Ruach Breath of Life

..... it was a deep heartfelt yearning for God - for He whom my soul loves..... a longing for Him as vital as the air that I breathe.....

Joysprings for piano - Ozoned by Ruach Breath of Life

In Your hands You hold all things And You hold me fast. You are my Shield and my Defender You are my Lord over all You are the One Who knows the end from the beginning And You hold me fast.

Number13 Ebb and flow by Ruach Breath of Life

Beyond the noise: Poignant moments of prayer and reflection for the nation with Mozart Beyond the hype and excitement of the Makerfield by election yesterday, which featured a win by a man who studiously avoided referencing the name of the party he was representing, and who began his acceptance speech by claiming that ‘politics is broken in this country,’ it will be good to specifically dedicate Andy Burnham’s time as an MP (and very probably as PM) to the Lord. With so much being up in the air for the nation at this time, I thought this would be a good time to release this extract from one of Mozart’s most beautiful pieces: his 27th piano concerto, which Jo Foote and Christiane von Albrecht recorded for us in a special arrangement for two pianos. By Mozart’s usually bright standards, it contains an unusual degree of poignant emotional depths. Because it embraces both gravity and hope, it feels a fitting choice for stilling our souls, and for giving ourselves to the Lord afresh, entrusting the future of this country to Him in full recognition of the immense scale of the challenges facing us. At both a political and a spiritual level, the music cuts through the constant noise of the news cycle, and beyond overinflated hype and superficial attempts to remedy the situation. May I encourage you to take some time to pray for wisdom for our leaders, and for all in positions of responsibility, for the Lord to overrule, lead and beautify. Why not find a quiet space to listen, perhaps even put on headphones to make the most of this "moment of prayer" reflection?

The unrelenting air raids on Ukrainian cities have provoked degrees of psychological distress beyond anything one can imagine - quite apart from the immense physical damage that they have caused. Especially now that ballistic missiles are being used, against which Ukraine has no defense, unless or until more Patriot missiles are provided. This is an intensely powerful piece by David Booth, which allows time to ponder and pray, beyond the initial onslaught. May the Lord lead you in prayer as you listen to it.

My Heart Isn't Proud by Ruach Breath of Life

May the Lord bless the land of Armenia I improvised this piece a few weeks ago, and after Justin had transcribed it for me, and we have worked on it a bit, I felt it would be good to dedicate it to Armenia, a country with a long Christian tradition, which is taking the risky step of moving away from its heavy dependency on Russia and towards the West. May the Lord move in power to protect Armenia and to draw many more in that land to a living relationship with the Lord Jesus.

The trumpet is the most distinctive sound in the book of Revelation, more even than the harp! It has a long historical association with the divine, and has often been used to represent the voice of God and His angelic hosts. In the Baroque period, when this piece was written, the distinction between secular and sacred music was becoming more fluid, and pieces like this glorious sonata were soon adapted and played by the trumpet and organ during church services and religious processions. As you listen to this sonata by one of Britain’s finest and most original composers, ask the Lord to marshal His forces across the world, and to move in the very opposite power to the destruction at work in so many places, so that more and more nations and peoples may find their refuge in Him, and so become His possession.

Grace Nadin brought us this profoundly beautiful song at the Symphony of Worship Conference in Malvern in 1996. May the words and the music combine to draw us deeper into a flow of Spirit-led prayer.

Grace Nadin brought us this exquisitely beautiful song at the Symphony of Prayer Conference in Malvern in 1996. More recently we recorded it with Megan Topper. May it become the prayer of our heart too.

Lord Hear Us by Ruach Breath of Life

What a special piece this is! You will love the dramatic fanfares and the lyrical dialogue with the solo instrument. It is very moving! Enjoy it for what it is, but as you listen, and almost certainly will want to listen again, see where the Lord might wish to direct you in prayer. It is a perfect music to accompany prayer to strengthen many people and situations, and to release the power of God far and wide. How special it is to combine music worship and prayer in this way! Thank you again Anthony Thompson, and all who played this piece so beautifully.

Torelli by Ruach Breath of Life

Torelli Sinfonia (Finale) by Ruach Breath of Life

Canzon by Gabrieli The end of the 16th century found Giovanni Gabrieli combining the roles of organist and principal composer at St Mark’s Cathedral, where he was able to take full advantage of the superb acoustics in that majestic building. One commentator described his dialogues between different instruments as being the 16th-century equivalent to ‘surround sound.’ May this piece, which is part of his Sacrae Symphoniae, bring a sense of the surrounding presence of Heaven. For there is joy and hope and a lovely sense here of being led by the Spirit. May God’s people everywhere press in to love and follow the Lord Jesus in the freedom of His Spirit.

