Monday Spot (26 January 2009)
The theme for Sunday morning’s meeting led by Cadets Rachel and Karl Carpenter was ‘I’ll be there for you’ and began with the reading of Psalm 95:1-6 and expressions of thanks for what God is doing in people’s lives.
Cadets Rachel and Karl Carpenter
Songs used included SoF894, SoF145, SoF89 and Song718. Music ministry was provided by the Singing Company and Songsters who sang ‘Thanks’ and ‘Christ for the whole, wide, world’ respectively. The message was based on the Scripture Isaiah 43:1-5 and focussed on the hope that is given in this passage. Karl said ‘Though we may be in great trouble God promises He will be there, going through it with us and we should not fear. God calls us by name because He wants a relationship with us individually. We are precious to God and He loves us.‘
Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe
The evening meeting was led by Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe with the theme ‘Scattered Seeds’ based on the Scripture in Mark 4:1-20. Songs used included Song 56, Song 141, SoF1188, Song335, Song463 and SoF1346. The music ministry of the Songsters and Band was a source of blessing as was testified through the witness given. ‘Somebody prayed for me’ and ‘The Light of the World’. The power of prayer was evident to Mark when Jesus gave him peace and wholeness when he was in great trouble, and Margaret drew attention to the answered prayers realised at the Friday Prayer meeting.
In her message, Beverley said that we should have simple obedience and faith in God. We should give out the gospel message, like the seeds, because unless we do there will be no fruit. The story of the sower is not about good farming methods but about the patience, persistence and faithfulness of the sower working the mixed soil of his fields. The ‘seed’ is the word with content to be learned and understood and needs to be spoken. It is not enough to live a good life. The message of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life must be told. As for the ‘soil’, we need to be aware of the spiritual struggle that surrounds seed sowing. Don’t give up and don’t be discouraged.
Ray is attending the ‘Christian Writer’s Course’ at the William Booth College this week and we look forward to learning about this on his return.
God be with you during this week and bless you.