God's Hug

Precious Saints!!!!

So there I was on a Wednesday morning at work feeling grateful that our son’s (Adam my step son actually) operation on his lung was successful. He seemed to be starting on his way to recovery. Today he was going in for a checkup after coming out of hospital this past Monday. Then a phone call from Allie. Adam had to go back into hospital and had to have a further procedure done to him as his lung had pulled out of position again. Oh God what now, why are you allowing this to happen?

A little bit later after I’d transferred the funds to the hospital to effect payment, yeah no money no treatment, no matter how much pain. Ever heard of the Hypocritical Oath? I then sent out a prayer request for Adam. All of a sudden I had this all consuming feeling of loss, it was really crushing and I didn’t now how to deal with it. Eventually I went to the toilet and just wept before God and cried out to Jesus to have mercy on Adam. He is still so young and he wants to do so many things to give you glory oh Jesus, have mercy.

When I came back to my office I sent out a prayer request(for myself) to some of my close friends and phoned one of them and my buddy just encouraged me. Shortly after that one of my colleagues came by to pick up an account which had to be paid. He asked me how I’m doing and (still feeling quite shattered and fragile) I told him about Adam. He listened and commiserated with me. Then just as he was walking out of the office he turned back and said, “I think I must give you a hug.” So he came back and gave me a solid hug. I felt like it was God saying, “Don’t worry whatever happens its all part of my plan. I love you and I love Adam too with a love you cannot even imagine you are my children.” I was just quietly blown away by my colleagues show of love and the way God worked through him to touch my heart.

Well that evening we went to visit Adam in hospital along with a few friends and my buddy Clint also came along. Just before we left we prayed for Adam and Clint prayed for our family. Adam is such a witness to me of quiet and powerful faith as he praises God through all this.

Just know this sometimes it’s just a listening ear, a smile, a handshake, a hug, a prayer, it may seem such a little thing to you, you may even feel self conscious or stupid doing these little acts of kindness but it is probably just the thing that God wants you to do at the time.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)

Here is a song 4 U by Jeremy Camp. His first wife died of ovarian cancer when she was 23 and he 22. He subsequently remarried and now has two young daughters. In this song he reflects on the journey that God has taken him on so far.

Beyond Measure (Jeremy Camp)

The fog has finally cleared to see,
The beautiful life you’ve given me
To feel the breeze of my newborn’s gentle breath
With one to walk hand in hand,
To share this life that you have plannedIt’s like a storybook with dreams
That are meant to see every next step is an extraordinary scene

[CHORUS]
I know that I’ve been,
Given more than beyond measure,
I come alive when,
I see beyond my fears,
I know that I’ve been given more than earthly treasure,
I come alive whenI’ve broken down and given you control

I’ve faced a great tragedy,
But have seen the works of what you bring
A display of faith that you give,
I don’t know if I will ever understand
The depth of what it is you’ve done inside,
But I know that I won’t find any worth apart from you
Everything that I have
Has been given so unselfishly
And shown that even when I don’t deserve
You always show the fullness of your love

LoCTY!!!!!!!

TAKE(me)AWAY

Hiya Saints !!!!!

'Bout two weeks ago, got home from work on a Friday evening. Allie & Mattie wanted to get Steers burgers. My mind and body had already gone into shut down mode and I was really not keen to go anywhere. So I tried a few feeble excuses, too tired to think up any good ones and when that didn't work I thought I'd just act self righteously miserable. 'Lookit me I'm such a martyr dontcha just feel so really sorry for me!'

Well off we went to Steers which was all of about two minutes drive away, too close to even call it round the corner. While standing in Steers waiting for our order I started to feel less sorry for myself and actually started to be fascinated by and enjoy the people around me. I was kinda standing behind this glass door when I looked out through it. The combination of the setting sun, clouds and glass all just kinda combined for a beautiful sight that really touched my soul and spirit. Suddenly this strong feeling rose up within me. What if Jesus comes now, right at this very moment? It was such a strong feeling I felt like running out of the building and looking up towards the sky. But I didn't, people might think I'm looking for UFO's or doing a Chicken Little impression and what if I missed my order! Oh yeh I've really got my priorities sooo sorted.

That feeling just kinda stayed with me for the whole evening. So you can call me crazy for believing that Jesus is coming soon, like tomorrow or maybe in the next thousand years or so but am I really? How do you feel about it? I know some of you out there don't even think at all about this. But you have a choice either He is coming or He isn't. The word of God says He is coming and this word has stood the test of time for 3,500 years and has stood out as the shining light of truth. I bet you that you cannot make sense of this world unless you refer to the makers manual, His word the bible. So if there is even just a slim chance of this being true wouldn't you be more crazy if you didn't check it out personally for yourself.

You know the only hope that this world has is in Jesus Christ. I lived for forty years (yeh my wandering in the desert period!) without hope before I met my saviour and I was such a massive skeptic. But the love of God just came into my life and changed me forever, for eternity. Oh yeh and He is still waiting for you to come to Him with His arms wide open. So if you don't know Jesus, feel far away from Him, feel down, lost, broken, hurt, angry, confused, feel like you have totally messed up your life beyond redemption, pulled apart by the way this world is now, just open up your heart to Jesus Christ. He is waiting to strengthen you and help you through this life and get you ready for the next life which will be beyond any joy and beauty you can imagine. How do I know this? 'Cause these are the promises of God in His manual, the bible, so don't be distracted and deceived by the way things are in the world now, they are not going to remain this way. Oh yeh you can call me crazy if you want to.

