Wendy's testimony

In OCF we are encouraging people to write out their stories of knowing Jesus and why they are Christians. Here is Wendy's testimony:-

'I started to lean on Jesus when I was 11. Starting at a huge and scary secondary school I was lonely, fearful and worried. I remember being given a Gideon’s bible, as all first years were, and the speaker suggested we read it every night. I always did as I was told then, so from that point on I started reading the bible nightly. In my worst times I would read and memorize the recommended verses for when ‘scared’ or ‘worried’ – they seemed to help.

At 14, confirmation classes helped to fill in some gaps and I made a decision to become a ‘LFC’ supporter – to Live For Christ with Love, Faith and Courage. Always the conformist I spent most of the next 20 years asking myself ‘what would Jesus do’ when faced with difficult or painful situations. The bible was always there for support, although whenever I turned to Jesus it was in times of trouble. Prayers were answered and comfort given, but Jesus for me, was on a pedestal and I turned to him only when really necessary – I didn’t like to bother him really!

It was when I started going to OCF that I began to realise Jesus was more than just a rescue package. He was with me 24/7 through good times as well as bad. He was someone to fall in love with, share my life with and adore. He was fast becoming a good friend as well as my saviour and I think Mark started to notice a change in me.
Ten years ago our marriage was in a bad place. A cross-roads. God stepped in and saved it. At the time Mark was an atheist but he became curious and offered himself up as a blank page – challenging the church to convince him we had a living God who wanted a full and loving relationship with him. The Fellowship came alongside, and one Alpha course later, Mark stood up in church and declared his faith. The transformation I witnessed in Mark, and the rescue of what had been a fragile marriage, spoke more to me about God’s love than any other life experience.

I have always believed in a God who protects and guides me; that has never been an issue. In my younger days He was the shaft of pure, brilliant light in what was often a very dark place. As time has passed His light has spread out – broadened and strengthened. It now flows over and covers every aspect of my life. There are still dark days and bad things will still happen, but I know Jesus will not let me go. He loves me. I am safe.'

Trusting God Job 42 v12

By Samantha Reed from Proverbs 31 Ministries (sent to me by a friend so I'm publishing it here for all who read this blog as it encouraged me)

“Then Job replied to the LORD: ‘I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.’ …My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” Job 42:12, 5 (NIV 1984)

Sometimes I don’t fully trust God has prepared good things. For me, for family, for friends, for others.

This past year was riddled with home foreclosures, loss of businesses, empty cupboards and gas tanks for those I love. They’ve faced suicide attempts, drug overdoses, passing of loved ones. Family and friends alike have endured marital affairs, children sentenced to jail, a second year of unemployment, cars breaking down, churches falling apart and the list goes on.

I’m not sure He can redeem the pain, recover what’s lost, heal all that’s broken. Can He truly fit the pieces of this past year into a hopeful future?

Right now, circumstances suggest otherwise. And if I rely on what circumstances currently imply, I’m apt to believe the answer is no, the Lord is not able.

But circumstances tell tales that are prone to change in a moment.

And the truth of the matter is: God never changes. His power to give a future and hope never change. His Word never changes. So when life weaves stories of doubt and hopelessness in God’s authority over circumstances, I reread accounts of His faithfulness and redemption. I refer back to the Truth…

All the while Job’s family, home, crops and health demolished…God was preparing to give him double of what was killed, stolen, lost and damaged.

The time Joseph was a slave and prisoner…God was planning for him to be second in command over Egypt.

When Ruth was a homeless, barren widow…God was creating a home in Boaz’s heart for her to be a wife, and mother, and great, great, great-grandmother to His Son.

As Lazarus was bound in grave clothes…God was forming the breath that’d give him new life.

The moment David laid down in adultery…God was laying the groundwork for him to rise up in repentance.

Every time Saul crucified Christians…God saw Paul preaching the crucified Christ.

With each strike that Sarai beat Hagar with…God saw Sarah beating her jealousy, pride and doubt with the birth of Isaac.

When Esther was an orphaned girl shaking in fear for her life…God made a way for His daughter to shake a kingdom and save His people.

As Rahab welcomed men into the shelter of her bed…God saw her sheltering the spies on her roof.

When Peter lost faith and denied Christ…God saw him bringing many to faith as he proclaimed Christ.

As Moses killed an Egyptian with his hands…God saw him chiseling the Ten Commandments with those same hands.

