24~7 REWIND "LIFE IN THE MOVEMENT" FOR FRIDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2014

24-7 Prayer Rewind - Valentines Day This week we look at whether or not Valentines Day really matters... You can read about it here -http://24-7prayer.com/features/2198 What do you think: a day for Hallmark or a day for love? <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gMLJIsabq_M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> February 14, 2014 Who cares about Valentines Day? "It is not good for man to be alone" Genesis 2:18 I have always found this verse puzzling. Adam and God are walking together in perfect harmony and yet something is not right. Even in this place of unbroken relationship with the Almighty; Adam was not complete.  From the very beginning (and by ‘the’ beginning I mean Genesis 1 not Genesis 3) the plan was man and woman together. The plan was community. The plan was relationship.  There is something of the divine found as man and woman live in covenant. Together discovering and representing the fullness of God.  Family Under Threat With all this potential, is it any surprise that covenant, marriage and family has become one of the biggest battlegrounds of the 21st century? Over the past few years it's become the 'in-thing' to dismiss Valentine’s Day, seeing it as nothing more than a nuisance - a 'Hallmark' holiday of cuddly teddy bears and boxes of chocolates. It makes singles lonely, long-term partners pressured and smitten lovers poor.                                                   We are a generation who are forgetting what it means to be in committed relationships. The Guardian reported that in the UK alone, 13 divorces were granted every hour in 2012, one in seven were due to adultery. At the end of 2012 it was reported that a staggering 42% of all marriages will end in divorce.   We need to think about what that statistic actually means. Almost half of every marriage is destined to fail.  Something is terribly wrong. It is easy to point the blame; 'surely' it’s Hollywood for giving us false impressions of love, Photoshop for giving us unrealistic impressions of beauty or maybe it’s just that life is simply too busy these days to be able to give a relationship the attention it needs.  Or, most scary of all, maybe marriage is just a prehistoric notion from a time passed. Every person is an island - people can visit, but none can stay. And yet the words of Paul in Ephesians still ring true, marriage is a wonderful and sacred thing that demonstrates how Jesus loves the church. The most intense, passionate, sacrificial love the world has ever known – all embodied in the beauty of committed relationship. Marriage is, and always will be, one of God’s most spectacular ideas.      A Challenge to Couples So you have made up your mind to not give in to the pressure, you won’t be ‘forced’ to show your partner love on Hallmark’s clock. Ok, but then what? Honestly I don’t think it matters, buy a card or don’t buy a card. Just don’t let boycotting Hallmark become more important than showing your partner you cherish them.  Marriage is crumbling, but we are called to shine like stars in a broken and corrupt generation.  I am not married, but every time I see the type of marriage I hope to one day have, they tell me the same key to success: Marriages require work, everyday.  Don’t show your partner you love them because it’s Valentine’s Day, do it because you love them. And do something that they would love. A Challenge to Singles First of all, it’s ok to want a relationship. In fact Proverbs says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing. If you care about being married, so does God.  I have been single for seven years. If you let it, Valentine's Day can become like a pressure cooker of hopelessness, disappointment, anxiety and pain. But remember, you may not have ‘the one’ to show your love to today, but we live in a world which is broken and hurting and desperate for love.  Self-pity is deadly. It forces you to focus on yourself and, while your vision is turned inwards, you forget about the rest of the world.  Relationships are a gift. Singleness can be a gift too. If Valentine’s Day is a day to remind people to show each other love, then good for Valentine’s Day. Don’t let Valentine’s Day become a day of pain, make it a day of purpose. Pray for the person that God has for you (if that is what you want) Pray for marriage, family is so vital for community to survive  Pray for the broken hearted Pray that God would show you what true love looks like. Spend some time meditating on 1 Cor 13. Pick one from the list that you most struggle with and ask the Holy Spirit to help that area grow.  And go out and demonstrate God’s love to someone. All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the image 'Love ya!' by wilB  Adam Heather helps to keep 24-7 talking to the world as head of the communications team based in Guildford. He got connected with 24-7 after spending a year studying with a church in California. He loves  stories and is easily captivated by any exciting new idea. You can catch up with Adam on twitter (@Adam_Heather) Blogging A Miracle in Conclurry Nick Beasley  14th February   The UK is currently facing its worst rainfall and flooding since records began in 1766. Seventeen separate severe flood warnings have been issued all over the country, as 16,000 homes continue to be without power. Scientists have warned that even if the rain were to stop today, it would be at least 2 months before the floodwater had subsided. As we find ourselves in the heart of this unprecedented disaster, it can feel a lot like the country is falling apart. For those who have lost homes and belongings especially, things can feel a little hopeless, with no end to the rain in sight But in this country we’re usually relatively fortunate with the weather. Sure, we may not have the best tans as the sun sets on our summers, but world wide there are areas, routinely and consistently devastated by extreme weather conditions. Yesterday morning we received an amazing testimony about one such place; Cloncurry, a town in the west of Queensland, Australia. With more than two thirds of Queensland officially drought declared, the town of Cloncurry was preparing for evacuation, after suffering 2 years without notable rain.   A group of us are doing the Prayer Course in my church and are really growing in prayer. I wanted to pass on the details of a story of great encouragement to us. God is on the move!  Last Wednesday I read about Cloncurry's water crisis. This western Queensland town of 3000 people has had no good rain for 2 years. They were on the verge of extreme level 6 water restrictions after the town's dam was so low the water was no longer drinkable. The disaster management plan had turned to the boiling of bore water, but a full scale evacuation was also being prepared for.  