Forgiveness and Compassion

I'd only stepped out of the room for 5 minutes.

When I came back into the main room at Sanctuary West London, someone had stolen my laptop.

There was just an empty space where it had been!

Ten minutes earlier I had been working on the multi media for our service.

So I lost all that work.

No one saw who it was.

No one saw anything.

Its one of the hazards of working with some desperately troubled people.

Straight away?

I felt nothing but compassion.

I know some of the guys who come into our place are hopelessly gripped by the evils of homelessness, drugs addiction and alcoholism. This in turn means being lost in a world of crime and deception.

I've worked with people long enough now to know the things that people will do just to get money, just to feed an addiction.

I was reminded of the day in Durham where I was threatened with a knife by someone we had showed the love of Jesus to. He ultimately went to prison for the offence. But I remember the day he came back and said, "Gaz, can I come back in I'm really hungry." I remember how my heart just reached out to him, and I said "of course you can mate." I saw a flicker of light come into his sad dead eyes.

Those words in a worship song that start with "Everyone needs compassion," Are so real and so true.

I was thinking this morning as I pray, how forgiveness and compassion are key components of justice.

How they open up the arms of Jesus to those who are wounded and broken.

In this world right now where talk of  bombing  raids, murder, war, and so many other horrific things seem to dominate everything. Where Justice seems to mean different things to different nations, people, and even religions, the words "everyone needs compassion" pierce the gloom of that with hurricane type force. Forgiveness and compassion ultimately are the only things that can successfully turn this world around.

Why.

Because they are the ultimate messages that flow from the blood of Jesus, that flow from the cross, that flow from the heart of Jesus himself.

Jesus lights up dead eyes.

Jesus is hope.

Jesus is indeed the answer to a world gone mad.

So.

It really can start with us.

It really can.

If everyone needs compassion where are we in all that right now?

Come on where are we?

Are we carrying unforgiveness around?

Are we ready to show compassion to whoever?

These words just penetrated my mind as I pray this morning, "A repentance to Justice."

Repentance.

A big word.

A big thing.

It means turning away from sin.

Turning away from sin?

That is never going to be easy I know, believe me!

Forgiveness is the massive key in all of that and I think compassion is too.

Turning away from injustice to the justice of the kingdom.

If we really want to bring about the Justice system of Heaven to this earth, then I think it really starts with us.

In the simple things especially.

So whats holding you back?

Whats in the way?

If you know?

Do something today, do something now!

Turn away from it.

And we may just bring more of Gods justice to this world.

Sanctuary update 5

it was a busy day.

The Sanctuary opened early on Saturday and the people came in gradually during the morning.

Hospitality and Prayer working in complete harmony.

In came a new guy, sam, just released from prison after serving fourteen years.

He was a little drunk but not much, he needed just to talk.

He shared how he had messed up his whole life big time.

He said the only thing he wanted in this world was a new start, a new chance, a new existence. Dawn and I shared with him about the new starts that we had when we encountered Jesus. I could see in his eyes he wanted that. He's coming back on tuesday to talk further.

A new start.

It was almost prophetic confirmation of what was taking place this day.

It was the day of our official opening as a house of prayer.

The main event being a service of dedication and release at 7pm that very night.

The first thing was at 4pm members of our community gathered to prepare the hall for the night ahead. We had to move the cafe area to our lesser hall and create a theatre style seating arrangement in the main hall. Hard work that involved moving couches, chairs and tables, then shifting 100 chairs next door. As we worked I couldn't help thinking just how marvellous God actually is. We had hardly any people last year. It's just miraculous really.

People started to arrive around 5pm for a 7pm start.

Friends, people from our new community, colleagues from the Salvation Army, people from other Churches in Ealing and loads more came in their droves.

The event started at 7pm.

Worship was led by Sara Williams, the atmosphere being almost electric, as the presence of God surrounded us.

Our Divisional leader (Salvation Army) Paul Main then preached an amazing word on Ezekiel 37, reminding us that God always wins and that the truth of the matter is that dry bones can live as we connect with God.