At the time Mary saw Jesus die…God saw Jesus resurrected and seated on His heavenly throne!

No matter what the dire, dreary circumstances, God turned each into a hopeful future.

Our key verse assures us, none of His plans can be thwarted. Despite what is happening in life, these stories of redemption and hope speak the truth. God can and will reverse, restore, revive and renew. He sees beyond the present troubles and is sparking a fire to light up the future with hope.

As we begin this New Year, let’s be on the lookout for His plans to come to pass. And trust Him that He can take any circumstance and use it for our good and His glory.

Dear Lord, I’m so grateful You not only see my future, but You’ve planned it. Thank You for Your faithfulness last year. And for recording these stories of lives You turned dreary pasts into hopeful futures. I ask that You do the same for my circumstances this New Year please. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What has God been saying?

In Acts 13 it gives us a description of the church at Antioch: 'there were prophets and teachers....they were worshipping the Lord and fasting......they placed their hands on them and sent them off' - what a great picture of church!
A church where they listen to the Spirit and to the Word, where they praise and pray, where they commission and send.

I have been catching some of the things God has been saying recently to us in OCF. I am certain there are other things God is saying to you personally but here are some of the things I have picked up:-

- we can have a clean slate with Jesus
- there can be a rainbow in front of us (a Biblical symbol of God's protection and promises) but we can't see it: God IS there, in front of you!
- 2 Corinthians 5 - we are called to be ambassadors for Christ: ministers of reconciliation and healing
- the power of the promise is real and is for us: 'I am God and I continue to work'

- are we building our lives around ourselves or are we building our lives around God?: He is before all things and in Him all things hold together
- we need to be so full of the Holy Spirit that we 'overflow and glow' - be sensitive to Him
- the faithfulness of God never fails but its our perspective that needs to be renewed
- put the sails up and catch the wind, stop drifting aimlessly with your sails down

- we need to be like a brazier that is full of heat, energy, fire: be filled with the Holy Spirit
- God has a deep affection for you: just as a perfect loving Father
- God doesn't want the church to be 'nice' or 'pretty' but dangerous (bulbs that burn brighter? or bulbs that explode and have an impact?!)

- Father, Son and Holy Spirit sit on a 3-seater throne!
- The Holy Spirit is the Ruach of God - the mighty wind: He can make dead things come to life. When 160 mile an hour winds blow then things move!
- God can do the impossible and all we need is grace sufficient for today

Increasing the blessing

As we gear up for a new year of ministry when I believe God wants us to step out in healing, prophecy and a bold witness to the glory and joy of knowing Jesus I sense God wants to do us good first!

In this age of austerity and cut backs God wants to do the opposite. He wants to increase abundance, increase hope, increase blessing. Let's stop living an 'it'll do' existence and begin to see there is so much more God wants to bless us with.

Let's 'press in' to the joy and healing and blessing that the Holy Spirit has for us and not put up with anything less. Get to the prayer times and the conferences and the meetings and the Life-groups and the worship times and seek His immense blessing.

Just being with the people of God does me good - I don't know why except that it's the Spirit in them that resonates with me and equips me for the next step of the way.

Chris had a picture a while ago of a street where windows overlooking the street were closed and people were looking through the windows (at the church) but as the season changed and it became warmer then they opened the windows and could hear the message of the church.

We are in a time which I believe is a 'window of opportunity' not just in OCF but nationally and globally when people are opening their windows to hear the gospel as we go out.

This coming year requires a people who are committed to their walk with God, who are seeking Him daily (we cannot glide on yesterday's winds or the hope of tomorrow's winds - only on the wind of the Spirit for each day).

Let's begin to listen again to what the Spirit is saying NOW in this moment and declare it and encourage each other with it and even challenge each other where it is needed.

The window of opportunity will only be open for a while - NOW is the time to listen and hear what God is saying. NOW is the time to speak out the message of a loving and powerful and risen Saviour.

Let's not put Him off to another day but let's choose today who we are going to serve.

What do we do?

What do we do when our heads and hearts become distracted by the cares and worries of this life?

What do we do when it's so difficult to hear and respond to God's voice because so many other voices have been given permission to be louder?

I have had a time when I've found those other voices overwhelming. Not because I've rebelling against God but just life itself has been allowed to be louder.

