Tag Archives: Jesus

The Joys of Community

April 5, 2025chaplain, Icon Retreats, icons, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministry, UncategorizedBible, Christian, Christine Hales, church, faith, God, Jesus, Kingdom Arts Ministry, Mick Hales, ministry, prayer, religionChristine Hales

Hello Friends and Family:

Christine’s Icon Exhibition at All Angels Church on Long Boat Key

You are probably wondering what has happened to us since it’s been so long since we ‘ve last written to you all. So far it’s all good, with Christine being super busy teaching two 4 day retreats, and having two large and beautiful exhibitions of her icons going on simultaneously. There were also two icon talks and a guided Stations of the Cross service with her Stations of the Cross Icons in Saint Petersburg. All good, but keeping her very very busy!

And Michael has been busy as usual, volunteering as a chaplain for the homeless people of Sarasota, two days a week and then 4 days a week working as a chaplain at a retirement village. He is also enjoying doing taking the Global Supernatural Discipleship training with Global Awakening. It has been a great revision for teaching that we first received about fifteen years ago. It is a five month course and Michael has enjoyed the reactivation for healing prayer and other ways of bringing the Holy Spirit’s presence into peoples lives. Michael is also active in a group of Chaplains and who all came through the International Fellowship of Chaplains, IFOC. He has found the Global Awakening training on healing prayer and deliverance invaluable within the Chaplain ministry.

And, of course, the political situation here in the States is quite strange and volatile, bringing lots of changes that we are still not sure of. But God! God aways has us in His capable hands and has plans to prosper us and keep us in His protection at all times. So, we have no cause to fear, but only to stay in prayer and in relationship with Him, listening and responding to His voice each day, as we can.

Something that we are getting a lot more practice with, since moving to Florida, is living in community. We live in a condominium community of very diverse people, and share different points of view on many things, and yet, we live in peaceful community and are able to share times of fellowship around a meal and the pool.

You all are never far from our thoughts, though and are daily in our prayers. We may not be able to physically see you all due to distance, but in our hearts you are very present.

And the condominium community where I have my studio is also a place where we are known and respected and share valuable relationships with folks from other parts of the country. One of my friends at this community is part of a quilt making group and each year they donate beautiful lap quilts for Michael to give to some of the residents at the retirement village who are most in need of a touch of God’s love. How blessed we are!

Please let us know any prayer requests you may have, and please do pray for the USA and our leadership, that God will hold it in His hands and His plans will be accomplished in all things.

Love and prayers,

Christine and Michael Hales

Hurricane Hiatus

November 11, 2024chaplain, Icon Retreats, icons, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministryBible, Christian, christianity, Christine Hales, church, faith, God, hurricane, icons, Jesus, Mick Hales, ministry, photography, prayer, religion, TransfigurationChristine Hales

Dear Friends and Family:

The month of October felt like one disaster after another! And it is my birthday month, too! So, I apologize for missing our regular email to you and know that you will understand.

Sarasota will be a long time recovering from the two hurricanes, Helene and Milton. Still many businesses and beaches are not open and won’t be for quite some time. the gulf water is not clean enough to swim in yet, but we have been going once a week for an early morning walk on the beach because we miss it so much.

Mick’s arrangement made from my birthday flowers!

During this time, in my morning spiritual journaling, God led me to read 1 Peter, and what an inspiring book to read when life is going sideways! In 1 Peter 4:12 Peter tells us to not be surprised when we suffer, as though something strange was happening to us, but to rejoice, instead, that we can share in Christ’s sufferings and shout for joy when his glory is revealed!

We shouldn’t expect that things will always go well for us, but we remember who we do put our faith in, and we are never alone in our suffering. Peter tells us at the end of this book, in 1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen and establish you.”

