A year of lockdown. The memory etched in my mind...

A YEAR OF LOCKDOWN

By Aliss Cresswell

The memory etched in my mind

One year ago today, me and Rob were down on the South Coast of England, driving from the supermarket back to the house we’d rented for 4 weeks. In a tone echoing Churchill announcing war, the Prime Minister’s voice declared over the radio: “I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home. Do not meet friends. Do not meet family members. Do not go to the shops except for essential groceries. If you do not follow the rules, the police will enforce them. Shops and restaurants must close, holiday accommodation and offices must close, places of worship and gyms must close. No weddings, events or any type of gatherings are allowed…” and so he continued.

We, like the rest of the nation, were pretty shocked. We knew that coronavirus cases were on the increase and some shops had already been closing, but to be told to go home and stay home wasn’t easy for us. Only 3 weeks earlier we’d rented out our home in Chester. The only belongings we had were what would fit in our car, and we’d rented a place on the South coast for 4 weeks in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The announcement from the government was on the Monday and we were due to leave our accommodation just 4 days later, with nowhere to go.

What is God saying?

The Holy Spirit had led us there, and we knew that God had a plan. We just had to find out what it was! With lockdown, it meant the weekly Spirit Lifestyle Classes we’d planned to launch that week could no longer go ahead. Incredibly, and with just 2 days before we’d be homeless, we spotted a cottage on the internet that was for rent in Wales and managed to move in on the Friday.

Lockdown one year on

Today is exactly one year since that ominous announcement by our Prime Minister. We’re still in the same cottage on the Welsh mountainside. We’re still in lockdown, although since last week it’s now legal to travel within 5 miles of our home for outdoor exercise!

It hasn’t been easy by any means. There’s the news headlines bragging the daily death toll. And of course, along with almost everyone else, there are feelings of imprisonment and frustration, separation from family members and friends. Not legally being able to pray for people out and about like I usually do or tell them about Jesus. No hugging, no touching. ‘Keep 6 feet away at all times and wear your mask’. Spirits of death and fear all around. But as well as Covid restrictions, this past year we’ve had to deal with some really difficult situations, in fact some of the most challenging times of our lives.

But through all this, I have to tell you that God is real and He has an incredible plan for me, for you, for all of us. In fact, right now He is putting His plans into action and if you are following His Spirit, then you will see what He is doing begin to take shape and you will sense that we’re right on the cusp of an incredible move of God, globally.

A year of surprises

Over the past 12 months, probably the toughest year in this nation for 8 decades, me and Rob have tried to follow the Holy Spirit as best we can. Surprisingly, we (and our little team) seem to have set up an online community and discipleship portal with over 100 supernatural training videos, discipling hundreds of people from around the world who are hungry for God and to see Him move in power.

Little did we know at the beginning of 2020 as the Lord called us to leave our home and go on the road, that not only would we set up this global training portal, but that within the year, we’d have also planted scores of online and local weekly Classes and ‘Miracle Hubs’ – businesses and ministries demonstrating God’s love and power to the general public in many nations around the world.

Despite lockdown, we’re still seeing hundreds of people’s lives transformed – many meeting Jesus for the first time, and too many miracles to keep up with! This can only be God.

Light in the darkness

It seems to me that in the darkest of times, the Light shines brightest. Over the past year the Lord has connected us with some of His true warriors – faith-filled unsung heroes who are rising above the difficulties and the fear and the factions. We’re privileged to be working alongside them as they have heeded the call and are reaching out to others with demonstrations of God’s love and power.

I want to give a shout out to our faithful volunteer Coaches and Mentors who are not only doing this but also equipping and training others, our core team behind the scenes working diligently to help bring this about, our Miracle Hub pioneers reaching their neighbourhoods with the love and power of Jesus and of course our wonderful online community from around the world, eager to go deeper and higher with the Living God.

God’s good plan for you

But what we are doing is of course just a tiny part of the overall picture. Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, you have a vital part to play in this move of God. He has a wonderful plan for you and He’s hand-picked you, chosen and appointed you for this amazing time in history.

Enfolded in Him, as you yield the whole of your heart and the whole of your life to Jesus, you will be mind-blown (what we call gob-smacked) by what He can do in and through you, no matter what chaos is happening around you. A good place to start is by thanking God for what He’s done in your life so far. And if you would like to join our community, click the button below and we look forward to helping you discover all that God has planned for your life.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

About the Author: Aliss Cresswell

Aliss Cresswell believes in the God of miracles and living a life full of love and power. Through pioneering Miracle Cafés and Spirit Lifestyle training, Aliss and her husband Rob equip and activate those who pursue a Spirit-filled life to demonstrate God’s power and transform communities everywhere they go.

