Good times.

It's been a pretty good weekend at our church, which means its been a pretty good weekend for me.

some might say, that's all a bit sad, but for me, not really, I have given my life to my calling and so its pretty important for me to see good weekends in my life's work.

our attendances weren't huge, and in the past that would have had a big impact on whether it was a good weekend or not ...but  something is changing in me, which is pretty good.

It didn't matter how many were in church yesterday, it was just good. 

MOSTLY, the people who were present just wanted to worship God and that was awesome.
( there will always be in church those who are just there for some other reason)

So what made church so good, and the weekend so good for me ?

I relaxed and got some things done around the house on Saturday, My footy team had a win... and the presence of God was with us in Church.

I felt like I preached ok....( you can check that out for yourself here...www.salvos3064.podbean.com ) and I felt that Cadet Bec preached really well Sunday night and led our church well on Sunday morning.

and ...well...yeah...it was a good day.

the truth is that I love church, and I love this style of worship and what God does amongst us, I know that God works in any style, and I also know that if we turn up expecting God to move amongst us, then He always does, and here's another startling truth....God even moves amongst us when we don't expect Him to.

Early Sunday morning as I spent some time with the Lord, just He and me.... I felt I heard His voice say to me,"Gary, it doesn't matter how many turn up today, just enjoy it, and share with those who have, and have great day" ...well I did and it was.

What will this week bring ?

only God knows what lays before me, I do wonder what the weeks will bring, whether it will be positive, negative, productive, tiring, stressful, peaceful or whether big news will come or whether no news will be heard, whether the week will slip by like other weeks  and then of course what will Sunday bring ...

Here's what I know.... 

God knows...He has planned my every step, My paths were laid out a long time before I was ever thought of....  He is already there directing my steps and guiding my way, I trust Him completely in that.

His plan is for me to enjoy my life and live fulfilled and satisfied, and the truth is I am...

Whatever lays before me is ok.

Because He is directing every single moment that I live.

I live for Him.

will next weekend, & this week, be as great as yesterday...?

YEP.

probably even better.      

Isaiah 46:4

         I will continue to carry you even when you are old.
       I will take good care of you even when your hair is gray.
      I have made you. And I will carry you.
      I will take care of you. And I will save you.
     I am the Lord.                                                  Isaiah 46:4

well,the other day I was doing my devotions, morning quiet time and this verse (above) jumped off the page and into my mind.   I couldn't seem to get away from it, my eyes kept darting back to it, a sure sign for me, that God wanted to say something to my heart.

Brengle has now finished and life is back into full swing, and seriously there are some issues of curiosity that hang over my life in regards to my ministry future, and seeing as though nothing has been said in any way or direction as yet, I feel completely justified to share my feeling and  fears and hopes. 

As a Salvation Army Officer, "I" , just like all my colleagues, face the uncertain future of where I will be ministering in 2013 and beyond. 

Basically it's ok, for I signed a Covenant (see below) (which for me I just renewed with my Lord, at Brengle) that said I will go wherever and whenever and whatever, and for me that hasn't changed.

But it leaves me still feeling unsettled and  uncertain of just exactly where that will be....

and then God speaks into my spirit and says....

I will continue to carry you even when you are old

well, I am getting older, and He promises to Carry me even then..... that's reassuring. 

I will take good care of you even when your hair is gray.

who knows if I am gray... I am "bald..."  but if I had hair, it would most likely be growing gray.  But God says I will take care of you even then....

I have made you. And I will carry you.

and He reminds me again  He will carry me.... He made me, He knows what makes me tick, what I am fearful of, what excites me, what drives me, and what I stand against.    

  
I will take care of you. And I will save you.

It's pretty crucial to me  that God says that He will take care of me, and that he will save me.

my life is built upon this premise, so to be reminded of it and reassured of it, it's pretty cool, especially in light of the uncertainty of the future at this moment in time.

Being  a Salvation Army Officer is not for everyone, I get that, but when God calls you to it, why would you ever want to shrink back from God's best, when He promises the kind of stuff He promises in this verse. ?

For me.... ( and maybe not for everyone else) BUT for me.... The Salvation Army has never done anything to hurt or damage me or mistreat me or my family.

I have found support and a listening ear, and love and concern to my needs.

I trust the Army leaders that they will be guided by God, so that this verse will in fact be a "life promise" for Gary Grants future ministry as a Salvo Officer.

and of course there's that final line....

I am the Lord.

