Stirring daily

Earlier this year whilst holidaying with friends in Aldinga, South Australia, we decided to visit a local church there (Incidentally I always feel like its a really healthy thing for believers to seek out cross-cultural experience, and this can simply involve visiting different churches on occasion such as a Catholic mass or a Pentecostal meeting).
Although I can't remember what this church we visited was called, what has stuck out to me (other then the service being held in an old granary) was part of the pastors message: he spoke about the 'need to stir up the Spirit on a daily basis'. It was one of those truths that I already knew, but it still kind off hit me over the head! The Christian walk is about participating with Him, and this involves consciously and willfully 'drawing near to Him as He drawn near to us'. 'Stirring the Spirit' involves worship, bible reading, fellowship, and prayer, and, if we don't do these things on a regular basis, His stream within us begins to still, and soon enough may even run dry or get dirty. I believe the physical discipline of having to eat each day is the same as satisfying spiritual hunger: The Word is our DAILY bread!

'I want you always to bear in mind that it is the nature of a fire to go out; you must keep it stirred and fed and the ashes removed' - William Booth.

Every blessing, Paul

Grace

Why does God love you?

It will take an eternity of experiencing His kindness and mercy to find out!

Even then, He'll probably say with a smile on His face: "because I do".

No room for striving there!

- Kym

Links

For a taste of some new Army music from Rowan Castle and the Ingle Farm Revolution band, hit up:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=103473749

Also, Wholly Holy has some very practical and proven methods of sharing the Word:

http://www.whollyholy.blogspot.com

Be the difference

Sometimes is hard to know what we can do to make a real difference in the world; how about child sponsorship? By denying yourself Macdonalds or afew coffee's a week you can change the destiny of a beloved child of God. Sponsorship can be done through such agencies as 'World Vision', 'Compassion', or 'The Salvation Army'. Simply google 'child sponsorship' and one of these organisations and all can be done through the net - its easy!
This video (copy and paste the url) is a must see of how Jesus Christ Himself can touch a family though sponsorship. A warning, you will feel His presence in this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31F-QBhCH_A

Another 'God directive'

Following ‘Engage’ Phobe, Paul, Colin, and Kym again gave ourselves to Him to be used how He wills. Phobe had to be home by midnight and Kym was physically wiped so this mission was shorter then our last experience. Before we headed out, the Lord made us agree that we wouldn’t share with anyone what He was going to do (to test our humility), and we agreed. However, upon agreeing (and in a sense passing this test), we believe we got given the go-ahead to share.

We drove to the large carpark behind Arndale Corps. The Lord revealed to Paul that we had to put all the loose trolleys back where they belong. This was an act of servanthood, yet the first trolley Kym came across had a perfectly new exercise book in it.
We felt led to pray over the carpark (which will be the sight of a new outpouring and revival that the world has never known). Kym felt the Lord say we should go to the (nearby) 'Dominoes' carpark where a mighty miracle earlier took place (this was the miracle where He supernaturally came and fixed our sister-in-laws car after she had an accident). The Lord said that fixing broken hearts is infinitely greater then having a broken car fixed, and if He is willing to do that without being asked, how much more will He do for those who love Him.
The Lord prompted Paul to go into the Dominoes and ask for free pizza (for us to give to someone). He and Colin got into clothes so that they had the ‘Red Shield’ logo, and the four of us prayed for divine favour, and that God would perform this sign. Phobe and Kym remained in the car and interceded, and before long out came Paul and Colin with 3 pizza boxes. Initially the attendant was shaking his head as if he wouldn’t give away pizza in a million years, yet ‘something’ suddenly made him change his mind. We ended up with 2 full (untouched) pizzas and one box with a few extra pieces.
We praised God and gave thanks, but they were cold, so we returned to Arndale Corps to reheat them. It was right to give the spare pieces to those who were setting up for the next days ‘Halo tournament’.
As they were heating, the four of us went in a side-room to pray and praise. Kym noticed some cartons filled with eggs on a side table, and our Lieutenant said it was fine to take a carton. Hearing that we were on another ‘mission’, she also gave us a blanket.
We picked up the pizzas, Colin grabbed a ‘Warcry’ and some pamphlets, and we were off. The Lord led us to Mcinery Reserve in Kilkenny, where we eventually felt led to give the pizzas to someone in a street adjacent the reserve. We came across a house that felt right. It (despite being in a dangerous area and it being late) had a light on and an open door. We offered the man who came if he wanted the pizzas, yet he abruptly said ‘no’ and we had to leave. We then felt led to try a nearby house, and a group of people were watching the soccer (ideal for two pizzas on a cold night). However, they also refused. Our discernment in following the Spirit is obviously not perfect, yet we rather believe the two refusals were people refusing a gift the Lord would have given them. Sensing this, we again sought the Lord as to who He would now rather have and also recieve the pizzas.
Driving along a nearby street, we noticed a man on his bike, and immediatly 'knew' they were for him. Jumping out the car, Kym offered them to him, and he gratefully accepted. His joy was very real, and he mentioned that there was a 13 year old boy who he was going to share them with (who Kym sensed would have really appreciated them). Kym's departing ‘God bless’ seemed to have reached him through the Spirit too. Revelation came to Paul that the Lord was going to nourish them spiritually as they ate.
Three of us were then independently given the word of knowledge that the carton of eggs (and a prophetic note in the exercise book) were to be left on the doorstep of an elderly Italian woman in Myponga St.
The Warcry with a note of encouragement was to go into the letterbox of a nearby believer’s house, and the Lord led us back to Mcinery Reserve to put the blanket and a note in a certain spot. We prayed over it, and a homeless person will be lead to it*

