Thursday 12 January 2012

Prayer meeting

We had a blessed time at the monthly church prayer meeting on Monday. We spent time praising and worshipping the Lord and then spent several hours in prayer. Hearts were broken for the youth of the area who did not appear to want anything to do with 'church'. We realise they may not want 'church' but we know that they need Jesus. Some of them appear so lost, walking the streets aimlessly with nowhere to go. Please pray they will come through our doors to the youth club that is run each Friday.


For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)

Sunday 1 January 2012

Peace Be Still

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39)
A very happy and blessed New Year to you. As I drove home after visiting my family over Christmas (it's a 3 hour drive) I often talk to the Lord on the journey and this time I asked the Lord to speak to me from what I could see around me as I drove.  
Dark clouds covered the sky and torrential rain lashed against the windscreen, the wind was high and it wasn't very good driving conditions. As I peered through the rain I saw in the clouds a small circle of light shining through, it wasn't a brilliant light sort of hazy as if the sun was doing it's best to push through the clouds, but then the Lord showed me that there are many storm clouds in peoples lives, mine included, and often at the start of a new year we forget to leave the things behind us. We take everything that bothered us at the end of the year into the new. Often things like sickness, worry about a job and other burdens that just weigh us down seem like the storm , but I was reminded that no matter how dark the clouds may be the 'Son' can still shine through. The Lord Jesus Christ is the 'light' and He will shine through any storm clouds that come our way. All we need do is talk to him.

I recalled how, when the disciples were with Jesus in their ship and clouds had gathered and a great storm of wind arose and the waves beat against the ship filling it with water, it must have been a terrifying time for the disciplies, a bad night. The disciples were fearful and woke Jesus because they thought they would perish. Jesus showed his care and love for his followers when he spoke those words 'Peace be still' and, the bible says, there was great calm.
Jesus wants to do the same for us today. If we have taken any of the clouds into the new year with us then simply talk to the Lord.

Ask for his help in leaving behind anything that darkens your walk with Him, anything that will be a burden to you in the coming days. His words to you will be as they were to the wind and the sea 'Peace be still' - and there was a great calm.