THE AMERICANS ARE COMING!

And yes, once again we  had our annual visit of Americans who came to the Bridgend district. Pastor Mark Fenn, Global Ministries Pastor of First West Baptist church, who was our preacher at ‘Grace’,on the last day of their visit, was quick to assure us that there is a big difference between being American or, as they are, from Louisiana.

For more than ten years their visit to the churches of Bridgend has been a highlight of our year. It came about out of tragedy. There was a terrible time when suicide among the young seemed to be sweeping through our district, until the news was reaching world wide.

Far away in Louisiana God placed a burden for us on the members of this flourishing church. In response to their offer of help, the young pastor and his wife from the Vine Christian Fellowship went out to see how they might be used of God to help us.

It was agreed that a party of them might come over, entirely at their own expense, to minister wherever doors were opened for them. It was a joy for the local evangelical churches who united not only to feed them, provide transport, but also, for those who were able, to don their distinctive red tee-shirts and join them in their visits to many of our schools and old people’s homes. We were welcomed in many places, but the high light of their ministry was through their musical skills.

Their own churches are overflowing with professional musicians, and many of these were so happy to come and share their gifts, while the schools visits made the opportunity to invite the young people to a great concert at the Pavilion which included, in all the entertainment, a clear presentation of the Gospel. Year by year these events have been packed out and seemed to cause a great response.

Later they have also included a concert geared more specifically for an older generation, ‘Sounds of the South’. This too was very popular and provided an outreach for those who might not be attracted into a church but who also so need to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel.

The Ladies outreach at the Vine is always a high light for me. In more of a party atmosphere there were some wonderful testimonies and other contributions, from both sides of the Pond.

These have been years of sowing. We have not seen the hundreds of children who flocked forward as yet filling our churches, but we press on in faith and our wonderful friends from Louisiana continue to come. Our trust is in our great God who gives us the seed of his Word to broadcast, and who promised that ‘all by itself’ it would bring forth fruit. 

GRACE CHURCH’S GREAT ESCAPE

For just one Sunday in each year since way back, was it  in 2,005? the intrepid Ross and Ann have organised an Away Weekend. For this  Sunday in the year the doors of our chapel remain closed.

Not only finding a suitable venue but taking on the catering in order the keep the expenses down, it has been a huge commitment, but one that has proved to be very worthwhile.

Last year we were more than satisfied with the accommodation at the Poplars,  once a fruit farm but, pushed into diversification, is still being farmed,  but also producing spiritual fruit, through providing facilities for Christian camping.

How can I, in the few lines of my blog, share with you something of yet another wonderful ‘Away Weekend’?

The date was booked, ample provision for maybe a hundred, for we had been over eighty last year. But first one family, another and then others told us that they already had commitments. Oh dear! But instead of giving up, discouraged, they steadily proceeded to plan.

I had been struggling with some viral infection, but was lovingly persuaded to come, and doubtless it was the same loving family ministry that brought so many of us together. When we counted up, in spite of absentees, we were nearer 90 this year.

What can I bring as my impression of the weekend? I can only describe it as SUN SOAKED. Yes, in spite of the calendar, Spring had shown no inclination to come until – yes. Warm, wonderful sunshine, especially for us?

But we were not just blessed by the natural sunshine. We were basking in the presence of  God. We could also say we were SON SOAKED.

One of the blessings of ‘Grace’ is happy children. On being informed that they could not attend this year for the exciting reason that they were having a very special holiday to New Zealand, one little boy burst into tears. ‘But I look forward to this all year.’

Not only was there lots of opportunities for fun and games, and a kitchen, which seemed to have a non-stop supply of snacks as well nourishing meals, there was also food for our souls. Some of our one time youth had returned to take some sessions with the children, thus giving our usual teachers a break. A big big thank you to you too.

And of course spiritual food for us adults was a priority, though physical needs were met too. While some laboured cheerfully on kitchen duty, taking their turn at serving, you would often find groups lingering in the dining room and you knew that meaningful relationships were being formed. And for those let off heavy duties there was a wonderful lounge, full of old fashioned and well worn settees where we had opportunities to share and get to know each other.

 We held our services over in what was once the packing shed, now turned into the sanctuary, where we gathered  to hear from God even as we brought our worship. I am not going to attempt to bring you a synopsis of Tom’s ministry, as you can find it recorded on our website (if you are cleverer than I am), but when he introduced his subject I knew God had seen my need and was here to meet with me, for he spoke of the wonder of knowing God’s presence, and of the importance of always seeking, knowing more and ever being surprised by him. 