*the next morning this gift from the Lord had indeed been taken.

Father, we praise you for your abundant blessings, and the blessings of your abundance!

Always and forever, Paul.

God directive

What happens when four soldier sit in a car, hand the steering wheel over to the Holy Spirit, and ask Him "What would you like to do tonight?"

We drove to Macca’s so we wouldn’t have the distraction of hunger. On a fast, Kym didn’t buy anything, but had packed some food that afternoon for himself- even though he had no good reason to do so (it ended up being needed).
The Lord brought to our attention a number of young guys who were loitering and sitting about in their cars. It seemed pretty suss (drugs), yet we interceded for them a bit and the Lord led us to wind our car windows down and blast out praise and worship music. Pretty quickly, at least 3 cars of young people (not necessarily together) sped off. With God’s presence, people either embrace Him or flee, I guess in this instance it was the aroma of death - yet it still seemed to be a spiritual victory. The Holy Spirit rested on Paul, and he received a manifestation of heavenly oil. Two guys (aged 18-19) were hanging around outside of the shops, and so Paul and Kym decided to approach them for prayer; we were cussed at and threatened to be shot and robbed, yet they suddenly seemed afraid, and sped off as fast as they could on their bikes.
The four of us persisted, and again sought the Lord. Colin received the word of knowledge ‘Thomson St’; Looking up the street directory, there was sure enough a Thomson St nearby. Driving up the street, the number 36 came to Kym, mentioning it at the exact moment the car was passing number 36! We were led to intercede over the house, and had an inner assurance about the fruit of this.
Driving on, Kym kept receiving images of ripe figs being turned inside out to reveal all the little seeds inside. He didn’t have a clue what this meant, yet Paul received the interpretation: the figs represented our hearts, and the sharing of our hearts (figs inside-out) resulting in eternal seeds being planted.
Phoebe then felt that we needed to offer prayers for pure hearts, which we did. After this, revelation came easier and we felt the presence of the Lord even more tangibly. Paul then received a word of knowledge that we were to go to a Foodland and, as it turned out, there was one nearby. On the way there, the Lord showed Kym an image of two fresh baked loaves of bread, and the term ‘Kingdom leaven’ came to him. Arriving at the shops, the Lord told Kym to look for some large dumpster bins and he walked around the shop corner to find them. While gone, Paul was led to write a prophetic note with scripture (proverbs 3:6) and put it with some mail in front of a shop door. Kym found the dumpsters, and in some cardboard (clean) were two fresh baked loaves of bread! They were unwrapped and weren’t sliced – traditional looking. In the same shop car park, Colin and Phobe were led to tear down a poster inciting hatred and violence against Muslims.
We drove away again in faith, and the Lord led Colin to pull in front of a psychic ‘healing shop’. A Salvation Army thrift shop was next door, and Kym immediately noticed someone had left some items in front. Looking at them all, the Lord led him to a pair of men’s shoes (in really good condition). To test Colin and Phobe, he asked them which item did they think the Lord wanted us to have, and they said ‘definitely the shoes’. We put them with the loaves, and the Lord led us to intercede for the owner of the occult shop (revealed as a woman) and to pray against the evil inside. Phobe also wrote a prophetic note for the owner of the occult store. At the same car park, the Lord told Kym to check a nearby phone box for spare change, yet Colin bet him to it! He found 25 cents in silver coins. There was something ‘right’ about 25 cents, and we added it to the inventory.
As we pulled away, a broken streetlight flickered on, and the Lord gave Kym the name ‘Cranbrook St’, with the numbers 16 or 18. Turning to the street directory, Cranbrook St not only existed, but was in the same suburb. Sixteen and eighteen Cranbrook turned out to be two vacant lots next to each other that were for sale. Kym and Paul were led to cleanse the land and pray over it. The song ‘We’re standing on Holy Ground’ came to Phobe.
With the loaves of bread, coins, and shoes, Colin drove on through faith before Phobe and Kym then 'noticed' some items on the side of the road, and we backed up and inspected them. By now, we knew we were gathering a gift for a homeless person, yet didn’t know what the Lord wanted us to get from the roadside. Paul and Kym got out the car, and God told Paul “grab the suitcase my son”, and we were again on our way. The suitcase ended up being the perfect size to hold everything, and was ideal for a homeless person (good condition, had wheels, etc).
