I have been busy all weekend preparing for a prayer experience that we call Soul Space, to go onto Downham Festival site on Monday afternoon (this afternoon, I've just looked at the time!). Because of that I have been rather distracted...
So this morning I forgot my sermon notes, now I do not often use them to read from, but just knowing they are there is good, but due to the busyness of the week this week I was rather relying on them.
But God it seems had other ideas, I used the lectionary reading from John 17 to speak from, and nothing I had planned came out... instead, I found myself talking about how Jesus knew the disciples would need comfort and spiritual support and strength, and that is why he prayed for them...
And today that was Gods message for the church, that he knew of their struggles, and how they felt challenged and squashed, he knew their needs, their need for protection and guidance... he had not forgotten them...
He reminded me of a true story, one in which I was privileged to play a part;
It concerned a small run down chapel in Essex, where two elderly ladies met and prayed for years, faithfully believing God would step in and do something new.
And they were right, Broad Street Green Chapel is now Heybridge Christian Outreach Centre, a growing and thriving Church...
Those elderly ladies hold a lesson for us in perseverance; in the face of hopelessness they did not loose hope. In the face of failure they believed... and God stepped in, and God spoke, they heard and kept on praying!
