The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Fun.
Being in third year is not fun work load wise...at all.
But the ONE night we went into the cube last term was lots of fun.
I cannot comment for the rest of the motley crew (Naomi, Fiona, Holly, Karen, Nathan, Quintin) but I was elated to be back at the wonderful night of Fat Poppadaddys (www.fatpoppadaddys.com) and loved seeing people I knew and people I didn't.
There was however a sense of it being a battle of us being there as a united front as me and Naomi both for no apparent reason felt sick (not alcohol related before you skeptics jump to conclusions :) as we both had not touched a drop of the stuff) and as soon as we sat down and chatted together- which is always good (love ya Noomes) and prayed the sick feeling left... hmmmm.
I can't enthuse people enough about the awesome awesome priviledge it is to be the gospel to people.. not to spout it at them in some hope of conversion but to first take Gods hand and say 'Lord, what is it you want me to do/say/not say/how can you reach this person through me...' Lord help me to first love and appreciate and get involved... why would you want to miss out on that??
Ok, its late and I could rant forever and ever about the awesomeness of knowing God and consequently how we can know other people and as Paul says 'be all things to all people'.
I want to share one instance from the last (academic) years excursions... I remember God telling me that night that I must 'Speak the Truth'- seems obvious, why would you not tell the truth...ha...but we (ovbiously including myself here!) can so easily not tell the truth by avoiding it. And I believe if I had not heard from the Lord before a conversation I later had with an old hall mate on the dance floor I would have talked round the subject or worded it so it wasn't so clear...
Anyway, he is a Jew- not particularly practising which doesn't bother him as in his word that night after entering a conversation about heaven said 'but I'm a Jew' and was saying how this meant regardless he would go to heaven so it didnt matter how he lived his life and didnt want to give up certain worldly things/'sins'.....
He then said 'So do you believe if you don't believe in Jesus you go to hell' this is where I momentarily paused and recalled what God said to me earlier and thankfully said 'yes'.
He is the gate, no?!!
Anyway my brothers and sisters, much love to you all (and Power for this coming year ahead, may you know Him in ALL your circumstances, thoughts, dreams and fears....I want this so He will flow through my actions in this 'lost and hurting world')
Kate xXx
'For His Power is made Perfect in our weakness' Amen. Bring it on, I'm weak... have you noticed Lord :) ?!
Steps to Spiritual Success? Spirit of God fall in this place. In our hearts, our minds, our attitudes...and on our nights out at the CUBE!
John 7:37-39.37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.When I was in my
first year I was desperate to see God move amongst my friends here at university, and I still am, and I remember one night being out with some of them at the cube and asking God whilst I was danicing.. 'Lord, where are the Christians..?' obviously He knew where they were and exactly how many were in the cube or not that night... I was crying out to Him for my own encouragement, for reassurance that I was
not in this massive struggle alone...I then recieved a picture that made me literally worship on the dance floor (yes it is possible in such a 'secular' environment- if you can ever call it that as God is still God wherever you are-His Kingdom has come so the world no longer belongs to the devil and His ways)...
It was of Christians marching together down the main steps of the cube and it came along with the notion in Joel about God's people being that of an army (read it- especially in Chapter two) and the emphasis of them working and marching in line together, in response to Jesus being the 'head' of the army, really encouraged me...
The fact was guys that in the picture there was loads of us, enough to take up the whole staircase with about 4 across....then when at the bottom we all dispersed and went to speak to different people and groups which is how it should be- I know I have different friends to that of my Christian friends as
God wants His life changing message to go as far and wide as possible!!I've now reached the end of my
second year and feel somewhat tired, deflated and feel I am in danger of 'not dreaming BIG' like I used to...I will not have that as that is doubting God and not seeing by faith as we are commanded to but by sight and If I did choose to loose heart for next year it would be because I am limiting God through what I see Him doing through me- there's always more for all of us and always more he can do through us...if only we'd realise it and not stop at hurdles.
Let's keep going and run this race with ease by urging and encouraging each other on in the things of God as we have the Holy Spirit on our side who is 'the same Power at work in us (which is) the same power that rose Christ Jesus from the dead!'Big thanks and goodbye to Graham who God used to get it all started...I pray we will have much to tell you about this year of University and our antics at the cube ;)Bring on my third year...K8*
Last Night
Last night was the final getogether of the year. We didnt want to have too much of an agenda just got together and listened to God. It was an awesome time and along with a real sense of encouragment to go on and discover the huge potential of the cube loads of other stuff came out:
FREEDOM: from poser culture of friday and in general to dance and laugh
The turning of the tide, Signing a new song,
dreaming again,
boldness like the
charge of the light brigadepersonal
intimacy; friday and saturday nights being the "icing on the cake" of a week lived closely with Jesus
community encouragment, everyone supporting each other, in an environment of open honesty about struggles and troubles.
practically:links with cu, freedom funk and 24/7 should be maintained and developed.
a prayer room on uni campus
Other exciting news is that the CU are going to run an open mic / jam session nite in the bridge bar next year.