Phobe needed to go to the toilet, so we went to a nearby petrol station. Kym wanted a bottle of water as we got out the car, and, as we got inside, Paul noticed a special for two bottles of water and knew we were to get one for the homeless person. Colin bought them, and it came to Kym and Paul to ask the attendant for a bag for the loaves of bread. He handed us a white plastic bag; on it was written ‘baked fresh’ with a picture of a loaf of bread on it – God has a sense of humour! As we were walking back to the car, Kym thought the bag was far too small for both loaves, yet it turned out to be the perfect size for them.
Sitting back in the car, we interceded for the attendant and then noticed a woman nearby whose car wouldn’t start. We interceded for her, and the Lord led Kym to subversively walk by her car and touch it with my hand. We didn’t doubt it would start again, yet the Lord again led us to be off.
As we pulled away, Phobe's inside car light miraculously flickered on. It hadn’t been working (broken for months), and Kym had complained just earlier that it was too dark to read the street directory, and couldn’t get the light to work.
We knew we were to head for the city. We drove along the road beside botanic park, and we realised it was no coincidence we were driving near the place where the Army started in the southern hemisphere. We felt like primitive Salvos. We knew that out of the items for the homeless person (the loaves in the ‘fresh baked’ bag, coins, pair of shoes, bottle of water, and suit-case), we still needed a coat and witness for Christ. Suddenly it ‘clicked’ – the coat Kym was wearing was in good condition, yet it was getting older and he was intending to buy a new one. Colin knew before he made the decision to give up the coat that it was what he was to do. Kym also 'thought' of a small bible that the Lord led him to put in his backpack a while ago for such an occasion. In all, the Lord gave us 7 items - a significant number.
We were led to the car park outside of the weir and we packed everything in the suitcase and blessed it. Colin was led to look at a nearby plaque, on it was the name ‘Cawthorne’ – this name had come to him in a dream quite a while earlier. It was just another ‘Godincidence’ that we were on the right track – as if God was saying ‘follow the clues’. We also noted a small statue of a possum that was also nearby.
We crossed the weir looking out for our homeless person. We found an old blanket which someone had tried to light a fire on – another sign. We were led to sing a few times ‘Amazing Grace’ – not a song we usually sing.
We were led to follow the Torrens towards the city. A number of times, possums appeared and showed themselves on nearby branches. This was a prophetic sign which the Lord revealed to Paul: As we had just seen the statue of a possum and were now seeing them for real, so we had just passed the original Salvation Army statue in botanic park - the Lord is bringing the Army back to life.
The night was freezing cold, and we began to get impatient at finding the homeless person. We walked all the way along the Torrens to the bridge on King William Road. It came to us how it was under a very similar bridge where founder William Booth first told Bramwell to ‘do something’ about the homeless in need. We rested at the bridge wondering what to do next. The walk was trying, and it was freezing. It then dawned on us what God was doing – showing us that ministry isn’t always fun and games, and granting us compassion towards those who some-how sleep in such bitter cold. After realising this, Paul received the word that we were to go to the parklands along South Terrace. We walked back to the car, and eventually knew we had to stop at Veale gardens. No one was in sight. We crossed the small creek there and went into the darkness. The Lord showed us exactly where to put the suitcase and coat. We prayed over it, and knew without a doubt the Lord would lead the right person to it. Suddenly, things began to feel really uneasy. Out of nowhere, many men seemed to have come out of the shadows. They were dressed in black. The Lord told Paul to get out of there, and we headed back towards the car. Paul hadn’t said anything, but the Lord said to Kym ‘move quickly’.
We headed for home, finding it ironic that we found ourselves heading towards ACH (where Council of War was held) the place where our 'treasure hunt' had started. Laying out the front of ACH, was a homeless man. We had a deep inner assurance the suitcase wasn’t meant for him, yet the Lord moved us to buy him some food. At a nearby servo, Paul brought $5, and that was the perfect amount for a breakfast pack, which we got for the homeless man. Kym wrote him a note with scripture and Paul put it and the food on the man’s mat. At 2am, our mission was accomplished and we headed home, yet we don’t doubt we could be used of the Lord in such ways 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As the Nike god says: ‘Just Do It’.
“To God be the glory for great things he has done

In future we will be praying for more divine appointments and face-to-face interaction.

Fan the flame, Paul.

I'll Fight

The heritage makes my spine tingle, yet the Spirit makes me say 'we're going to go so much further'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH3jrirsRGg

-Paul