England
29th May 2021
Dear Lydias,
As I write this the sun in shining and already holiday makers are streaming into Devon and Cornwall for May
Half Term and the Bank Holiday. The photo above was taken at a beach close to where I live. After so
many months of restrictions and lockdowns I am sure, like me, you are all enjoying being able to meet up
again in small groups and with close family and friends.
I want to thank each one of you personally for taking part in the Exalt the Lord Day on Saturday 22nd May.
The National Team Zoom meeting in the evening was well attended and was a sweet sound in the Lord’s ear.
At the beginning of the meeting I shared a quote from Derek Prince:
Thanksgiving, praise, and worship are distinct, but naturally blend into one another. Here is how I
distinguish them:
Thanksgiving relates to God’s goodness.
Praise relates to God’s greatness.
Worship relates to God’s holiness.
Holiness is in a class by itself. It is the attribute of God that is most difficult for the human mind to
comprehend because it has no parallel on earth. We can talk about the wisdom of God because we know
wise people. We can talk about the greatness of God because we know great people. We can talk about
the power of God because we have seen demonstrations of great power. But, apart from God, there is no
earthly example of holiness - it is something unique to God and to those who have received it from Him. I
believe that worship relates directly to God’s holiness.
On the Day of Prayer and Fasting, Thurs 1st April, I heard the Lord say ‘trim the sails’ as I was praying and
likening Lydia to a sailing ship. I looked up what that saying actually means. Trimming the sails propels the
boat forward. If you want to go fast you trim in your sails. This metaphoric expression alludes to adjusting
the ship’s sails to take full advantage of prevailing winds. I really sense that the Lord wants to give our
prayers an even sharper impetus and a sharper cutting edge. I have continued to ponder and reflect on the
wind of the spirit and was reminded of a worship song from 1979 which many of you will know which is linked
to 1 Chronicles 14 v 15, and Psalm 45 (which was read by Joy during our Zoom meeting last Saturday).
I Hear the sound of rustling in the leaves of the trees,
The Spirit of the Lord has come down on the earth.
The Church that seemed in slumber has now risen from its knees,
And dry bones are responding with the fruits of new birth.
Oh, this is now a time for declaration,
The Word will go to all men everywhere;
The Church is here for healing of the nations,
Behold the day of Jesus drawing near.
My tongue will be the pen of a ready writer,
And what the Father gives to me I’ll sing;
I only want to be His breath,
I only want to glorify the King.
A body now prepared by God and ready for war,
The prompting of the Spirit is our word of command.
We rise, a mighty army, at the bidding of the Lord.
The devils see and fear, for their time is at hand.
And children of the Lord hear our commission,
That we should love and serve our God as one.
The Spirit won't be hindered by division,
In the perfect work that Jesus has begun.
And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall
go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 1 Chronicles
14 v 15
The sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, the wind of the Spirit, was David’s sign. Like a
wonderful, mighty wind, the Holy Spirit began to blow. David knew it was time to move, and the Lord
delivered the Philistines into his hands. David waited for the wind of the Spirit, and then he went to claim
the promised victory. As Lydias we know how vital it is to wait upon the Lord for His Word and His timing.
In July 2018 the Lord spoke to me about Lydia being like an old fashioned sailing ship. A Galleon is a
full-rigged sailing ship that was built primarily for war. In my journal I wrote:
‘This needs a skilled crew and those who will let the Lord hold the wheel of the ship. As National Co-
ordinator I have been given the sacred duty of ensuring that only the Lord steers the ship - only His agenda
Dear Lydias,
As I write this the sun in shining and already holiday makers are streaming into Devon and Cornwall for May
Half Term and the Bank Holiday. The photo above was taken at a beach close to where I live. After so
many months of restrictions and lockdowns I am sure, like me, you are all enjoying being able to meet up
again in small groups and with close family and friends.
I want to thank each one of you personally for taking part in the Exalt the Lord Day on Saturday 22nd May.
The National Team Zoom meeting in the evening was well attended and was a sweet sound in the Lord’s ear.