I hope this is encouraging to you, since you also will be having trials and problems to overcome in the days ahead. But we serve a powerful God who loves us beyond all measure, and as we put our faith and trust ever more firmly in His hands, we will be saved. Amen!!! As far as our news goes, I’m recovering from extensive dental surgery, but have been able to still get some wonderful creative work done in my studio. I have several teaching trips scheduled for 2025 that I am preparing for, as well as a large exhibition of my icons at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Saint Petersburg, Florida, January- May 2025. Lot to organize and plan!

Michael is still working as a chaplain at the retirement village and volunteering as a chaplain for the center for the homeless in Sarasota.

My Transfiguration Icon exhibited at the Sarasota Art Center last month

I am very excited about teaching an icon retreat in Santiago, Spain, next May and have started a conversational Spanish club here at our condo community so that I can communicate well when I am there!!

We are so very grateful for each one of you, family and friends are the hands and arms of God in a crisis! (I made that up). Really, we cannot do our ministry without your support and prayers,

May God bless you and keep you always in His hand as you go through each day and watch over you sleeping.

Love you,

Christine and Michael

Mick’s Photography Christine’s Icons and Icon Retreats

…”Whatever is Lovely

May 5, 2024chaplain, Chaplaincy, Icon Retreats, icons, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministry, UncategorizedChristian, christianity, Christine Hales, church, faith, God, Hope, icons, Jesus, Kingdom Arts Ministry, Mick Hales, ministry, photography, prayer, religionChristine Hales

Michael here: I have been spending time photographing Myakka State Park and using the old cyanotype process to print the images. It gives a very rich blue color print and after much trial and error I am finally getting results I likes. It also gives me time in nature, which I find so valuable to allow all the different people interactions which occur with ministry, to mellow. Christine and I try to have a walk on the beach together whenever we can, it is a wonderful way to process some of the incidents which have been placed on the back burner during the busy times.

I hold a service, with communion, in our Memory care wing at work once a week, it may be one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of being a Chaplain there. No two weeks are the same, except I know there is going to be interference in one form or another. I read the gospel, recount a story for the scripture, sing my heart out with, ‘Jesus Loves Me This I Know’, or ‘I come to the Garden Alone.’ We all sing Halleluiahs, from Handel’s Messiah, then have communion. It is so special to see the old fingers diligently receiving the hosts off a small tray and shakily holding a small cup of wine [ the best grape juice I can find]. Even those who appeared to be asleep, minutes ago, want to receive. It is a privilege to be able to step into their awareness with Jesus, as their memories flicker of church past. I make sure I pray for each one individually, before we all wave each other goodbye. For the present, I am blessed, because I get to leave the enclosure, for them that is not a choice.

So, when I am in Myakka Park photographing, I am so grateful to be able to enjoy God’s creation, where every single detail of His creative nature reaches past my comprehension. I give thanks to be amongst His nettles and dandelions, His oaks and thistles. It is too much to reason about or analyze, but to sit as a child and give thanks for the evidence of his extraordinary loving hand. It is when we step away from God that we lose sight of God and we need help sometimes, to find Him again. There are so many appalling happenings around the world it is hard for me to not dwell in them, but Paul’s letter to the Philippians 4:8 has a better way forward.

Christine’s Mexican Daisies that she grew from seed

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Another step forward for me this last month was making the decision to increase my time as voluntary Chaplain for the homeless day center here in Sarasota, Resurrection House. This gives me the opportunity to get to know some of the people better and hopefully be more of a presence for Jesus there.

Christine has had a busy month with a major show of her icons at the Church of All Angels on Longboat Key. She also has work in two other galleries in Sarasota. She delivered a beautiful icon of Isaiah, which was a private commission and beautiful work.

Christine: Yes, it has been a super busy time for me as well. The Exhibition At All Angels Church has met with rave reviews and one of the icons has gone to a new home. which always makes me happy! Also I’m so pleased that the large red painting of “Once and Future Queen” is on display at the Define Art Gallery- we are praying that it sells and it also goes to a new home!

