PRAYER – IN SOLITUDE, IN STILLNESS, IN SILENCE.
Darryl and Maggie Patterson from Liminis Goulburn, joined us on Sunday evening. Maggie shared about God’s miraculous provision, as a direct response to heart felt humble prayer. What a testimony about the gracious love of God. Darryl then let fly, not holding back such is the passion God has given him to share and encourage people. Taking up Maggie’s point of prayer, Darryl challenged us to spend as much time in prayer, as 62% of us spend on our mobile devices; 1 – 6 hours per day. 1 – 6 hours, face to face with God; what a difference to our lives would that make! Matthew chapter 6, verses 5 to 8 records Jesus instructing us what we should do when we pray. Jesus wants our attention – find a place without distractions – SOLITUDE. Jesus went into a quite place to pray, so how much more do we need to spend time in solitude with God. God is not a vending machine, to be hit for what we want as we pass by. We need regular time with God to refresh and restore. We need to see God as a merciful, gracious, forgiving God, more ready to hear and heal us that we are to approach Him and ask. We need to be STILL, approaching God with an honest, naked vulnerability, confessing our sins, our short-comings, and allowing Him to deal and restore us. This is not a “vending machine” approach, but over a period of time, with regular solitude time in a quiet room before God. What a difference 1 – 6 hours a day would make, being still before God, surrendering all those things that are impediments to a great relationship with Him. God, deal with it in us, and change us. God knows what we need before we ask, so don’t spend a lot of time asking with many words. Be SILENT, and listen to what God has to say. There is an inference of intimacy with a silence, and that is the level of relationship God wants with us. Short ask, long listen. God, transforming our hearts into His heart.
The invitation from God – come into His presence and be transformed. Saint Paul in Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”. A vessel of God’s presence, changed by God, giving out His love and grace, with humility. It is not about perfection; it is a process of transformation by God’s grace. Will you and I accept the invitation to be transformed? Will we say, “yes Jesus, I will be in a place of solitude so I can focus on You, I will be still and allow you to unravel that which needs unravelling, and I will be silent so I can hear Your voice”. Amen.
We put these in each week to remind you of the ways you can practically pray for our fellow members of F5 and our wider community.
- Those who are unwell or going through difficult times. Especially: Gordon, John, Alison and Robert, Grant and Denise, Roger, Rebekah, Phileppa (surgery on knee)
- Pray for all members of our State and Federal governments that they will make wise decisions. Pray for refugees, our national health system which needs serious changes
- For those impacted by fires throughout Australia and for safety for emergency service workers and firemen in all these areas. For those who have lost family members, homes, livestock.
- For those who are homeless and hungry and for those who provide services to them including Anglicare and Baptist Care.
- Sally and the Binda Parish churches, Gill with the Marulan church and with her duties in Goulburn, Kenneth and Karen at Collector. Pray also for other clergy in our local churches. Pray for the selection for new clergy in Goulburn
- For Robyn and Paul as they pastor F5 and F10.
- For the work in Kisoro
- Little Sheep and 3D Kids team members, the children and their families.
- Weekly activities of F5 Refresh Ministries (see below)
- Pray for Mick and Jen, for the SRE teachers and schools of this region. Pray esp for Pat, Helen and Anne. Pray for favour in the schools and continued financial support of SRE.
- For Mick and Ange,Sarah and Ben and Gill and Rocky Hill Church.
- Pray for Geraldine as she leads the Ladies Bible Study
- Pray for Deb as she does our admin
- For the pastoral care workers in our hospitals, especially Fai and Caroline
- Pray for Bishop Mark Short, and for Bishop Trevor as they work in the diocese and for Archdeacon Carol Wagner, to be consecrated Assistant Bishop.
- For Peter Mylonas as he prepares the Carol Service in Belmore Park and for Sally and Kenneth as they prepare carols at Binda and Collector
- For Mosaic on Dec 6 and for Monica Short as she speaks
Call to Prayer for Goulburn
1st & 3rd Saturdays of each month
8 am at St. Nicholas Church Hall, Kinghorne St
Meeting in the mall
Robyn and Paul will not be in the mall this Thursday
Bible Study
For women Fridays 2-4pm
13 Wright Place, Goulburn
Contact Geraldine 0450 230 194
If you are interested in joining an evening Bible Study for men and women, please let Robyn or Paul know
Little Sheep 3D Kids |
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