Being a Fisher of Men

Wherever you are…be Jesus

That’s what I heard the Holy Spirit say to me as I stepped into the town and felt immediately drawn to a lady who was begging on the street. She spoke very little English but told me her name was Maria. As I knelt, I felt the Father’s love for her, and asking if I could get her some food and pray for her, she nodded; she seemed to understand. A woman passing by who had seen me pray, said, “I think we all need that…I need that!” I wanted to talk to her too and offer to pray for her,, but smiling, she shook her head and walked on. She wasn’t ready.

When Jesus called the disciples, he said, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men,” and leaving everything, they followed him. As they listened to him teach, as they saw him pray and spend time with his Father, and as they watched him powerfully demonstrating the Kingdom with signs and wonders, he was showing them how to do the same; Jesus was teaching them how to fish! I love reading how they came back to Jesus, reporting excitedly, that demons had submitted to their authority and how they had seen signs and wonders in his name. They had stepped out in obedience and with childlike faith and wonder, they discovered this was what they were born to do!

Whenever I read the book of Acts, I am so provoked by the wholehearted, joy-filled commitment of the disciples and the early church to simply follow Jesus and obey his words. This week I was reading about Paul and Silas in Thessalonica preaching the gospel. Some believed and followed, whilst others rejected their message but despite the persecution, they often experienced they continued to make Jesus known. As Phil Wilthew says in his book, Multiplying Disciples, ‘When Jesus sent his disciples to bring good news, they discovered that it is one of the most joy-filled and life-giving privileges on planet earth’ They were ‘all in’…I wonder, are we?

Jesus has sent us to shine and be a light in every place we go. The Kingdom is not meant to stay in the four walls of the church, it’s meant to reach and influence every area of society. Jesus said, ‘Freely you’ve received, freely give’’ and like the disciples, this is what we are born to do! 

At least once a week I go and sit in a coffee shop in our town and pray and then wait to see who the Father sends. As I go out for a walk too, I ask who he wants me to meet along the way. Like Jesus who appointed and sent the seventy-two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go, he now sends us. It’s a partnership where he leads and we follow and get to join in with what he is already doing. Only God can draw someone to Jesus and open their heart to him, but he has sent us on ahead to point people to him. Mostly as we go we are scattering gospel seed, but let’s always be looking for the one who Jesus is calling to himself. Jesus said to look for people of peace; those who welcome you, listen to you, and lean in wanting to know more. Why not practice asking the Father, whenever you’re out somewhere who you can share his heart with and show his love to and then be noticing how he gets your attention and who he leads you to 

A Park Story...

Just recently when I was out walking, I saw a lady sitting on a bench with two crutches next to her, and feeling the Holy Spirit nudge me, I stopped to speak to her. Holy Spirit nudges for me are usually a sudden thought followed by a few seconds of crazy courage and so pointing to the crutches, I asked how she was doing and what she’d done. Tanya told me she had just had a hip operation and was out exercising it and noticing she was happy to chat I sat down with her. While we were sitting talking, a rather exuberant puppy bounded over to me quickly followed by its owner and stopping to apologize the man stayed to chat...and then there were three of us! 

While the man was talking I felt prompted to ask about a rugby logo on his top and whether he played. He told me he’d been part of the Saracens Academy, (which I know is a prestigious rugby training school), but he was no longer able to play because of some major injuries to his ankle and said that if he played again, he’d probably end up in a wheelchair. I could see his disappointment and sensed he was carrying some despair and fear around it. It always takes courage to step out but I know that whenever I see the opposite of God’s goodness it’s an invitation to bring God’s Kingdom. I told him I was a Christian, that I knew God was a Father who had a good plan for his life and I asked if anyone had ever offered to pray for his ankle. He said no one had and I was about to step out and offer to pray for him when two people stopped by to talk to him and his dog and the moment passed. Even though I didn’t get to pray with the man I was able to speak words of hope over him and what was amazing was how it then drew the attention of the lady sitting next to me. 

After the man walked on Tanya shyly asked whether perhaps I would pray for her. She began telling me she was an orthodox believer and how every morning she lights a candle, sits in front of an icon, and prays to God. As I listened to her, I wanted her to know there was more and I shared my story with her of encountering Jesus and about God’s love and his invitation for us to know him. When I spoke about knowing Jesus personally, I could see she was moved and she wanted to tell me a story from her childhood. Growing up under the Communist regime in Ukraine had been hard but her mum had been a spiritual influence in her life that she had never forgotten.  Even though Tanya didn’t seem ready to want to take that next step, it was such a privilege to be able to share the gospel with her and tell her there was more. 