I’m having some much needed electrical renovations done at the studio that will be a blessing, but at the moment it is very messy and loud and disruptive! I’m trying to keep working in the midst of it all though- I’m sure you know what I mean! I had my apocalyptic horsemen rejected for a show that was titled”uncomfortable”. I’m not sure the juror understood what the four horsemen meant! Life!

Thank you all for being in our lives, we love and miss each of you, but we know that we all have each other as we all walk on our individual and God given paths. May God bless your comings and goings and be with you at the close and beginning of each day. Please keep us in your prayers.

Love and prayers,

Michael and Christine

Michael’s photographs Christine’s Icons and Paintings

Expect Miracles

January 9, 2024chaplain, Chaplaincy, Icon Retreats, icons, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministry, UncategorizedChristian, christianity, Christine Hales, christmas, church, faith, Hope, icons, Jesus, Kingdom Arts Ministry, Mick Hales, photography, prayerChristine Hales

Christmas, for Christians, Christ’s birth, is one of the most significant happenings ever to occur in this world, it is on par with Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. And it is a miracle! A miracle that keeps birthing more miracles is one that we don’t want to overlook!

Christmas, as a holiday celebration, can be mostly a family gathering that centers on gifts, food, decorations and carols, with a nod to Christ’s birth and a sprinkling of good wishes.

Keeping a healthy balance between those two sides of Christmas can be a challenge, but attending Advent services, reading the gospels pertaining to the birth of Jesus, they all help build an anticipation to what really is the most earth shattering reason for joy!

I always have to add to it Christmas celebrations with my own birthday on Dec. 24, and this year a memorial service, a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service and then there is New Year’s Eve ….and it becomes something one is just glad to have come through!

My Nativity Icon at Church with myself and a friend looking at it!

But when we stand back and review the big picture, nothing else, so far, can be compared to Jesus Christ’s presence as a human being on this earth, fully human while still being fully divine.

The concept that God could have a son, to some, is fully outrageous or just plain folly. The concept of God as a trinity being in the form of a person, is equally difficult to absorb. That Jesus Christ came through a virgin’s birth and the supposed King, was born amongst animals, just goes against all reason.

And yet, for two thousand years Christmas has been celebrated and it’s significance held high through many different cultures and nations.

God is still working powerfully around the world, even when our clarity of who Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father are, or correctly, is and how we relate to each Person of the Godhead.

Christine and I just returned from a Global Awakening Retreat, fortunately held close to our home. It was an opportunity to look into each of the Persons of the Trinity and their interconnected indwelling. There was some excellent teaching and times of refreshing with powerful worship.

I got a word from the Lord, which has resonated through me since it dropped into my mind during a long period of holy silence, at the end of a days’ worship. ‘Stop looking back, Michael. Look toward me, your Lord.’ As I consider the many different messages in that word; of discipline, intimacy, direction, authority and security. I thank God that He loves us.

Christine’s News

We had our daughter and her family- husband and two sweet little daughters visit for the week after Christmas. Lots of fun family times and getting to know each other and bond together as a family. Michael took them to see the flamingos at Sarasota Jungle Gardens, and their other grand dad took us all for a boat ride to midnight pass! So very much to be thankful for!

I have begun two icons of early Christian Martyrs, Felicitas and Perpetua. Also getting ready to bring two large paintings to the Define Art Gallery for a February exhibition. I’ve been asked to be secretary for the Women Contemporary Artists Group I am a part of, and I’m still learning the ropes on that one. But I’m as excited as I’ve ever been to continue exploring the type of paintings God has called me to do. This year you will no doubt see some of the new work and I will look forward to your feedback.

Until next month, stay warm, and close to God. You can’t go wrong that way!

Don’t Be Lukewarm!