He is....  He is my Lord.... and I love Him, and I desire to serve and please Him, and do what He calls me continually to be and to do.

I  don't think I am better than anyone else,
neither do I think that I am any worse,
I am just Gary Grant,
a Major in the Salvation Army, Australia Southern Territory...

doing my best to be surrendered and submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in my life

and my future is in His hands.

and it's OK.

 ***************************************************************

My Covenant:

CALLED BY GOD
to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
as an officer of The Salvation Army

I bind myself to Him in this solemn Covenant:
to love and trust and serve Him supremely all my days,
to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life.
to maintain the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army, and by God's grace,
to prove myself a worthy officer.

(signed , November 29th, 1995)

Brengle...8

Brengle reflections:

The overwhelming sense in my spirit is the cry of my heart to


"keep me near the cross"

It is my prayer and hope to dwell and tarry near the cross...in its shadow, in the power in which it symbolizes.

That my life was purchased and redeemed there.

I am saved, by what Jesus did for me there.

It's safe there.

(Thankyou Father)

today we had a few sessions: but by far the most significant session for us all, well, for me anyway, was the concert of prayer we shared earlier today.

It was in this session that God drew very close to me and reminded me of who I am in Him and what He requires of me... which is to stay close to the cross.

my thoughts on that are:

- away from the cross I become distracted and temptations become stronger, even over powering.

- when I am away from the cross, I tend to do things my way instead of His way.

- when I am near the cross, I am focussed, things are much clearer there.

- the closer I am to the cross, the more evident the power is in within me and through me.

- the cross is my home, I belong there, I am not on holidays at the cross, I need to live there.

- I don't want to be a casual observer of the events of the cross, but rather, a willing and active participant in it's message, it's hope, its power, it's truth, and it's peace.

 

tomorrow is the last day of Brengle 2012.... a bit sad really, its been such an amazing time of refreshing and renewal in me, but there is work to be done and I am required at home...

 

I pray that the newness/freshness, in me, will continue at home and at Craigieburn Salvos and beyond.

...................................................................................

One final comment:

I don't know whether anyone in Salvo Army leadership ever reads my blog, but if you do....this is for you.

Thank-you for the gift of "Brengle" to the Officers in Australia. I am aware that this must have implications of budget and cost and I just want to say thank-you for the investment and gift of this 9 days has been for me.

I seriously have been renewed, and refreshed, and tomorrow when I renew my covenant, I will do so with a sincere heart attitude .

Thank you !

Posted with Blogsy

Brengle...5,6,7...

Days 5 and 6 were quiet days at Brengle...Day 5 a day of sabbath rest, which was welcomed by all, I spent the day in Geelong, and resting...and sharing dinner with a good friend, Thanks Doug.

Day 6, was a day of silent retreat which was also a good day,

sadly for me it was shattered when I heard the news that my beloved dog( my pet of 17 years at home) was very sick and needed to be put to sleep.

for me personally, I was very sad on a few fronts, that Julie and the girls had to deal with it, without me,and that I couldn't really say goodbye to him physically.

He has been our pet dog ever since we left college, and it just leaves me feeling a little flat and yep...sad.

I don't care what anyone else thinks about it, he was a special part of our family for so long... I will place a picture up somewhere (either facebook or here on my blog) of him, when I get back to my computer at the office.

life is like that though isn't it ?

its not always on top of the mountain tops, sometimes...its deep valleys, and for our family this week we say farewell to one of our family... and we go through a valley of grief and loss for our dog. ( our fluffy )

------------------------------------------ :(

So that brings me to Day 7...today.

what did I learn today ? what is my take away today ?

"you take care of the depth of your influence, and God will take care of the breadth of your influence"

my relationship with God is all I need to be holy.... how deep I go is up to me, I love this quote above, and I am unsure of who exactly said it, but its great ....all I have to do is deal with the depth and God will widen my influence, I think it may be possible that I may have had this back to front in my ministry, worrying more about the breadth than the depth... (this will change in me)

and finally, there will be a few changes in me, the depth, breadth thing is one.... but I became aware today of some other very personal areas that I want to see change.

my self evaluation and self talk around my colleagues is another area where I feel a need to develop and mature and I am going to allow God to take me deeper in that area.

its very personal, and I wondered whether to share it or not, and have decided to do so, hoping it may help some other officer or pastor who struggles with the same.