Every day Jesus is sending us as a message of his love to people around us who are far from him. I want to encourage you that it’s not about any methods or our performance, it’s about ‘being Jesus wherever we go’, He wants to shine through you and it’s not hard, because being a fisher of men is what you and I are born to be.

If you want to read more stories like these and be encouraged, I have written a book called, Go: Everyday Stories of Stopping to Love’ which you can find on Amazon

 

We are called to be fruitful

We are called to be fruitful!  In John 15:7-8, we read Jesus saying to the disciples, ‘If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. By this, my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples 

Over the last twelve years, God has taken me on the most exciting and unexpected journey. In 2007 when I was fifty-two, and starting to think about slowing down, (I know, fifty-two really isn’t that old!) God began to speak about a new season in my life that I was about to step into. How in this season I would know a new sense of authority and power in the Spirit, an increase in a gift of evangelism and healing and how as I simply asked God for things and prayed simple prayers for the sick, I would see people healed and set free! When I received these prophetic words I couldn’t even imagine them coming to pass. My view of God was big, or so I thought, but my view of how God wanted to move through me was very small, something I have since needed to repent of. 

I am so thankful for God speaking through prophets and for prophetic words, aren’t you? Like trumpets that awaken us, they call out what will be, even when we’re sleeping. In fact, part of the prophetic word was that God was unlocking in me a sense of being in a cave, and of being hidden and he was pulling me out. It reminds me of the story of Gideon who was hiding in the winepress fearing his enemies and seeing himself as inadequate and insignificant. Then God speaks!! Calling him out of his cave, he says to him, ‘Gideon O mighty man of valour!’ I imagine Gideon saying, Who me?... and we know how the story continues. 

When God looks at us he sees who we truly are. Remember when Andrew introduced Simon to Jesus? Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas, meaning Peter.” Jesus knew where Simon had come from; he was John’s son, but he also knew who he was called to be. Wrapped up in his new name were his identity and destiny and it’s the same for us too. We’ve all come from somewhere but what we’re born for and who God says we are is a far greater reality. It is now 2020 and is certainly proving to be a fruitful time in my life. As with all fruit-bearing seasons though there has to first be a period of pruning. 

As I headed off in 2011 to spend nine months at a ministry training school, a young leader in the church said to me, “Claire you are fruitful but God wants to make you even more fruitful.” In John 15:2, Jesus says these very words, ‘every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit’ Since that time of training and equipping God has been doing a deeper work in my heart, showing me more of his incredible love and setting me free from things that were holding me back; lies mostly about my identity. When God is at work in us even though he reveals stuff it is always with destiny and purpose in mind. Jesus who is the founder and perfecter of our faith is pulling us forward. It’s like he is saying, ‘look, don’t be slowed down by these things, they will stop you running the race I’ve called you to run with me.’ 

The wonderful thing is I’m seeing that many of the promises I received back then are now starting to come to pass. Through God’s grace, I am growing in authority, stepping into new levels of faith, and taking others on the journey with me. I have seen miracles of healing and freedom as I’ve prayed simple prayers for the sick and I’ve even written a book! As someone who most of my life has battled with feelings of shame and of not being enough, this truly is a miracle! 

If you are living with prophetic words why not remind yourself of them today. In this season where it can feel like everything is on pause thank God for where he has brought you from and ask Him to give you faith for where he is taking you and for what is yet to come. He has called you to be very fruitful.