October 7, 2023chaplain, Chaplaincy, icons, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministry, Uncategorized, workshopsChristian, Christine Hales, church, God, icons, Jesus, Kingdom Arts Ministry, Mick Hales, ministry, prayer, religious artChristine Hales

Michael’s News

I had a quick visit for some photography in Tarrytown, NY, to shoot a house, which was great to catch a taste of late summer in the North East, with it’s exuberant plant growth.

New Chaplaincy

This month I was asked to be the Chaplain for a homeless day center in Sarasota where I served as a volunteer up until covid started. It is wonderful to be ministering with that population because there seems to be no middle road, in terms of their beliefs. They are either hot or cold in their beliefs, very few are lukewarm. So it is a wonderful challenge and very different from the working with the elderly population who I have been immersed in for the last four years.

In the book of Revelation 3:15-16, Christ criticizes the church at Laodicea with these words, ‘Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Whenever I read those words they come as a wake up alarm going off again in my mind.

How easy it is to become lukewarm and not even realize it; not just in our walk with God but with everything we do. The longer we do the same thing the more likely we are to become indifferently warm about it. I know when I ask some of my coworkers how they are doing today, most likely the answer will be. ‘Same old, same old’, with a broad tired resigned grin.

Gratefully, doing a ceremony completely differently can help us reexamine what we are doing usually. I had a request to do a Celebration of Life Service for a family which had just lost their father. As so often happens, due to the various family member travel schedules, it needed to be done quickly. The father who had passed was not a church goer and had requested just a small gathering when he passed. The family booked a boat and via the canals of Anna Maria Island moored close to a former property of the family. Wine was drunk, memories shared, rose petals thrown into the water, a small ceremony spoken with Psalm 23 attached, a prayer for wood workers [he had been] and we were off to find dolphins and manatees. Which we did. The sun had set by the time we were returning to port and his wife asked me, ‘Do you think we will have closure now, will the pain go?’ There would be closure but the pain does not go, but slowly, I assured. But in my own mind I questioned, have I given this man a true commendation to the Lord? So now I recognize how unfulfilling being lukewarm for the Lord is. So when we do not push through, with a full expectation and a complete request of the Lord, we are unlikely to receive it. Being lukewarm is rejected and unrewarded by our living God.

I also made a short video, Christ Our Mediator, https://youtu.be/VPlWjWoIIJQ.

The inspiration for that came from two sources, one was a banana plant we have in a pot in our little kitchen enclosure started to bloom and make bananas. How incredible that whole process is and not something we usually get to witness up close. The other source was from my ESV study bible’s notes on the overall view of the Bible. Please take six minutes to look at it and pass it along where you can.

Christine’s News

Just as the Art Uptown Gallery closed its doors in August, an new opportunity came up with the Define Art Gallery, also in Sarasota, but this time on South Palm Ave.- a very nice part of town and just on the next block to our beloved Church of the Redeemer! What a great location and opportunity! Last night was the first opening and it was packed with well wishers and local art afficiandos.

At the Define Art Gallery opening with a friend and my painting “Celebration” on the right.

Also, I’m so blessed that one of my icons- “Archangel Michael of the Apocalypse”, was juried into an exhibition at the Sarasota Art Center , opening next week. Now I’m preparing for the advent Online Icon Writing Class that will be on Zoom, Dec. 5-8. We will be painting an Icon of the Nativity. Below is the first drawing for it!

Please pray for us to be on fire in our ministry and not lukewarm, and that we can spread the immense joy and love that God has given us for all the world to see and receive, through our ministries and art.

We love you all so very much, and you are in our prayers daily.

Blessings, Christine and Michael Michael’s Photography Christine’s Art and Icons

What is Heaven Really Like?

March 1, 2022chaplain, Chaplaincy, Icon Retreats, icons, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministryChristian, Christine Hales, church, God, heaven, icons, Jesus, Kingdom Arts Ministry, Mick Hales, ministry, photography, prayer, religionChristine Hales

Yesterday we watched an old film on TV and to my delight, I recognized one of the actors who was a pupil at school with me in Taunton, England, many decades ago. It was wonderful to see his face making all the facial expressions I could remember from that time. He was a gifted actor.

