Week in England

We arrived in England on Thursday around 11 pm (English time) where Pastor Austin Walker picked us up from the airport to spend the week with him and his wife.  Friday was a relaxing day and we were able to spend time with our friends the Philips which was very nice.  Saturday and Wednesday we spend time in London and had the opportunity to go inside and see Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, the London Eye and the National Archives as well as seeing many other beautiful sights around London.

Sunday Pastor Jeremy Walker spoke in Sunday school on effective evangelism, and my dad spoke on Jesus healing the paralytic man and on Psalm 103.  All of the messages were excellent and very helpful.

Sunday afternoon I was feeling a little lonely and homesick, but in the afternoon I was reading Passion and Purity by Elizabeth Elliot and found these words very encouraging 

-Be Still and Know that He is God. When you are lonely, too much stillness is exactly the thing that seems to be laying waste your soul. Use that stillness to quiet your heart before God. Get to know Him. If He is God, He is still in charge.

-Remember that you are not alone "The Lord, He it is that doth go with thee. He will not fail thee neither forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage" (Duet. 31:8) Jesus promised His disciples "Lo, I am with you always" (Matt 28: 20). Never mind if you cannot feel his presence. He is there, never for one moment forgetting you.

-Give thanks, In times of my greatest loneliness I have been lifted up by the promise of 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18, "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen" this is something to thank God for. This loneliness itself, which seems a weight, will be far out weighed by glory. 

-Refuse self-pity. Refuse it absolutely. It is a deadly thing with power to destroy you. Turn your thoughts to Christ who has already carried your griefs and sorrows.

-Accept loneliness. It is one stage and only one stage, on a journey that brings you to God. It will not always last.

-Offer up your loneliness to God, as the little boy offered to Jesus his five loaves and two fishes. God can transform it for the good of others. 

-Do something for somebody else. No matter who or where you are, there is something you can do, somebody who needs you. Pray that you may be an instrument of God's peace, that where there is loneliness you may bring joy." 

Monday we spent with Pastor Austin and Mrs. Walker at Arundel, which was a beautiful little town with a very nice and impressive castle. We also drove around Brighton.

Tuesday, Alissa Walker and two of her children and I went to Highclere Castle which is where the TV show Downton Abbey is filmed.  I really enjoyed the time with Alissa and loved seeing the castle.  The grounds were beautiful and the house was lovely. 

Thursday, we went with Pastor Jeremy Walker and Chibesa to see different church history sights and to hear Pastor Jeremy speak on Matthew Henry.  We saw the birthplace of Charles H Spurgeon, the church where he was converted and where he was baptized.  We also saw churches where Andrew Fuller, John Owens, Jeremiah Burrow and John Roger preached and taught.  The day was very educational and enjoyable.