What an encouraging, worthwhile and, I beleive, valuable exercise Saturday's Treasure Hunt was.
Thank you so much Andrew, for motivating me and others to participate. A thank you to Kevin Dedmon and his simple, easy-to-follow guide is in order to!
Any form of evangelism is:
+ Stepping out in faith
+ Taking risks for GOD
+ Trusting the HOLY SPIRIT
+ Extending love without strings
+ Experiencing community
For me, the Treasure Hunt approach adds an extra dimension of TRUST - that the 'clues' you are getting truly ARE from Our Lord.
On Saturday, finding the person on my map was secondary to just being 'Church out there'. The map was both a welcome ice-breaker and a 'safety net'.
I was encouraged by the positive reception I got from the person to whom I declared GOD's love. I give thanks to Our Lord for 'giving me' someone so warm and approachable and to the Holy Spirit for whispering in my ear ;)
Aug 4, 2008
Jul 14, 2008
Treasure Hunt Anyone?
"Imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God."
Is anyone else sick of all the "talk"? Do you want to go out and spend some time loving and blessing people as the Spirit of God leads the way? Do you really believe that the Kingdom of God is not just a matter of talk but of power (1 Cor 4:20)
Then come and join us as we have some fun looking for Gods treasures in our community. The "hunt" starts at Concordia Church (cnr Glengarry & Hepburn) from 1pm each Saturday afternoon starting 2nd August. For more information read the above book or check out "Session II" at http://www.ncccweb.org/message.htm
Is anyone else sick of all the "talk"? Do you want to go out and spend some time loving and blessing people as the Spirit of God leads the way? Do you really believe that the Kingdom of God is not just a matter of talk but of power (1 Cor 4:20)
Then come and join us as we have some fun looking for Gods treasures in our community. The "hunt" starts at Concordia Church (cnr Glengarry & Hepburn) from 1pm each Saturday afternoon starting 2nd August. For more information read the above book or check out "Session II" at http://www.ncccweb.org/message.htm
Jul 10, 2008
Thanks for taking the initiative and 're-opening' the blog Andrew :)
GOD is awesome - as you say. The evidence of his response to prayer is daily in my professional as well as personal life and exciting to see positive movement in the lives of students, colleagues and family members.
I am so blessed to have ministry opportunities cross my path DAILY and that his grace has given me the eyes to notice them, the heart to stay with them, the ears to listen and the trust and faith to be guided by his spirit in speaking truth from a place of love ..... even if it means being 'disliked' for it!
One of the many miracles I am witnessing is the level of Inner Peace, Joy and Freedom I am experiencing in the midst of the ultimately 'meaningless' stuff brought about by pride, defensiveness and ego of others..... and at times myself!
The juggle, I find, is to maintain patience, compassion and a non-judgemental attitude towards those who choose to take the 'lower path' and splash around in the muddy waters of self-destructive behaviours.
GOD is awesome - as you say. The evidence of his response to prayer is daily in my professional as well as personal life and exciting to see positive movement in the lives of students, colleagues and family members.
I am so blessed to have ministry opportunities cross my path DAILY and that his grace has given me the eyes to notice them, the heart to stay with them, the ears to listen and the trust and faith to be guided by his spirit in speaking truth from a place of love ..... even if it means being 'disliked' for it!
One of the many miracles I am witnessing is the level of Inner Peace, Joy and Freedom I am experiencing in the midst of the ultimately 'meaningless' stuff brought about by pride, defensiveness and ego of others..... and at times myself!
The juggle, I find, is to maintain patience, compassion and a non-judgemental attitude towards those who choose to take the 'lower path' and splash around in the muddy waters of self-destructive behaviours.
Jul 7, 2008
Nothing is Impossible with God!
Life is good! God is good, and NOTHING is impossible for him. I feel so blessed that the magnitude of his goodness being displayed in my life and in the lives of my friends and loved ones around me is increasing.
I came across this verse again recently: "And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations" Ezekiel 36:27
It is not by our own efforts but by yielding to God's Spirit in us that we can walk in his ways! God's grace is truly amazing!!
I came across this verse again recently: "And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations" Ezekiel 36:27
It is not by our own efforts but by yielding to God's Spirit in us that we can walk in his ways! God's grace is truly amazing!!
Apr 5, 2008
Birthdays! and other things...
How lovely was that - Gemma! I had no idea it was your birthday - but He Did!! I pray that you have a wonderful year - lots of joyous, wonderful surprises - and that is in the fullest sense of those words - His fullness!
I am finally moving on to John! I am not doing Luke right now - John! This is the wonderful gospel that God used to draw me totally into relationship with him - and I love it! I was early 30s. Knew Jesus from childhood. But had long not had any intimacy with God. No reality of his presence. Felt unable to deny his reality at the same time as I could not claim to have relationship! Had he gone - was he really real? Was it all a childhood thing? Was I clinging to a myth?
Reveal yourself to me!
