Alex Banwell

Is the Lord calling you to pass through a Red Sea, cross a Jordan River, or maybe even walk on water? I’d like to share the following, with the hope that my words will encourage you as much as writing them encouraged me. http://worshipunlimitedministries.org/take-the-next-step/

Take the next Step. Take the next Step. In Exodus 14, we read the miraculous account of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, when God literally parted the waters, making a path through the centre. Having used ten plagues to free his people from Egyptian slavery, God led them to the seashore. He also allow...

This morning, I read the following quote from C.S. Lewis, the author of the famous Chronicles of Narnia, and it really spoke to my heart. Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

One of the things I love about living in the Forest of Dean is hearing the whistle of the steam train when I’m sitting in my garden. At this time of year, they decorate the trains for Christmas and have what they call the Santa special. Makes me wish I was a child again. Lovely innocent fun.

Hi everyone. I wanted to thank you for your support and encouragement over the past 12 months, and to wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year. All being well, next year will see the release of the follow-up to Just Benny, so please keep praying for me as I write. However, despite the fact that there was no new book, it has been a fruitful year. I had the blessing of attending the Kingdom story Writers retreat in North wales in June, and I was part of the writing team for the Jesse Tree Anthology, released in time for advent. I hope to release some teasers for the new book early in 2024, so watch out for those. I am two thirds of the way through the first draft. yes, it’s a slow process, but my dad always said that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. So that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! God bless you all.

Lorraine Beard Author and I are here selling our books. 

This is a brand new Christmas song for 2023, and it reminds us that things don’t always happen the way we think they should. The Jews of Jesus’ day were waiting for their promised Messiah, but many of them thought he would come as a military leader to conquer the Romans, or at the very least, he would be a king like their famous king David. But when Jesus came, he chose meekness over majesty and he wrapped his power in humility. Not what they were expecting, but exactly what we all need. https://youtu.be/sPiFsJDgIq8?feature=shared

Phil Wickham - Manger Throne (Official Music Video) Official music video for “Manger Throne” from Phil WickhamStream or download the song here: https://fts.lnk.to/MangerThroneDon't forget to SUBSCRIBE: https:/...

When we consider the Christmas story, there’s always a lot of focus on Mary. and I suppose she was the one who had to give birth. But what about poor old often-overlooked Joseph? Imagine how he must have felt when he found out his betrothed was pregnant. And there she was, telling him she hadn’t really been unfaithful. She was carrying the Son of God! Many men would have told her where to go, blackened her name in the village, and maybe even done a lot worse, because stoning was legal back then. Yet even at his lowest point, the most Joseph intended to do was to divorce Mary quietly. This shows his calibre as a man. And then, one angelic visit was all it took to assure him that Mary was telling the truth. I really admire this man. Even more so when you consider that the child he brought up wasn’t truly his, and Joseph would always have known it. What a responsibility - to be the earthly father to the Son of God. But didn’t God pick well? https://youtu.be/FUtImBmI12Y?feature=shared

Trisha Yearwood - It Wasn't His Child Music video by Trisha Yearwood performing It Wasn't His Child. (C) 1994 UMG Recordings, Inc.

At this time of year, I love cosying up with a good Christmas book or watching a festive film. I have a few favourites, but one is the Christmas Shoes. Although it is both a book and a film, the book is much better and it’s spawned a whole series, plus a sweet but slightly soppy song. https://youtu.be/GJcPVB-we7g?feature=shared

NewSong - The Christmas Shoes "The Christmas Shoes" by NewSongListen to NewSong: https://NewSong.lnk.to/listenYDCheck out more Christmas Pop Hits! https://holiday.lnk.to/popYDSubscribe to...

As soon as I heard the opening line of this song, I was hooked. “You and me we use so very many clumsy words.” Amen! And don’t we just We’ve all said something in the heat of anger, then wished we could take it back only moments later. But what’s said cannot be unsaid. John’s gospel opens with “In the beginning was the Word’. Jesus was God’s final word on the issue of sin. he loved us so much that he didn’t want to leave us in a state of sin and helplessness, so he sent Jesus, his one and only Son, to come into the world as a baby, grow up as a perfect man, and die on the Cross. “His final word was Jesus. he needed no other one.” https://youtu.be/0Xo3d4iz1IQ?feature=shared

The Final Word Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupThe Final Word · Michael CardJoy In The Journey℗ 1987 Sparrow RecordsReleased on: 1994-01-01Producer: Norbert Put...

