5 session in and I'm finally realising that the week following Equipping sessions are a bit of an uphill struggle! I LOVE doing the course - it's always better than I imagine it will be as I plan and above all hearing the stories and examples of youth ministry going on across the Area and Diocese are so encouraging. Keeps my feet on the ground...however, I am knackered now and with only 1 night in last week and a busy Sunday, I could do with a proper, sleep filled day off!
Unfortunately, not something that will happen til Thursday now...
Not such a busy week this week,but none the less full of things to do. I begin a series of termly youth leader forums across the Deaneries tonight, starting in Basildon (Southend are next Tuesday 30th and Hadleigh on 8th October). These are another great way to get together with those who are doing the stuff with young people, and being able to resource, support and encourage them is one of the best bits of my job.
I'm also covering a bit of work in the Colchester area while it is in vacancy and going to see a parish about employing a youth worker and encouraging youth outreach in their rural context.
I've not commented so far on the recent 'fall' of prominent church leaders across the world. Todd Bentley and the Florida healing outpouring has featured on this blog before and over the summer, things kinda fell apart with the revelation of his 'emotional' relationship with another woman and the separation from his wife. Along with another Australian youth minister, and other less high profile christian leaders there has been a series of confessions, exposures and disclosures which have rocked many people, churches and ministries, not least us here in Maldon. It's disappointing, but not surprising that in a time when there are pressures on people around finances, housing, futures that these things should happen, as they always have done. Our church is coming under pressure in many areas, relationships, finance, morality and what seems to characterise this period is a level of grace and a season of understanding which is allowing these things to come into the light and be exposed and be made clean. We had a powerful word in church a couple of weeks ago about how God is making his bride spotless for himself and I believe that is part of the process. It's rubbish, hard, disheartening, but God is faithful, powerful, loving and desperate to see his church and people restored.
Now I don't know where you readers of mine stand on issues of prophecy and prophetic words of knowledge. I post this example as a discussion starter and to make you think. Sharon Stone is a woman of God, of that there is no doubt and this prophetic word given to her was spoken in August 08, before recent world events unfolded.
This is what she wrote in the email forwarded to me last week:
Just hours ago we received this e-mail from a lady who attended a meeting at which I spoke this summer. The dramatic events that have unfolded this week in the US and within the past 24 hours here in the UK resonate with the truth God spoke through this word. I want to share this with you in light of these events as an encouragement that the Lord is faithful to His Word and He has made both provision and a way.
Blessings in Christ,
Dr. Sharon Stone
12/09/2008 15:03:43 GMT Standard Time
Dear Sharon and Greg,
I thought you might be interested in seeing this prophesy you gave in Glasgow this summer. While I was in prayer this morning God reminded me that I scribed this on the Sunday morning you were with us. I don’t know how much you keep up on world news but there is a freight train fire in the Chunnel right now. And on the 29th of August Sarah Palin was introduced as
John McCain’s vice presidential running mate from Alaska . Also XL Airlines has just halted its flights because it could not find a lender and people on holiday are stranded all over. Last week the UK government cancelled council taxes for the purchase of homes under 200,000 pounds for a year. Isn’t God amazing!
Your Sister in Christ,
Lisa Gibbs
Prophecy given by Dr. Sharon Stone, Glasgow , Summer, 2008
“September is a turning point and a sign of the times. It is all about those who have made Godly alignments in this season being blessed with revelation and information in the midst of world crisis.
“I see more banks will suffer: a USA world bank’s shares are in trouble - I see government in the USA bailing out mortgage giants and the government in England cutting house purchase taxes for the sagging housing crisis, to no avail. I see a European airline failing with no notice. I see the eyes of the world looking to see, ‘who is this coming out of Alaska ?’ And I see smoke coming from the Chunnel.
“As I see these things I hear the encouragement of God to His Isaacs in the earth who sow in the times of famine and reap 100 fold in the year. I’m not a prosperity preacher, I’m a prophet. And God is saying that September will convince you that you must connect to His economic system. There are always the few that are greatly blessed when the majority are shaken, threatened and fearful.
“God says, ‘Have you positioned yourself for THE NEW? Your storehouse is not an earthly bank. Hold on and I will bail you out of your mortgage issues. Am I not better to you than any government? I will not leave you stranded on foreign soil, and I will carry you above the circumstances better than any plane or jet. And your hope is not an Alaskan saviour, but Me. ’ I know that sounds strange, it does to me also.
“ England , the smoke I saw coming out of the Chunnel is a warning for your intercessors to arise and cut off the enemy’s plan to sabotage and siege England 's favour in trade. Let him who has ears hear.
“God I release an Isaac anointing upon us now!”
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