The delight of seeing Father's family and HIS loveliness

We have been talking with folk in many places around the USA and enjoying greatly the wonderful creative Father who has begun everythng that exists and who has acted so decisively in redeeeming his creation who had made the choice to rebel against him. His redemptive action results in people of all ages and sizes from every nation and peope in the world being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. It seems that we have met so many people who evidence God's tranforming action and who are watching every day and often being surprised at the changes that are happening in their lives. This is no movement that's led by a person or an organisation but a groundswell of the life of God breaking in on a broken and self-centred world.

We have seen so many examples of Father leading his children into lovely acts of grace and mercy. We have heard story after story of the way Father has brought individuals to see Jesus in the unique way that enables a 21st cetury educacted and experienced person to rely and trust in a man who walked this earth over 2000 years ago.

This was catalysed for me today in the person of a man called Samuel. After missing a connection for a flight to Ireland due to bad weather and a night in a Comfort Inn near Toronto airport, the man who drove the shuttle bus that took us back to the airport was Samuel, a Pakistani. From the first moment we met him we saw someting of the character of Jesus. He greeted the Hotel desk clerk with respect and honour and said somthing that made her smile. Meeting us, he looked at Val's red beads matching her red bag and commented warmly. He was interested and cared for people. He enthusiastically lugged our bulging cases into the back of his van and had a small footstool that allowed Val (and I) to find our seat in the shuttle. He drove with care, but with all the agression needed to get through the rush hour traffic. He spoke of the things we can be thankful for and was sad that people were so self centred.

Kevin suggested that while it was sad that so many people seemed to care for no one but themselves, today is one of the most exciting days in human history, not the least because Jesus' return is obviously closer than ever before! Samuel went on to tell us that he was a pastor who met with a church in Toronto but also was keenly inolved with a fellowship in Pakistan (which he visits each year.)

When he pulled into the arrivals area at Pearson International Airport and there wasn't the usual but was clear of cars and buses, Samuel suggested we take a little time to pray. Val and I knew that it was one of those lovely 'God' moments which encouraged both us and him. He exclaimed ,”You've made my day for sure!” to which we had to respond, “We felt it was more like you have made ours!”

I thought back to meeting a man called Ray who lives near Washington and now as a mature man has begun at the call of Father to cook and sell succulent cooked chicken to the people of the town in which he lives. This has given him real joy in serving and rumor has it that it is not just yummy chooks but the locals are soaking up the loveliness of Jesus that they find in store.

There have been numbers of places where incidental stories highlight that Father is leading people to take on small 'business ventures' that allow his life to be shared.