Snake along

"Sometime ago I was taking a walk through the hills when I came across an enormous snake.  He was a big one, Davie, three inches thick and four feet long, and he just lay there in the sun looking scary.  I was afraid of this thing and I didn't move for a long time, and lo and behold, while I was watching, I saw a miracle.  I saw a new birth.  I saw that old snake shed its skin and leave it lying there in the sun and go off a new and really beautiful creature.  When you start your new work in the city, boy, don't you be like I was, petrified by the outward appearance of your boys.  God isn't.  He's just waiting for each one of them to crawl right out of that old sin-shell and leave it behind.  He is waiting and yearning for the new man to come out." (The cross and the switchblade).

On Sunday I had the privilege to witness just one of those instances - a man in church, just 2 seats away, accepted Jesus as His Saviour. I saw a miracle, I saw a new-birth - a birth into the family of God! That man shed his old sin-shell and is now a new creation (God promised that!)  You know, if you are not a follower of Jesus yet - I have some good news for you too!  God loves you so much, that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. When you accept Jesus as your Saviour, change happens!  Like the snake, God promise that you will become a new creation.  Only Jesus can bring the change in your life you desire!  Only Jesus can fill that void in your life... How about it?  Will you, like this man today, accept Jesus as your Saviour and ask Him today to change you?

This change that the Good News of Jesus brings is the answer to the question that so often pop into my head: "Why are you doing what you doing?"  But you know, as a follower of Jesus, He allows me to be part of the work He is doing in people's life.  He asks, as His follower, to be a witness for Him.  He ask that I will not be scared (or petrified) but to be bold and faithful to share with people the good news of Jesus.  The good news of Jesus brings hope... it changes lives! May I not be petrified by the outward appearances (or reactions) of men - but may the Lord increase my boldness to share this wonderful, GOOD NEWS of Jesus with those that cross my path!  Run with me the race of faith - like Paul said: "My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the Good news of God's Grace"

And that is one of our prayers for Creation Fest - that people will hear the Good News of Jesus!  The festival is now only 67 days away - and the organisation is full-on!  The bands / artists line-up is growing by the week and slowly the pieces are starting to come together.  A big part of my time is spent preparing the Creation Fest kids programme for this year... and its been a challenging, wonderful, overwhelming, exciting, nerve wrecking, awesome journey so far.  We will be "training" the kids to be agents for the One True God at the Creation Fest International Spy Academy.  In the coming weeks, please pray for the preparations as well as the necessary resources needed for that week.
The last couple of weeks we've also been visiting churches to share about Creation Fest and invite them to come along / partner with us. To date, it has been very well received.  Praise the Lord for His favour!  The Lord has already answered so many prayers and I'm excited to see what wonderful work the Lord will still be doing - especially at the festival!
I'm still involved in the weekly local kids club - with increased school activity in Spring and Summer, the attendance has been down a bit, but please continue to pray for the club and the kids - for opportunities to share the gospel, to be able to answer their questions and for the kids open hearts and understanding.

Other small bits and pieces of news since the last update was that I volunteered at Spring Harvest, visited Scotland (so beautiful, PLUS, to top it off, I played in the snow and made a snow angel...), one of my friends, Erna-Marie came to visit me, I ran my first 10km race (and completed it with no walking :)) and explored other beautiful parts of Cornwall and Devon... but this time, I'll let the photos do the talking.

As the festival is getting closer and closer, please continue to pray for me and for the festival:
Creation Fest:
*Pray for wisdom in the planning and finalising of details and logistics
*Pray for the preparation of the kids tent programme :)
*Pray for those who will be coming - that they will be encouraged / open to the Good News of Jesus
*Pray for the right resources (volunteers, financial provision, favour with the local communities and churches)
Myself:
*To be a bold witness for Jesus
*To keep my eyes and focus on Jesus - the author and finisher of my faith
*To be sensitive to His voice and guidance in everything I do.