The memory etched in my mind

One year ago today, me and Rob were down on the South Coast of England, driving from the supermarket back to the house we’d rented for 4 weeks. In a tone echoing Churchill announcing war, the Prime Minister’s voice declared over the radio: “I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home. Do not meet friends. Do not meet family members. Do not go to the shops except for essential groceries. If you do not follow the rules, the police will enforce them. Shops and restaurants must close, holiday accommodation and offices must close, places of worship and gyms must close. No weddings, events or any type of gatherings are allowed…” and so he continued.

We, like the rest of the nation, were pretty shocked. We knew that coronavirus cases were on the increase and some shops had already been closing, but to be told to go home and stay home wasn’t easy for us. Only 3 weeks earlier we’d rented out our home in Chester. The only belongings we had were what would fit in our car, and we’d rented a place on the South coast for 4 weeks in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The announcement from the government was on the Monday and we were due to leave our accommodation just 4 days later, with nowhere to go.

What is God saying?

The Holy Spirit had led us there, and we knew that God had a plan. We just had to find out what it was! With lockdown, it meant the weekly Spirit Lifestyle Classes we’d planned to launch that week could no longer go ahead. Incredibly, and with just 2 days before we’d be homeless, we spotted a cottage on the internet that was for rent in Wales and managed to move in on the Friday.

Lockdown one year on

Today is exactly one year since that ominous announcement by our Prime Minister. We’re still in the same cottage on the Welsh mountainside. We’re still in lockdown, although since last week it’s now legal to travel within 5 miles of our home for outdoor exercise!

It hasn’t been easy by any means. There’s the news headlines bragging the daily death toll. And of course, along with almost everyone else, there are feelings of imprisonment and frustration, separation from family members and friends. Not legally being able to pray for people out and about like I usually do or tell them about Jesus. No hugging, no touching. ‘Keep 6 feet away at all times and wear your mask’. Spirits of death and fear all around. But as well as Covid restrictions, this past year we’ve had to deal with some really difficult situations, in fact some of the most challenging times of our lives.

But through all this, I have to tell you that God is real and He has an incredible plan for me, for you, for all of us. In fact, right now He is putting His plans into action and if you are following His Spirit, then you will see what He is doing begin to take shape and you will sense that we’re right on the cusp of an incredible move of God, globally.

A year of surprises

Over the past 12 months, probably the toughest year in this nation for 8 decades, me and Rob have tried to follow the Holy Spirit as best we can. Surprisingly, we (and our little team) seem to have set up an online community and discipleship portal with over 100 supernatural training videos, discipling hundreds of people from around the world who are hungry for God and to see Him move in power.

Little did we know at the beginning of 2020 as the Lord called us to leave our home and go on the road, that not only would we set up this global training portal, but that within the year, we’d have also planted scores of online and local weekly Classes and ‘Miracle Hubs’ – businesses and ministries demonstrating God’s love and power to the general public in many nations around the world.

Despite lockdown, we’re still seeing hundreds of people’s lives transformed – many meeting Jesus for the first time, and too many miracles to keep up with! This can only be God.

Light in the darkness

It seems to me that in the darkest of times, the Light shines brightest. Over the past year the Lord has connected us with some of His true warriors – faith-filled unsung heroes who are rising above the difficulties and the fear and the factions. We’re privileged to be working alongside them as they have heeded the call and are reaching out to others with demonstrations of God’s love and power.

I want to give a shout out to our faithful volunteer Coaches and Mentors who are not only doing this but also equipping and training others, our core team behind the scenes working diligently to help bring this about, our Miracle Hub pioneers reaching their neighbourhoods with the love and power of Jesus and of course our wonderful online community from around the world, eager to go deeper and higher with the Living God.

God’s good plan for you

But what we are doing is of course just a tiny part of the overall picture. Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, you have a vital part to play in this move of God. He has a wonderful plan for you and He’s hand-picked you, chosen and appointed you for this amazing time in history.

Enfolded in Him, as you yield the whole of your heart and the whole of your life to Jesus, you will be mind-blown (what we call gob-smacked) by what He can do in and through you, no matter what chaos is happening around you. A good place to start is by thanking God for what He’s done in your life so far. And if you would like to join our community, click the button below and we look forward to helping you discover all that God has planned for your life.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

About the Author: Aliss Cresswell

Aliss Cresswell believes in the God of miracles and living a life full of love and power. Through pioneering Miracle Cafés and Spirit Lifestyle training, Aliss and her husband Rob equip and activate those who pursue a Spirit-filled life to demonstrate God’s power and transform communities everywhere they go.