It made me think, how a random reappearance of a person from my past, so well portrayed on film, how could I forget about him? Then the question became serious when I ask, how could I forget about most of the friends in my past life? Obviously, I have a terrible memory, and our lives have followed different paths; I now live thousands of miles from Taunton and most likely so does he. After all, there is only so long one will send a Christmas card to an old friend! That is if he is even still amongst the living.

From there, the thought emerged or perhaps it was a question, what will it be like to meet old friends in heaven? What will it be like to meet past loved ones; parents and siblings? Will that even be a valid question because we will be overcome by the presence and glory of God? We will be totally in awe and worship of the lamb of God.

Sometimes, people have told me, once they get to heaven they will ask a theological question of Elijah or Moses. Of course the one to ask is Jesus, but how close could one get to him and there would always be people ahead of me, probably millions, right?

A loud buzzer goes off with an uuurrr sound, WRONG!!!

There I go again. Trying to place God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit into my logical totally inadequate human brain. I try to formulate what heaven is like and who will be there. From my human context, I attempt a manmade virtual reality, of heaven. Of course my musings have to be wrong or totally inadequate to describe heaven. So lets see what Revelation tells us.

“And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 5:13.

Also from 1:12-16.

“and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.¹⁴The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, ¹⁵his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. ¹⁶In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.“

John’s book of Revelation gives me enough to know that thoughts of asking theological questions or looking for old friends, will be long gone, when I come into the full presence of God. All of our experience of God on earth has been veiled, or like smoke in a mirror. The concept of being completely filled by God’s love and to be always in His presence is the beginning of an understanding of eternal life, but really just a peep into heaven.

Living life on earth is really just middle ground for what we have to look forward to after we turn to the Lord. So watching an old movie took my mind back to the past, a past life, and that is what we tend to do as we get older; however, in reality we have something much more wonderful to look forward to and to keep our eyes on, our life to come. As Romans 8:38-39 affirms.

^”For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

At this difficult time in our world, let us all join together and pray for peace in the Ukraine and in the world. Let God’s peace cover this world, and bring Godly leaders forward into positions of power. Amen

Love and prayers,

Christine and Michael

Michael’s Photography Christine’s Icons

Alpha at Freedom Village

September 30, 2020chaplain, Chaplaincy, icons, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministry, video, workshopsAlpha, America, Bible, Christian, Christine Hales, church, icons, Jesus, Kingdom Arts Ministry, Mick Hales, ministry, religion, religious art, RevivalChristine Hales

Dear Friends and Family:

Alpha at Freedom Village

One of the wonderful developments this month for me has been re connecting with the Alpha program. Christine and I ran the program ten times at local churches in New York in the mid 90s and it was very foundational to our introduction to the Holy Spirit.

I am now running an in person Alpha program at Freedom Village, which is bringing a lot of fresh thinking about Christianity to the group who are in their 80s and 90s. My two co-leaders are both in their mid nineties and doing a great work.

The elderly community, Freedom Village where I am Chaplain, is getting opened up again with tight restrictions and precautions; I will be running a weekly grief support meeting, Bible study and in person Sunday Vespers, as well as the Alpha course. So we are trying to enable some normalcy but with tight precautions, as the community is so vulnerable to Covid.

Christine’s Icons

Christine has led another online teaching class, again with wonderful results, and people are signing up for future classes she is offering in November, 2020 and January 2021 . She is breaking new ground with the online classes, but also, her spiritual perspective as she teaches, is also being warmly received.

This last class the icon of Archangel Raphael, was written and the next class will be on the Vladimir Madonna in November, 2020 . Click here for more information about her classes.

