A Close Encounter

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm...
...But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. Heb 12:18 & 22

How do we encounter God?

It's easier than you think. You don't have to climb a mountain, but that has been known to help. There are also other occasions where God simply drops in unexpectedly on people in the middle of minding their own business. But the kind of encounter we are talking about this week is available to anyone who makes themselves 'available'.

All it takes is a little faith and a lot of fear. Just remember Moses. He had enough faith to climb the fearful Mt. Sinai as violent smoke and fire surrounded it. He was just as afraid as the trembling Israelites below, but his desire for another encounter with God was greater that day. There was still much more to see of this mysterious One who is able to burn bushes and split seas in half.

What would've happened if he stayed at the bottom of the mountain with everyone else? Mankind would've missed it's formal introduction to the One that would eventual climb down the mountain himself to rescue us. But we were able to hear His eternal commands because someone was willing to face Him.

God is looking for people who are willing leave their excuses at the bottom of the mountain and be open for an encounter with Him. So don't let sin, boredom or busyness stop you from making time for Jesus. Do you ever feel that familiar tinge of fear when the Holy Spirit asks you to do something beyond the borders of your comfort-zone? Chances are, you are standing at the edge of an amazing experience.

Remember, a little faith can overcome alot of fear. Will you be open for an up close encounter with the Living God this week? Or will your settle for a cheap comfortable seat at the bottom of the mountain. All your excuses will be there to keep you company.

Experiencing God is as simple as a quiet prayer in a noisy street. Or a bold word from a anxious mouth to an unexpected ear.

Are you ready for a change this week?


Just as scared as anyone,
Brandon and Pamela Munoz
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

PS: We will now be including a link to the Pray As You Go Podcast as a regular feature to the Monday Message. It is a audio prayer time that helps get you into the 'encounter zone' no matter where you are. In using it recently I have been able to go straight from a crowded bus to the top of Mt. Sinai. This is an instantly reflective and consistently challenging experience packed into 10 short minutes. Don't let the peaceful choir music fool you. It cuts straight to the chase. Try it for yourself...

Just download it from the site or iTunes. It works best outside with headphones, but please watch out for traffic.

"Drifting..."

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it...Hebrews 2:1

Why do mighty whales drift ashore?

This is a mystery that no one can thoroughly explain. Yes, there are many theories citing health - weather - isolation or even depression as the main causes. But whatever makes a beautiful whale sadly drift ashore, there's something inside us that says, "Something's wrong here!". That's why news is made and people rally together to push them back in. That is of course, if it's not too late...

Drifting takes no effort at all. It just happens. Before you know it you can be so far from where you once were without even trying.

Have you ever seen a beached believer? It's not a pretty sight. People who were once alive with faith and the excitement of God, now only a shadow of what they once were. Muck like the whales, there is no thorough explanation, but there are plenty of warning signs...

Is your desire to communicate with God waning? How bout the enjoyment of being around other Christians? Or has the thrill of your own will been a recent source of fulfillment by making choice after choice without much thought to the consequences. Remember this is NOT just about you. In Christ, we have the power to either lift up or tear down others around us by our words and actions. This is the fruit of walking close to the King or drifting away aimlessly.

If this happens to be you. It's not to late to get back to sea. I know some people who would love to help you...

Would you rather breach or beach this week?



Keep your heads up,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

What Gets God Excited?

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people.
I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live...
Ezekiel 33:11

What gets God excited?

The Scripture above gives us a hint at what doesn't. Thankfully there was no deaths or injuries during the fires of Camden Town, but many people's uninsured livelihoods went up in flames with only ashes to remind them. God gets no thrill out of this.

What does get God excited is seeing people's names written in heaven. This doesn't just happen by magic, it takes faith. If you take some time this week to read the beginning of Ezekiel 33, you'll see that God depends on His people who can see, to warn those who can't.

Those of you who can remember last Saturday afternoon in London, it was as picture perfect as you can get. A California Spring Day in the middle of the "coldest" month in the UK. So many people were hanging out by the Canal we decided to do our outreach there. 3 people visiting the Canal Market accepted Christ that afternoon and many others heard the good news. But none of us knew there would be no more Canal Market by Saturday night.

I'm humbled to realise that God calls us to go to certain places for specific reasons only He is aware of. All we have to do is trust Him. There is a special excitement in the heart of the Father when his children experiment with this amazing thing called faith. When we forget about looking stupid and seek his glory above our embarrassment, there is no telling what can happen.

Next week we begin our Bible Breakdown in a new venue called the InSpiral Lounge. It's an organic - new age cafe that barely escaped the flames this last weekend. It's huge windows overlook the ashes of the Hawley Arms on the the other side of the Canal. I pray it will remind us that we are not just studying a book, but learning how to rescue souls from a fire.

How will you get God excited this week?


Sincerely,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.org.uk

Grieving the Spirit

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

Are you an international ketchup lover?

Whether you are or not, this special sauce has found it's way to cover everything from burgers to baklava. I've been amazed at some of the things I've seen people squirt this stuff on. There really is no limit. But forget about the ketchup for a second, let's talk about the containers.

There are now a great variety of red vessels to choose from these days. Maybe it's because somebody finally figured out that pounding on a glass bottle for five minutes to get a couple drips out wasn't as fun as it looked. I've seen many creative techniques* to make this easier, but most still make your eyebrows look funny. Now for the real point.

What does God have to do with you to get His Precious Holy Spirit to flow out of you? Do you need to be shaken, tapped, pounded, twirled, or even left upside down for awhile, just so God can get a little "amen" or "thanks" out of you? How frustrating must that be for someone who died for us? Please believe that He would much rather give you a little squeeze and see the world around you taste better simply because you allowed Him to have His way in your life.

What grieves and quenches God's Spirit:
Pride, Lust, Dishonesty, Sin of every kind.
But let's not forget Fear, Excuses, Being Too Busy, Denying Jesus, or the real quencher---Unbelief.

We can nod our head "Yes" to all kinds of truth read or spoken, but never give it a chance to become reality in your daily life. This hurts the heart of God like no other. But because of God's great mercy, He is still ready to forgive us at every moment of repentance. As the Day of the Lord gets closer and closer, God's spirit has many great works to do through you!

What kind of bottle will you be this week?

Easy Squeezy,
Brandon and Pamela
www.freedomhouse.co.uk

*The best glass bottle technique by far is to lightly tap the neck with the side of your finger while pouring. It flows like a river. Courtesy of Pastor Raul Barajas Praise Chapel Tijuana, Mexico.