Yesterday at our youth Sunday School, we were talking about the ways in which the Christmas story has been sanitised, embellished and ridiculed by man-made traditions. Most parents are happy for their little ones to sing Away in a Manger and hear the story of baby Jesus, but they lump it in with fairytales like Cinderella and Snow White. And despite our best efforts, the church sometimes doesn’t help. Why would anyone believe that “The little Lord Jesus, no crying he made?” Have you ever heard of a healthy baby that doesn’t cry? It’s their only means of communication. I’ve never been a huge fan of Away in a Manger, but I like this new version. Notice the words that have been changed. Much more real. https://youtu.be/aXXpJeXCJ1w?feature=shared

Phil Wickham - Away In A Manger (Forever Amen) (Official Music Video) Official Music Video for “Away In A Manager (Forever Amen)” from Phil Wickham’s album Christmas. Listen or Download now at the links below.Apple Music: https...

December 24 is my favourite day of the year, and whenever possible, I love attending midnight services. There’s no better place to be as Christmas Eve rolls into Christmas Day than in God’s house singing his praises. However, even if I can’t be at church, I love to take time to allow my imagination to wander, mentally re-living the events of that first Christmas. So I sit and think about how Mary must have felt, how concerned Joseph must have been about his wife giving birth at the end of an arduous journey, and how scared the shepherds were when the sky above them burst into glorious light. I have so many questions, many of which won’t be answered until eternity. So, I love songs that pose questions, written by people like me who let their imaginations run wild. And this is such an example. https://youtu.be/1iNBLx30syE?feature=shared

Jenn Bostic - Tell Me Again (Immanuel) (Official Lyric Video) Tell Me Again (Immanuel)Words & Music by Jenn Bostic, Lauren Christy & Benj HeardVideo Design by WSK PromotionsLicensed to YouTube by Youth Be Served Records

I started getting involved in school Christmas concerts at the tender age of 3. I don’t remember it clearly, but apparently, our infants class performed a selection of nursary rhymes. They dressed me up in bloomers and a mop cap, tucked a lamb under my arm, and I sang about little bo-peep who’d lost her sheep. I knew the concerts happened in the gym, but when they ushered us in through a side entrance and up onto the stage, bright spotlights shone down, and it didn’t feel like the gym at all. I would love to tell you I was a sweet, demure little girl with a bad case of stage fright, but sadly, that wasn’t the case. The audience began to clap at the end of one of the songs, and in great indignation, I shouted out, “WE haven’t finished yet!” My poor mother probably nearly died of embarrassment! In future years, I was a munchkin in the Wizard of Oz, half a castle in Cinderella, and I played Mary several times. Those were my favourite plays, because even as a child, i knew what Christmas was all about. One year, we learned a song that stsill holds a special place in my heart today. Whenever I hear it, I’m transported back to the school gym, with the spotlights shining down, and the knowledge that somewhere in the gloom beyond the stage, my mother was watching. https://youtu.be/HeRrAzapOQ0?feature=shared

It was on a Starry Night

Here are 5 reasons why books make better Christmas gifts than chocolate.
1. A book is a gift that keeps on giving. Once it’s been read, it can be passed on to someone else who can also enjoy the blessing.
2. Reading is a feast for the mind, without piling on the calories.
3. I’ve never heard of anyone feeling guilty after reading a book, but loads of people feel guilty after eating chocolate.
4. You won’t have to diet from reading in the new year.
5. There are no reading restrictions for your diabetic friends.
Finally, good health permitting, the grateful recipient of your gift can choose to enjoy the best of both worlds, so they can munch on a box of chocolates while they read! lol! What could be better? Happy Christmas everyone!

