Here’s the truth: our waiting and seeking is powerful, substantial, and precious to the Lord. He doesn’t hurry us through our seasons of waiting and seeking so He can be good to us. He is good in the midst of our waiting and seeking. Why? Because He is always present and His character is to be good. As He walks with us through our times of waiting and seeking He is good to us. What a beautiful, valuable gift. Nothing else in this world compares to that.

The Lord said to me, ‘do you realise how much joy I feel when you discover and start to use the unique traits and gifts I’ve woven into your life?  Just as Arlo’s true bark perfectly fit his size and character, so your traits and gifts perfectly fit you.  Don’t hide them or apologise for them but dare to let them out of hiding and dare to know the excitement of living them on a daily basis.’

Being profoundly deaf from birth and unable to appreciate the rhythm and cadences of music, even with a powerful digital hearing aid, I had rarely experienced watching the BBC Proms on television until the evening of 20th July.

New mercies each day.

Let’s look out for them.

Where will you see God’s faithfulness today?

The Amazing Invitation to feast at God’s table and share good things with Him and others who have accepted the invitation, requires a response: what will be on your RSVP?

And with that I suddenly understand that my trousers already have everything within them to make them a lovely, smart piece of clothing. My ironing, using the best heat and great care simply restores what they’ve been made to be. How could I call them stupid when they are beautiful and have just given me such an amazing revelation.

I had spent time frantically working out how things could work, and they worked just

fine without me.

What about us with God?

Maybe we treat Him a bit like that microphone sometimes?

We rely on Him.

But then something persuades us that we can’t rely on Him in a particular situation.

So we make backup plans.

Just in case.

And we worry, and fret, and try to sort things for ourselves.

What makes Open Ears so special? Why did 30 people make the journey to meet in person and spend a beautiful sunny Saturday inside? Why is being together so important?

“Don’t you realise the amazing gift you have from God?’ Don’t you realise that the Holy Spirit lives in you?’” This is as relevant to us, today, as it was in the days the Apostle Paul wrote it.

Vic will sit before God, quietly, just being in God’s presence. Me, I aspire to this level of zen, but my personality is different and God not only knows it, but I believe He cherishes the differences because he made those. When I pray, I often don’t even know what I’m going to pray about until I’ve talked for a bit and it’s almost like I’m finding out my deepest concerns as they come out of my mouth! 

We are told that some disciples doubted the risen Jesus, not just Doubting Thomas. Jesus, by appearing to them on the mountain, was expanding their limited earthly horizons. Do we allow Him to do the same? Do we worship Him as His due, or do we doubt Him still?

Next week is Deaf Awareness Week.

Many of us, if not all, in Open Ears are all too aware of hearing loss. Let’s celebrate our community.

God’s open doors are not literal doors that we can walk into as well as go through. Rather they are indications of things he may be setting before us…

Gently and meditatively exploring the Bible book of Psalms together.

The UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and EU Law stipulate that disabled people have a right to take part in social and cultural life. Hard of Hearing (HoH) people are often overlooked, even though they are the largest group of disabled people in Europe (20%).

Funding from the European Union enabled a team of Disability advocacy groups across Europe to compile a guide for organisations wishing to creat open, accessible, welcoming events for HoH and those with hearing to equally participate.

As we approach the liturgical season of Lent, we are invited to enter into a journey with Jesus which led to His betrayal, arrest and crucifixion at the hands of the Romans two thousand years ago.

Eugene Peterson paraphrases this verse as: ‘I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.’

Jesus never wasted any of His words.

“Being hard of hearing/deaf is hard, isn’t it? …….Jesus understands.”

Encouragement to pray.