Our prayer meetings following breakfast were well attended, with grateful parents, now child-free. I think one prayer highlighted for me the ministry of the weekend. Tom has told us the story of how Moses had pleaded with God that he would not send them any further without God himself going with them. As one brother prayed, we felt he had  been there amongst those watchers, perhaps envying the faithful Joshua, and we realised that for him too this was the greatest need of his life. 

As ever, we had our ‘Grace has got talent’ which produced much hilarity, but there were moving moments too, and we had some precious times of joyful worship. Tom had been teaching us of God’s prodigality in giving, and how he wants us to ask and receive, and now we were encouraged to give back to God of the precious gifts he had been giving us.

So what of little Arthur, who had been looking forward all year to our Away Weekend? I am sure that their special holiday in New Zealand more than made up for it. But I am sure too that we could do well to look forward all year to our next special Weekend Away.

But what about our intrepid Ross and Ann? God is no man’s debtor, they say. I’m sure this is true, for their hearts were overflowing when they told us how one of our own Kids Club had come home to ask, ‘How can I know that Jesus is my own Saviour?’ What a reward for his parents, and also for the young people who had so willingly given up of their holiday time to come, not just to have fun with the kids and to keep them occupied, but to teach them from God’s word of his wonderful love.

SEND THE RAIN

I wrote in my last blog about the terrible drought in South Africa. Would God hear and answer the cries of his people? And what were the chances of me even hearing about it?

The God who had wakened me in the small hours to turn on my radio to hear of the drought, now made sure that I was tuned into The Bible Network (Freeview 65) when Angus Buchan was giving his report of God’s wonderful answer to prayer.

Yes, the people had gathered in their thousands to pray, and yes, they had responded to God’s call to repentance. He had challenged the gang leaders to surrender and they came and laid down their weapons as they turned to Christ.

Then we saw pictures of the deluge that fell as the drought was at last broken. Halelujah!

Maybe you have seen the film, ‘Faith like Potatoes’? It is the story of the conversion of Angus Buchan, as a young SA farmer, and how he dared to believe God and answer his call. It is well worth seeing.

But what of us? We may have water in our pipes, but surely we have a terrible spiritual drought in our nation. Where is a man whose faith is great enough to dare to call us back to God?

God had his Peter, and Paul in the early days of the church, but he had many other faithful men and women who were fellow labourers. Elijah had thought he was the only one, but God assured him  that he yet had 7,000 who were true to him. God does raise up great leaders, but they would not be great if there were no faithful followers.

I have never been a good runner. My one aim in a race was not to be last. It was so humiliating, when leaders were choosing people to be in their team, to be either left out or taken unwillingly as a last resource. But there is no such humiliation in Christ. He said, ‘you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.’ He delights in each one of us.

Yes, there was a day when I made a decision, as I thought, to follow Jesus, but it was he who had first called and drew me. Now he is assuring me, and wants to assure you too, that we are called and chosen, specially selected to be in his team and so happy to have  us. And now, together with him, nothing is impossible.

So let us pray for God to call us as a nation back to him, and believe that he will pour out water on our thirsty land. We don’t have to worry any more about being first, or not being last. It is enough to know that we are on God’s side and he has chosen us.

THIRST

The tiger was thirsty. There was no doubt of that. Bas, our wildlife artist, had captured this magnificent creature, his tongue stretched out, about to slake his thirst.

As I was looking for a suitable card to send to friends, dealing with a long spell of ill health, where it seems the doctors can find no solution, I felt maybe this copy of a wonderful painting, might meet a need.

The Apostle John prayed for his friends, that they might ‘prosper and be in health,’ as their souls prospered.

Somehow thirst and health go together. While my husband and I waited expectantly for him to recover from the viral infection that had laid us both low, I could not get him to drink. Looking back, it seems as if his body knew that his time here on earth was drawing to a close, so it refused the life giving sustenance.

I had to go to Africa to learn to enjoy water; yes, life giving, unadulterated water. I was not interested in tea, iced or not, or pop. If I was thirsty, I wanted water, and I still prefer cold water to drink.

While climbing a mountain in Papua New Guinea, my guide pointed out some green leaves that indicated a source of good drinking water pouring into the river. And sometimes, spiritually, we need to be directed to where we will find water. We also need to be planted beside God’s rivers so that our roots are actually in the river. Then we will never be affected by times of drought. Best of all, we can drink of that living water that springs up in the inner beings of those who believe in Jesus, so that we will never, ever thirst again.

