RU reflecting on God’s presence at the Rise Up 2026 too?
What a fab weekend! It was so wonderful to see everyone and I hope you are all enjoying your ‘new shoes’ and managing to stay out of the box!
As you know I was a little disappointed when our lovely gold balloon burst out of the box and then flattened itself on the ceiling. I wondered why it bothered me so much and I realised it was because it seemed to have been stopped, it had once again reached a ceiling. When it had been ‘rescued’ and the ribbon had been attached it seemed to be the right way up and appeared to be floating upwards. God is constantly calling us up and as Ruth pointed out to me, ‘we need to be anchored’, that ribbon and little weight kept our lovely balloon the right way up.
I’m a big lover of tuning forks and plumb lines (odd, I know), I love the singleness of sound from a turning fork and the way plumb lines hang so straight. We all know the Word of God is our plumb line, but do we always use it or do we sort of ‘guess’. You know, ‘well it looks straight’, ‘yes, I’m sure that’s right, I don’t need to pray, look up the Word’ …. Oh, is that just me?
It is so easy when we come back from wonderful events to feel a bit flat or be overwhelmed with the everyday stuff once the ‘mountain top’ experience or excitement begins to fade; again, maybe it’s just me … but that is the time when we have to put on those wonderful spiky sandals Anita was speaking about and stand. I loved that picture, Anita, thank you, it has been such a help
What did we take to the table? What was the exchange we made? Are we hanging on to the new or have we slipped back into the old?
For me, personally, and one or two other people I know, ‘trust’ is the biggy of the moment. Whether it is for work, finance, house sales/purchases, direction, the battle is keeping the anxiety and fear at bay while digging in to trust by declaring those truths about the One who we trust until there is that steady plumb line alignment and clarity of sound of Truth. So put on those spiky shoes and get declaring:
He will never leave you, nor forsake you (Deut, 31.6; 31.8; Heb 13.5)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer 29.11)
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4.19)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom 8.28)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6. 10-17)