I have had a tendency over many years now to see myself as "too young and weak or inexperienced" when in comparison to older more experienced officers in service than I.

and God came to me today, reminding me, that "He has called me"...I am not stupid, I need to remain humble and not on some ego trip, but that I actually have something worthy and worthwhile to contribute, and that He is going to use me in areas that will surprise even myself . He has promised to never leave me or leave me alone...He will always be with me. That in itself makes me pretty strong.

My thinking has been imposed by my self talk.... that seeks to say to myself, that I am nowhere near as good or smart as others, and that doesnt devalue others, but rather damages all the good that God has already done in me already. He reminded me that I have much to bring to the table... He also reminded me, I am not young anymore... that makes me laugh. ( I already know that I am getting old)

There will alwasy be those in the Kingdom who are smarter and more experienced than I, AND...there will always be those in the Kingdom who are less experienced and mature, than what I am "still" becoming.

it's just all a big "HOLY" journey and I am on it and in it and God wants me to get on with it.

 

so that's what I am gonna do.

 

maybe you can just get on with it too....

Posted with Blogsy

Brengle...4

Today has been the best day by far, I felt God tug at my heart today, and as He did He ministered very deeply into my spirit, I was, and am, overwhelmed by His love and grace shown to me. I feel I don't deserve anything that he gives like this, but am ever so grateful for HIs loving and gentle touch upon me.

I do not know why anyone would choose to be away from Him.

some of the thoughts from today...

Holiness isn't just for some elite few at the top... everyone is called to be holy.


God is making a Christlike version of all of us.

God breaks the power of sin in us..


My sinful nature does not have to rule me anymore, Christ's act upon the cross defeated that.

If I live in Christ, the power of sin is once and for all dealt with.



To be like Jesus, this hope possess me, in every thought and deed, this is my aim, my creed.

I have been washed by the blood of the Lamb of God, I am as white as snow on the inside.

My future is secure in HIM.

Posted with Blogsy

Brengle ...3 (cont'd)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28sqs5H5hao&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

yesterday our morning worship included this clip, the url listed above...


please copy and paste it, and watch it... ( haven't fully worked out how to link it through this program)

watch it to the end, allow God to speak to your heart,

 

enjoy.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Brengle ...3

Day 3 comes to a close soon and I wanted to share what I have gleaned today.. (that is for those who are interested) if you don't care, then I guess you wont be reading this blog...its also a bit for my own memory and reflection more than anything.

so today:

life has hiccups, at times things happen that cause a hiccup in your faith walk... keep going.

you are accepted... I am accepted by God. I don't need to live in guilt, its best to choose gratitude.

true motivation for the believer is gratitude.

you are loved, you are accepted, you are forgiven,.....

* Jesus keep me near the cross.

for it is at the cross, that I am loved, accepted, forgiven.....

C.S. Lewis... "forgiveness is a wonderful idea until you have to forgive."

when it comes to the forgiveness issue...practice forgetting.... is often when the healing begins.

stop talking about it the sin, the memory,the hurt, the feelings, and allow our healing to flow.

I think its important to understand that God loves us, and there isnt anything we can do that will stop that love flowing for us ...

so tonight, Moments of Grace continue.... every delegate to Brengle shares their story in 5 minutes and then each is prayed for, its special... I am last up, Friday night.

Commissioner Lyn Pearce(R) is a wonderful woman of God. her teaching is wonderful and she is lady full of Grace, the presence of God in her is very evident. I sat with her last night at dinner and I sensed in her a true servant heart. What a blessing ( to me) it is to travel for a few days, with true saints who have travelled the road before I have. She doesnt just speak the words of truth, she demonstrates them, she is such a calming presence around us, and thats all about the Holy Spirit in her.

I hope, that one day in my life I may also become one of the saints, like her, that may help others get closer to Jesus.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Brengle...2

its been a good day, I have picked a few things today which have helped me.

I do feel blessed, I am having various random moments where I become overcome with emotion, as I sense the Holy Spirit touch my heart. not all the time, but at random moments as people are speaking,i am hearing God and feeling His hand upon my heart, I love it when the Lord does that.

God has called me, chosen me for a task that, at times..i just dont get it.

I am not fearful of my future, I guess I am just getting curious now.

