My adventures with God
Hi Fellow Christians in the wonderful country of ours.
I thought I would fill up some lines and tell you my little adventure that I have had with God over the last 6 weeks.
For a long time I have wanted to start another home group in our church here in Whanganui.
I have the absolute privilege of talking to a group of about 60 people every month at our community meal so I know a few of them quite well and visit some of them in their homes (not all).
I talk about God a lot and I joke about God and tell bible stories and generally have fun in my faith.
So I was reading and praying on Mathew chapter 5 verse 15 which translates into easy speak as :
Nobody lights a lamp and then puts it under a pot. He will put the lamp in a high place. Everybody who is in the house can then see the light from the lamp.
So full of the take it to the people spirit I went a visiting and decided that I would ask people if they wanted to be part of our church home groups.
I was nervous I didn’t want to pressure people, ruin friendships, sound holier than them.
People were very busy and this was another pressure. I didn’t have time myself.
I forgot that God was preparing the way for me, I forgot in my nervousness – Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
With that thought on my heart I went out visiting and asked everyone I talked to for two weeks.
Some said no but they were polite but more said yes.
I had a bad day at work and got a text in the evening. Can I come to your group? (Thanks Lord)
Great let’s have our first meeting together. 10.30 Wed morning
We had a home to have it in I had prepared a simple start. Set the guidelines and boundaries it was a great morning. Good study. Then this happened.
5 people pulled out, two got jobs, this left me and my helper on our own.
Disappointment reigns I had worked hard made sacrifices. Back to the drawing board – I felt like giving up.
We set another time for a fortnight and this time at the church hall.
Nobody came just me and my helper. What do we do? Do we give up? We sat and talked together then we prayed together.
This week we had an evening meal together with 10 people and 3 apologies
We were together with great food (God bless fish and chips) ordinary people talking of their challenges and rewards
Our study was based on Matthew 5: 3 blessed are the poor in spirit.
To sit and listen to people poor in every sense of the word talk of the joy they experience with their families, partners, and children is amazing and then someone said, “is it because of God” … Wow speak up Pastor and I did.
We didn’t get it right the first time or the second time. We talked it through and we prayed and we tried again. We haven’t made it, but we have started and I am praying more were added to their number daily.
Blessings
Pastor Phil.