CMWDT Wellington : Encourager 109

( November 2005 )

First things first -

God

Prayer needs :
	Give thanks for National Camp, the organisation team, and speaker Jack Openhuizen. Pray for them as they each recover.   Give thanks for Gayle and her baptism. Pray that she would know peace and joy in her walk with Jesus in a new way.   Give thanks for Lesley, the young lady the branch sponsors in the Philippines. Pray that she would do well in her studies at Hebron.   Give thanks for everyone in the branch. Pray we would all live a life of purpose. Up to the top
My Story with God
	To become a person living a life of purpose with and for God, you must make choices to learn to live in God. Listen to God's perspective of your story, and life will enable you to be on purpose in His Spirit Like those pilgrims in the 'Lord of the Rings', the battles and victories are largely on the inside of us. Victory requires time to be attentive of the journey of your soul in relationship to God. The spiritual path can be a joy or dangerous. A key is : taking the time to be still and KNOW the Lord of your journey. ( Ps 46:10 ) Learn to quiet your soul, listen to the Holy Spirit, consistently practice spiritual disciplines ( prayer, studying scripture, fasting ) and abandon yourself to obedience. Step 1 : divide your life into periods Step 2 : review each period Encounters with God's Spirit Crises of Faith Outcomes of Personal and Spiritual growth Step 3 : describe each period ( Excerpts from a sheet given out by Jack Openhuizen. ) Up to the top
Living a life of purpose - Just do it !
	Well, when I got the magazine advertising the camp, I looked briefly at the camp page and tried not to be bothered as I had never been interested in national camp before. I tried to think up a good excuse - no money ! Yes - it cost $100, and I had spent over $800 on getting a new clutch for my car ! But no - "God will provide for all my needs" kept popping into my head. And all night I couldn't sleep, and I kept getting brilliant ideas, and I got inspired ! People could give me money to go ! They could sponsor me and a friend ( Teresa ) - for not using my car for 30 days ! Wow ! I never ask for money, but OK God... At work the next day I made a form, put my photo on it, and waited. ( I work full time in a childcare centre called High Five ). One mum came up to me and wrote down $10. Then the second mum came up to me, and said "How much do you need ? $200 ? I'll give it to you tomorrow !" "Wow !" I was shocked ! I said, "You don't have to". "No, I know I don't have to, but I want to. My husband and I have a donations philosophy - what goes around comes around." Then I kept thinking of the scripture, "Ask and you will receive". Thanks, God ! So I was going to camp, also I was walking everywhere, I enjoyed walking to work - part of the way, and then I discovered I loved walking all of the way - from Newtown to Greta Point ! When I was at camp, I met some truly wonderful people, I was blessed; and a blessing. On the praise & worship night, I saw a picture of a heart, and its need to be protected. We all need angels to protect us, but sometimes we can't feel anything. One lady in my cabin kept calling her helpers her little angels. Maybe our hearts need protection like cotton wool, but harsh words and bad stuff are like pins which can prick us and hurt us. And when we cry, the cottonwool is like a cloud; and we forget all the good stuff like Jesus loving us, and so it goes away. We need to build up our cotton wool of silver and golden threads of friendships, asking the Holy Spirit to come in and be with us, building up scripture knowledge for immunity. And then our cotton wool will be more like steel wool - then I guess it really is like armour ! Philippians 4:7 : "... and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Liz Goose Up to the top
A Leaders' Song
	Now the world seems to be full of tyranny Apparatus of lying and hate May your kingdom servants stand firm To be a contrasting example of service When in the world those with power seem as giants Wielding their desires for power May your people be faithful to your message Winning by washing others' feet May they hear your voice and not mine May they adore you alone May I be less and you grow in me each day May they bow at your feet and not mine May they bow rendering everything at your feet May we attend those who suffer and cry And look for the people who are abandoned That we may find your face each day And be instruments in your hands May your words abound on our lips And open the way of peace with our brothers and sisters To learn the meekness and humility of Jesus The Shepherd of humankind In your life May you strive to be a contrasting example of service May you strive to be kingdom servants always ready to do the foot-washing May you strive to be consistently connected with the voice of Jesus May you strive to be sensitive to those who feel alone or suffer May you be the hands and feet of Jesus, instruments in his hands May you strive to proclaim the way of reconciliation, justice and grace With your lips and your lives A living example for those who have not yet heard
	( From Tscf magazine CANVAS Summer 2004 ) This is appropriate given Jack's challenge for us, that God uses the weak and broken to spread the good news about Him. We're not excluded from the Great Commission. Up to the top

News from earth :

PHOTOGRAPHS : Wellington people at the National Camp ( Click on any of the pictures to see it alone, perhaps rather bigger, but perhaps not. ) Up to the top

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