Crazy
by Mercy Me

Why I would I spend my life longing for the day that it would end..
Why would I spend my time pointing to another man..
Isn't that crazy

How can I find hope in dying, with promises unseen..
How can I learn your way is better
In everything I'm taught to be..
Isn't that crazy

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world..
But to a God who's calling out to me..
And even though the world may think
I'm losing touch with reality
It would be crazy
To choose this world over eternity

And if I boast let me boast
Of filthy rags made clean
And if I glory let me glory
In my Savior's suffering
Isn't that crazy

And as I live this daily life
I trust you for everything
And I will only take a step
When I feel You leading me
Isn't that crazy

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world..
But to a God who is calling out to me..
And even though the world my think
I'm losing touch with reality
It would be crazy
To choose this world over eternity

Call me crazy
You can call me crazy
Call me crazy

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world..
But to a God who is calling out to me..
And even though the world may think that
I'm losing touch with reality
It would be crazy, It would be crazy, It would be crazy
To choose this world over eternity

Isn't That crazy..
Call me crazy
You can call me crazy
Call me crazy

LoCTY!!!!!!!!!

PS Jesus loves you more than you can possibly imagine!

All For You!

Precious Saints!!!!

This past weekend saw me being part of a team of sinners saved by grace helping, leading and teaching others about God's grace. Yes it was another Alpha Holy Spirit weekend. What a joy to serve our Lord Jesus Christ the absolutely and completely greatest blessing in the universe.

But first let me back track a bit and I'll try to be as honest as I can with you. You see it was not in MY plan to serve on the Alpha team this year. I had planned to take a years mathematical (yeah George @Vodocom) from Alpha. But then I was invited ever so lovingly and graciously to serve by someone who I respect and love very much. I discussed it with Allie and we agreed that it would be okay. So off I went and was selected as a small group leader for the duration of the ten week course. Then of course some things went wrong. Allie fell very ill while I was on the Alpha and eventually resigned from her job. I felt a tremendous pull and often a bit guilty going off on Wednesday nights when I knew Allie was not too well. But I constantly prayed for strength and healing for both of us and the guys on team as well as my buddies were also praying for us. So I just kept at it. Before we knew it the weekend away was upon us. Now I had been struggling with a cold/flu and running a temperature off and on for about three weeks but because of all round pressure(specially at work) I just kept pushing on. That is until my body started screaming at my head and asking, "Hey is there a brain up there somewhere?" So eventually I surrendered and went to the doc who diagnosed me as having a triple whammy, flu, sinisitus and bronchitus. He then promptly booked me off for three days and gave me a prescription of anti-biotics, pain killers and cough mixture. Then I really thought I was ill. Well this happened in the week leading up to the Alpha weekend. I wondered if I was gonna make it to the weekend. Anyways I rested as much as I could and tried my best not to worry as to what was happening at work.

Friday came and I got out of bed at about 11am and slowly got ready for the weekend. Dressed and packed, my lift came around about 3.30pm and we were off. Needless to say I really wasn't that rearing to go and I didn't really feel like I was in top form. But you you know God is awesome. You just have to make the effort to pitch up, trust Him, be obedient, be faithful and you will be abosutely amazed at the way He uses ordinary people (like you and me) in an extraordinary way.

The weekend was an absolute blast of a blessing from God. I ended up also being the 'projector pixie', working the overhead transparencies for the words to the praise and worship songs. Not that the selfish( me selfish, no waze Jose!) part of me initially wanted to do it but....you know His Holy Spirit really knows wots good for you. Oh yeah and I made a fair amount of mistakes. The way God used people on this weekend and just the way that He was constantly at work was absolutely mind blowing. You just can't take it all in and for weeks afterwards you just think about things that happened and God just reveals things to you.

God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Helper God's Holy Spirit just constantly washed us with their Love and healed broken and hurting people. You know the best view in the world is to see God working in a person nothing compares to it, when God works in and through you to minister His grace mercy and love to others. Everything was just so purposeful, even the small things. The fellowship was blessed. We had four churches at the weekend, the Goodwood, Milnerton and Malmsbury Methodist churches and the Goodwood Roman Catholic Church. What a tremendous unity His Holy Spirit wove into us as we all worshiped God as one.

Well we all had to leave on Sunday and I was missing my family tremendously as well.Then that night we had a tremendous Celebration service at Goodwood Meth and then God used me again (no not my plan to be used or my idea) to minister His love after the service.

So wotz God calling you to do. Simple really. He's saying here receive my free gifts of grace, mercy and love. Soak them up in your soul and then go and pass them on to the rest of the world, do this where ever you find yourself and as often as you possibly can, don't worry if no one is around to see your good deeds 'cause God will see them. Don't worry about being in the so called 'right' place like a church just do it.




You surround me with singing
You restore me in Your grace again
I'm alive in You
You are faithful, Saviour
You are holy
And my trust is in the power of Your name
You remember mercy
You are near me
I have life again
Now I belong to You
I will lift my hands
I will lift my voice
All for You
It's all for You
Take up my cross
I surrender
All for You
It's all for You
Your Kingdom, Is rising
Use me I pray
Your Kingdom, Is rising
Use me I pray

LoCTY!!!