Ruach Breath Of Life

With most grateful thanks to the musicians: Sally Prittie, (piano) Corinne Frost (cello), Thomas Herzog, oboe, Nicola Gerrard (flute) and Catherine Muncey (viola). This is the joy and privilege that we have – that you put Your dwelling place among us, and this is where we as Your people belong. (cf Lev. 26:11-12) This is the time and this is the year when Your Spirit is drawing me into a treasured place within. Notwithstanding my many fears and limitations, You are teaching me to catch Your ear with simple prayers that rise to touch Your heart, and which part the heavens for You to come down. No matter that my flailing emotions are as volatile as a toddler’s windmill in a twisting gale; setting my sails spinning, and fears and tears overspilling as unpredictable gusts tug and pull my thoughts this way and that, for hidden in my heart Your word thrusts down deeper roots, steadying and sustaining weightier truths than my own distracting thoughts. So I am making room to welcome this living word;

Into the Silence - Part two by Ruach Breath of Life

There are few pangs more painful than rejection, few things that knock our confidence so hard and batter our trust, especially when these things come from the hands of believers. Whether or not you are active in ministry, it is highly likely that you will know what it is to have a loved one turn their backs on you, perhaps walk out on you or even betray you. If you are one who has suffered the sharp stings of rejection, this is for you. As the prophet said, ‘These are the wounds I received in the house of my friends.’ (Zech. 13:6) Jesus, many of us have been so hard hit by the power of rejection that we feel like deeply pin-pricked dartboards. We may even have grown used to burying the hurts and doing our best just to soldier on. But You are life and hope, and these piercing darts are as nothing in comparison to the depths of Your love and acceptance of us. Nothing is able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank You Jesus, that You too have walked this way. You are de

It’s so helpful to remember how You helped David in his many times of distress, Lord, even though at first sight it must have appeared as though You were doing nothing of the kind. After King Saul’s hatred and jealousy had driven David from the land and forced him to take refuge in the courts of the Philistine king, David experienced one of his most grievous trials. He had set off to take part in a battle against the men of Judah, but had been sent back as a result of King Achish’s senior advisers not trusting him to fight wholeheartedly against his own kith and kin. It would have been easy for David to have taken this as a snub, and to feel rejected, but in reality, You were supernaturally intervening, Lord, to prevent His chosen one from having to wage war against his fellow countrymen. While David and his men had been away, raiders came and attacked their settlement at Ziklag, reducing it to ashes, and taking away their wives and children. Absolutely everything now in David’s life looked as though it

Lord Jesus, every single time we reach out to someone, we risk having our words being misunderstood and our efforts rejected. It was no different for You, and You warned us that those who love darkness would hate us on account of You. You even said that we are blessed when this is so! (Mark 13:13, Luke 6:22) But it doesn’t always feel that way, Lord God, any more than it could have done for You when You first returned to Nazareth and everyone was praising You. (Luke 4:15,22) But when You spoke the deeper truths the townsfolk needed to hear, they tried to throw You off a cliff, the very elders of the synagogue You had always attended at the front of the crowd. You went travelling the length and breadth of the land, doing good, manifesting compelling evidence of the power of God at work in You . . . And yet so many turned their backs against You instead of their hearts toward You, fearing the disapproval of their leaders. It was easier to reject something so preposterous so threatening to their religion and

May you be rested, blessed and empowered as you feast on this short meditation which is part of a series that explores the word ‘nuach’ – the deep, settled and empowering rest that the Lord sends.

May you be rested, blessed and empowered as you feast on this short meditation which is part of a series that explores the word ‘nuach’ – the deep, settled and empowering rest that the Lord sends.

May you be rested, blessed and empowered as you feast on this short meditation which is part of a series that explores the word ‘nuach’ – the deep, settled and empowering rest that the Lord sends.

May you be rested, blessed and empowered as you feast on this short meditation which is part of a series that explores the word ‘nuach’ – the deep, settled and empowering rest that the Lord sends.

May you be rested, blessed and empowered as you feast on this short meditation which is part of a series that explores the word ‘nuach’ – the deep, settled and empowering rest that the Lord sends.

May you be rested, blessed and empowered as you feast on this short meditation which is part of a series that explores the word ‘nuach’ – the deep, settled and empowering rest that the Lord sends. Why not listen to the piece right through first, and then try hitting the pause button for a while to let different people and situations come to mind to pray for. Somewhere about 34 seconds might be a good time to do this? The music you will hear is the slow movement from Vivaldi's exquisite mandolin concerto, played by Christiane von Albrecht, and then one of my all-time favourite Adagios by Jean Baptist Loeillet, played for us by Thomas Herzog.

May you be rested, blessed and empowered as you feast on this short meditation which is part of a series that explores the word ‘nuach’ – the deep, settled and empowering rest that the Lord sends.

