New Wine is so refreshing!

The weeks continue to go by so quickly. The week before last, I finished work and said my goodbyes to the staff and pupils of Garth Hill College for the second time in three years. I have really appreciated God's goodness in giving me a second spell their and the opportunity to build relationships and to feel a part of one school. At the end the modern languages staff all went out for a meal together, which was really nice.

Following that, I barely had time to draw breath before I was jumping into the car to drive up to Newark for the northern New Wine conference, where I was manning the WEC stand for the week. Sadly Caroline was still working, so she stayed home with Naomi. However, it was a really interesting week of often contrasting emotions. I was often disappointed that not more people stopped to look at the stand, which was quite a powerful display, but I was blessed and challenged by the teaching and worship, particularly in the evening celebrations. It was for me a time of real refreshing and re-focusing on God. I was particularly challenged by the thoughts of Lesley-Anne Leighton, speaking about what she called "downward mobility" i.e humbling oursleves before the Lord and "holy intimacy." The following morning I was reminded of an old worship song, which contains the line: "Oh break our hearts with the things that break yours." This has two senses: the things that break God's heart in my life and the things that break God's heart in the world. I found that I came back, having been touched deeply by God and I am really grateful that He gave me this opportunity before we go out to Burkina. Truly for me, New Wine was a time of refreshing!