Our God is amazing!
'
We have seen some amazing answers to prayer in the last 28 years. One was when I invited anyone to come to the front and share any concerns for prayer. A young lad called Christopher, who had a genetic bone disorder that necessitated him wearing calipers on both legs, came out. 'I'm frightenned' he said. 'Next Thursday I have to go see the specialist who is saying that I have to go into hospital and have a steel rod inserted into my spine - and I'm scared'. I said 'lets talk to Jesus about it and laid hands on him and prayed for healing. The following Sunday, during our sharing time, Christopher came out to the front - smiling this time and with a spring in his steps. The calipers had been removed - he had a pair of trainers on his feet and with real joy he exclaimed 'Jesus has healed me - I don't have to have the steel rod now' There wasn't a dry eye in the place. To see Christopher - happy and not frightenned any more was a joy to behold and we thanked God.
Another was when a lady came into our meeting for the first time, obviously distraught. I asked her what was concerning her. She shared how her new baby grandson was in intensive care in hospital because his lungs were not working properly. I asked his name 'baby Adam' she said. went into my office before the meeting began and asked God how I should pray - making sure that I prayed in line with Gods will. I went into the hall started the meeting, told the congregation about the concern of the lady and when the prayer time came, prayed 'Lord God just as you breathed new life into the first Adam we ask you to breath new life into baby Adam'.
The following week the lady came into the meeting smiling and told us that baby Adam had started to breath normally and was coming home the next day. We thanked God and a few weeks later, the whole family came and asked me if I would dedicate baby Adam to God which we did.
Thirteen years ago I was diagnosed with skin cancer. The specialist told me that the cancer had gone deep into my back and they wanted to operate the following day. Thelma had a word from the Lord during her morning devotions that said 'this illness will not end in death'. After the operation the specialist wrote to my own doctor. He wrote that 'unfortunately the cancer was very deep and the long term prospects for this man are very poor' - the doctor shared this with me and showed me the letter.I had to visit the specialist every three months for check ups. This changed to every six months and then every year. On my visit in 2010 - the specialist announced that the cancer had gone and that it appeared I was now OK. I shared with him that I had no doubt that had God healed me - his response was 'Well they do say that prayer helps don't they?'
In the realms of finance, our God has provided some phenominal amounts. I have always encouraged my folk to seek Gods will and direction in prayer, We needed new chairs and prayed about it. The folowing day I recieved a telephone call from a complete stranger who said that while he was walking down Hollings Hill he felt a compulsion to offer some money to Idle Salvation Army.
I gave him my address expecting a tenner - when the post arrived there was a cheque for £6000 the exact amount for the new chairs.
When our Worship Hall window was damaged from a car that had been torched below it, we realised that it was time that all our old windows were replaced - thats twenty seven windows. I sent for quotes - we prayed about it - chose what I felt was the most assuring quote ( not the cheapest). A few days after our prayers, a cheque arrived for the full amount £ 8 000.
God even provided all the money to finance the recent renovations including new chairs, carpets and curtains - which will be well in excess of £140 000.
The secret is to seek Gods direction and pray in line with His wishes - 'Thy will be done'. I believe that God has plans for Idle Corps and that just as He is making our building a safe and inviting place to meet so too He wants to now build the people spiritually to be His living Church.
Paul reminds us that we are living stones being built into a temple fit for His inhabitation and i believe that. Church is not a building it's the living body of Christ in the world today. Pray with us that God will have His way with His people hereat idle and that He will be glorified in His people.
January 2013
I was going to start by saying you'll never believe what happenned on Jan 8 when I took Beryl to Ilkley to have lunch in the Parish Church cafe - but after all that I have written so far - you can't do anything but believe it. Just another example of how God is with us all the time and concerned about every area and aspect of our lives.
After lunch we went back to the car and I started to bundle Beryl in - which is not always easy with her Alzheimers. Onthis occasion I struggled and as I managed to get her seated dropped my car keys onto the drivers seat. Unfortunately, I must also have pressed the button that locks all the doors.
I got Beryl in and went round to the drivers side to find that the doors were locked. I tried to gesticulate to Beryl to try and get her to touch the key fob in the hope that she would touch the button that opens the but to no avail. There she was trapped in a locked car and me helpless to get in.