At the beginning of the meeting I shared a quote from Derek Prince:
Thanksgiving, praise, and worship are distinct, but naturally blend into one another. Here is how I
distinguish them:
Thanksgiving relates to God’s goodness.
Praise relates to God’s greatness.
Worship relates to God’s holiness.
Holiness is in a class by itself. It is the attribute of God that is most difficult for the human mind to
comprehend because it has no parallel on earth. We can talk about the wisdom of God because we know
wise people. We can talk about the greatness of God because we know great people. We can talk about
the power of God because we have seen demonstrations of great power. But, apart from God, there is no
earthly example of holiness - it is something unique to God and to those who have received it from Him. I
believe that worship relates directly to God’s holiness.
On the Day of Prayer and Fasting, Thurs 1st April, I heard the Lord say ‘trim the sails’ as I was praying and
likening Lydia to a sailing ship. I looked up what that saying actually means. Trimming the sails propels the
boat forward. If you want to go fast you trim in your sails. This metaphoric expression alludes to adjusting
the ship’s sails to take full advantage of prevailing winds. I really sense that the Lord wants to give our
prayers an even sharper impetus and a sharper cutting edge. I have continued to ponder and reflect on the
wind of the spirit and was reminded of a worship song from 1979 which many of you will know which is linked
to 1 Chronicles 14 v 15, and Psalm 45 (which was read by Joy during our Zoom meeting last Saturday).
I Hear the sound of rustling in the leaves of the trees,
The Spirit of the Lord has come down on the earth.
The Church that seemed in slumber has now risen from its knees,
And dry bones are responding with the fruits of new birth.
Oh, this is now a time for declaration,
The Word will go to all men everywhere;
The Church is here for healing of the nations,
Behold the day of Jesus drawing near.
My tongue will be the pen of a ready writer,
And what the Father gives to me I’ll sing;
I only want to be His breath,
I only want to glorify the King.
A body now prepared by God and ready for war,
The prompting of the Spirit is our word of command.
We rise, a mighty army, at the bidding of the Lord.
The devils see and fear, for their time is at hand.
And children of the Lord hear our commission,
That we should love and serve our God as one.
The Spirit won't be hindered by division,
In the perfect work that Jesus has begun.
And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall
go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 1 Chronicles
14 v 15
The sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, the wind of the Spirit, was David’s sign. Like a
wonderful, mighty wind, the Holy Spirit began to blow. David knew it was time to move, and the Lord
delivered the Philistines into his hands. David waited for the wind of the Spirit, and then he went to claim
the promised victory. As Lydias we know how vital it is to wait upon the Lord for His Word and His timing.
In July 2018 the Lord spoke to me about Lydia being like an old fashioned sailing ship. A Galleon is a
full-rigged sailing ship that was built primarily for war. In my journal I wrote:
‘This needs a skilled crew and those who will let the Lord hold the wheel of the ship. As National Co-
ordinator I have been given the sacred duty of ensuring that only the Lord steers the ship - only His agenda
Vanessa Lawrence, Regional Coordinator for Devon and Cornwall, shared a picture she had from the Lord in
April 2021.
I saw a boat bobbing about with its sails down, flapping around, and sensed it was in the doldrums.
Someone was in it shouting “all aboard”. This was a trumpet call to get in and a strong sense that it would
be very hard to do so once the sails had caught the wind as the boat would be off, powering through the
seas, it’s sails full. The power and the freedom is hard to describe.
Later I was led to Galatians 5 . Very much a message on grace, and verse 1 says it is for freedom that Christ
has set us free. Is this move a break from religion, law and a powerful move of the spirit fuelled by grace
and the freedom we find in Christ? Verse 16 also says to live by the spirit in order not to gratify the works of
the flesh.
I was also very struck by the funeral of Prince Philip on 17th April when at the very end he had requested
that Reveille was sounded followed by Action Stations. These sounds went out over the airwaves globally.
Reveille is a signal sounded especially on a bugle or drum to wake personnel in the armed forces.
Action Stations is a call to the positions or activity assumed by the crew of a warship immediately in
advance of combat or other hostile action.