Remembering Timothy

For me, one of the hardest issues was the passing of my brother Timothy, in England, and being unable to attend any of his last months of deteriorating health and funeral. We were able though to have some good phone conversations and prayer times. Grief of lost ones is ongoing and little sparks of memories bubble up at different times pushing themselves without excuse into our daily lives. I remember Tim’s ability to double up in laughter, with great gasps for air, as the pathos of humanity, was celebrated and dissected with humor. We all miss him. I created a short video relating to some of our conversations, ‘God wants you too’. Click here to view.

Continue to Pray For Our Country

The many difficulties America faces, can really consume all of our thoughts, if we allow that to happen. I love what Paul says in Philippians 4:8, and especially the translation which uses the word lovely, it seems like such a complete word for how to kindle our thoughts in this season.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Please let Christine and me know how we can pray for you, and please also hold us up in prayers.

Sending lots of love,

Michael and Christine Hales

Michael’s Photography Christine’s Icons

Compassionate Responsibility

July 31, 2020chaplain, Chaplaincy, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministry, UncategorizedAmerica, art, Bible, Christian, church, Florida, God, Healing, icons, Jesus, ministry, photography, prayer, religion, Revival, WorshipChristine Hales

Finally, even the President of the United States has decided that wearing face masks should be encouraged, and he may actually have worn one for a couple of photo opportunities. Clearly that change of mind came four months, 150,000 lives and a decimated economy, too late.

I just pray that those who oppose stopping at red lights, wearing seat belts and putting a face mask on in public get the message, that at this stage our country is at war and it is selfish, dangerous and ‘unpatriotic’, not to do so.

I have to admit that when you consider the 58,000 Americans who lost their lives in the Vietnam war, what is happening in America right now, is so much more devastating; soon to be three times the number of deaths. JZJT5830

On top of that we have around 17 million unemployed and millions of families living with uncertainty about the future for themselves and their children’s education.

We have to realize this is a terrible situation to be facing a critical election, which was manipulated by foreign countries the last time around, and is already being assigned conspiracy theories about postal ballets, etc. The protest marches for Black Lives Matter have been devalued again, leaving the whole issue of racism unresolved until another incident.

None of what I just wrote is news to any of us and it can not be just swept under the carpet by partisan views. It is too deadly. It is too horrible. It is too painful for so many people. If we do have compassionate hearts as Christians, we really have to take a long hard look at our responsibility in this time.

As a Christian I have to challenge other Christians to look honestly at where their opinions are being formed. Is it through the life and teaching of Jesus Christ or is it through the political views of Fox News? I see the spirit of Jezebel is at work here and that is not through Jesus Christ. All I ask is that you read through the account of Jezebel’s ways in Kings and see whether that spirit has usurped legitimate authority for personal political gain in this country.

As Chaplain to an elderly community I am seeing a lot of people question what life is about, as they have to stay in lockdown. There is going to be a huge emotional fall out for the elderly, for children and the unemployed from this pandemic.

Christians with compassion in their hearts is what is called for with the Holy Spirit working through them.

Colossian 3:12-13

¹²Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

I so much thank God for his love as we navigate our lives and responsibilities at this time. We pray for each of you that God keeps you and your loved ones safe and healthy, and we pray also for all medical workers, doctors, nurses, and hourly wage workers that they also will be kept safe and healthy. In Jesus’ name we pray.

Love and prayers,

Michael and Christine Hales

Mick’s Photography Christine’s Icons

The Good Shepherd

May 2, 2020chaplain, Chaplaincy, icons, non denominational ministry, Uncategorizedart, Bible, Christian, Christine Hales, church, Florida, God, Healing, icons, Jesus, Kingdom Arts Ministry, Mick Hales, ministry, photography, prayer, religion, Revival, WorshipChristine Hales

Greetings Friends and Family:

OK, so where did April go? We had Easter, all on line. It was an Easter I will always remember. We have had time to think and pray, to listen to the birds, to catch up with so many things from the back burner. But slowly, slowly we have come to realize we are not living in the same world we were living in January.