During my childhood, my parents received what felt like 100 Christmas cards every year, and my mother strung them around the house as part of our Christmas decorations. Decorating was a lot simpler back then, so people made the most of what they had, and I loved looking at the cards. Especially the shiny ones. After Christmas, my mother gathered them into a pile, and I thumbed my way through, insisting on knowing who they were all from. The cards were recycled, except for the ones I hid away. I was drawn to pictures of the nativity scene, and by Mary in her blue dress. Blue was my favourite colour even back then. So I kept those cards, and the others were taken to a drop-off point to be made into something useful. I was often called upon to be Mary in nativity plays because I loved to sing, and she was always given a song or two. Once, I learned the Magnificat in song, and another year, despite the fact that I was full up with a cold, I still insisted on singing to the best of my ability, using it as a great excuse for my baby doll Freddie to act as baby Jesus. (Oh, and by the way, just to confuse things, Freddie was a girl!) Of course, whenever I acted as Mary, I had to wear blue. But the real Mary probably didn’t wear blue at all. We know Mary and Joseph were poor because of the offering they brought when they took Jesus to the temple. Isn’t it amazing how man-made images can influence the way we see important events. The real picture of Jesus’ birth would have been so different. that’s why I love this song. The version I’ve chosen to share is by Randy Travis. Point of grace sing it too, and some would argue that their arrangement is more beautiful because of their almost angelic harmonies, but Randy’s is raw, just like the scene he’s singing about. https://youtu.be/ejO3wEifBc0?feature=shared

Labor of Love Provided to YouTube by Curb RecordsLabor of Love · Randy TravisSongs of the Season℗ Word Entertainment LLC, A Curb Company.Released on: 2007-09-25Artist: Ran...

This is a great time of year to curl up with a good book, or maybe to buy one as a gift for a loved-one. So, this is just a friendly reminder that my first novel, Just Benny, is available on Amazon in paperback or as a kindle book, or can be obtained directly from me. When people ask me what it’s about, I tell them it’s the story of a boy born with severe epilepsy who struggles to find his place in the world because of the contrasting and confusing attitudes of his parents. His mother spoils him, whereas his father prefers to pretend he doesn’t exist. It’s a coming of age story, a love story, and so much more. It explores family relationships, and the difference one person who truly believes in you can make. I hope you enjoy!

I have a vivid memory of the first time I heard this song. It was a dark early December morning. About 4 or 5 A.M., I think. I’d woken up early, and I didn’t want to get out of bed, so I switched on UCB2, which is our UK based Christian radio station. I tuned in half way through a song, and the lyrics immediately grabbed me. What was it? Such a beautiful, simple accompaniment, but the words! I’d never heard anything like it before. I love lyrics that are real, and as far as Christmas songs go, this is about as real as it gets. It has since become one of my favourites. Sorry there are no lyrics in the video, but if you listen carefully, the words are crystal clear. https://youtu.be/xNxkBa0DeME?feature=shared

Katy Kinard - Human for Me Music video by Katy Kinard performing Human for Me. (C) 2017 Katy Kinard

It’s a well-documented fact that I love Christmas. yet there have been years when even I’ve struggled to feel festive. I lost my dad at the end of November 2017, so that was a particularly hard year. Then, in 2020, we had lockdowns and restrictions hanging over our heads because of the worldwide pandemic. December is a dark month, and for those who are grieving, lonely, or struggle with depression, it can be an uphill slog. I discovered this song during one of my non-festive Christmas seasons, so today, I’m sending it out to those who are longing for this season to be over. Our Immanuel is with us, so we will never be alone. https://youtu.be/kKkFyaRpfUo?feature=shared

Anne Wilson - I Still Believe In Christmas (Official Lyric Video) Official Lyric Video for “I Still Believe In Christmas” by Anne WilsonGet the song here: https://AnneWilson.lnk.to/ChristmasVDSubscribe to Anne’s YouTube Cha...

It’s been awhile since I’ve written one of these, but here are some thoughts for Advent. https://worshipunlimitedministries.org/here-i-wait/

Here I wait. Here I wait. Every year in the buildup to Christmas, the Lord speaks to me through a particular song. I hope I’m not the only person God communicates with through music. Maybe it’s because I spent so many years creating playlists for my radio show, or perhaps it’s because of the way I was brou...