The timing for reading the story was interesting to say the least. That same evening I was getting together with some friends on the Prayer Course, with the topic of Petition the focus; simply asking God for things.  I shared the dire situation of Cloncurry and we specifically prayed for rain.  The next day, rain came.  Then that weekend, it came again.                                            The dam before the flood                                                           The dam after the flood On the Sunday evening, the dam rose from 15% capacity to the full 100% overnight! The council is now discussing downgrading the water restrictions level from 6 to 3. Praise God for answering our prayers!These are before and after pictures of the dam in Cloncurry.  We must keep western QLD in our prayers. Over 2/3 is currently still in the grip of drought.  Let's pray that God would send drought breaking rain to QLD and strengthen the farmers who are finding it so tough at the moment.  I will be praying for an ending to the flooding over in the UK. Bless you all We believe that prayers are powerful. We need the storms to stop in the UK.  Let’s continue to pray for the ending of the floods, continue to pray for those devastated by extreme weather abroad, and continue to trust in God. All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the image 'information' by keith ellwood   Nick Beasley is an English Literature graduate who spent a year studying at the London Film Academy before joining the 24-7 Prayer Communications team. He’s mostly interested in films and music and is a Manchester United fan, though he has no geographical right to justify his allegiance.  We Have to Pray for the Political Unrest in Ukraine The Phantom Intercessor  12th February   Political opposition divides the country of Ukraine.  Unrest erupted in November 2013 when the Ukrainian government authorities announced that plans to sign an agreement with the European Union had been suspended. Anti-government protestors (pro-EU supporters) began to fill Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, demanding that the president, Viktor Yanukovych, give up power.   Anti-government protesting continues to spread, already reaching a dozen Ukrainian cities. On December 15, rival vigilantes in support of President Viktor gathered for a counter-rally to help riot police in hopes of bringing order to the streets; however, it is feared that this will bring about more division and possibly violence. The country is split with a stark division between those who support a trade agreement with the European Union and those who support the president’s decision to reject it. Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuck told parliament that he believes the country is on the brink of a civil war. And they need our prayers...                   - that lawmakers act responsibly in making decisions that would help bring peace to their nation and prevent any future possibility of civil war.   - that the violence would not increase among anti-government protesters and riot police. - that the protests remain peaceful and that authorities would not succumb to the use of force or brutality. - for the protection of political leaders in the Ukraine and international leaders as they meet with Ukrainian officials to discuss solutions for the political unrest that overwhelms their nation.   Ask God to ignite hearts with His Word; may the Scriptures come alive among Ukrainian believers while the Gospel spreads in this region.   All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the image 'Ukraine Demo München', 'Ukraine Demo München II' and 'Ukraine Demo' by blu-news.org The Phantom Intercessor has dedicated his life to battling for Prayer, Mission and Justice on Planet Earth. This caped wonder is rarely seen, appearing at prayer meetings only when all eyes are closed. His utility belt is packed with razor sharp tracts, Holy Water and a Jesus Loves Ibiza bible. He can leap lego buildings and takes the stairs 2 at a time. The Intercessor has all the gifts of the Spirit including the much misunderstood Old Testament power to 'Smite'... Such is his saintly nature that he is yet to use this gift on anything other than wasps and the occasional rabbit. In all seriousness 'The Phantom Intercessor' is a fictional writer employed for pieces where the authorship of an article is generic or where the writer needs to remain anonymous. Prayer Spaces in Schools: First report from Thessaloniki, Greece Phil Togwell  11th February Prayer spaces can have a deep impact... Last week, a Christian teacher at a private school in Thessaloniki hosted the first prayer space, at least that we know of, in Greece.  "It's developing really fast," he said. "The students from the high school helped to build and create a room just how they want it. When other students came to visit, at first they said that it was weird, but it didn't take long for them to join in... many said that they wanted to find some space for themselves and God. Other teachers responded to the prayer space like happy little children, and some said that they would like a corner of the room all to themselves, where they could read the Bible.              In general, the Greek people are in difficulties. The financial crisis affected us very early and very deeply, and a lot of people are stuck in poverty. However, some of the parents were so excited by the impact of the prayer space on one student's character that they decided to help out by raising some money to develop the prayer space. A small office room is changing into an area where students can find a refuge. The educational system in Greece does not provide enough resources and pedagogical input for students to grow spiritually and to become fully human. But these prayer spaces can have a deep impact, they can cause an awakening here." Phil Togwell lives in a large community house in Romford (UK) with his family (three daughters - Megan, Poppy and Angel, and one wife - Emma) and various visitors and pilgrims... exploring and experimenting with rhythms of prayer, mission, hospitality, life together. Phil is learning to cook, slowly. He likes curries, mountains, lengthy late-night conversations and reading books. He dislikes cats. Phil leads the Prayer Spaces in Schools team.  Going deeper The Prayer Course Six videos to fuel discussion and deepen the prayer life of your church 24-7 Prayer and Alpha have teamed up to produce The Prayer Course - six 10 minute videos, hosted by Pete Greig, to help you explore different themes of prayer found in the bible: adoration, petition, intercession, unanswered prayer, listening to God and spiritual warfare. Available for free download at www.prayercourse.org