A Significant Offering

I was reminded the other night about the first time I met Bennett at the D-House.

After talking to him for some time, I said goodbye and left. Whilst I was walking down the steps, the Holy Spirit told me to go back and give him 20 cents (or it may have been 25 cents - something small like that).

So I went back and gave it to him. Sometimes it's harder giving an unusually small offering like that, than it is to give $10 - because it seems ridiculous.

But as soon as I gave it to him he smiled. He had given his last twenty cents (or twenty-five cents, whatever it was) in the offering the Sunday before. From memory, I think Bennett said that when he gave the offering, in his mind he was testing the promise, "Give and it shall be given unto you".

So now I turn up saying, "The Lord told me to give you this" - the same amount.

That was a sign to him, a new believer.

It was possibly one of the most significant offerings I've ever given!

A Significant Offering

I was reminded the other night about the first time I met Bennett at the D-House.

After talking to him for some time, I said goodbye and left. Whilst I was walking down the steps, the Holy Spirit told me to go back and give him 20 cents (or it may have been 25 cents - something small like that).

So I went back and gave it to him. Sometimes it's harder giving an unusually small offering like that, than it is to give $10 - because it seems ridiculous.

But as soon as I gave it to him he smiled. He had given his last twenty cents (or twenty-five cents, whatever it was) in the offering the Sunday before. From memory, I think Bennett said that when he gave the offering, in his mind he was testing the promise, "Give and it shall be given unto you".

So now I turn up saying, "The Lord told me to give you this" - the same amount.

That was a sign to him, a new believer.

It was possibly one of the most significant offerings I've ever given!

Going With the Holy Ghost

Last night after church Michael and Corinne went to a coffee shop with a young man whom they are discipling. The young man shared about the profound touch of God he felt one Sunday night when Michael was ministering. That particular night, Michael had begun his ministry by telling the church that although he had a sermon prepared, God was telling him to take his hands off and just let the Holy Spirit dictate the proceedings of the meeting. As a result of Michael's sensitivity and obedience, the Holy Spirit really moved that night. After that meeting though, Michael said he was tempted to feel silly about what he'd done, or hadn't done. So when this young man shared tonight about the profound touch of God he felt that night, and about how he'd talked about it with others for a long time afterwards, it was encouraging to Michael, and also to me. It just goes to show how valid and how expedient it is to lay down our natural mind, and let the Holy Spirit have His way. Michael and I both agreed that had he preached that night instead, no matter how brilliant it was, it probably wouldn't have been talked about for as long afterwards. Going with the Holy Ghost is always the way to go! How kind of the Lord to encourage Michael - and it was refreshing to me also - to hear, these many weeks afterwards, of the fruit that came as a result of going with the Holy Ghost.

Going With the Holy Ghost

Last night after church Michael and Corinne went to a coffee shop with a young man whom they are discipling. The young man shared about the profound touch of God he felt one Sunday night when Michael was ministering. That particular night, Michael had begun his ministry by telling the church that although he had a sermon prepared, God was telling him to take his hands off and just let the Holy Spirit dictate the proceedings of the meeting. As a result of Michael's sensitivity and obedience, the Holy Spirit really moved that night. After that meeting though, Michael said he was tempted to feel silly about what he'd done, or hadn't done. So when this young man shared tonight about the profound touch of God he felt that night, and about how he'd talked about it with others for a long time afterwards, it was encouraging to Michael, and also to me. It just goes to show how valid and how expedient it is to lay down our natural mind, and let the Holy Spirit have His way. Michael and I both agreed that had he preached that night instead, no matter how brilliant it was, it probably wouldn't have been talked about for as long afterwards. Going with the Holy Ghost is always the way to go! How kind of the Lord to encourage Michael - and it was refreshing to me also - to hear, these many weeks afterwards, of the fruit that came as a result of going with the Holy Ghost.

God's Hand Was In It

Pati and her two friends from Sydney, Bernie and Jenny, came to church in the morning. They brought two girls with them, one from Japan and one from America, whom they'd met whilst kayaking on Friday. Amazingly, both the girls were also holidaying from Sydney, where they study at Macquarie University, where Pati's church conducts a regular outreach. God so obviously had a hand in it!

And after we shared lunch together, together with some of the Transformation boys, Pati and her two friends left for Coolangatta, and I drove the two students into Surfers where they were to catch a bus at 4pm. On the way, one of the girls noticed she'd left her coat with Pati. This, I thought, could have happened providentially, or atleast God will work it together for good - because now the girl will have to get in touch with Pati again once she's back in Sydney! And I learned that the other girl had previously shared a flat with a Christian, who had once taken her to the Hillsong Conference.

God had a hand in it all along.

God's Hand Was In It

Pati and her two friends from Sydney, Bernie and Jenny, came to church in the morning. They brought two girls with them, one from Japan and one from America, whom they'd met whilst kayaking on Friday. Amazingly, both the girls were also holidaying from Sydney, where they study at Macquarie University, where Pati's church conducts a regular outreach. God so obviously had a hand in it!

And after we shared lunch together, together with some of the Transformation boys, Pati and her two friends left for Coolangatta, and I drove the two students into Surfers where they were to catch a bus at 4pm. On the way, one of the girls noticed she'd left her coat with Pati. This, I thought, could have happened providentially, or atleast God will work it together for good - because now the girl will have to get in touch with Pati again once she's back in Sydney! And I learned that the other girl had previously shared a flat with a Christian, who had once taken her to the Hillsong Conference.

God had a hand in it all along.

God Has His Way

I've been sensing that the Lord wants me to have some further involvement with the Greek church in Brisbane. I committed this unto Him, but I didn't know how it would come about. Then my phone rang. It was Pati, inviting me to join her and and two of her friends from Sydney, with Alex and George and their families as well as pastor Arthur and Ruth, in Surfers Paradise. That evening, pastor George said to Alex, "We should get John up again to speak at our Bible Study". God has his way of getting us together again, when He wants it!