We are in the midst of a Volcanic Smog

Dear Oaks,

First let me give you an update on Christians Against Poverty.  Today three members of the public have confirmed that they wish to attend our Money Course starting on 5 May.  Two of them being members of the Somali community.  Furthermore another member of the public has become our first full client.  So we now have four contacts from completely outside of Oak Tree which I hope you will agree is very encouraging.  Remember the first four weeks since the launch were for publicity only!

May I also remind you that tomorrow we have the all important meeting in order to choose which contractor we shall employ to do the works on 216.  Please do pray that there will be unity as we discuss any cut backs required dependant on the costs.  The cheapest tender is not always the best one!

As I write this I am, perhaps like you, enjoying the sunshine in London.  However, my hope was to be in Helsinki speaking at a conference with Bill Johnson and John Coles.  This is a conference which has been over a year in planning but sadly all three of us have to this point been unable to reach Finland due to the disruption to air traffic.  I shall be trying again tomorrow and then hoping to return late on Friday.  Whilst our airports are open Finnish ones are not.  I would value your prayers.

In Acts 16 Paul and his companions were kept from preaching in the province of Asia (v6) and when they tried to enter Bithynia we are told ‘the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (v7).  However, just two verses later we read “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “come over to Macedonia and help us”.

Paul drew the conclusion in verse 10 that God had called him to preach the gospel there.

As I ponder this passage I find myself in a tension.  Should I be praying that the Lord would clear the volcanic ash from Finnish skies allowing me and others to speak at the conference?  We have planned long and hard and there seems no alternative such as a call to Macedonia.  Or should I be praying that I would be able to lay down my desire to speak at the conference and see how instead the Lord wants me to use the next couple of days.?

All of that, even as I write it, suggests that this is all about me and of course it is not.  I am quite sure that this Icelandic volcano didn’t blow its top just to see if I would do the same!

My point is really that we all struggle to know what God is doing in our lives on all sorts of levels.  We can interpret circumstances in many different ways.  I have no easy answers but I do know that somehow God will use all that comes along in life to shape us and mould us in to His likeness IF we will constantly bring our longings under His Lordship.

I remind you want John Arul spoke to us last Sunday.  “Too many Christians know Jesus as their Saviour but not enough know Him as their Lord”.

These are challenging words so as you and I walk through life, sometimes feeling that we are in the midst of a Volcanic smog let us always seek to keep our eyes on Him.

The writer to Hebrews says “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.  (Hebrews 12:2).

The cross must have felt like a mystery; a smog, to Jesus yet he chose to obey completely.  Let us do likewise.

Every blessing,

Mark