'Restore Ipswich' brings together the women of Ipswich in prayer. We aim to put comments and thoughts on this page and also to hold occasional meetings and events, all focused on the issues concerning women.
A call to the women who wait
One of the joys of reading, studying and listening to God’s Word, is that our focus falls constantly on something new or different.
Having been a Christian now for over four decades, I have celebrated over forty Easter weekends, together with my own family and Church family.
This year, I have been very struck by the theme of the women waiting at the Cross.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)
For six hours they stood, watched and waited until Jesus drew his final breath on earth, shouting “It is finished”.
I think this theme has stood out for me this year particularly, as for myself, I am (once again) a grandmother in waiting, with two beautiful daughters (once again) mothers in waiting. We are preparing to celebrate new life - two new lives - in our family during the coming three months.
For the women at the cross, their focus, at this point was more towards death than life, having not yet experienced or even understood the Resurrection - how could they when it had not yet happened, and was such an “impossible” concept?
Yet they would, in the coming days and months, move from that place in front of the cross, to a place beyond the cross, beyond the grave. They would meet with the resurrected Jesus, receive the empowering of the Holy Spirit, and move into a whole new realm of life, present and eternal.
Jesus himself, told a story about ten virgins, who “took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom”. They were to have a long wait - Jesus said “The bridegroom took a long while coming”. We can read the story in Matthew 25:1-13.
Jesus is talking about His own promised return - the second coming. He has said in the previous chapter that the Son of Man “will come at an hour when you do not expect him”. It is in this context that the story of the virgins is set - five were prepared, five were not.
As Church, we are all - male and female alike - a “people in waiting”, aware of the promise of Jesus to return in glory, but not knowing the day or the hour.
Another woman in the Bible I often think about is Anna the Prophetess. In Luke 2 we read of a man - Simeon - who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” - Jesus, the promised Messiah. But later in the chapter we are introduced to Anna (verse 36-38) who “never left the temple, but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying”. She was rewarded by the visit of the baby Jesus to the Temple, with his mum and dad, and had the great privilege of prophesying over the baby, (God Himself) in the early days of his life on earth.
As women, we do, it seems to me, spend much of our time waiting. We are relational beings, often caring for others, sacrificing our own time and desires to serve others; we also as women often carry huge emotional burdens, as well as a calling to pray.
Some of you may have heard about the following prophecy given in 1911
The 1911 Prophecy
Tell the women they must belong absolutely to God. They must believe in the great things that are happening and that God is doing on the earth. They must prepare their souls, their children and their husbands. And they will have very much work to do for God. Oh, what a great work the women will have to do in the end time, and the men will follow them.
Not one country will be without trial - do not be frightened of anything you will hear. An evil will shortly take Russia and wherever this evil comes, rivers of blood will flow. This evil will take the whole world and wherever it goes, rivers of blood will flow because of it. It is not the Russian soul, but an imposition on the Russian soul. It is not an ideology, or a philosophy, but a spirit from hell.
In the last days Germany will be divided in two. France will just be nothing. Italy will be judged by natural disasters. Britain will lose her empire and all her colonies and will come to almost total ruin, but will be saved by praying women. America will feed the world, but will finally collapse. Russia and China will destroy each other. Finally, Russia will be free and from her, believers will go forth and turn many from the nations to God.
Ladies, as we wait, let us use the time wisely and effectively, praying for our families, friends, communities, Churches, town.
Let’s keep out eyes on Jesus, His promises, His Word, asking for the “same power that raised Jesus from the dead” to be at work in us, as we go about our daily lives.
What are you waiting for?
Who are you waiting for?
Where are the places you spend time waiting? (School gates, hospital appointments, check out queues etc)
Let’s make each and every situation, person and place an opportunity for prayer.
As we all await the arrival of and consequences of Brexit, let us not be waiting and watching dispassionately, but praying as we are urged to in the 1911 prophecy, taking up our position and responsibility as we have been called to do, keeping our lamps alight and our eyes open, staying awake and aware, worshipping the risen Lord.
Thank you for being part of the praying community of this town of Ipswich, and of the Church in these days.
The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace.”
And whatever you are waiting and praying for personally, may He grant you patience, perseverance, positivity and peace in it - for with God all things are possible.
