Don’t write it down, I’ll remind you

Don’twrite itdown. I’llremindyou

Thinking about these past 25 years in particular I wanted to at least try and record some of the events and experiences that God has been kind enough to allow Tracy and I, with our fab 4 children (Jess, Sam, Lily and Lizzie) to be a part of. We wanted to give thanks to Him for His faithfulness through it all. Just an opening disclaimer. I’ ve probably missed some things and some names along the way but hope this gives more than a flavour of the many and varied appointments He made possible over these years. If you have a memory of a way we connected I’ll leave a way to contact me at the end. It was in the autumn of 1997 that I’d returned from a meeting and at bed time, as I drifted o, I had what I would describe as a vision. A new thing for me then but very real. In the vision I could see myself sitting at a keyboard, playing. I could hear melodies and I sensed that it was God inviting me to write something new. Slightly surprised and excited by what I saw and heard, I reached for a pen and paper from my bedside drawer and as I did, I felt I heard God say. ‘Don’t write it down. I know what you ’re like. I’ll remind you in the morning’ Well, this sealed it for me. He knew I was forgetful and it made the encounter all the more real. With my head buzzing, I turned over and shook Tracy from her sleep telling her that I’d just had a vision. As you can imagine, she was delighted to be awoken, not, and said something like ‘that’s nice dear.. Well, so taken by what I was caught up in I headed for the spare room and remember walking around thanking God that He had chosen to meet me in this way. After some time, feeling tired I decided to lie down and as I did I had an incredible pain in my belly. Aware of God’s presence I asked Him to take the pain. This is what I felt Him say to me in that moment ‘This is just something of the pain that I feel because people won’t come to me even though I’ ve made a way. I want you to be an usher into My presence’ Sensing the reality of this moment, I realised that this was a calling to pursue. Immediately the pain subsided and I was able to sleep peacefully. The next day I began to record what became known as ‘Enter The Throne Room’ It felt like a complete download from God, received and recorded quickly, an instrumental journey from the outer courts into the Holy of Holies. This place that He’d so powerfully reminded me of and called me to draw others into.

Hebrews 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,by a new and living way opened for us throughthe curtain, thatis, his body

So began Presence Worship that day. Soon after, meditating on all of this I realised that it meant I needed to do something about it and though I’d been involved in small ways leading worship locally and in Christian Bands I didn’t see a way forward. So, as we do sometimes, I had a chat with God about it and I remember asking the question. ‘If you want me to do this You need to give me some opportunities!’ Pretty presumptuous really! God had a swift answer for me. ‘You give me some time and I’ll give you some opportunities’ Well, that sealed it. I chatted to Tracy and she, being much more bold than me said. Finish work and go for it. Sadly, I wasn’t that bold but knew it was a serious enough call to do something about it. So, I quickly had a conversation with my managers at MORE Training, David and Philip Owens, who’d always been incredibly supportive of me. I explained what I was sensing of a responsibility to explore this path with God and asked if I could work my 5 day week into 4 trying to honour what I’d sensed God was saying. All this agreed the new pattern began and within a couple of weeks the phone rang and on the other end was William Porter. I’d briefly met him and Karen, his wife, at a Methodist Evangelical Conference at Swanwick where I was leading worship and He’d been brought in to cover for the speaker who’d fallen ill. William chatted to me about a plan he had with others in the Methodist Church to organsise a year of travelling to various locations across the UK to welcome and stir an awakening within the movement. He said they 'd been looking for someone to lead the worship and felt drawn to me. He explained that it might not be possible as he knew I was working full time and travel would be needed on Fridays to reach the locations. What he didn’t know was that I’d just agreed to this new 4 day arrangement with MORE Training. I said I’d go away, think and pray. Straight away I rang my long time friend and prayer partner asking him to pray. I think his words were something like.. ‘I don’t need to pray bro’ It’s obvious you ’ ve given time and here’s God’s opportunity!’ So, I called back, accepted and began the journey of meeting the team of friends that were planning ahead for the ‘Approaching Revival Tour’ in 1998.

That year was a brilliant learning curve for me, visiting a dozen or so venues around the UK, meeting with local Christians and learning how to flow with the Holy Spirit in all sorts of dierent settings and styles. I really feel that this was the foundation time for my ministry to Him. We had the privilege of seeing God move, encourage and stir many lives and knew that there was a wonderful invitation in worship to come and meet with the Father, just as He’d promised. Reminded about the whole realm of ministry I recall a very strong impression from God on this subject. In prayer one day, I sensed Him say