Whilst looking for something else in my Lydia papers, I came across a word that Maureen Lloyd received
from the Lord in 2017 and felt that it had great resonance for us now. As you know, Maureen is now with
the Lord and during her working life she was in the Army.
Concerning you, Lydia, My ‘Endtime Army’. In My Name you have power and strength, but
for this army My heart is also for you to be a family, working together in love: not to jostle
nor hinder one another, nor break ranks.
This requires unity, involving trust, covering each other’s backs and honouring one another.
Being open and honest; not wearing any masks.
My Lydias, you are very special people with a specific role.
Come aside often and draw from Me. Come into My Presence, come into the closet, close
the door and shut the world out.
I will feed you: I will nourish you and console you. I will encourage you and build you up.
It is from this place of intimacy that you will be equipped for the battle.
My Lydias, on your knees you are a powerful weapon and your strength is My divine power.
I have given you all the spiritual weapons necessary to defeat the enemy, but you must
walk at My pace and My rhythm. Stay focused on Me, taking delight in all that I do for I
have overcome the world.
The Lord wants to confirm and assure each one of you in your calling to His Lydia Endtime Army.
Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army
with banners? Song of Songs 6 v 10
A visiting speaker at Swanwick once called the Lydia women “an army terrible with banners.” We don’t
look very frightening or particularly strong but when we get the wind of the Spirit in our sails, the high
praises of God in our mouth, and a two edged sword in our hand we are unstoppable!
So be encouraged, dearest Lydias, you are a mighty weapon in the Lord’s Hand and very precious to Him.
Much love, Kath and the National Team xx
April 2021.
I saw a boat bobbing about with its sails down, flapping around, and sensed it was in the doldrums.
Someone was in it shouting “all aboard”. This was a trumpet call to get in and a strong sense that it would
be very hard to do so once the sails had caught the wind as the boat would be off, powering through the
seas, it’s sails full. The power and the freedom is hard to describe.
Later I was led to Galatians 5 . Very much a message on grace, and verse 1 says it is for freedom that Christ
has set us free. Is this move a break from religion, law and a powerful move of the spirit fuelled by grace
and the freedom we find in Christ? Verse 16 also says to live by the spirit in order not to gratify the works of
the flesh.
I was also very struck by the funeral of Prince Philip on 17th April when at the very end he had requested
that Reveille was sounded followed by Action Stations. These sounds went out over the airwaves globally.
Reveille is a signal sounded especially on a bugle or drum to wake personnel in the armed forces.
Action Stations is a call to the positions or activity assumed by the crew of a warship immediately in
advance of combat or other hostile action.
Whilst looking for something else in my Lydia papers, I came across a word that Maureen Lloyd received
from the Lord in 2017 and felt that it had great resonance for us now. As you know, Maureen is now with
the Lord and during her working life she was in the Army.
Concerning you, Lydia, My ‘Endtime Army’. In My Name you have power and strength, but
for this army My heart is also for you to be a family, working together in love: not to jostle
nor hinder one another, nor break ranks.
This requires unity, involving trust, covering each other’s backs and honouring one another.
Being open and honest; not wearing any masks.
My Lydias, you are very special people with a specific role.
Come aside often and draw from Me. Come into My Presence, come into the closet, close
the door and shut the world out.
I will feed you: I will nourish you and console you. I will encourage you and build you up.
It is from this place of intimacy that you will be equipped for the battle.
My Lydias, on your knees you are a powerful weapon and your strength is My divine power.
I have given you all the spiritual weapons necessary to defeat the enemy, but you must
walk at My pace and My rhythm. Stay focused on Me, taking delight in all that I do for I
have overcome the world.
The Lord wants to confirm and assure each one of you in your calling to His Lydia Endtime Army.
Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army
with banners? Song of Songs 6 v 10
A visiting speaker at Swanwick once called the Lydia women “an army terrible with banners.” We don’t
look very frightening or particularly strong but when we get the wind of the Spirit in our sails, the high
praises of God in our mouth, and a two edged sword in our hand we are unstoppable!