We are called to be fruitful In John 15:7-8, we read Jesus saying to the disciples, ‘If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples Over the last twelve years God has taken me on the most exciting and unexpected journey. In 2007 when I was fifty-two, and starting to think about slowing down, (I know, fifty-two really isn’t that old!) God began to speak about a new season in my life that I was about to step into. How in this season I would know a new sense of authority and power in the Spirit, an increase in a gift of evangelism and healing and how as I simply asked God for things and prayed simple prayers for the sick, I would see people healed and set free! When I received these prophetic words I couldn’t even imagine them coming to pass. My view of God was big, or so I thought, but my view of how God wanted to move through me was very small, something I have since needed to repent of. I am so thankful for God speaking through prophets and for prophetic words, aren’t you? Like trumpets that awaken us they call out what will be, even when we’re sleeping. In fact part of the prophetic word was that God was unlocking in me a sense of being in a cave, and of being hidden and he was pulling me out. It reminds me of the story of Gideon who was hiding in the winepress fearing his enemies and seeing himself as inadequate and insignificant. Then God speaks!! Calling him out of his cave, he says to him, ‘Gideon O mighty man of valour!’ I imagine Gideon saying, Who me?... and we know how the story continues. When God looks at us he sees who we truly are. Remember when Andrew introduced Simon to Jesus? Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas, meaning Peter.” Jesus knew where Simon had come from; he was John’s son, but he also knew who he was called to be. Wrapped up in his new name was his identity and destiny and it’s the same for us too. We’ve all come from somewhere but what we’re born for and who God says we are is a far greater reality. It is now 2020 and is certainly proving to be a fruitful time in my life. As with all fruit bearing seasons though there has to first be a period of pruning. As I headed off in 2011 to spend nine months at a ministry training school, a young leader in the church said to me, “Claire you are fruitful but God wants to make you even more fruitful.” In John 15:2, Jesus says these very words, ‘every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit’ Since that time of training and equipping God has been doing a deeper work in my heart, showing me more of his incredible love and setting me free from things that were holding me back; lies mostly about my identity. When God is at work in us even though he reveals stuff it is always with destiny and purpose in mind. Jesus who is the founder and perfecter of our faith is pulling us forward. It’s like he is saying, ‘look, don’t be slowed down by these things, they will stop you running the race I’ve called you to run with me.’ The wonderful thing is I’m seeing that many of the promises I received back then, are now starting to come to pass. Through God’s grace, I am growing in authority, stepping into new levels of faith, and taking others on the journey with me. I have seen miracles of healing and freedom as I’ve prayed simple prayers for the sick and I’ve even written a book! As someone who most of my life has battled with feelings of shame and of not being enough, this truly is a miracle! If you are living with prophetic words why not remind yourself of them today. In this season where it can feel like everything is on pause thank God for where he has brought you from and ask Him to give you faith for where he is taking you and for what is yet to come. He has called you to be very fruitful.

‘In the Kingdom hope is not naive’

This phrase which I read today in a devotional got my attention... ‘In the Kingdom hope is not naive’ As a follower of Jesus I know this to be true. God produced faith in me when I first heard the gospel and it led me to respond and come to him. And this is to be my continual posture because He is a good Father and has good gifts for his children. 

However, as I read this phrase today it stirred in me fresh faith; faith to press in and keep believing for things that yet seem impossible. For a man I know to be healed from cancer, for my friend Carole to be healed and others I am persevering in prayer for simply because I know that with God all things are possible.

Our hope in God is not naive but very certain...

We read in Hebrews 6:18-20 ‘by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf ‘

The word ‘naive’ means to act out of a lack of experience. God instead wants us to grow in our experience of Him through knowing his ways. The more we know God the more we will trust and the greater our faith and the risks we’ll take. like Peter who dared to walk on water and the many, we read of in Hebrews 11.

I am a woman of faith. I believe that God is good: that what he says about himself is true and that I can trust in his promises. I have seen God answer prayers both instantly and over time and I carry a testimony of his goodness but I know God wants to deepen my faith; a faith that perseveres, full of hope because of the certainty in my heart that he is good. 

Being naive is often associated with being like a child but in Jesus' upside-down Kingdom it has a positive connotation. Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’ Here he was speaking of childlike faith. Taking God at his word. Uncomplicated and without guile.

Let’s press in and be both childlike and persevering in our faith because we know He who promised is faithful.

A man who asked for healing

As many of you know I get to be part of an amazing team of friends going into Costa every week to tell people about Jesus and how much God loves them. Recently Tim and I had the privilege of sitting at the bedside of a man called Ian. 

Martin invited Ian into Costa 5 months ago after he said “I need healing!” Ian used to regularly come to see us and ask us to pray for him. He had many major health conditions, one being panic attacks, which we gladly saw disappear soon after my friend Jules, prayed for him. Even though we didn’t see breakthrough with other areas of his health, Martin on our team, had the privilege of leading Ian in a simple prayer to receive Jesus on one of the times he visited us. 

3 weeks ago Ian caught Sepsis and wasn’t expected to live. He asked for Tim who had given him his number and told him “If you’re ever feeling alone, call me” That night we all prayed and the following day both his son and the hospital were amazed at his turn around overnight as his body began to fight the infection. When Tim visited him the next day Ian said he wasn’t ready to die. We all kept on praying as Tim faithfully visited Ian praying for him, reading scripture and worshipping in his room. I joined Tim for what turned out to be Ian’s last two days. Ian sadly died a couple of hours after our last visit with him.