David Booth has recently recorded a really special piece for Flamenco guitar. We called it 'Tender Flamenco!' I recorded this lament to accompany his beautiful guitar piece. It is inspired in part by the Lord's moving words in Jeremiah 2 and 3, where He looks back to the intimacy He used to enjoy with His people, and mourns how far they have backslidden. Let's use this moving piece to pray for people who once walked closely with the Lord, but who no longer do. Heart of my heart, I planted you as noble vine, a seed of the highest quality. I remember how you were, radiant in first love. and I was with you as Friend and Lover, a Mighty Warrior who saves, taking great delight in you, and rejoicing over you with singing;” but now you have turned your back and forgotten Me. (Jer. 2:21; 2-3, Zeph. 3:17) What fault did you find in Me, and what harm have I done that would cause you to stray so far from Me, turning to systems that cannot fail to fail, and building cisterns that contain no trace of My living word? (Jer. 2:5, 13) I went to such lengths to bestow great blessings on you – and if they had been too small, I would have added still more; (2 Sam. 12:8) but like a thoroughbred turning up its nose, you sought to beautify your way by the skill of your own hands (Jer. 2:32-33) and ended up despising all that I have given you. Will you not pause to reconsider, and pour out the gratitude that used to stream from your heart, lest all that is left be an empty shell that you seek to fill in a thousand different ways? I keep a chair reserved at My banquet table here in Heaven for when you return to your Shepherd and your Guide. (Jer. 3:4) My hand is stretched out and My Spirit allures, (Hos. 2:14-15) but I can do no more until you are willing to acknowledge your need and reach out Your hand once more to receive the endless blessings that I have always had in store for you. (Jer. 3:13-14)

With politics so much to the fore in people's thinking at this time, I was reminded of this quote by the 17th century Anglican theologian Richard Hooker that ‘He that goes about to persuade a multitude that they are not so well governed as they ought to be, shall never want attentive and favourable hearers.’ Those who promise much by way of better things for society are always likely to be popular, initially anyway, until their ideas are exposed to realities that either prove their value or show them to be wanting. Each of us know where our heart veers in response to the events and challenges of our time, but may we always bear in mind that the anger of man can never bring about the righteousness of God; and that while hatred of ‘the other side’ can stir up feelings of superiority or contempt, nothing less than the working of God’s Holy Spirit can ever create anything that truly unites. Since we must always be in search of godly ways of expressing our concern, I thought that reminding ourselves of James Montgomery’s words in his famous Christmas carol would be an unusual but potentially fruitful way to join with the angels in celebrating that Jesus has come into our midst, and that He invites people everywhere to come and worship the One who is with us now, and who will suddenly appear again. Here’s a reminder of the lyrics: Angels from the realms of glory Wing your flight o'er all the earth Ye who sang creation's story Now proclaim Messiah's birth Shepherds in the field abiding Watching o'er your flocks by night God with men is now residing Yonder shines the infant light Come and worship Come and worship the Lord, our God Come and worship the Savior Worship Christ the newborn King Saints before the altar bending Watching long in hope and fear Suddenly the Lord descending In His temple shall appear Come and worship Come and worship the Lord, our God Come and worship the Saviour Worship Christ the newborn King Come and worship Come and worship the Lord, our God Come and worship the Saviour Worship Christ the newborn King Jesus, we don't have to wait until Christmas to pray for You to rekindle the love of many to honour and worship You with all their hearts!

It is a great delight to share these three brief 'doodles' that I improvised on the piano with you. After recording them, I sent them to Justin Coldstream, who kindly transcribed them. I then sent them on to James Horsfall, a very talented pianist in Jersey, who shaped, sharpened and played them for us. They are lovely. I sent them to a dozen friends by Whats App, and everyone received clear leadings and impressions as they heard them. Why not put them on a Sound Cloud loop, soak in them for a while and see what moods, emotions, heart cries, people and situations come to mind as you listen!

As we enter the welcome season of spring in the northern hemisphere, it is precious to pause and notice all the vivid displays and explosions of colour around us, and to pray for a spiritual ‘burgeoning forth’ across the Earth. This is the time of year above all others when we celebrate the natural world emerging all its glory as it was created to do, breaking forth in its soft, downy abundance. Let’s pause and marvel at the quiet gentleness that is abroad in the whole of Nature: an iridescent playfulness that mirrors and accompanies the urgent need to reproduce and multiply. With the spring comes the fulsome joy of the dawn chorus as the birds gather in song. Isn’t it a joy to listen to them about their business? It is full of hope and expectation; a great settling and busyness as one generation prepares the way for the next. And Jesus says to us His followers, ‘Look at the birds as they get on with what My Father has made them to get on with. Don’t be afraid, and don’t worry – you are free to do the same!’ This invitation to freedom in Christ feels particularly poignant when we consider how inclined wee can be in the Church to build structures, and to rely on our plans and programmes, sometimes even to the extent of depriving ourselves of experiencing more of the joy of the intimate worship and encounter that flows in the immediacy of the Father’s presence. Let’s be sure to make room for it in our daily lives as well as in our meetings! As we listen to this second spring piece that Mike recorded for us, let’s pray for the Church in the light of the trusting freedom of the birds, and their selfless preparation for a new generation. May we be like the bird in this picture who is both rejoicing at the coming spring, and yet equipped to meet needs and situations that will call for great resolve and courage. And may the Lord grant our leaders, political and spiritual alike, all they need to sustain them in and through whatever situations we are called upon to face, decide upon and put into action in this and every season. Where the church is going: Looking beyond the global shaking. Somewhat along these lines, you may appreciate this far-reaching article by Rodney Woods on nurturing healthy freedom in the Church, at this time when much is being shown to be hollow because insufficiently hallowed. Rodney is the senior minister at City Temple in London: https://freedtolead.substack.com/p/where-the-church-is-going