Crunchy, crunchy conservative or juicy, juicy Pentecostal, or somewhere in the middle ground. It didn't matter what theological bent we claim for our own, Ed Silvoso had a very clear and important word from God for all of us.
Ed Silvoso is a funny, lovely, ordinary man of God who taught with sensitivity, humility and authority from God's Word and from his own Christian experience. God's message to us through Ed was this; Unity within the body of Christ is vital for God's Holy Spirit to be free to pour Himself out on us and on the lost. That unity that I speak of is not just within our own church walls, but unity across the denominations (of the church). There is only one church in Canberra, "The Church of Jesus Christ". We need to work together and not in opposition and mistrust.
Forgiveness and prayer are the weapons for breaking down strongholds that Satan builds in our minds and over our city. Ed reminded us most strongly of who we are in God's sight; His army, with all His authority by the power of his Holy Spirit, with the backing of the angelic host of Heaven. He also reminded us of who Satan is; a liar, a thief and most of all a defeated and humiliated foe because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I've come away from these two days with a new confidence in my position in Christ, a new determination to pray with authority and perseverance and effectiveness and a greater love for the Body of Christ in its entirety; crunchy or juicy.
All who love Jesus are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray for all who attended the Conference to go out now and together with all Christians across this city and this nation, lets take Australia for Christ!
Chris Ball
Praise the Lord for His infinite mercy and grace. We are excited about the harvest being prepared as we continue to reach out to the people around us. Ed Silvoso was a great encouragement as we are already praying for our neighbours, visiting and leafleting in the Gungahlin area. It is our plan to increase our effectiveness along the lines outlined in the conference.
Although attendance fluctuates our numbers have been steadily increasing.and we now have 70 plus regular worshippers, in addition to the outreach groups and pastoral care people.
When I have questioned folk about how they came to be with us I have been pleased and surprised to learn that the leaflets are yielding the most fruit, however the yellow pages, the road signs, the craft groups along with personal contact are all tools God is choosing to bless.
Another aspect of Cornerstone's makeup which I see as a sign of God's blessing is the cultural richness with Vietnamese, Mainland Chinese, Malaysian, Filipino, South American, German, Irish, English and common brand Aussies all worshipping together.
In a recent service one of our members testified that when her boss, a restaurant owner, complained about the lack of custom she offered to pray, asking God to bring some in, with immediate results. He was so astonished he asked "What language did you pray in?" Her immediate reply was "It doesn't matter, God understands them all!".
The next combined night with Grace, Grace Qbn and Luz de Jesus is to be at Palmerston Primary School, Kosciusko Avenue Saturday 26 August 6.30pm. We look forward to seeing YOU there! Enquiries to Roma 242 0485
God is always greater than His promises; He does not only fulfil His promises, He OVER-fulfils them (Eph 3:20).
I pray I have the grace and courage to accept His promises and affirm them in my life. I pray that you too may know and declare and live out the promises that Christ has given you. When we said, "Jesus is our Lord and Saviour" God's will and purpose for our lives was fulfilled. When we said, "Jesus, I love you and need you - I'm sorry - I believe in you." ALL of creation knew and heard, and every heartbeat and every breath we take says to creation: "I am God's." Jesus knows your name, my name and up in heaven He is showing our photos to the angels and the Elders and saying, "That's my daughter, that's my son. Oh, I love them SO-000 much. I've got so many wonderful things in store for them, and if they knew they wouldn't fret so and try so hard and worry so much - but I love them anyway."
Be intimate with Christ - like a kid. Share things with Him. The lovely sunset, the pretty leaf, the autumn chill. He does not give us the leaves in all their pretty colours to please Himself - and all the leaves probably don't mind what colour they turn. But He's extravagant and He'd have you and say, "Thank God." No. "Thank's Dad." It's an amazing thing aint it that God would make the autumn leaves all different colours: they compost the same after all. he's a grand God. And when he gets out His oils and paints up the sky - why? So we can enjoy it. Our Dad wants to share His creation with us - to bless us - to love us. And, oh what a sheer delight God has when we open our eyes and see and say, "Wow, that's so beautiful." But more than that - even if no one looks, God will STILL paint up the leaves and the sky ready for when we do,. I love God so much today. My heart is beating and my eyes have wept in such joy and thankfulness and love - for God so loves us. And He is there with us and in us, loving us moment by moment ready for when we can stand before Him in Heaven and praise Him and look into His eyes of pure love and be captivated completely by Him in wonder and awe and majesty and glory and honour and praise, as we sing with the angels in the very throne room of God:
"Worthy is the Lamb" and look upon Him face to face and be radiant in life and hope and EVER-life. "Oh, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Sheila Kidston
A few bells started ringing in my mind on Sunday morning as
Harry Leesement spoke of the work in Estonia. "God doesn't
waste seed."
Trevor and I are thrilled that God has called us to Grace during this time of blessing and it was particularly good to be present for the Ed Silvoso conference. The rains of refreshing have been softening the soil, providing moisture and nourishment, preparing us to both receive the seed and to be the seed. Our Father God loves us so much that he is allowing us the privilege of being part of his plan to touch a dry and thirsty world. He is teaching and equipping us for the task.
Just twelve months ago Trevor's best mate died suddenly, in Spain - at 45 he was an effective missionary, an outstanding preacher and father of two kids. What a waste! . . . ? Aussie friends had been visiting Ian earlier in the year when he was finding the going tough and heard him say, "But I'm so fortunate - I've had the opportunity to know and love Jesus. Hundreds of thousands of these people have never even heard of him. How could I go back to Australia without giving them that opportunity." The seed that was Ian died but we're trusting God to fulfil the promise of John 12:24, for Spain.
I read recently, "The law of saving by self-giving runs through life . . . those who save themselves cannot save others, and those who save others cannot save themselves - cannot save themselves from trouble, sorrow, hurts, disappointments, pain and sometimes even death . . . The spirit of self-giving is the most beautiful in life. Through it, life rises to the highest
MISSIONS AWARENESS QUIZ
Match the missiona agencies with the names of their member missionaries.
Wycliffe Bible Translators _____ 1. Jeyaraj
Every Villge Evangelism _____ 2. Amee Glass
YWAM _____ 3. Marian and Cassius Soares
Ngaanyatjarra Bible Project _____ 4. Bryan Ezard
Bonus Point: Spell correctly the name of the language group David Blackman is translating for:___________________
ANSWERS TO MISSIONS QUIZ I (IN CHARISMA 16TH JULY)
David Blackman __5___ 1. Open Hand
Amee Glass ___3___ 2. MAF
Dan and Sue Armstrong ____4__ 3. Ngaanyatjarra Bible Project
Stephen and Donna Priest ___2__ 4. Kairos Ministries
Cadia Beven ___1__ 5. Wycliffe Bible Translators
Bonus Point: What is the name of Amee Glass' mission co-worker?
Dorothy Hackett
Submissions for Charisma need to be at Grace Christian Ministry Centre by 9 am the Wednesday before publication
Editor: Wendy Bloomfield
Illustrator: Caren Wilford
HTML Conversion: Edwin Gibbons