I had to follow that with a glimpse of the vision for Sanctuary, in which I used a series of moving testimonies on screen from members of our new growing family at Sanctuary including homeless people, new volunteers, even a person who is one of the very few who stayed from the old Corps that was in Ealing. As I watched I could sense a series of disconnected bones beginning to come together as our new community is built by the breath of God. I used the scripture Psalm 127 Unless the Lord builds the house the builders labour in vain.

Then Divisional leader Jenine Main Led a time of declaration and dedication using Solomon's dedication of the temple as a backdrop to releasing us into a new phase of the life of Ealing Corps. This was the crux of why we have these dedicating events, to have our leaders bless this vision is of massive importance in the Heavenlies.

We finished on a nice note of praise as Sara led us to the throne of God with that amazing song everyone needs compassion (Mighty to save).

Then the tea started to flow and the cakes started to be eaten!

A new era begins.

As I sat down when the building was almost empty, tired but blessed, Anya came and sat by me. She had wandered in right at the end (She is the lady I spoke about in a previous post that lives in an elevator) She wanted some food. She said to me, "I can't even remember how my life got this bad, I want things to be different, I need a new start.

This morning as I write this update, I can't help thinking how my day started and ended with two broken people, Sam and Anya reminding me of the responsibility we carry as Christians, to bring healing, restoration and transformation to those who need Jesus desperately.

Sanctuary has commenced its new start as people have listened to God and followed his will and taken big risks for the sake of the Kingdom.

But my desire is that the Sam's and Anya's of this world encounter the same reviving Spirit that has created a new way forward for the Salvation Army in Ealing London, and get their new starts.

The road ahead is hard and full of danger.

But.

The hope is bigger.

A lot bigger.

Because God is awesomely and infinitely massive.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement.

Emergence (A Prophecy)

6am

The emergence of the morning appears slowly from the shadows of the night.

Grey turns to autumn gold.

Emergence.

My prayers are quiet.

peaceful and easily centred.

God speaks to me through the emergence of the morning.

It's a new beginning.

The emergence of the morning speaks to me clearly.

The darkness we sometimes feel will soon be gone. The tough times are fleeting. The blackness of night that sometimes envelopes our lives will dissapear.

The emergence of the morning.

It speaks of hope.

Hope eternal.

It speaks of life.

It speaks of a new start.

It is a glimpse of Heaven to the eyes of our souls.

The emergence of morning is a pilgrimage.

It's not a journey with maps, coffee shops and travel documents.

It's a journey of the soul.

In the emerging morning God speaks this word prophetically this day.

Beyond the darkness there is a light. A light so majestic, a light that flashes its electrifying beams in glorious splendour, healing light, a saving light, a restoring light, a transforming light. Beyond the darkness is new ground, ground that we do not know. beyond the darkness there is a new hope. Beyond the darkness there is a glory that will touch the very heart of you. Beyond the darkness is new life far greater than anything we can comprehend. The emergence of a new morning. the Spirit of God says this day that its time to push through the veil of the night. It's time to pilgrim towards the new ground that lies beyond. You will not see what is there in the first morning light. You will have to trust me says the Lord almighty. You cannot know the whole picture. Don't search for the answer, search for the new ground, search for the light of the day. Be brave, be braver than you have ever been. I have prepared you, I have equipped you, I will not leave your side even though I have gone before you. The night is drawing to an end, morning will soon be here. We have to go to places not yet discovered, we have to go beyond the curtain of night in to uncharted waters. You have to push through, do not be afraid for I am with you says the Lord almighty. It is time to walk from your darkness, its time to stand. You don't have to reside in the shadows of the past. Stand says the Lord. The morning is emerging says the Lord almighty. The mechanics of your soul are in my care says the Lord. Be free, head towards the light of the day. My glory will save you, my glory will shape you, my glory will connect you with my true and perfect will. The night has to end. The morning is emerging. Go child, trust me, keep your eyes on me, I know the big picture, you absolutely don't know it. It is time! You have stayed in the darkness too long. It is time to discover things you never would believe. Its time to discover depths of my love you never thought possible. It is time to herald the morning of the miraculous. So push on through. Through the veil of night into the emergence of the morning.

