Ringwood Salvos....

I have now been(along with Jules) the corps officer of the Ringwood corps for 2 weeks. It's very different to Craigieburn (where I spent the last 12 years) and you wont hear me say it's better or worse..it's just different.

 

It's a large Corps(church) for Salvation Army standards, and I know that God has placed me here.

Can I say I am loving it ? well no not yet.... the truth is, I am gobsmacked by the load of work there is to be done. I am not afraid of hard work, just in this case, surprised.

Last night I went along to the evening service which recommenced for the 1st time in 2013... there was a small amount of people present, we sat on lounges and listened to each other share their stories of what God had been doing in our lives .... we worshipped Him, we prayed, and we ate pizza and drank Coke (Zero) and there was a special intimacy in the room.

for me personally I was moved deeply by The Lord God who spoke into my heart, reassuring me, reminding me, blessing me...I am hoping all present, heard Him, (he was most definitely present amongst us)

the song "Eagles Wings" was used, and God blessed my heart so much...

the words(some of them go like this)

"here I am waiting

abide in me I pray

Here I am longing

for You.

come live in me

all my life

Take over

and I will rise on eagles wings"

 

well something like that....but it's a special reminder of who God is and what he desires of us. I love it that this song was chosen and God spoke deeply to me as I sang unto Him. There was much freedom in the room last night, the muso's were good, Thanks Ben, Peter, Michael and Paul... but none compares to Jesus who was there in the room with us.

 

Church (and not just Ringwood or Craigieburn) is a fickle thing at times....we get caught up in so much that Jesus would have us not care about at all. Music and Worship style, loudness of the sound, where we sit, what we wear, the politics, complaints, grumblings, its too hot, or too cold... the preacher speaks too long or too short, he is not deep enough or he is too deep... so many things seem to distract us.

 

but if we kept it about Jesus, and we listened out for the still small voice of God as He moves in and starts whispering our name, things just may look very different, and we may not be caught up in the superficial and start experiencing the supernatural.

I am pleased that God has bought me here to Ringwood, I sense that He is going to do something amazing amongst us.

He will whisper our name, and offer power, healing, help and peace....

He will lift us up...like on eagles wings and we will soar above the struggles of the earth.

Thanks to the 6pm team for leading us into His presence last night...

btw....its pretty cool in the 10 am service as well. (just sayin')

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Haven't had to do this for a while ...!!!!

As salvo officers, it is clearly understood and expected that from time to time we are required to move from appointment to appointment. (posting) For a lot of officers this happens around the 5 year mark, but for us, it has been 12 years since we have had to move.

And so here we are at Ringwood, having left the church we planted at Craigieburn after 12 years.

We begin our 18th year as officers in our 3rd appointment. Please don't misunderstand that, we are not inexperienced, because of having just 3 appointments, we have been through much in those years, chaplains on duty during the Port Arthur massacre, growing 2 corps into vibrant ministries, planting 1 from scratch, raising many leaders and traveling in mission trips overseas into India as well as time at many conferences throughout the world (ICO for Julie, Willowcreek USA, Greece, Turkey study tours, and much more)where God has equipped and shaped us.

And so here we are...raring to go, and willing to keep serving Jesus with the abilities and talents and gifts He has already equipped us with. A humbling task awaits us. A daunting task awaits us. Challenge, and change.... but I have already proven over the 17 years so far, and then the 8 years as a youth pastor before that, that God is all I need, and that His faithfulness will carry me through.

He has never failed me.

He will carry me through.

I will see great things happen, as will the people of Ringwood Salvos, as God does things amongst us and within us, that we couldn't even imagine or dream of.

will it be easy ? NOPE !!!!

will we win ? YEP.

we cant lose when we hold onto the hand of the creator of the universe.

 

So, some reflections of the past week....

 

the challenges and difficulties were here waiting for me !!!!

no phones, no internet, no media access....still working on all that, ( Thank the Lord, and Apple inc, for Iphones and Ipads....and Telstra for 3G)

some really great people have made contact with me (us) and welcomed us in, and we feel blessed.

our offices are now in order and ready for the ministry tasks at hand.

we have had a few hours off to reflect and prep our minds for Gods next move here.

our house is in order, we are settled at home ( with a few things needing to be done here) we are comfortable at Burnett court.

we are walking again.

and friends have come to visit.....( I just love this bit)

 

so tomorrow brings our Installation, and it becomes official....

so here's what I absolutely know....

that if my God is for me, then who or what can stand against me.

when I work and walk in the strength of Jesus, I can climb mountains that seem impossible to some.

I fully believe, and am convinced, that God will use me for His glory and purposes, in Ringwood, and together we will see amazing things happen as Gods Kingdom advances.

 

If you are a Ringwood'ite (Salvo)...... then hang on, hold on tight, and let's get on the rollercoaster ride of our lives as God starts amongst us, what cant be done any other way.

It's just going to be awesome.

 

 

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