Whatever the weather

I’ve recently been re-reading ‘A diary of Miracles’ by Aliss Cresswell. I also got to meet her in person last week. In 2010 Aliss and her husband Rob opened a cafe in the heart of Chester and they have been seeing incredible miracles on a daily basis. Aliss kept a journal and every night wrote down what happened that day.

Some while ago God said to me to start writing down the stories of God encounters he has led me into. I started recording them but haven’t been very consistent. I’m a good starter but not a good finisher. I also haven’t yet seen many people healed when I’ve prayed for them or been part of many miracles even though I long to and God has said I will. 

I am on a journey of faith and I want to learn to celebrate what God has done, what he is doing and not what I haven’t seen yet! I believe as we steward what God has given us he will give us more. I also want to encourage others through my journey so that they will realise God wants to move through them too. 

Early this morning I felt God lead me to the passage in 2 Corinthians 14 which says ‘But thanks be to God who in Christ always leads us in his triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere’ 

When I went out today I said with a greater intentionality Father, please show me the people you want me to speak to and please open my eyes and ears to see and hear what you are doing and help me to love people.

So…this is my journal entry for today

14th May
Today I was on my way to meet a friend for coffee. As I rounded the corner in the town with just 5 minutes to spare, a lady bumped into me who I’ve recently met in Bedford (another story!) She’s not yet a Christian but has started coming to church with me. After exchanging hugs she asked me what I was doing. I told her I was meeting a friend and she said, “Can I come too”? It was one of those awkward moments when you want to do the right thing for everyone. I said yes whilst wondering how it was going to work out. I knew the friend I was meeting would understand and see the opportunity God was opening up, which gratefully she did! We both got to love this lady and lead her closer to knowing Jesus. I don't think its going to be long! 

This afternoon I went out with another friend as we regularly do on a Thursday afternoon into the town centre. We prayed before we went out and encouraged each other a lot. We needed to, it was raining and people didn’t really want to stop and chat but God was clearly with us. 
We got to buy a hot pasty for a homeless guy who was sheltering in a doorway, we got to share the love of God with a market trader who has strong atheist views and colourful language but considers us his friends and openly tells his customers who we are. 

My friend then had to pop into the bank and whilst he was busy I got talking to one of the staff. It was very natural. We started just talking about the weather and how cold it was, but she soon began talking about her family and the challenges of raising her daughter, She told me she had been a difficult child herself and how she had recently apologised to her mum for how she had behaved. I got to encourage her for doing just that which I don’t think she realised the significance of and to keep on loving her daughter. It was only a brief conversation because a customer was waiting to speak to her but I got to love and encourage her.

My friend and I decided to ‘call it a day’ as the rain wasn’t letting up. On my way back to the bus stop I decided to get a take away coffee from Costas. As I was standing at the bus stop I got chatting to a young woman waiting for the bus. Again the conversation was about the weather and then she noticed my coffee and asked if it was helping! Turned out she works at the ‘drive through Costas’ near where I live. By the time the bus came I knew she was going to sit next to me, which she did! As we talked about Costas, she said there is something special about it, which I agreed with and told her about its Christian foundation and the Whitbread family. I asked her if she knew about the Suspended Coffee Scheme*, which I have tried to promote at Costas with the manager. She loved the idea of it and the generosity behind it. This led on to talking about generosity and she said she had come across people at the drive thru who had sometimes offered to pay for the person behind them in the queue and how amazing that was. I told her of a recent time I got to pay for someone’s shopping in Tescos. She said how she was wanting to teach her daughter to be generous but how it didn’t come naturally. I knew this was the moment to tell her about Jesus and how he was our ultimate example of generosity. I sensed she was soon getting off the bus and so I had a just a few minutes to share the gospel with her. She was interested that I had become a Christian as opposed to being born a Christian. It was a very warm conversation and she seemed sorry that she had to get off. She told me her name and encouraged me to visit her at the Drive through Costas soon. 
It felt so easy. Today got me thinking, we don’t have to try to bring God into the conversation because we already carry his presence but we do have to be available and to be listening and noticing the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The Father is just waiting to set up encounters for us, whatever the weather!

* The Suspended Coffee Scheme started in Naples, Italy. Coffee drinkers not only place their own order, but also request a second drink for someone who cannot afford to pay for their own.
The idea, which is not just aimed at helping the homeless but those who simply find themselves out of work and broke, is beginning to take off in Britain and around the world.
So far, about 150 British cafes have signed up to what has become a formal scheme, while big chains like Starbucks and Costa are making positive noises about getting involved.
The concept is based on good faith by both shops and the customers - anyone can enter and asked for a 'suspended coffee' and are unlikely to be asked for their credentials, but it is hoped the most needy people will take advantage.