The Shekinah Glory of God

One day, when we are face to face with God, we will be immersed within his glory. His 'Shekinah' glory as it has been named over the years. When I think of this Shekinah glory, I think of holiness, represented by light and radiance. I think of being in complete awe of the God I have worshipped in my earthly body for so long.

Our new baby girl, we have called 'Shekinah Nell Brookshaw'. We want our child to be a representative if you like, of a glimpse of what the glory of the Lord looks like. Born Wednesday 3rd December, at about 9am, weighing 3.925 Kgs, Jo and I are very, very excited, tired and looking forward to leaving the hospital!

Jeremiah 1:5 says, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.' (Let that be for my daughter Shekinah...)

Thank you for those who have prayed so much recently for Jo, myself and Shekinah, and thanks for all those generous gifts of support.

Maybe today is a day, to pray in such a way, that you get a glimpse of the Shekinah glory of God?

Commissioning Weekend - Come and Gone

A weekend to remember. I'm still trying to work out how to spell lieutenant!

Thanks to all our family and friends who have supported us over this weekend, and in the last two years. What a journey for Jo and I. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. And the answer to the question is, 'No, Jo hasn't had the baby yet...' Maybe tomorrow?!

Lt. Debbie Wilson in her testimony said, that during college, 'We've laughed so much we've cried, and we've cried so much we've laughed'. This characterises some of the journey of Training College; excitement and challenge, discipline and reward, and as Lt. Kim Haworth says, 'Rosters, rosters and more rosters...'

Well, Jo and I are excited. We're off to Palmerston Corps, and are looking forward to the friendships, and joy we'll experience up north. God is good, and we aim to serve him faithfully and passionately, and our prayer is that the gospel of Jesus will transform many lives into the future.

There's still a few weeks of College left. Packing. Cleaning. Carolling. Brass bands. Farewells. Cleaning. Packing and many, many goodbyes.

God bless the future. God bless The Salvation Army.

The foundation of ministry

I attended a conference this weekend called 'Go For Souls' and was a time set aside to be trained and equipped for the work of evangelism. Check out www.whollyholy.blogspot.com for more on that.

Ephesians 4:11 says that some are called to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors/Teachers. I believe that. Some are gifted at being evangelists (Someone that shares the gospel of Jesus Christ with others), but all are called to evangelise. Lets be challenged to share the message of Jesus with others.

I led an elective about reaching our families with the gospel. Here's some of it: Paul and Silas, in Acts 16:16-34, after being thrown in jail began praying and singing hymns to God in their prison cell. Then the prison gates flew open and the chains fell off all the prisoners. Then the jail worker was about to kill himself (because he was in strife since Paul and Silas were going to escape), and then Paul and Silas said to him, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household.' The rest is history.

Some thoughts here:
* The foundation for any sort of ministry or evangelism, is prayer and worship. This becomes the power of God behind our ministry.
* When Paul and Silas prayed and worshipped God, not only were their chains broken, but those in the prison cells surrounding them! The Spirit that surrounds our worship impacts others!
* The whole of the Jailer's family was saved. They began following Jesus. Let's believe for all our families to believe the gospel and become followers of Jesus.