We are in a time of a ‘New Normal’. How long the ‘New Normal’ will last, is hard for us to know at this point, but certainly the New Normal has replaced the ‘Old Normal’ in many ways, for good.

The saying, ‘this too shall pass’, is one which my father would encourage me with in difficult times, and of course this pandemic will pass; mostly. However, if we assume after it’s passing we will go back to the Old Normal; no way.

This has been a wake up call. It happens to have come in the form of a health and economic attack. It will come again, with another ‘new virus’. Or it could come as severe weather, with significant climate change which is now close to inevitable. It could also come as food shortages and famines; the united nations reported 10 nations who already have more than a million people each without enough food, which could possibly be joined by another 26 nations in a similar vulnerable position as this pandemic unfolds. With all these major world events the movement of resources and people searching for safety will exasperate our nationalistic phobias. Did we wake up yet?

We are standing on shaky ground all around.

One of the assigned scriptures for this Sunday is Psalm 23. Such an amazingly powerful holy document written by a shepherd boy turned king, David. So powerful that it is very often included in memorial services because it is so uplifting.

David had many challenges, victories, personal failings and dreams, but the most significant thing he had was his complete love and trust in God. The first line, the first statement is David’s position from which everything else can follow.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

After that statement of belief, the results of that belief unfold. Security, provision, rest, peace, good direction, the ability to start over, how to live a pure rewarding life, helping people turn to Jesus. It also says there will be hard times, there will be death. It is all part of life. Even so we can stand in peace, with closeness to God, his protection and direction, comfort. Despite the fact we are under attack, we still have provision through the Holy Spirit, in fact the Blessings are more than we can handle, our cup overflows. We can be sure of God’s blessings and sure we will be with him in eternity.

That all comes from the first statement. The Lord is my shepherd.

Why do we need a wake up call?

Well, like sheep, we get drawn to where ever we think there is green grass. Our heads are down following whatever looks good next, the next good patch of whatever pleases us. Jobs, houses, curtains, deserts, lawn mowers, TV, scandal, ice cream; we are always on the lookout for the next ‘green grass.’

So when we finally get a ‘wake up call’; from a pandemic, famine or drought, hopefully we realize we are a long way off the tracks.

So the question raises up again, where is my shepherd now? Nowhere to be seen, although I know he must be around, I have been so very busy, so totally involved, with—whatever. I am lost, I have just kept looking for the next green thing in my life, loosing track of direction, loosing track of a real purpose. Loosing track of the big picture, why am I here?

Hopefully, we will wake up to realize there is no stable ground around us, that there is nothing safe. Except God.

So our heads have to come out of the sand. We can ask for forgiveness and turn back to the shepherd. In fact, when so many people do that, we realize there is an awakening opening up. So many people are getting called back to Christ that we are now praying deeply for revival. For by His wounds we have been healed. How could we forget that?

This is why our prayers are so needed at this time. That there will be an awakening to how far we have strayed from our Shepherd. Sheep love to follow. I pray that we could turn to follow God and not our own selfish ways. Because Jesus stands waiting for us to come to him, no matter who we are, no matter how depressed we are, no matter how addicted we are, how lonely we are, how nationalistic we are, how partisan we are or how much we have hated our neighbors. He is still holding out his hand to us in this ‘New Normal’. Thank God, in all things.

Please keep Christine and me in your prayers and ask the Lord how to work for His Kingdoms’ revival.

Love and prayers,

Christine and Michael

Mick’s Photography

Christine’s Icons

Palm Sunday Video

April 2, 2020chaplain, Chaplaincy, icons, non denominational ministry, Prayer ministryart, Bible, Christian, Christine Hales, Florida, icons, Jesus, Kingdom Arts Ministry, Mick Hales, ministry, photography, prayer, religion, WorshipChristine Hales

Getting Ready for Palm Sunday!!