Was it a sleepless night, or was it the Holy Spirit who prompted me to switch on the radio in the small hours of the morning? I was horrified to hear of the drought in Cape Town; of how, after five years without rain, and many warnings and pleas for economy, the water supply has had to be switched off and the residents are having to queue at the stand pipes with their buckets and bottles.

I recalled the misery of having our supply cut off, though I don’t think it was caused by drought but because they had run out of chemicals to ensure the safety of the town supply. On rare occasions of need in New Guinea we could resort to the river, but here in Ghana I was warned I must on no account use river water, even for washing clothes, as it might cause river blindness.

My heart goes out to the people of South Africa, but recently I heard Angus Buchan, the South African farmer, but also Evangelist. He believes this is all in the purposes of God, for he had already booked an area, the size of several football fields, to hold a rally calling the people back to God.

When he heard the supplies had been switched off, he said something to the effect that when they   want the cattle to gather together, they cut off their water supplies. Surely God is now calling his people to turn to him in repentance.

Yes, we need to pray for the suffering people on the African continent.

And what is it going to take to turn us as a nation back to God? But meanwhile, may we learn to drink deeply of the water that Jesus came to bring us, to make sure that we are planted by the river of God; and that there is no hindrance in our own lives but that always that well of living water will be springing up in us.

‘Drink deeply of the fountain of salvation.’

Mothering Sunday > Mothers’ Day > Ladies Day

Never having given birth, I had thought that Mother’s Day had nothing to do with me. But then I became part of a church plant in Porthcawl, ‘Grace Community Church,’ and here we have a Ladies Day, where all of us ‘Ladies’ are loved and honoured. Having said that, am I sure that I am a lady?

Asked to represent the older generation of ladies, I recalled a story which continues to amuse me.

Still a very young teacher, I had kept a child behind to make sure he was buttoned up. His little cousin, come to meet him, was calling to me from the door, in broad cockney accent, ‘Lady! Lady!’ ‘Be quiet!’ my pupil rebuked him. ‘She aint a lady, she’s a teacher.’ Then apologetically to me, ‘Calling you a lady.’

Well, I may or may not qualify as a lady, or even a mother, but I am confident in telling people that in ‘Grace’ I am ‘Everybody’s grandmother.’ And I recall this story because it is from the time that I first remember hearing God speak to me. Trying to cope with a class of 45 under fives, I told God, ‘Lord, I cannot teach these children.’ God said, ‘Can you love them for me?’  He still fills me with his love for the children.

As a young woman I longed to be married and to have six children, yet here I am, well on in my eighties, never having given birth yet deeply satisfied with God’s goodness. The Bible says, ‘Godliness  with contentment is great gain.’

And there is another verse that says, ‘Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.’ I often speak that out to the Lord when perhaps I am finding life as a rather ancient widow a bit hard, and then I realise that God  is giving me his very best.

I loved teaching my little East-End kids, and when God asked me to be willing to go anywhere for him, I ended up in the highlands of New Guinea. At first the local women would threaten their little ones that the White woman would eat them if they weren’t good, but when I heard them referring to me as ‘the Little Children’s Mother’ I had a deep contentment.

I had wanted to live and die in New Guinea, but God had asked me to be willing to go anywhere for him, and later I had a few fruitful years in Ghana too, where again I was the Sunday School  mother. I was fifty when I returned to  UK, where I became Welsh by marriage, -  too old now to start a family,  and Joel and his first wife had had no children.

But Joel was already a writer and it was then God called me too to write. Having friends who were busy grandparents, I  used to tell Joel, ‘If we were grandparents, we would not be able to do our writing.’ God was giving us the desires of our heart.’

Once we retired from the ministry, the children’s books I was writing became a key for me to visit the local Primary schools, where I continue to teach ‘Bible’ to this day.

  So here I am, representing the Older Ladies in Grace. I am blessed that God taught me, as a young woman, to ask him into my heart, to walk with him and to listen to his voice, but we are never too young, or too old to come to Jesus, and whatever our disappointments or losses in life, he wants to satisfy us all deeply with his goodness.

As I have inscribed on my husband’s tombstone, ‘In the presence of Jesus is fullness of joy.’ And if you haven’t yet proved this to be true, may I add, ‘Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your heart.’

HOW LONG IS AN HOUR?

An hour can pass in a flash if am watching an interesting programme; reading, doing a jigsaw maybe, or even chatting on the phone, but ask me to pray for an hour? That is a different story.