But this wasn’t the end of the story...

As a team we were invited to the funeral this week. Tim was asked if he would help carry Ian’s coffin and to read a poem which was such a privilege. We were mentioned in the tributes as Ian’s friends and we later discovered he talked a lot about ‘his friends, the healers!’ At the wake Tim had an opportunity to pray for a young man for family reconciliation and Jules and I got to sit and talk with many of the friends and relatives which was such an honour. Just before leaving I got to talk with Ian’s wife who was so warm towards me and us. In the course of the conversation she suddenly asked me about the resurrection and who made Jesus rise from the dead? When I said God did, she said...”at last someone has been able to tell me” and then turned to her friend next to her who I think was slightly deaf and said loudly, “God raised Jesus from the dead!!”

I am still amazed how at a funeral I got to talk about the resurrection of Jesus!!

This story is still continuing ...

The day after the funeral Tim met for a coffee with Ian’s son where he was able to share about God’s heart and they made a real connection. Ian’s son says he is looking forward to visiting us in Costa soon as also is his mum and friend

We are all seeing God’s amazing goodness through the life of a man who asked for healing.

Learning to be dependent

God has been showing me how even though I say I trust Him in everything, and for the bigger things in life perhaps I do, that in the everyday of life I have a tendency to think, plan and sometimes feel anxious.

Last week I had a big event coming up. Having recently been reunited with my birth mother, both she and my half brother and wife were coming to stay for the first time. I wasn’t feeling well and knowing I had a lot to do in preparation, I was anxious that I wouldn’t be able to do it all and something would go wrong. I wanted their visit to be the best it could be. I had lots of meals to cook, beds to make up and the house to get ready as well as other weekly commitments to fit in and because I was feeling a bit ill, it all seemed like a mountain in front of me. Honestly? My prayers were more anxious thoughts than requests, yet in His kindness God answered them and said, “You know I know all that is planned and all that will happen and so why are you worrying? If you trust me it will all be ok” These words sound familiar don’t they?  Jesus sometimes had to rebuke his disciples for lack of faith but when they were caught in the storm, He came towards them and said, “Take heart it is I” As I heard my Father’s words I immediately felt His peace and rest and knew it would be ok. Over the next couple of days it was as though I had a download of supernatural energy to do everything I needed to do. In fact at the end of each day I had more energy than I usually have! By the end of the week I was so grateful for God’s provision but even more for the inner peace and rest I felt every time I reminded myself of His words to me.

Its so humbling how the Father always waits for us to come to him and when we do we discover this is the place we were always meant to live from. He wants us to do everything from a place of rest. The Message version of Jesus words in Matthew 11:28-30 express it so well, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

When my Father speaks His words draw me close and I feel peaceful. His words are always strong and yet gentle. His presence is always reassuring and never accusing. To hear Him whisper we have to lean in and there like a weaned child we find true rest and contentment.

Pursuing God's presence

I was never a very ‘happy camper’ but in the past I have attempted to make the best of it and after just a few days of trying to ‘make it home’ I was surprised how much simpler life seemed. I even found myself thinking maybe I could enjoy living this way without lots of stuff. Of course heat, rain, flooding or a collapsing airbed soon brought me to my senses!

I was reading Numbers 9 recently about Israel’s journey through the wilderness and in particular how God’s presence guided them day and night. How whenever the cloud or its appearance like fire lifted the people knew to set out and whenever it settled the people knew to stay put. Sometimes the cloud rested just one day and sometimes many days. It was sometimes for a month and sometimes for longer. I started wondering what it would have been like for all those families camping, knowing that at any moment they would have to pack everything up and move on. They must have lived having to hold everything very lightly and of course we know from the rest of the story that they often grumbled and complained and tested God’s patience.

As I read the story though, what stood out to me was how the Israelites must have been continually looking for the sign of Gods presence in the cloud or the fire. What provoked me was how even though they only knew God’s presence at a distance, they would have been keenly looking. For us, Jesus has made it possible for us to know his presence continually, even his manifest presence. God has now come and made his home in us and God who is Emmanuel has promised to always be near.

It got me thinking. Do I look for him with delight? How dependent am I on listening for his voice and following him? Do I wait for him? I don't know about you but I want to live this way. When I look for and lean in to his presence and then obey he leads me into wonderful encounters both with him and with those he loves.

This I know that whatever happens along the way, our journey with God is always leading us into experiencing more of his goodness. He promises His presence will go with us and He will give us rest. In his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures forever more.