Liz Beaton (Ipswich in Prayer).
A call to the women who wait
One of the joys of reading, studying and listening to God’s Word, is that our focus falls constantly on something new or different.
Having been a Christian now for over four decades, I have celebrated over forty Easter weekends, together with my own family and Church family.
This year, I have been very struck by the theme of the women waiting at the Cross.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)
For six hours they stood, watched and waited until Jesus drew his final breath on earth, shouting “It is finished”.
I think this theme has stood out for me this year particularly, as for myself, I am (once again) a grandmother in waiting, with two beautiful daughters (once again) mothers in waiting. We are preparing to celebrate new life - two new lives - in our family during the coming three months.
For the women at the cross, their focus, at this point was more towards death than life, having not yet experienced or even understood the Resurrection - how could they when it had not yet happened, and was such an “impossible” concept?
Yet they would, in the coming days and months, move from that place in front of the cross, to a place beyond the cross, beyond the grave. They would meet with the resurrected Jesus, receive the empowering of the Holy Spirit, and move into a whole new realm of life, present and eternal.
Jesus himself, told a story about ten virgins, who “took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom”. They were to have a long wait - Jesus said “The bridegroom took a long while coming”. We can read the story in Matthew 25:1-13.
Jesus is talking about His own promised return - the second coming. He has said in the previous chapter that the Son of Man “will come at an hour when you do not expect him”. It is in this context that the story of the virgins is set - five were prepared, five were not.
As Church, we are all - male and female alike - a “people in waiting”, aware of the promise of Jesus to return in glory, but not knowing the day or the hour.
Another woman in the Bible I often think about is Anna the Prophetess. In Luke 2 we read of a man - Simeon - who was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” - Jesus, the promised Messiah. But later in the chapter we are introduced to Anna (verse 36-38) who “never left the temple, but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying”. She was rewarded by the visit of the baby Jesus to the Temple, with his mum and dad, and had the great privilege of prophesying over the baby, (God Himself) in the early days of his life on earth.
As women, we do, it seems to me, spend much of our time waiting. We are relational beings, often caring for others, sacrificing our own time and desires to serve others; we also as women often carry huge emotional burdens, as well as a calling to pray.
Some of you may have heard about the following prophecy given in 1911
The 1911 Prophecy
Tell the women they must belong absolutely to God. They must believe in the great things that are happening and that God is doing on the earth. They must prepare their souls, their children and their husbands. And they will have very much work to do for God. Oh, what a great work the women will have to do in the end time, and the men will follow them.
Not one country will be without trial - do not be frightened of anything you will hear. An evil will shortly take Russia and wherever this evil comes, rivers of blood will flow. This evil will take the whole world and wherever it goes, rivers of blood will flow because of it. It is not the Russian soul, but an imposition on the Russian soul. It is not an ideology, or a philosophy, but a spirit from hell.
In the last days Germany will be divided in two. France will just be nothing. Italy will be judged by natural disasters. Britain will lose her empire and all her colonies and will come to almost total ruin, but will be saved by praying women. America will feed the world, but will finally collapse. Russia and China will destroy each other. Finally, Russia will be free and from her, believers will go forth and turn many from the nations to God.
Ladies, as we wait, let us use the time wisely and effectively, praying for our families, friends, communities, Churches, town.
Let’s keep out eyes on Jesus, His promises, His Word, asking for the “same power that raised Jesus from the dead” to be at work in us, as we go about our daily lives.
What are you waiting for?
Who are you waiting for?
Where are the places you spend time waiting? (School gates, hospital appointments, check out queues etc)
Let’s make each and every situation, person and place an opportunity for prayer.
As we all await the arrival of and consequences of Brexit, let us not be waiting and watching dispassionately, but praying as we are urged to in the 1911 prophecy, taking up our position and responsibility as we have been called to do, keeping our lamps alight and our eyes open, staying awake and aware, worshipping the risen Lord.
Thank you for being part of the praying community of this town of Ipswich, and of the Church in these days.
The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace.”
And whatever you are waiting and praying for personally, may He grant you patience, perseverance, positivity and peace in it - for with God all things are possible.
Liz Beaton (Ipswich in Prayer).