During the autumn of 2001, Josephine asked me to write a testimony for Knutsford Methodist Church's monthly magazine, 'Open Doors'. If I'd written it then I would have told about being brought up in a Christian family and making a commitment as a teenager in Blackpool etc., but last July (2002) an event took place which challenged that commitment.
As most of us know we had a 'Share Jesus Mission' in Over Ward. As I happen to live in Over Ward I felt God calling me to take part. It was a wonderful time of spiritual blessing and growth for me personally. Café Church at the 'Welcome' grew from it, and when Cris (then the Minister with particular responsibility for the 'Welcome') asked me how much I was prepared to give to it, I replied, "Till the end of the school holiday" - but God decided otherwise and I'm still going.
Café Church is like no other act of worship I've ever attended. Sometimes it's really noisy and the children's exuberance is hard to contain, other times we've really felt the Holy Spirit is there.
When I'm at school I talk constantly about the 'Welcome' and the fact that children from Longridge come to our school forges the link.
Prayer has become increasingly important to me; when situations arise I can now 'prayer walk', having been introduced to this by Brian Dodd from Share Jesus, USA.
In the months prior to this I also started to go to the Tuesday evening Prayer and Praise Meeting at Knutsford Methodist Church - I found this a great time of learning, prayer, and often peace.
I think I'd come to a stop in my Christian Life before these events but hopefully I'm now walking forward with Jesus, every step of the way. A way that hasn't always been easy over the past months, with work and family situations.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
December 2004 Up-date.
Not what you would expect to be reading in the busy pre-Christmas season as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
This verse ('Be still ...') from Psalm 46 has been a recurring theme in my life since 22nd May this year. Why is that date so well remembered? - well, I and a few others went to a Prayer-Day for Methodism in Nottingham. This turned into a wonderful day - I know we should look forward but sometimes we need to look back to see where we are coming from.
In the morning, on this Saturday, we were all together in the Albert Hall for a session, 'Where are we heading?'
After lunch we had Prayer-Streams where we chose what type of prayer we wanted to learn about. I, along with several others, chose 'Mobilising prayer for revival'. Paul (our Minister) led the way to sit on the front row because sitting there meant we were the first to receive the blessing. WOW - what a blessing! Various people spoke to us, and then we had to share with the person next to us where we were on our journey.
I was sitting next to Paul (he had spent most of the session on his knees, bowed in the presence of God, oblivious to all that was going on around him). This was confession without the anonymity! After a few moments I told him I thought my journey had come to a stop and perhaps I needed to listen to God. Paul prayed for me, and then he shared with me and I prayed for him.
We then had a break whilst people came back from the other Prayer-Stream venues. I spoke with Jean about the stop I had come to, and she said that sometimes we need a time in the wilderness before moving on. We then went upstairs and took our places, and people shared about what they had done. A time of worship followed and then it was announced that there would be anointing with oil if we wished to receive this. When I went out it became very personal as the lady called me by my name. She anointed me - a man was standing by my side. The next thing I knew I was on the floor, with the man praying over me in tongues, which he then interpreted as "Lie still for a while in God's presence. Be still and know that I am God". I went back to my seat and continued praying - and then we continued with a time of songs and prayers. On the way home, in the car with Sue and Debbie, I shared what had happened.
Several months later I was experiencing difficulties at work and I shared this with Debbie and Richard one Wednesday morning at The 'Welcome' prayer-meeting. Debbie told me to remember what I had been told in Nottingham, and then Richard prayed very lovingly for me - I then went off to work. Things have been difficult, but I keep thinking about that text.
I am reading a book, 'How to pray', by John Pritchard. In the chapter entitled 'How to soak in silence', and under a heading "Try this", comes:-
- Take the phrase from Psalm 46, "Be still and know that I am God." Repeat it slowly and prayerfully and be still. Then drop off the last word so that you say simply, "Be still and know that I am." Taste all the goodness in that phrase. Enjoy the silence and simplicity of the moment. Take time. Then drop off the last words again; "Be still and know". Repeat the process. Then reduce the phrase to "Be still". Repeat. Don't be hurried. Finally reduce the phrase to its core, "Be"...
I commend you to give this a try.
Only in November did I find a pen I bought in Florida, which displays four different texts, one of which is "Be still and know that I am God"....
With love, Moria