I very much sense something happening inside my soul, cant quite put my finger on it, but it is happening, i just know.

some interesting things happened today which were intimidating but also affirming in some ways for me, and I am not thinking too much about it, but its hard to figure what God is saying sometimes....its important I think, to not clutch at straws...or make something of nothing...but then i think its also important, to not make nothing of something.

so I will just pray it through and see what happens next..

its been a good day and tonight its Moments of Grace time...where everyone shares their short version of their story with each other.

todays good take away.... "every Christ follower has moments of perfection/holiness"

its my aim and hope to have many of these kinds of moments.

Posted with Blogsy

Brengle... 1

Day 1...has been a special day for me, following on from a special night last night at S3064 church in our prayer meeting where a word of prophecy was spoken over my life, which was exactly what I needed to hear from the Lord, and an answer to my prayers. ( which only God knows about) No eagles this time, just a prophetic word in season.

so then, I was expecting something today and I was not disappointed.

Philippians 1:6 was the key verse for me today..... that God will continue what He has started in me, a follow on from my prophecy last night. Very important for me and I feel so blessed today. And its only day 1.

 

each Brengle delegate was given by the TC's of our territory, today, this pin (pictured above) as well as a special bronze desk icon of the same image which symbolizes much about Salvation Army Theology... the flag of TSA wrapped around the cross of Christ and bathed in the flames of the Holy Spirit.

Oh, I am thinking that my experience of Brengle will be special indeed, it already is.

 

Commissioner James Condon from Sydney spoke the word tonight and it was very special and I was just so encouraged, especially by this great man of God's,openness and honesty and sincerity.

Day 1 highlights:-

* Philippians 1:6

* The Brengle Cross Gift

 

looking forward to day 2.

Posted with Blogsy

This is the way..WALK IN IT !!!

And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 35 NIV)

www.salvos3064.podbean.com




when the Lord says to us, this is the way, walk in it, I believe it is more than just any old

invitation... its a challenge to leave the other way of walking behind. You know, leave the sinful path, and get onto the right path, the one that leads to righteousness...the one that leads to heaven, the path that leads to Jesus.

Have I always walked in His way ?

NO, of course not, none of us have really, but it is still the invitation that is given to everyone all the time.

***********************************

This week I head off to Brengle, ( it's a holiness retreat/conference for salvos) and I am really looking forward to the experience that is being provided to me.

so ...that starts tomorrow, and I will most likely blog my experience ( will see how I am feeling), but I am looking forwards to the break from the normal routine and the chance to stop and listen out for Gods voice amidst all the clutter and busy-ness of my life and ministry.

Yesterday was a fantastic day at our church, we had the largest crowd in for our Morning service than what we have had for over 12 months, I also heard of how God was answering prayers...and a little shot at some confirmations for my own spirit and ministry was given to me... (thankyou Lord)

so all in all, its a good start to a new week....

 

those who know me well....will know how significant eagles are to me, when it comes to the Lord

and His way of speaking to me ....

Whilst I dont get to see eagles everyday, I am blessed that every now and then, God allows

me a glimpse to remind me, He is with me and there are plans afoot to bless and use me.

"It's just that, how I feel today... is eagle like". bless you.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Salvos3064 church

A Salvo church...

I hope you don't mind me blogging this, but it's a huge part of my life, 12 years ago, Julie and I were asked to plant a Salvo church in Craigieburn, Victoria, Australia....

It's been tough going, it started with just our family and then some special friends, Jordan & Sarah coming to help us, and then we just worked hard.

Currently we have around 100 attending in the morning and 50 in the afternoon. Its no where close to what we had hoped to be by this stage but nevertheless, it's quite satisfying to have some kind of result after these long years.

I am placing a few pics here for you to see where, what it all looks like...

S3064 church/corps is a worshipping community that see's hundreds of people connected each and every week. It's Army...but we don't have bands and songster brigades, we are very contemporary and alive! And it's great fun, but it's also really hard work.

I love seeing people connect to Jesus and grow in their faith, and that's what we came here to do.

 

 

At times we have been misunderstood and criticized, and that has hurt us, but nevertheless, we just keep plodding along. Stacks of people are connecting to Jesus these days at Craigieburn Salvos, we are about to make 4 brand new soldiers...and that's exciting. ( A soldier is an official member of TSA)

You can follow us on Facebook...

"Salvos3064 - Awesome church"

That's where all the latest news and events are reported.

So, planting a Salvo church has taken a lot of energy from me, but it has been very rewarding, and If I had to,live my life over, yep I would do it again....

I never dreamed God would ask me to do this, and I have done my best. I pray He will alway receive the honour due His name in S3064 church.

Always.

 

Posted with Blogsy