Celtic Fantasia by Ruach Breath of Life

In the midst of the global pandemic, it has been remarkable that it was possible for the Tokyo Olympic Games to have gone ahead. By and large they have been outstandingly successful, and conducted in a good spirit amongst the nations, with all the inevitable highs and lows, personal triumphs and heartbreaks. We recorded this exuberant dance by Rameau some years ago, and, as it was written to celebrate the unifying power of love in exotic places, it seems a fitting piece of music to release as a tribute the enthusiasm of the games and a chance to pray for international peace at this deeply troubled time. Lord, let nations honour one another we pray. Let the spirit that has driven so many to seek excellence, and to pursue their goals, inspire Your people too to profound and determined efforts to see the visions You have sown in their hearts fulfilled we pray. We pray especially for . . . and . . .

Olympian efforts: Pressing on to win the prize I happened to take a break from my labours this morning in time to see Adam Peaty retain his Olympic 100 metres breast stroke gold medal. It reminded me afresh of the rewards for perseverance. Every day serious swimmers, long distance runners, divers, ice skaters and so athletes and artists get up early and train, pummelling their bodies and foregoing many ‘normal’ pleasures in order to focus on winning the prize. Paul uses athletic terminology too. ‘Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.’ (1 Cor. 9:25-27) The Lord more than does His part, but we need too to persist and persevere. A few years ago I wro

This is the first of a series of reflections and invitations from the Lord calling us to enter the Lord's rest inspired by the Hebrew word 'Nuach'. As this opening piece draws to a conclusion, it leads in to Huw Humphries lovely song 'Father, lead us on into Your heart.'

Into Your hands: Praying for Souls in Distress A passionate prayer for believers going through various different mills, set to equally passionate music. This is an invitation to join in spirit in praying for and on behalf of people who are in great distress, whether in body, mind or spirit. Some years ago, I heard an intriguing musical theme in my spirit. I jotted the notes down and wrote it up as a piece for piano, before passing it on to James Horsfall, who, with great skill and creativity, shaped it into the powerful piece of music that we were able to record. Recently I have been feeling the pain of those in great distress, and in need of both help and hope, and so I wrote this in-depth prayer to set to it. Because the prayer was longer than the music that James and I had written, I brought in a short but lovely movement from a concerto by the English composer John Baston, which Thomas Herzog plays for us on the oboe. The presentation starts, however, with a most unusual rendering of the hymn, ‘O c

As I was sitting beside a village duckpond not far from Malvern the other day, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and the fresh green of the new leaves, I was struck afresh by the tenderness of God toward us. This meditation springs from that time, and is accompanied by two exquisite pieces of music for oboe, that seem to breathe with the soft and clear life-giving ruach of the Lord. The first, played by Amy Roberts and Christiane von Albrecht, is by the Italian Baroque missionary musician, Domenico Zipoli, who found his life's calling ministering in South America. The second is by one of my all-time favourite composers, Jean Baptiste Loeillet, from Flanders, and played by Thomas Herzog and Christiane. May this reflection help prepare you to receive His tender touch once more.

As the harp sounds her opening chords, this immersive and reflective piece invites you to spend time savouring the tender favour of the Lord. How has He shown His compassion toward you? What concerns might you bring to Him now? Sing with Mary how He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, for His loving devotion toward us is abundant! (Lk. 1:54; Ps. 106:45) The presentation includes music for the harp by Dussek and Domenico Scarlatti, as well as an arrangement of Beethoven’s celebrated Moonlight Sonata, all of which Fontane Liang plays beautifully. The final piece is played on the autoharp by Heather Farrell-Roberts. Not many of us, perhaps, are familiar with the sound of this instrument, but there is both joy and tenderness here in a piece called Hawker’s Dream, written by Mike Fenton. Do share these precious pieces with people you sense would benefit from an opportunity to experience more of the Lord's great tenderness.

Lament and Light by Robert Weston, arranged by Peter Richards In this piece, we have sought to capture something of the cry of pain sounded by Jesus Himself. Not so much the pain He experienced on the Cross, but rather that of the Via Dolorosa, where He grieved for the suffering that would come upon the women of Jerusalem because the city had missed the hour of its visitation. (Lk. 19:44: 23:28) And yet, even as He staggered toward His death, He knew that through His sorrow and His sacrifice, Light would break through into the darkness of the world, and that there was joy set before Him. (Heb. 12:2; Is. 60:1) And just as lament and light blend together in Jesus’ heart, so too they often do for us as well. It is so right, therefore, that songs of both lament and praise should have their place in the way we express our faith and longings. May this simple piece of music help you to give expression to the cries of your own heart. The first short movement, little more than a minute long, expresses aspects of