God delights in me!!

Praying for the people of Kibera again today: for God to send those He wants to heal; for God to continue to prepare the pastors on the team for their role; for the practicalities of the right site from which to operate; for God's Kingdom to come in Kibera; for God to be glorified through the HotS ministry; telling Satan he has no place in Kibera and that its people are covered by the blood of Jesus; for God's peace to flood Kibera; for freedom for the people of Kibera from all the things that have bound them; and there was probably more.

Looked at Isaiah 61, as poverty is a form of bondage that people need to be freed from, and God promises freedom for captives. Through healing and freedom, we long to see the whole of Kibera transformed into a place that is known as somewhere that God is glorified, where His peace reigns, where no witchdoctor can practice, where there is hope despite the poverty.

This week I'll be adapting the HotS training manual into something that hopefully will fit in the Kenyan culture. Then on 4th Jan we'll meet with the pastors and go through the training with them, and maybe practice a little on each other, or on some willing guinea pigs. Once that's done it'll be time to do it for real.

I had a wobble a couple of days ago when I started wondering if God would turn up when we do this, and I read Psalm 147. Verse 10 says 'the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love'. And I thought, isn't it great how God uses the Bible to encourage us with the right words at the right time. My wobble lasted no more than 5 minutes before I had reassurance that God was delighting in me because I was putting my hope in Him and His love for the people of Kibera.

What better reassurance could there be than to know that God is delighting in me - nothing else matters!

Godly egg

Yesterday's sermon was apparently about waiting. I wasn't around to hear it as I was teaching one of the kids' groups, but Jo reflected some of it back to me. I suppose the last few months have been a time of waiting, but not in an inactive way. It has all been about preparation, getting ready for what God is going to do.

It's been an exciting few months, and I have greatly enjoyed praying and fasting for Kibera, and for God to pour out His healing on the people of Kibera. But now the time of waiting and preparing is coming to an end. We are now only a few weeks away from when we will first offer the 'Healing on the Streets' ministry, and I've got no idea what's going to happen! Will the pastors involved follow the teaching? Will people come for prayer? Will anybody get healed? Will God turn up?

Much as I have the questions, I also have a deep sense of peace that whatever happens, I have been obedient to the part I believe God has called me to play in this. I believe that God really wants to bless the people of Kibera, and that Kibera will become a place where God is glorified, and will no longer be subject to the many evil influences and practices that go on there today. Yes, there will still be poverty, but there will be a spiritual richness, depth and wholeness displayed by more and more people as they are healed by Jesus, and as they come to experience the depth of His love for them.

So if I've got it right, God will be glorified. If not, then maybe I'll end up with egg on my face - but it will be godly egg!