In our fellowship we begin the year with a special week of prayer. Monday we met as ladies, Tuesday was our usual church prayer meeting. Wednesday we were asked to meet up with a friend. Thursday was a special service of prayer and praise, but  Friday over Saturday was supposed to be a very special 24 hours of continuous prayer, when we individually signed up to pray for a specific hour.

Some wonderful people signed up for an hour in the small hours of the morning, but I thought I was choosing an easy option. 6 o’clock in the morning. I am usually awake before then.

Then of course, my habits changed. Now I was afraid of over sleeping, and also daunted by the prospect of a lonely hour just praying.

It is many years ago that we were challenged to commit to an hour of prayer each day. I felt as if I was the only one among the thousand or so present, who did not stand; but I was not prepared to put myself under condemnation if I failed, even one day. I knew that this is no easy commitment.

I explained to my heavenly Father that I really wanted to spend an hour with him, but I could only do it if he helped me. 

After that I found a quiet hour passed easily, filled with my daily Bible Study and my ‘wave offerings’ as I call  the various prayer letters and photos which remind me of special needs. Sometimes I felt the Holy Spirit coming on me in special times of intercession, but I never had that experience when I found that I had forgotten time. I had a friend who would sit all morning in the presence of the Lord until a neighbour might come to remind her it was time to fetch her son from school. Somehow I was always conscious of the clock.

I asked the Lord, ‘How is it I never get lost in prayer in this way?’ As my heavenly Father, he answered me – ‘Because I have called you to write.’ His answer was such a comfort to me. I have joy in my writing, even as I do in prayer.

But still I was anxious about this special hour, for it was not for Bible Study, or even my ‘Wave Offerings’ but for special intercession for our local church, community and reaching out to our nation.

Five am came and I seemed to have already been awake for ages. I might as well get up. Showered and dressed I staggered about, in no way feeling fit for this special hour.

‘I’ll have to tell our pastor that this is too much for me.’ I grumbled.

Of course it was too much for me. Prayer is a battle field. I remember C.S. Lewis wrote in his book on prayer, ‘Letters to Malcolm,’ something to the effect that however much blessing we have had the last time, that there is always a battle to come to God because we are engaging in spiritual warfare.

Yes! I think we all had a special blessing as we filled our own hour. The Holy Spirit was there. The person filling the previous hour had prayed for me and I was  blessed and amazed at how swiftly the hour passed. Yes, sweet hour of prayer indeed, but not because we are good pray-ers, but because the Comforter had come to enable and pray through us.     

A NEW YEAR

‘Cast off everything that hinders,’ says the writer to the Hebrews, talking about running the race of life.

I think most of us have given up making those big bold resolutions that we fail to keep, but maybe there are some little things we need to deal with if this is going to be a prosperous New Year.

Having enjoyed our trip, cream tea included, on the Gwili railway, we were looking across to the car park. The morning of real Welsh rain had at last given way to the sunshine, and we noticed a woman struggling out of her sensible waterproof over- trousers which had protected her from the deluge which had lasted most of that morning.

A few minutes later we saw she was still struggling. Evidently some friends, recognising them, had gathered round to chat. No problem with the trousers, - she had wriggled them as far down as her ankles, even as she was chatting. She would soon be out of them. Oh no, not without one moment, or maybe two, of concentration.

But we had to concentrate on finding our own bus for the journey home. I was left with this picture of this resourceful young woman, still struggling, and of course, still impeded, entangled with her waterproofs even though the sun was shining.

 If only! If only what? Had an emergency arisen she might have fallen on her nose. She had needed to change her point of concentration for a brief  minute to reach down her hand to pull off her unwanted garment, which was no longer of any use to keep her dry but now definitely a hindrance to future progress.

Is there anything which I need to shake off before stepping into this New Year? – something perhaps which at one time was necessary for my journey, but now is an encumbrance?  I think the picture of that young woman at Gwili station is a warning to me that it isn’t so easy to cast off those unwanted entanglements without some help. And help is at hand, but we do have to ask for it.

Any of her friends would have momentarily taken her hand while she stood on one leg to shake off the garment. Or if only she could have stopped chatting,- again, only for a moment, she could have   bent down to free herself.

Do you know how the verse goes on?

‘Cast off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles …….(and) fix your eyes on Jesus.’

He is holding out his hand to help us. We only have to ask – but we do have to ask. 

A prosperous New Year to us all.