The week has been jammed pack to say the least (all weeks have been really) and I can honestly say that I have never worked harder than I have done recently, yes it would explain my A-Level exam results. But I am enjoying what I am doing here, on a daily basis I am talking to God's people. Those who regularly attend the Salvation Army and those who find themselves in the hall for whatever reason. Two examples of this happened this week and the examples are of opposite ends of the spectrum...
Recently at Eston Salvation Army we have been visited by a homeless man and he goes by the name of Ray. I have spent a lot of time with Ray in the past week and actually while I was writing last week's blog I was at the hall with Ray while he was sleeping. We don't really know why Ray is homeless but all we know is that he is sleeping rough and we need to help him. So we do what we can for him and then leaves the hall. But on monday afternoon just as he was leaving the hall, I had a chat with him and I told him to come to the army on sunday for the morning meeting, he said he would but I wasn't so sure. But I obviously have very little faith, it was 10.15 and in walked Ray with his bike. Hallelujah! He sat in the meeting which focussed on Grace and afterwards I just asked if he understood all what has been said and this was his reply, "I know God loves me...". Grace, the undeserved gift just because God loves us. This man is having a huge impact on my life and I thank God I have been able to sit and talk with him, not just about his life and his circumstances but also about Jesus. I pray for Ray, I really pray that he will be able to turn his life around and furthermore accept Jesus as his friend and saviour. I ask you, the one reading this, to pray for Ray. He certainly needs them.
Now the total opposite to Ray's situation is that I have been given this exciting and fantastic oppurtunity to lead the 11-14 year olds group on a sunday morning. There are two girls in the group at the moment but I am so excited for the potential this small group has got. This sunday we talked about Jesus' teaching on Loving Everyone, including enemies. During this lesson, one of the group asked me how "Is God's love bigger than space?". It was an absolute priviledge then to answer that question and teach the young people that God's love is eternal, it is immeasurable! Again I ask you to pray for this small group. It's the start of the youth work in Eston and I am praying and I am ready for God to work in this group and do marvellous things.
But through both these humbling situations I have seen my faults. I have spoke to both these sets of people about the Love of God but I need to do it more. I need to be more courageous when it comes to speaking about what God has done for me. I have been commisioned to go and make disciples of all nations but for some reason I draw myself back from telling people about Jesus. I need to be more courageous. As I realised this, I truly believed God started to put things in place to help me. This year I am attempting to read the Bible in a year and one of this weeks readings was from Matthew 14 and verse 27 really stood out to me. It is the story of when Jesus was walking on the water and the disciples panicked thinking it was a ghost. But Jesus said "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.". Jesus tells me and you to take courage for it is Him. For it is Jesus and that is all we need, we need to take this courage he gives and just go and tell all about him!
I hope you have a good week this week. Please get in contact if you have any questions and I'll do my very best to answer them. God bless you all!
pegg.j@hotmail.co.uk
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