Home from Russia

I know I don’t blog often… the intention is there! But the time and prioritising sadly often is not… anyway, many people have been asking me how things went in Russia, especially those who have been praying for us. So I thought I’d share a few highlights:

Grateful firstly, and most importantly that God was very much present and working in people’s lives!! Across the week, where I spoke at a large Sunday church meeting and then 4 sessions at the Moscow Bible week, we saw a number of people respond to the gospel, more then ten testify to immediate physical healing and many youth and adults hearing from God and experiencing Him. So pleased.

Stef Liston, Al Gregory and David Rigby spoke well through the evening sessions, and I was especially proud of Ben who led one of the mobilise seminars really well.

We also got to prophecy over many and pray for those with incurable/untreatable conditions, and I’m waiting expectantly for reports of breakthrough!

Also grateful that we were at full health throughout (I was ill for three days last year!) had a load of fun and even when I had to change my talk at short notice! God was faithful, gave me words to say and broke in powerfully.

The Russian’s are amazing people, and now such good friends, who love Jesus and are passionate about Him moving in their nation. They also really know how to throw a party!! The Thursday night celebration in particular was a blast!

There are a few photos appearing online – see facebook – but also a video here http://vimeo.com/27746003 if you’re interested in finding out more.

Much love

Steve

My banner will be clear

Moved by this superb quote: Hope it blows your socks off too…

My banner will be clear

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.  I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.

I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me – MY BANNER WILL BE CLEAR. — Anonymous

The role of men

Just thought I’d get excited with you for a moment, and say we’ve had 17 people give their lives to Jesus and become Christians in 2010 already, with a further three re-commitments. Wonderful, wonderful news. So delighted to see six people make that commitment last week as well at our Easter meeting.

I’ve got two blog posts brewing right now, on ‘The importance of prayer’ and ‘Breaking Fear’, but in the mean time wanted to share with you these links to talks done by a Pastor in the states I listen to regularly called Matt Chandler. I was reminded about them by Adrian Warnock’s blog. In these talks Chandler speaks about Men, from the Bible and from the heart. Powerfully challenging us to be all that we can be, and all that God has made us to be as leaders, husbands, and as fathers. If you are a man, stop what you are doing and prepare to be as challenged as I was. Ladies you might enjoy these too!

• Defining Masculinity (transcript)
• Men as Husbands (transcript)
• Men as Fathers (transcript)

Here is a sample of the treasures you have waiting for you:

My four year old, Audrey, is just my joy. I love having a son, but that daughter owns you. It’s a weird deal. For whatever reason, over and over again, Audrey thinks I am an enemy to her joy, when in the end, I want her joy and happiness more than she could ever comprehend, and I see better than she does. And when I say, “Hey, no candy right now,” I’m not trying to steal joy from her, I’m trying to increase joy for her. And when I say, “Don’t climb on the back of the couch when there’s a window right there. You could fall through it,” I’m not trying to rob her of the exhilaration of walking on the back of the couch, I’m trying to make sure she doesn’t cut herself to ribbons.

And so what ends up happening in that moment, when I’m trying to increase joy and increase life and increase happiness and my daughter goes, “I don’t want any of that. I’ll get it my own way. I’ll do it my own way. I want what I want,” and she wars against the joy that I so desperately want for her, in one instance, I start to discipline and in another, God’s going, “This is playing out like another story I know, the one where I try to lead you like this and you’re like, ‘No, I want my stuff;’ and you are a four year old girl. This is very similar to Me, Chandler. So, while Audrey’s in the corner thinking about it, why don’t you go to the other corner and think about it over there?”

All of a sudden, by trying to nurture and love and point Audrey to Christ and finding it war against me, I start to understand how big and beautiful the gospel is, that despite the fact that I war against the hand of God, He continues to love, pursue and extend grace.

Posted via email from Steve Wilson’s Posterous

Why do I share my faith?

A big part of my role at the Kings Arms is to speak to people about God. It’s a tremendous privilege! Sharing what’s happened in my life, and encouraging others to explore for themselves whether or not there really is a God and whether Christianity could indeed have the answers and the reasons for our existence, but why do this?

It’s something I’m often asked. Surely it’s ok for everyone to have their own opinions and beliefs so long as they are happy and don’t hurt anyone?

I’ve been pondering this for a while now, and I genuinely believe that if Christianity is true – its true for everyone, and so there are loads of good reasons I could point to why therefore we should share. For a start it’s what Jesus told Christians to do! But for me it’s actually far more personal. I was 24 when I started asking big questions of life, a graduate working for myself, living for the weekends but below the surface I didn’t know who I really was, I felt empty and without any real purpose. Surely there was more to life then sports, alcohol and stacking up material possessions?

In Jesus I’ve found the answer to be a resounding Yes. He said in John 10:10 “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full”. The hope, the peace, the purpose and the joy that I’ve found since becoming a Christian has been beyond what I could have ever hoped for or imagined, and so at the route of why I want to share my faith is that I want others to experience what I’ve found.

The Bible says that we were made for relationship with God, the relationship that we can have because of Jesus. That is the reason we’re here, and anything else… as good as it may be or feel at the time… will ultimately fall short of truly satisfying us.

My hope is that you take hold of this. If you don’t know God then I’d challenge you to explore for yourself, and if you do, I’d encourage you with all my heart to share the freedom and joy you’ve found in him. So that others might come to know the reason they were created as well…

Posted via email from Steve Wilson’s Posterous

The Adventure Begins

As I recently read: Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few! You would think that might put me off, but no. I’ve thought for months that I’d love to start to record some of my meandering thoughts for my own posterity and anyone else who cares to show an interest, so I’ve decided to join the world of bloggers.My hope is simply that some might be encouraged, provoked and perhaps even inspired as I share of my walk through life and with God.

I’m a young (ish) guy, who loves his wife, loves sport and loves Jesus, and more then anything I want to live a life that honours Him. I’m passionate about seeing lives transformed by the good news of the gospel and have the pleasure and privilege of working for the Kings Arms Church in Bedford, where each day I have the joy of being challenged and changed by the most remarkable group of people I know.

And so the adventure begins… no doubt I’ll clumsily put my foot in it every now and then. I’ll likely become frustrated by my inability to articulate my true feelings and from time to time have to admit to defeat to my own screw-ups and failings.

But this is me. A sinner saved by grace, with a desire to bless people on the road… Here’s hoping you are one of them.

Posted via email from stephenjwilson’s posterous