Wednesday, 25 July 2012

In the quietness of the busyness

I can’t believe how quickly time flies!  Before I know it, it has been another week since my last update.

The preparation for the festival is going well.  It is pressure time as Creation Fest kicks off in 10 days.  And off course, it is now all the small, finer details that need to happen.  But it is still an amazing journey to see how the Lord answers the prayer requests one by one for the festival.  So, please continue to lift the festival up in prayer.
A glimpse of the Olympic Stadium
This past weekend I had the privilege to go and visit my two very good friends; Jaco and Lizelle, in Dereham (close to Norwich, north east from London).  So on Friday, I travelled for 5 and a half hours to Norwich (2 and a half hours to London Paddington Station, then another hour on the underground tubes in London to get to London Liverpool Street Station, where I then caught the train to Norwich).  Through the journey – I also had a glimpse of the Olympic Stadium!  Arriving in Norwich, Jaco clearly instructed me to take the no.8 bus which dropped me right in front of their work J.  What a lovely weekend it was.  A weekend filled with hours of talking, catching up, sharing of hearts and what the Lord is doing in our lives.  In between all of that, we spent most of our time just relaxing at home or going to Norwich – for tea or lunch or dinner.  Both of my friends had to work on Sunday, so Jaco kindly dropped me at church, Servant’s Church (Calvary Chapel Norwich) before work.  It was so good to be able to sit thousands of miles away from home, but still have a “familiar” church family – I even knew majority of the praise and worship songs J.  Good teaching as well from Matthew 11 about doubt and unbelief.  On Monday, I took the train back to Exeter, where Dave (one of the Creation Fest team members so kindly picked me up for the 45 min drive to Launceston).  It was unforeseen circumstances to let to the weekend’s visit, but the weekend was such a blessing.  Thanks Jakes and Zel for a wonderful weekend.
The small town, Dereham

My very good friends, Jaco and Lizelle

Late lunch at Tea and little cakes

Norwhich
This last 2 weeks was really filled with excitement – and I continue to stand in awe of our Creator and our Saviour.  However, it has also been really hard emotionally.  Those that know me really well, knows that I hardly take “time off” and prefer to have as little as possible “alone” time.  However, in these last 2 weeks – I had WAY more alone time than what I thought I needed, plus, being far away from my family, my friends and everything that is familiar to me  has been hard.  I know the Lord is using this time to deal with me on personal matters, change (and that’s never easy by itself), the unfamiliar and on top of that, I received some very sad news from very good friends.  BUT! In this emotional time, the Lord has been good.  He has been faithful and He kept His promises.  Through the encouragement of friends, devotional time and at church He really spoke to me through 4 particular Scriptures.  He promised in Isaiah26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You; because he trust in You”; Isaiah 30:15 – “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength”, and Psalm 45:10 – “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”. Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heave laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

I can testify of this - facing the tough times/trials or the all the changes happening, is not easy but Jesus gave (and still gives) complete rest.  I could nowhere find peace as I did at the feet of Jesus. He is sufficient!   As long as I keep my focus on Jesus, spending time with Him – I know that this is temporary, it will soon pass and it is in these quiet moments with Him, that I have found my rest and my strength.  These trials, I know, is for my own personal growth in faith.  I would much rather be facing these trials while being IN His will for my life – than being “comfortable” but outside His will.

If you are facing hardship or are in the midst of a trial, go and put it at Jesus’ feet.  He promises to give you strength, peace and complete rest for your soul.

Thank you for all of you that have been keeping me in your prayers.  It has meant so much to me.  Thanks to my friends for the words of encouragement.  Miss you guys and please continue those updates about “life”.  I love hearing from you all.

Please continue to pray for me.  Some prayer requests:
Personal ones:
·         Praise and thank the Lord for His continuous blessings and ministering in my life
·         That I will be a BOLD witness for Him and that He will use me as an instrument to further His Kingdom
·         Fruitful quiet / devotional time as we enter the real busyness of the festival
·         Strengthening of my heart
·         For the Lord’s will in my preparation for the second phase of my sabbatical (South America).  I’ve submitted an application for a mission trip to Peru this week.

For the festival:
·         Safe travel and arrivals of all the bands, speakers and volunteer teams (start arriving from next week)
·         Tying up of all the loose end, final logistics before next week start of the festival – and that the whole team will do it with joy in their heart
·         We have our first Creation Movement on the 2nd of August in Cambourne, Cornwall.  Pray a lot of people to come to the movement, and for the saving of souls at the Movement


XXX

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