So here we are.

It's up to us.

As I sit in the gold of the autumn morning I pray this for you.

Lord, You are astonishing, so astonishing that we lift your name high forever. Please allow your word to penetrate our lives. Thank you for the morning, thank you that you alone can rescue us from the grip of the night. Thank you for the hope that lies beyond what we think or know. Thank you Jesus. I pray for anyone reading this who knows you are speaking. Help us to know you mean business. Help us to get up. Help us to walk into the emergence of the morning. Help us to not be afraid of pushing into new ground, in our personal life or in the corporate life of your church. We declare that you are the hope of this world. We make the very real declaration that you are Lord Jesus over all of mankind.

Lord please touch lives through this word as it is tested in your name.

In Jesus name

Amen

Sanctuary Update 4

Her broken English has a strong quality.

Deep.

Resonant.

Anya is Polish.

I sat opposite her today over a cup of tea.

Her eyes are deep set and glint a vibrant rich green.

Yet.

They reflect something sad, something terrible even.

Anya lives in a broken lift (Elevator) in a disused office block here in London.

She wanted to show me her arms which she said were extremely sore. They were livid with needle marks.

She is addicted to some of the most deathly drugs known to man.

She shared with me a desolate story of hopelessness starting with her journey from Poland to England, and then the desperate story of the relationships she made with the wrong kind of people ending with an addiction that is slowly leading her down the steep road to oblivion.

I gently prayed over every needle wound and saw her tears drip rhythmically on to the table.

This week at sanctuary the fruit of the hard work of prayer has began to roll out.

We've seen it before.

So expect it.

But.

This week?

God has drawn people like Anya into our beautifully developing community at Sanctuary West London.

Like Tom.

Just this morning.

Tom sleeps in the park and was so desperately hungry that he could hardly stand up.

I watched as our amazing developing volunteer team lovingly took care of him giving Tom food, clothes and let him wash in our toilets.

Like Karl, who has been coming in every day since we opened, homeless, penniless, locked in a seemingly hopeless position.

Like Elvis, yes Elvis! Although Im not sure it's his real name. spaced out by some drug that has hit his nervous system like a bullet made of evil.

Like Elaine who just came in and asked if we would pray with her. She feels devoid of any direction in her life whatsoever.

Like the lady who came in and asked Myself and Ian one of our great volunteers if she could talk to us in the cafe, and shared how her marriage is falling apart.

All day we have been opening Jesus arms to people.

Its like a trickle of need is now turning into a steady flow and it feels like we are gearing up for a tidal wave.

And

I watched the developing little community at Sanctuary today.

I was privately moved to tears myself.

How willing people are to reach out to help these people who are in desperate need of a saviour.

I thought how God is at the heart of community.

And.

I saw how today the world so desperately needs communities with a heart.

There is so much work.

The harvest is massive.

I prayed with so many people today that my brain hurts tonight.

But my heart is alive.

And this newly born community is alive.

And as the leader of the West London development project I truly know that God is at work. He is building this community, this church, this prayer centre. He is changing the face of the Salvation Army in Ealing.

And I guess this is a bit of a weird update, and it in no way covers all the amazing stuff that is happening right now as newness envelopes the direction we are taking through Gods leading.

But.

I wanted you guys to catch a little of the heart of what God is doing through prayer, mission and Justice.

And.

I continue to speak out that prayer is vital.

It will bring healing to the nations.

Sanctuary West London came in for some real criticism lately on a Facebook site ran by Salvationists.

One guy had wrote about prayer communities declaring "where is the mission in them?"

I'm not mad at these guys.

I really bless them.

But today?

As I ministered amongst the sometimes devastating brokeness that lies in our cities and communities I can firmly proclaim that prayer not only fuels mission but is mission!

God is at work in the mess of peoples lives and unless we are talking and listening to him then I guess we should call ourselves the headless chicken church.

Seriously.

Psalm 127:1 says it all.

 I leave it with you.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain."

Thank you guys for all your encouragement which comes from all four corners of the Earth. Thank you so much.

Blessings