PJ Smyth leads GodFirst Church in Johannesburg, South Africa, a 5-year old church plant.  He was scheduled to speak this year in Brighton but withdrew hours before travelling, due to a cancer scare. Technically, therefore, PJ didn’t preach at “Together on a Mission”. In truth, however, he preached not just once but twice. He delivered his first preach via a text message which Terry Virgo read out to the conference. He described finding the lump, his painful biopsy and the way he was navigating his way through this crisis with his wife and three young sons. Then he ended his text-message sermon with a simple statement: “We worship while we wait.” It was as powerful a preach as anything he could have delivered in person.

PJ’s second ‘preach’ came at the very end of the conference, again by text message. The results of the biopsy, five thousand people listened and prayed for good news. PJ shared in his text message that the results had been utterly disappointing. The lump was indeed lymphoma. He has cancer and is now undergoing chemotherapy. Then he concluded his second message with a cry of faith: “Blessed hurricane,” he said, “that blows us closer to God.” Even on the morning that he discovered he had cancer, PJ Smyth still exuded faith in his mighty God. It will be forever one of the finest sermons he might ever preached.

I find PJ’s example very challenging, humbling and a lots else, and hopefully you do too. He was echoing the words of Hudson Taylor, who in the midst of great tragedy declared that “It doesn’t matter how great the pressure is. What really matters is whether it comes between you and God or whether it presses you nearer his heart.”

So whatever trials and difficulties may face us today, let’s learn from the example of PJ Smyth, Hudson Taylor and the real-life up-close examples of faith around us. Let’s worship while we wait and somehow find the trust and praise of God for his blessed hurricanes which drive us closer into him. As PJ explained at the end of his text message: “I am secure in the fortress of Romans 8:28 – We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

ps. I’ll try to work out a way to refund you the 4minutes of your life, if it doesn’t do something useful!,… and don’t let the first 20seconds put you off!

Teach us now, take away all fear, dare to let us believe that we could really be a small part of a reconstructed society, that we could build again.
Take away our own cynicism.
Take away our lack of hope.
Take away our own anger and judgments.

We thank you for the faith and the desire that is in our hearts. You have planted it there.
Now help us to preserve it, protect it and increase it.

We long for vision, good God. We need vision and we know we will perish without it. Help us open each new day to a new meaning, to a new hope, to a deeper desiring. Show us your face, loving God, and we will be satisfied. We ask for this in all the holy names of God. Amen.

from Hope Against Darkness, p.107

1. Trust in Christ.
2. see number 1!

Nobody would argue Easter Sunday is a day of celebration. We celebrate that Jesus conquered death so we can have life. It doesn’t get any better than Easter Sunday. Day three.

But we don’t hear a lot about day one and two? After the crucifixion on day one and leading into day two it almost seems as if nothing is happening. It’s a period of questioning, doubting, wondering, and definitely waiting. It’s a season of helplessness and hopelessness.

And honestly, this is where some of you are right now. You’re in a season where you’ve begun to wonder if God is asleep at the wheel or simply powerless to do anything about your problems.

Is it possible, though, that this season is actually a time of preparation? Is it possible God’s getting ready to do his best work in you?

Because that’s exactly what was happening during this time between the crucifixion and the resurrection. While it appeared that nothing was happening we know, in fact, that God was engineering a resurrection. You may currently be in the midst of a horrible, out-of-control situation. You feel as if God is not there, that there’s nothing that can be done.

But here is the message of the gospel for you while you’re stuck in your seemingly helpless, hopeless, season of waiting: God does his best work in hopeless situations. This I know this Easter with all my heart!

We worship a God who specializes in resurrections. He specializes in hopeless situations. He conquered death—the ultimate hopeless situation—so you and I can have life.

Beautiful and true:- It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming.

“Repentance spends less time looking at the past and saying “I’m sorry,” than to the future and saying, “Wow!” Frederich Buechner

I think so,…… God says so!

But neither have I underestimated My determination or ability to enter the mess you’ve made and the pain you feel and turn everything around.

I can, and I will, make everything good again. (More than just pass-ably good, but exceedingly great!) Never, never underestimate Me. I have a plan, a very good one, and it will move ahead to completion. Guaranteed! …. so continue to Trust Me!

Why? Because I love you even when you’re messing up badly. I love you in the middle of your pain even though I don’t relieve it as quickly as you wish. I am worthy of your trust, no matter what happens in your life. I have a good plan, and nothing will stop Me from carrying it to completion.

You must live now in the tension between anguish and hope. This is trust: this is Lent.

I contend that it’s often the hardest thing to  turn intention into action! Yetwithal making it happen is vital! My original thought is this:- Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace!

1. Be patient; Passionately pray and responsibly serve. v.1b

2. Be bold; Let your fears feed your faith! v. 2-3

3. Be dependent. v. 4

4. Be prepared. v. 5-8a

5. Be expectant. v. 8b

“I would rather walk in the dark with God than go alone in the light. I would rather walk with Him by faith than walk alone by sight.” Mary Gardner Brainard

What would you say….?!