From my point of view its been an awesome year, often frustrating and difficult but a privledge to be working alongside you guys. Naomi and Kate will be doing some of the leading next year but its all about everyone being involved and Jesus being in charge so dont be shy. Until im back in soton peace and love
graham
watertunnel
2 Samuel 5 v6>
6David and his men immediately set out for Jerusalem to take on the Jebusites, who lived in that country. But they said, "You might as well go home! Even the blind and the lame could keep you out. You can't get in here!" They had convinced themselves that David couldn't break through.
7But David went right ahead and captured the fortress of Zion, known ever since as the City of David. 8That day David said, "To get the best of these Jebusites, one must target the water system, not to mention this so-called lame and blind bunch that David hates." (In fact, he was so sick and tired of it, people coined the expression, "No lame and blind allowed in the palace.")
This was preached last night in a service I was in last night about finding the weakness in the fortresses we face(the watersystem), to see everyone in the cube understand God's passionate love for them and respond in praise, is definately up there with taking on a walled city in the hard to do stakes, and anyone you suggest it to might well laugh in your face. but like the watersystem that gave David victory over that city there is a weakness in prevailing culture in cube and if we ask God He will show us the way in...
last night :: new dawn
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It was cool to be back in the cube again last night. Nine of us were out for the craic, instead of going to Chris' we had our prep prayer and hanging out in the cube in a "quiet" corner of the cafe. It was cool to be in there and instead of feeling in the minority spiritually I really had a sense we had the run of the place, which is a pretty awesome change in the atmosphere.
Kez had given us some verses
Isiah 51v16
I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand— I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.' "and 60v2
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.which are awesome and fitted into another vision a different guy had shared with mike right before he showed up!!
We slightly over did the break out and scatter approach and our wee groups didnt really see each other till the end of the night, but that means we were all engaged with ppl and the Holy Spirit so its all good :)
Highlights:
*naomi signin amazing grace sung with some other guys who were outside at the end
*katie and catherine learning to dance bangara,
*nath lighting up the dance floor to billy jean after some less than euthusiatic dancing to bad cheese.
Lowlights: despite my best efforts I got snakebite split of my white top... that will learn me.
next official funkatron friday "the end of term" 16th, but i do know a couple of ppl heading down unoffically next friday so let me know if you want to hook up...
tonight
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
--Marcel Proust
Tonight is on, bring yourself ready to be comsumed by the Holy Spirit and burn free from any one's opinion of yourself except Jesus' and He thinks you're cool enough to walk on water ;)
we continue...
Alright the legends,
hope all at houseparty had a monster weekend with each other and the big man.
Friday was a tougher dryer night by all accounts ( i ended up in fabric in london, but thats a different story) undeterred we will be going back this friday so lets go for it one and all. Please pray during the week, Psalm 24 and Eph 6 yourself ; )
party on..
Alright,
so we are on for this friday, seems to be a bit of momentum building, so get anyone else intersted involved and we can have a good wee crew heading down.
The plan:
Friday Chris' house (
email for directions) arrive between 8 and 9 for chilling then 9 - 10 we can get a bit deeper, sharing stories, vision and praying. hit the cube before last entrance around 10:20pm
from there on the adventure begins...
It would be cool if you guys could pray in the week and see what God is saying.
Chris' house is open for prayer on a wednesday afternoon (2pm on) so come on round if you are free.
Apart from that drop a comment of type in the box at the side to let us know what your thinking / prayer requests etc
nice and smooth
a good few ppl are away this weekend and our normal prayer location is unavailable, so we'll take it easy and this week will not be an offical gathering, dont want to burn out before we begin :)
if you are heading down anyway drop a few prayer requests in the chat bit at the side and have a good night.
apaprt from that ill stick some info up early next week about next friday.
peace
g
ps happy birthday to ant and kat :)
welcome to the dance...
This is a photo from our first night out at the cube, thanks to Chris, Kate, Kez, Kat, Ali, Mike, Nath, Matt and a shout out to the others who made it along for some love and good time in the cube. We kicked off praying at Chris' then headed down, bit of dancing, praying, just about everyone ended having God chats with someone or other, one girl got prayer for a chest infection, Kez gave two freshers a lift home and everyone had a blast :)
So yeah thanks for all the prayers everyone, it makes sense we do this more regular, so Im going to put a bit on this site so people can arrange who is all going for the up coming friday and that way it can keep going each week without one or two ppl always having to be involved.
Tell your friends, pray and celebrate cause its all going to kick off soon...
:: Vision ::
Simply put, we want to communicate Jesus to all who dont know Him yet, giving them the option of knowing a living, loving God and entering and personal relationship with Him.
Jesus was a man who's closest female friend was a prostitute, who continually offened the established religion by associating Himself with those people they would rather ignore...
At southapmton uni, 2005-06 most people go to the cube not church, if we seek to give people an opportunity to know God we must meet them where they are at (Paul Acts 17 at the marketplace - where ppl were in the greek secular society) So therefore we should be in the cube.
Psalm 24
1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
There are no places we shouldnt go, indeed the darker the place the more a light is needed.
3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
We are not going in to blend in, but rather to express our freedom and love, in the power of His Spirit, rather than in our strength.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob. [b]
Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
Selah
That is the vision to see the King of glory welcomed into the cube.