So be encouraged, dearest Lydias, you are a mighty weapon in the Lord’s Hand and very precious to Him.
Much love, Kath and the National Team xx
50 YEARS OF LYDIA FELLOWSHIP
Shelagh McAlpine wrote: ‘In 1970 the first Bible Study took place in our home with about 26 women attending. Joy Dawson was the speaker and the subject was intercession. God prospered the work in the home and, in the spring of 1971, the first Annual Ladies Conference was convened. The Lord’s word to me was Zech 8:13. “You will be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
‘God established the principles of Lydia which is interdenominational as well as International. The result has been the multiplication of Lydia prayer cells. The Church, Community and County is blessed whenever and wherever it is reached by 20th Century Lydias.’
Zech 8:13. This verse is still as much a verse for us today in 2020 as it was 50 years ago. Tracing God’s faithfulness as a Fellowship over these 50 years, we see how God has blessed us and made us a blessing. ‘Fear not, but let your hands be strong.’ The same Hebrew word is used in Judges 9:11 and is translated as encouraged. Gideon was encouraged to attack the Midianites after listening to the soldiers in the Camp. (Read the context). I believe that this scripture is a rhema word for us today. We know that we are in a battle in days the like have not been seen in our lifetime. We need to stand on this promise that God gave to Shelagh and meditate on this word so that it goes deep into our spirits.
The Lord is calling us afresh to rededicate ourselves to Him and He wants to continue to use us as His Handmaidens in the place of Prayer. He still gives the Word and the strategy to us and shows the way. Jesus calls us to come back to the secret place, fix our eyes on our beloved, listen to His voice and hear what He has to say to us. We will then receive the strategy of heaven – for the Church, the nation, government, our families and the lost.
We celebrate 50 years of God’s faithfulness and give our Sovereign Lord thanks and praise. We thank Him for the women who have been faithful to their call in Lydia and who have taught us through His Word how to pray and meditate. Women who have been examples of a life well lived as they served their Master Jesus.
“YOU WILL BE A BLESSING. FEAR NOT, BUT LET YOUR HANDS BE STRONG.”
Margaret Watts
United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland Co-ordinator
Spring 2020
Shelagh McAlpine wrote: ‘In 1970 the first Bible Study took place in our home with about 26 women attending. Joy Dawson was the speaker and the subject was intercession. God prospered the work in the home and, in the spring of 1971, the first Annual Ladies Conference was convened. The Lord’s word to me was Zech 8:13. “You will be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
‘God established the principles of Lydia which is interdenominational as well as International. The result has been the multiplication of Lydia prayer cells. The Church, Community and County is blessed whenever and wherever it is reached by 20th Century Lydias.’
Zech 8:13. This verse is still as much a verse for us today in 2020 as it was 50 years ago. Tracing God’s faithfulness as a Fellowship over these 50 years, we see how God has blessed us and made us a blessing. ‘Fear not, but let your hands be strong.’ The same Hebrew word is used in Judges 9:11 and is translated as encouraged. Gideon was encouraged to attack the Midianites after listening to the soldiers in the Camp. (Read the context). I believe that this scripture is a rhema word for us today. We know that we are in a battle in days the like have not been seen in our lifetime. We need to stand on this promise that God gave to Shelagh and meditate on this word so that it goes deep into our spirits.
The Lord is calling us afresh to rededicate ourselves to Him and He wants to continue to use us as His Handmaidens in the place of Prayer. He still gives the Word and the strategy to us and shows the way. Jesus calls us to come back to the secret place, fix our eyes on our beloved, listen to His voice and hear what He has to say to us. We will then receive the strategy of heaven – for the Church, the nation, government, our families and the lost.
We celebrate 50 years of God’s faithfulness and give our Sovereign Lord thanks and praise. We thank Him for the women who have been faithful to their call in Lydia and who have taught us through His Word how to pray and meditate. Women who have been examples of a life well lived as they served their Master Jesus.
“YOU WILL BE A BLESSING. FEAR NOT, BUT LET YOUR HANDS BE STRONG.”
Margaret Watts
United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland Co-ordinator
Spring 2020