It becomes 'life in the red zone' and it's so easy to slip into a pace of life that is about pleasing everyone else and meeting the daily pressures, but ignoring the One who can help us through it all.

Just before he was thrown to the lions, Daniel's enemies found him praying and asking God for help – it was his normal experience to come before God three times a day despite the stressful position he had in Babylon and despite the opposition he constantly faced.

Daniel had aptitude for every kind of learning, was well informed, quick to understand and distinguished himself so much that the king was planning to set him over the whole kingdom (pressure!)

Yet Daniel did not fall back on his own abilities or fall out under the pressure but fell down before God and sought His help daily.

I have learnt some lessons through this:-

1. 'get together' – I recently went to Lifegroup with some friends and found a refreshing as we talked together about prayer and studied the Word of God as a group – it revitalised me to be with others who love God and who also face life in all its ups and downs

2. 're-align' – just because I can't reach the high expectations I set for myself don't give up. There are times when I will read 5 chapters a day and other times when 1 chapter is all I can manage. 10 minutes of crying out to God is better than ignoring Him because I can't do my usual 30 minutes.

3. 'fix your eyes' – on Jesus but also on those who struggled in the faith. When Peter walked on water with his eyes on Jesus it was a 'high' that not many would experience, yet so quickly it turned into an all time 'low' as he became distracted by the wind and the storm. What happened? Did Jesus ignore him in his failure? No, Jesus reached out and lifted Him.

As a church we are busy. There are many ministries happening and great things are going on. People are passionate about serving Jesus and making a difference.

But let's not forget what Daniel and Job and Peter and countless others had to realise, and which I have realised many time over - that we are human and God is God, and without Him the centre will not hold.

Filled with the Holy Spirit (summary of Acts 2 talk)

Jesus said in Acts 1 "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

We need the Holy Spirit to touch our ministries.

So the great things that we are already doing FOR God can be anointed BY God and the things we are doing which are OF God will be done WITH God.

The Holy Spirit is for witnessing and to enable us to reveal Jesus to others as we are filled with Him.

The Holy Spirit is God and when we are filled with God everything else (moaning, complaining etc) gets out of the way because something greater has arrived in the person of the Holy Spirit.

We need to pray with anticipation and desperation just as the disciples did at Pentecost and the Holy Spirit will come, in His own time and in His own way.

We need a 1st hand experience of God - not just watch everyone else doing it.

As we are filled with the Holy Spirit we won't need to struggle or strive to be witnesses anymore because the Holy Spirit will overflow from us and when He does then we are:-

re-positioned and new things begin to happen

able to speak other languages - the languages of those around us. Our work colleagues, those we meet in the pubs and clubs, university lecturers and young people, whoever we think we can't speak to now - we will be able to speak to them as the Holy Spirit enables us.

part of something that attracts a crowd - church becomes interesting and noticed instead of something people see as irrelevant or obsolete

provocative! - people ask 'what does it mean?' - a great question and we have the answer in Jesus!

Without the Holy Spirit we cannot grow, witness, understand, experience joy or do anything to the full measure that God wants us to.

Yet when we are filled with the Holy Spirit all these things can be done and more!

Letter from Ellise

To my beautiful OCF family,

It's truly astonishing that a mere 8 months ago I had never had the pleasure of meeting any of you. Now I can't imagine life without you.

When I came to England I prayed and prayed that I would find a home away from home.

God answered my prayers in an unimaginable way.

He blessed me with all of you. Ormskirk Christian Fellowship is what God's fellowship is meant to be.

From the very beginning every single one of you has been so very welcoming and loving. I want to thank you for that.

It has been such a blessing to be a part of your family over the past year. I have loved getting to know you and seeing you grow as a church.

Your zeal for God and for His people is overwhelmingly beautiful. You have inspired me. Know that I go home refreshed and energized to live each day for God, as I have seen many of you do.

I have grown closer to Him in the past year than I have over my entire life.

Thank you all. God has influenced my life through you more than you will ever fully know.

I am so thrilled where God is leading OCF. He has grand plans for this church and this town.

I offer up my prayers and encouragement to each of you.

I can now appreciate the difficulties of living in a largely non-Christian community and pray for your continued strength. This place and the people desperately need God.

I have confidence that you will be paramount in their hearing and receiving of the Gospel.

Please keep me updated on your endeavors and successes!

You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Until me meet again!

All my love and God's blessings

Ellise Williams