They say natural disasters have three stages, the approach, the occurrence and the aftermath.

Writing on April first we are still in the approach stage. We have no idea how devastating April is going to turn out to be, certainly New York is going to be hammered and many other metropolitan areas as well. Then the aftermath is going to extend much further than people can digest at the moment; the loss of life, the loss of work and a depressed economy will be with us for a long, long time. Other things will change, our work habits, our trust in the governmental institutions and how we return to worship in churches or not.

Yes, we are looking at a huge shaking approaching, larger and more extensive than we can imagine. Think back one month when there was not an inkling of what was coming along, we were not prepared, individually or as a nation. It is times like this that the reality of how vulnerable our lives are and indeed the strength and stability of America is, even carrying a superpower status. Then we look at countries like India with high densities of population and ask what is going to happen there? Maybe the hot temperatures in the many of the vulnerable countries will lessen the power of the virus; it is destroyed at temperatures over 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, interesting enough, the virus does not like light but survives in cold, dark, damp environment, it is not alive in itself but attaches to human cells, corrupting them to then corrupt and destroy others. One could use that as a good description of the demonic.

So much to pray for. So much arrogance to repent from.

Such an awesome God to pray to.

Mathew 21:21

And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

Taking God Seriously

God is calling us all to take Him seriously. To focus on Him and not leave Him on the back burner. Many of us have time now, while we are sheltering in place to focus on God. This is a huge opportunity to turn away from the distractions of the world and return to prayer.

Indeed, God is inviting us to be in prayer. He is directing us to be in prayer.

Christine and I have been working from home. I have not been allowed to do visitations in the hospital or the nursing home attached to Freedom Village. Freedom Village now has highly restricted access, so I have been preparing for them sheets of collected scriptures on different subjects, for the residents to use as starting points for them to pray from. They are being called, ‘Food for Prayer’, and I hope they can open the door to the Holy Spirit to work individually in them. I have also been preparing You Tube Sunday services and will cover the Easter services in the similar way. God has opened a door for me to use my photography in these video’s which I have not been doing since I took up the Chaplain job. Please check out the two services I have already posted through the links below.

Christine has been completing a commission of a very beautiful icon of Christ, where He is holding the scripture, ‘I am the light of the world’. Additionally, she has created an original Icon of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. She has also been taking an online course from an iconographer in London, Ian Knowles, which meant very early mornings joining with some 99 other iconographers from around the world. She has also been part of a strong bible study online group of women, which always go way over time and brings a lot of revelation and joy.

Daniel in the Lion's Den Icon by Christine Hales — Daniel in the Lion’s Den Icon by Christine Hales

Look For Silver Linings

One of the silver linings in all of this virus situation is that the online methods of communicating can give us an alternative way of getting many things done. But there is no alternative to actually being with someone one on one when they are going through a bad time.

This was brought home to me last week when I was called to visit someone who lost her husband the previous day. She had not been allowed to see him for the last two weeks that he was alive, even though they were less than two hundred yards apart. They had talked frequently on the phone, but to not have been able to touch each other and look into their eyes was a haunting separation. These are some of the simple things, which really hurt, when we are denied them. That same desire to be close, so close that we see into the hearts of people, is God’s desire for our relationship with Him. That we would seek to touch Him and look deeply into his eyes and know Him. That is the love He has for us and yearns for us to have for him. It has always been that way and it will always remain that way. I pray we wake up to that in this time of opportunity.

Let us know how we can pray for you and please keep us in prayer.

Do not forget to watch the two videos, one is for Palm Sunday [ZOOE0], I would love to get feed back on them.

Michael’s Video Links- they are great!!

https://youtu.be/I9wyjwZOOE0

https://youtu.be/cXosEs51n7Y

Love and prayers,

Christine and Michael Hales

Christine’s Icon Prints Michael’s Photography