I first heard this sung as a solo in a local production of Graham Kendrick’s Rumours Of Angels. This album came out about 30 years ago, but it’s still as beautiful today as it was when he recorded it. And this is one of the highlights. When we think about Jesus coming as a baby, what else can we do but kneel and worship him? The one who strode among the stars and called each one by name, lies helpless in a mother’s arms and must learn to walk again. those words get me every time. So let’s make our whole lives an offering of praise and adoration. https://youtu.be/-K1WfUR07xc?feature=shared

What Kind of Greatness (Lyric Video) - Graham Kendrick What Kind of Greatness is a popular song from Rumours of Angels for Advent services exploring the story of God becoming human, exchanging untold majesty and ...

For our third Christmas song, we are staying with the theme of light shining in the darkness. I couldn’t find the version of this I wanted to share, so had to settle for one with lyrics, so you can all follow along. But isn’t this beautiful? https://youtu.be/LdPSxqa9TLU?feature=shared

I Have Seen The Light (shining in the darkness) with Lyrics Video copyright Youtube User ID bobf72450.

We The Kingdom - Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah) [Lyric Video] Official Lyric Video for “Light Of The World (Sing Hallelujah)” by We The KingdomGet The Song Here: https://wtk.lnk.to/LOTWIDSubscribe to We The Kingdom: htt...

Has anyone put their Christmas lights up yet? Mine have been up for weeks, but then, everyone knows I am a Christmas nut! At this time of year, I love to fill my house with light, reminding me that Jesus is the light of the world. Johns Gospel tells us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. I find that so comforting, considering how much darkness we see all around us at the moment. Let Jesus shine in your hearts, but not just during the advent season. Even when the Christmas decorations have been packed away and we enter the dark month of January that can be so depressing for many people, Jesus can still shine in our hearts and lives, because he will always be the light of the world.

We The Kingdom - Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah) [Lyric Video] Official Lyric Video for “Light Of The World (Sing Hallelujah)” by We The KingdomGet The Song Here: https://wtk.lnk.to/LOTWIDSubscribe to We The Kingdom: htt...

Since I started this advent musical journey a day late, today, you get 2 for the price of 1! So, for our second song, I’m considering the verse printed on the front cover of Just Benny, around the cover image. It’s the well-loved John 3:16 that tells us God loved you and me so much that he sent his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. That’s the gospel in a nutshell. Ultimately, it all comes down to love. Mankind was and is in a mess caused by sin, so Jesus came to do what we couldn’t, and because of that, we can have eternal life. In my book, I wrote about a young man who thought he was worthless, and “no good at nothing.” But by the end, he learned a valuable truth, and it’s expressed so beautifully in this song by Jasmine Murray. There are many images associated with Christmas - the twinkling lights, families sitting together around a table … But the greatest of all is the image of our Saviour coming as a helpless baby in a manger.

For God So Loved by Jasmine Murray Lyric Video Jasmine MurrayFor God So LovedDownload or listen to this song here: http://jasminemurrayofficial.com/albums/jasmine-murray-for-god-so-loved/No copyright infr...

Most of you probably know that before I wrote Just Benny, I spent ten years producing a weekly Christian radio show called Worship Unlimited that could be heard on various internet radio stations. In those days, Christmas was the highlight of my broadcasting year. I always tried to do extra programming because I simply love Christmas music. My aim was to prove that there’s a lot more of it than just the traditional carols, or Wizard, Bandaid, or Slade. So during this advent season, I thought I’d share some of the songs I love. Sorry for the late start, but you know what they say about better late than never. So let’s start with the Advent Hymn, which speaks of Jesus as the long awaited one, because advent is meant to be a season of waiting. “Here I wait in hope of you. My soul’s longing through and through.”

Christy Nockels -The Thrill of Hope- Advent Hymn(Lyric Video) Purchase "The Thrill Of Hope" on iTunes" | http://bit.ly/thethrillofhopePurchase "The Thrill of Hope" on Amazon | http://amzn.to/2hh7yj1Purchase "The Thrill...

And they are both brilliant books.

A brilliant resource for readers of all ages. 

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Lorraine Beard Author and I just spent 2 days alongside other Christian authors at Book Blessed in Stroud. It was great to catch up with old friends like Rachel Yarworth, Writer and Natasha Woodcraft - Writes, Wrongs & Songs, and to make new ones including Lesmarie Shalan, Maressa Mortimer Author - Vicarious Living, and many others. Here are a couple of pictures my husband kindly took.