A gentleman in a car along the car park had seen all this and came to offer his assistance. He said that he knew how to get into a locked car burt needed a wire coat hanger which I didn't have. I said I would go round to the police station and see if they had any way of getting into a locked car. They said they hadn't any magic keys but would come and see if there was anything they could do to help.
I had phoned the AA of which I am a member who said that they would there in about an hour and probably have to smash the window.
I went back to the car to find the local Toilet attendant talking to the guy who had offered to help.
It wasn't long before the police woman arrived to say that she had no idea what she could do but that she had brought wire coat hanger as se knew that the other policemen had sued one before although she didn't know how. The guy who had offered to help looked surprised and pleased.
'All I need now is a screwdriver to lift the casing off the window ledge' he said.
Surprise! surprise!, the toilet attendant just had top have one in his pocket. - Within ten minutes we were in the car and driving home. Thanks to the three angels God sent. I phoned the AA and cancelled their visit.
The Awesome truth is that only God could have supplied the coat hanger, the screwdriver and an expert who knew how to open a locked car. That's how much God cares and is looking after us. Thank You Father, Praise Him!
2016 Needed a new roof on the worship hall.
Roof badly damaged by rain and amp patches appearing on the Worship Hall roof - we were told we needed it replacing - the cost around £200 000 - it had to be done. The very next day after receiving the news, I received a telephone call for a solicitor in Shipley who told me that a Mr Mann had died and as executor of his will there was his house to clear, debts to complete and a funeral to be done. I was shocked and told the solicitor that Mr Mann used to come to our Over 60's group led by Beryl and one day, when I came to pick Beryl up from the hall, he asked me if I would sign as a witness to a will that he had just picked up from the post office, which I did. 'No !;. the solicitor said, 'you signed to be his executor'. I was gob smacked but set about arranging his flat to be cleared, did his funeral to which only a handful of friends came to. What eventually transpired was amazing - in his will, he had left all his money to Idle Salvation Army - the amount was over £200 000 - God had arranged for the new roof to be payed for 20 years before we actually needed it - Our God is Awesome.
We have seen some amazing answers to prayer in the last 28 years. One was when I invited anyone to come to the front and share any concerns for prayer. A young lad called Christopher, who had a genetic bone disorder that necessitated him wearing calipers on both legs, came out. 'I'm frightenned' he said. 'Next Thursday I have to go see the specialist who is saying that I have to go into hospital and have a steel rod inserted into my spine - and I'm scared'. I said 'lets talk to Jesus about it and laid hands on him and prayed for healing. The following Sunday, during our sharing time, Christopher came out to the front - smiling this time and with a spring in his steps. The calipers had been removed - he had a pair of trainers on his feet and with real joy he exclaimed 'Jesus has healed me - I don't have to have the steel rod now' There wasn't a dry eye in the place. To see Christopher - happy and not frightenned any more was a joy to behold and we thanked God.
Another was when a lady came into our meeting for the first time, obviously distraught. I asked her what was concerning her. She shared how her new baby grandson was in intensive care in hospital because his lungs were not working properly. I asked his name 'baby Adam' she said. went into my office before the meeting began and asked God how I should pray - making sure that I prayed in line with Gods will. I went into the hall started the meeting, told the congregation about the concern of the lady and when the prayer time came, prayed 'Lord God just as you breathed new life into the first Adam we ask you to breath new life into baby Adam'.
The following week the lady came into the meeting smiling and told us that baby Adam had started to breath normally and was coming home the next day. We thanked God and a few weeks later, the whole family came and asked me if I would dedicate baby Adam to God which we did.
Thirteen years ago I was diagnosed with skin cancer. The specialist told me that the cancer had gone deep into my back and they wanted to operate the following day. Thelma had a word from the Lord during her morning devotions that said 'this illness will not end in death'. After the operation the specialist wrote to my own doctor. He wrote that 'unfortunately the cancer was very deep and the long term prospects for this man are very poor' - the doctor shared this with me and showed me the letter.I had to visit the specialist every three months for check ups. This changed to every six months and then every year. On my visit in 2010 - the specialist announced that the cancer had gone and that it appeared I was now OK. I shared with him that I had no doubt that had God healed me - his response was 'Well they do say that prayer helps don't they?'
