What are we all learning from this time of social distancing? Are we discovering that we really do need people around us all the time, to encourage us or to stroke our ego's or are we perfectly comfortable on our own? Are we enjoying the slower pace of life or are we getting more and more frustrated with everyone and everything? Does the constant stream of 'good news' stories on TV and social media, of people raising money for the nhs or supporting vulnerable people, postmen wearing fancy dress and the constant stream of zoom choirs still cheer you up or are you dreaming of a return to normal news?
I thought that I had reached a point of zoom choir fatigue, but was well and truly stopped in my tracks by the release yesterday of the video by Tim Hughes and an army of worship leaders from across the country singing The Blessing over the nation. If you have yet to see it, I'd urge you to follow the link and watch. The sight and sound of the UK church standing together and praying over the country was amazing. It really was like seeing the bride of Christ coming together, putting aside the petty squabbles over what we disagree about and instead concentrating on what we agree on. It is a really powerful image for our country and I just pray that it will break out of the Christian social media ghetto and reach the wider nation. I have seen so many people sharing the video over the last 24 hours, that it has the potential to reach so many - the YouTube video has been viewed nearly 850,000 times already and this figure is growing rapidly! When I searched for the video on YouTube, I found a number of versions, including one by the churches in South Africa, together with various US cities also having created versions.
For those who haven't heard it before, the song was written only a couple of months ago, the words will be familiar, as the writers have based it on scripture. The song was written at Elevation church by a number of musicians working together who felt that it was a song of encouragement and blessing for these uncertain times. It was written on a Thursday and by the Sunday it was used for the first time in a church service (click here to see the video from that service, which has been viewed over 10 million times already). Shortly after posting the live video, it was clear to the writers that this was a very special song. If you glance at the comments on the video, people have become Christians just listening to it - wow! It has already been picked up by churches around the world and I feel it will become a firm favourite for many people.
Time2 sit back, close your eyes and as you listen to it, let the words of blessing wash over you, your families, your street, your city and our nation. Amen and Amen!
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