, saved and redeemed to draw near to God and Jesus is worthy of our utter devotion and nearness. Not only that, He woos us closer even when we don’t deserve it, never withholding His glorious presence from us. Always beckoning us to His banqueting table despite our fragilities and frailties.
Oh how beautiful, winsome and delightful is He? I pray that as you watch this sermon that you will be stirred to draw ever closer to the One who gave it all so that we could draw near.
x
The Authority Of Intimacy
About ten days ago I had the most beautiful encounter with God. I was super tired. Too mash to get out of bed I knew my usual routine of hanging out with Jesus was just not gonna happen that morning. Instead I found myself grabbing my phone and reading the Bible lying down with barely any energy or zeal. Wondering how I was going to intercede for all the prayers I knew needed lifting up for some very time sensitive situations I just signed and began to read, thinking to myself that the best I can do right now is just pick up my phone.
Yet what followed was such a sweet, intimate, powerful, throne room experience that totally busted hell open. And it was all inside of Psalm 23 (TPT):
“The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honour to his name. Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way.
Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.5 You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit; you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows.6 So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!”
In a beautiful spiritual adventure I hang out in Jesus’ luxurious love inside of this chapter and it blasted me. I grew in experiential understanding of God’s Word, His nature, His Kingdom and I got so restored. All while I was chilling in bed. Quite delicious really. But also very powerful. Full of authority. Rooted in intimacy with the King.
I’d love to take you on this heavenly journey because I think it will bless your socks off like it did mine. Join me for the adventure here.
Racing Towards Revival
When I first became a Christian, I prayed for revival lots. I would weep with a desperate burden for the world to know Jesus. I would imagine what that could look like. Over the next fifteen years, my love for the Lord and His kingdom grew massively. I lived a vibrant life of regularly sharing the love of God with the lost. Often in the darkest of places. Yet somehow I stopped racing towards revival. I stopped pressing in for an outpouring of God’s Spirit. Stopped pressing in for the knowledge of God’s glory to cover the earth, as the waters cover the seas.
Content Without Revival?
I am not sure why I stopped expecting a great awakening. Or why my fervent petitions to see revival across the earth waned. Perhaps I got complacent, preoccupied with my calling and other things. Maybe I was just content with my lifestyle of evangelism. I mean let’s face it, it was stretching enough, partnering with heaven to share the gospel one person, one people group or one community at a time. Honestly speaking, the pursuit of a global outpouring was rarely on my prayer list. And only when God would move upon my heart, would I find myself crying out for it.
Or perhaps it was because I had simply come to accept the increasing darkness in this antichrist world. Deep down in my conscience perhaps I had resolved, that Jesus was going to be the world’s best kept secret until rapture kicked in. And only then, would people all over the earth would realise He was God. And as much as I hated that God’s sovereignty wasn’t seen by the world, I would comfort myself with biblical anticipation, that one day the weeds would indeed be separated from the tares. Of course, it was unlikely to happen on my watch but one day there would be such a mighty outpouring of God’s Spirit, right?!
Revival Reawakened!
Yet I must confess, that I stand delightfully corrected. Because I have had my mind radically renewed! In the midst of last year's shaking - as I navigated through the pressures, the pressing and the pandemic I found myself utterly reawakened to revival! Not just the possibility of a global outpouring but the utterly delicious anticipation of its imminence. You see, in the tempest that was 2020, pulled away from the distractions and deception of what life had become and drawn into the solitude of God’s heart, I found myself face to face with the reality of God’s kingdom afresh – and REVIVAL is ABSOLUTELY on God’s heart. And saints...it must also be indelibly etched upon ours.
We are without a shadow of doubt on the cusp of a great awakening. And when it arrives, I for one, want to be smack bang in the centre of it. I don’t want to be a mere spectator. A bystander. Someone who observes from the fringes. No, I want to be one that burns for it. Carries God’s heart for it. One who partners with heaven for it. Who stands in the gap for it. Gets on her face for it and cries out daily for it. Ceaselessly anticipates it and wholeheartedly prepares for it.
You see, I believe we are about to witness a move of God that will astound us…where the works of darkness will be exposed, evil will be uprooted and the harvest will come flooding in. We will witness an outpouring of God’s spirit upon all men. Old men will dream dreams. Young men will see visions. Sons and daughters will prophecy and the knowledge of God’s glory will very tangibly cover the earth, as the waters cover the seas.
It's Our Time...
As great heroes of faith who have gone before us, saw God’s glory fill the earth in their time - I sincerely believe that we are about to see it in our time. The circumstances that we find ourselves in, these present time appear on the surface, to be the hindrances to an outpouring in our midst, but the shaking, the purging, the pruning, the humbling and the seeking God's face in repentance and prayer are in fact the very necessary ingredients that must be in the mix, before an awakening shows up.
But we must yield ourselves and perceive what God wants to do in our midst. We must choose to carry God’s heart and partner with Him as those who are called by His name, running our race with perseverance and endurance. As ones, who so deeply recognise that we are mere pilgrims here on earth, with a heavenly mandate. On divine assignments. And each and every one of us is called to not only run our race but to be in it to win it - just as the Author and Finisher of our faith Jesus, our eternal example - ran his race before us - and for us:
“We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” (Hebrews 12:2 AMP)
Yesterday's Athlete's Spurring Us On…
We read in the great faith chapter of Hebrews 11, of precious saints that have gone before us,. They were all flawed, just like we are. But because God was with them, they were found racing towards revival, keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus, as their prize. Beyond anything that we could ever even imagine, they faced death, endured martyrdom, experienced extreme persecution, wars, famine, darkness, evil and depravity. Yet they persevered by faith. Wow. May we rejoice at their great exploits and be encouraged by them. For their triumphant races are undeniable, reverberating testimonies of God’s faithfulness throughout history.
But now it’s our turn, racing towards revival. And they are witness to us. Cheering us on.
The Reward That Was Set Before Him
This is our time saints, to step it up as the courageous, unblemished, bride of Christ. "To run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us." Not despising the agony, the persecution and the opposition that comes with our race. But courageously racing towards revival, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus – our glorious prize. The very Author and Finisher of our faith. So that Christ would indeed receive His inheritance. He would receive the reward that was set before Him, when He endured the Cross. So that we could be His. x
Watch the full sermon Racing Towards Revival.