I read John! and Jesus absolutely met me in his Word! undeniably real and alive! So I am excited to get back into John.
I am also looking for healing! I realise that I am like lots of Christians - I find it easy to pray for others but hard to hang my own needs out there! So a back thing that started last March is now quite chronic and incapacitating! So silly! You would have prayed for me - so would others and I have probably removed opportunity for others faith to be increased by God showing his healing power in my life! But anyhow. I am learning! Silly self sufficiency. I see a neurosurgeon Monday. I asked people to pray the last 2 weeks. I have been so encouraged by the love that people have shown. The neurosurgeon appointment was also amazing - so quick - a cancellation! But then I say "Father - you can heal me - so why am I doing this?" Maybe the MRI needs to confirm the damage beforehand so that the Neuro can see a miracle?
Anyhow I was there at church today for me as well as others and I will be at Bill Johnson's meeting at Churchlands on Weds.
There is a lot coming up for me: My elderly cousin from Melbourne arriving to stay a week from the 17th April. My nephew and his wife and little girl arriving 23rd April. The whole tribe (20 of us) going across to Rottnest for a week from 27th April - 4 generations together - booked 12 months ago. My 97 year old Mum being with us through all of this - great excitement for her. So you can see that from a human point of view with how I am feeling - I am just saying: Impossible!
But - equally - I have not felt that I should cancel anything. God knows and I trust him. He can heal me in a moment!
I have given thanks for this back pain. I have learned so much about what it is like to have chronic pain, to be unable to live a normal life! I have a totally new view of others who I have been praying for who are in chronic pain. I give thanks also for the fact I am only learning this now - it is wonderful to live pain free for nearly 60 years! For those young women who I have been praying for, who have been restrained by pain as young Mums - I have a new heart and passion to persist in prayer for them!
Anyhow - I kept getting stuck in Matthew. There was a lot for me to need to pause over. Jesus is not easy to live with. He challenges lots. He is fearless and straightforward. There is no ducking of issues.
I am finally moving on to John! I am not doing Luke right now - John! This is the wonderful gospel that God used to draw me totally into relationship with him - and I love it! I was early 30s. Knew Jesus from childhood. But had long not had any intimacy with God. No reality of his presence. Felt unable to deny his reality at the same time as I could not claim to have relationship! Had he gone - was he really real? Was it all a childhood thing? Was I clinging to a myth?
Reveal yourself to me!
I read John! and Jesus absolutely met me in his Word! undeniably real and alive! So I am excited to get back into John.
I am also looking for healing! I realise that I am like lots of Christians - I find it easy to pray for others but hard to hang my own needs out there! So a back thing that started last March is now quite chronic and incapacitating! So silly! You would have prayed for me - so would others and I have probably removed opportunity for others faith to be increased by God showing his healing power in my life! But anyhow. I am learning! Silly self sufficiency. I see a neurosurgeon Monday. I asked people to pray the last 2 weeks. I have been so encouraged by the love that people have shown. The neurosurgeon appointment was also amazing - so quick - a cancellation! But then I say "Father - you can heal me - so why am I doing this?" Maybe the MRI needs to confirm the damage beforehand so that the Neuro can see a miracle?
Anyhow I was there at church today for me as well as others and I will be at Bill Johnson's meeting at Churchlands on Weds.
There is a lot coming up for me: My elderly cousin from Melbourne arriving to stay a week from the 17th April. My nephew and his wife and little girl arriving 23rd April. The whole tribe (20 of us) going across to Rottnest for a week from 27th April - 4 generations together - booked 12 months ago. My 97 year old Mum being with us through all of this - great excitement for her. So you can see that from a human point of view with how I am feeling - I am just saying: Impossible!
But - equally - I have not felt that I should cancel anything. God knows and I trust him. He can heal me in a moment!
I have given thanks for this back pain. I have learned so much about what it is like to have chronic pain, to be unable to live a normal life! I have a totally new view of others who I have been praying for who are in chronic pain. I give thanks also for the fact I am only learning this now - it is wonderful to live pain free for nearly 60 years! For those young women who I have been praying for, who have been restrained by pain as young Mums - I have a new heart and passion to persist in prayer for them!
Anyhow - I kept getting stuck in Matthew. There was a lot for me to need to pause over. Jesus is not easy to live with. He challenges lots. He is fearless and straightforward. There is no ducking of issues.
Mar 29, 2008
Thought...
This came to me while thinking [again] about Matthew 25 which often has been on my mind in the last couple of years...
People may not be able to see Jesus in me until I start seeing Jesus in them!
People may not be able to see Jesus in me until I start seeing Jesus in them!
Mar 28, 2008
Encourage one another
I have been encouraged by the stories told by Darren Wilson of people around the world encountering God in a variety of weird and wonderful ways. Finger of God is an amazing documentary and I am looking forward to being stretched again as I watch this film with friends and family at Concordia Church (cnr Glengarry & Hepburn) in Duncraig this Sunday night 30th March from 7pm. Feel free to join us :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