In the realms of finance, our God has provided some phenominal amounts. I have always encouraged my folk to seek Gods will and direction in prayer, We needed new chairs and prayed about it. The folowing day I recieved a telephone call from a complete stranger who said that while he was walking down Hollings Hill he felt a compulsion to offer some money to Idle Salvation Army.
I gave him my address expecting a tenner - when the post arrived there was a cheque for £6000 the exact amount for the new chairs.
When our Worship Hall window was damaged from a car that had been torched below it, we realised that it was time that all our old windows were replaced - thats twenty seven windows. I sent for quotes - we prayed about it - chose what I felt was the most assuring quote ( not the cheapest). A few days after our prayers, a cheque arrived for the full amount £ 8 000.
God even provided all the money to finance the recent renovations including new chairs, carpets and curtains - which will be well in excess of £140 000.
The secret is to seek Gods direction and pray in line with His wishes - 'Thy will be done'. I believe that God has plans for Idle Corps and that just as He is making our building a safe and inviting place to meet so too He wants to now build the people spiritually to be His living Church.
Paul reminds us that we are living stones being built into a temple fit for His inhabitation and i believe that. Church is not a building it's the living body of Christ in the world today. Pray with us that God will have His way with His people hereat idle and that He will be glorified in His people.
January 2013
I was going to start by saying you'll never believe what happenned on Jan 8 when I took Beryl to Ilkley to have lunch in the Parish Church cafe - but after all that I have written so far - you can't do anything but believe it. Just another example of how God is with us all the time and concerned about every area and aspect of our lives.
After lunch we went back to the car and I started to bundle Beryl in - which is not always easy with her Alzheimers. Onthis occasion I struggled and as I managed to get her seated dropped my car keys onto the drivers seat. Unfortunately, I must also have pressed the button that locks all the doors.
I got Beryl in and went round to the drivers side to find that the doors were locked. I tried to gesticulate to Beryl to try and get her to touch the key fob in the hope that she would touch the button that opens the but to no avail. There she was trapped in a locked car and me helpless to get in.
A gentleman in a car along the car park had seen all this and came to offer his assistance. He said that he knew how to get into a locked car burt needed a wire coat hanger which I didn't have. I said I would go round to the police station and see if they had any way of getting into a locked car. They said they hadn't any magic keys but would come and see if there was anything they could do to help.
I had phoned the AA of which I am a member who said that they would there in about an hour and probably have to smash the window.
I went back to the car to find the local Toilet attendant talking to the guy who had offered to help.
It wasn't long before the police woman arrived to say that she had no idea what she could do but that she had brought wire coat hanger as se knew that the other policemen had sued one before although she didn't know how. The guy who had offered to help looked surprised and pleased.
'All I need now is a screwdriver to lift the casing off the window ledge' he said.
Surprise! surprise!, the toilet attendant just had top have one in his pocket. - Within ten minutes we were in the car and driving home. Thanks to the three angels God sent. I phoned the AA and cancelled their visit.
The Awesome truth is that only God could have supplied the coat hanger, the screwdriver and an expert who knew how to open a locked car. That's how much God cares and is looking after us. Thank You Father, Praise Him!
2016 Needed a new roof on the worship hall.
Roof badly damaged by rain and amp patches appearing on the Worship Hall roof - we were told we needed it replacing - the cost around £200 000 - it had to be done. The very next day after receiving the news, I received a telephone call for a solicitor in Shipley who told me that a Mr Mann had died and as executor of his will there was his house to clear, debts to complete and a funeral to be done. I was shocked and told the solicitor that Mr Mann used to come to our Over 60's group led by Beryl and one day, when I came to pick Beryl up from the hall, he asked me if I would sign as a witness to a will that he had just picked up from the post office, which I did. 'No !;. the solicitor said, 'you signed to be his executor'. I was gob smacked but set about arranging his flat to be cleared, did his funeral to which only a handful of friends came to. What eventually transpired was amazing - in his will, he had left all his money to Idle Salvation Army - the amount was over £200 000 - God had arranged for the new roof to be payed for 20 years before we actually needed it - Our God is Awesome.