Confident Expectation

  BEGA

   NSW

I spent this past weekend road tripping down the south coast of New South Wales to the picturesque shire of Bega.  I was amazed at the beauty of the ocean up against small beach towns, the surf smashing into rocky cliffs, rolling hills and fields dotted with cows, sheep, horses, and the occasional mob of wild kangaroos.

I took this road trip with the Catch The Fire Sydney ministry team.  We were invited by the pastors of the Anglican church to come and share about the Father heart of God and minister to their congregation.  Members of other local, and not-so-local, churches also attended the sessions over Friday and Saturday night.  It was such a joy to be a part of the prayer ministry team and to see emotional healing and restoration released.  Over a dozen testimonies were given on Saturday night as to what God had done in less than two days.

I really enjoyed teaching on the nurturing heart of God and soaking in His presence.  As I prepared my teaching notes, once again I reflected on the fact that God wants us to feel safe, valued, secure, welcomed, loved, and cared for.  Despite whether we have terrific or terrible earthly parents, He is always our perfect Heavenly Father.  He speaks tenderly to us and wraps us up in His arms.  No matter what we do, good or bad, He will not love us any more or any less.  He will never walk away or abandon us.  He alone answers and satisfies that deep desire of our hearts crying out “Somebody love me!”

How amazing is it that we as a church body get to serve as surrogate and adopted moms and dads to the physical and spiritual orphans in our community?  Being physically separated from my biological family by thousands of miles has been difficult at times, but my church family in Sydney has stepped in to offer me the love and support I need and so desperately crave.

Soaking in God’s presence has always been something I enjoy doing, but it was fantastic in Bega.  They had heated floors in the sanctuary!  Let me tell you, the best way to soak is on warm, comfy carpet.  This was especially appreciated since the temperature outside was in the single digits (Celsius) most of the time.