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Life’s a Roller Coaster Ride But You Are all Strapped In So Enjoy It
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It was Saturday evening and I was coming to the end of my preaching session at Living Word International’s Annual Conference in Slough. The theme was The All Sufficient God.
I had in particular been stressing the role of grace as God’s sufficiency working in us. That makes us all sufficient because His sufficiency is always more than enough for us.
To illustrate that point I decided to use an example I had recently heard. It concerned roller coasters. The question is why do we enjoy roller coasters? Is it because of the thrill and speed and sense of G forces on us? No, its because we are strapped in with a seat belt so we know despite it all we will be safe both during and at the end of the ride. So I used that example. We go through the roller coaster ride of life but we are strapped in with God’s sufficiency so we will be more than okay. Knowing that fact enables us to go out into the world with confidence. It means that His sufficiency in us gives us something both to enjoy and to take to a world that is suffering in the roller coaster of life, often with nothing as protection.
Not only did I talk about it but got the congregation to live it out as you can see from the photo attached. It was a great conference and the speakers were exceptional. I always enjoy the time because you receive as much as you give and secure good friendships among fellow ministers. Living Word’s hospitality is exceptional and if you are ever in that area on a Sunday I would encourage you to go.
That conference was a highlight in July. In the same month I was also given an opportunity to do a small presentation at Hugh Osgood”s Ministers fellowship in Bromley. I took a theme of challenging fellow ministers over some key areas they can lose out on in the busy mix of ministerial life. We often fail to get a good work life balance and we get so busy we don’t stop and take stock of where we want to be and where our passions really lie. As a result we don’t plan strategically for our vision. It is an area that Living Word UK specialises in so it was a joy to present some potential solutions I shared with a number of ministers at the end and I hope to be able to come alongside and help them in the future.
Earlier in June I was given the privilege of speaking at the first ever Kenneth Copeland Ministries Europe Partner evening. There were people there from all over the UK. I preached a message entitled “Great Expectation, Produces Great Faith, Produces Great Results using Hebrews 11:1 as a starting text. At the end I ministered to many who came forward for prayer and I know they were touched by God.
Here are a few response quotes from the evening:
-All superbly organised and very friendly – Like being at home
good word. Good prayer ministry.
-prayers – Good word preached powerfully good testimonies.
-Preached God’s powerful word. I am expectant!.
Finally next Wednesday 17 August I travel to Tula in Russia to head up a conference for a network of churches led by my good friend Oleg Kunin. I will also be preaching at 2 churches on the Sunday and visiting an orphanage that is supported by one of the local churches. The conference this time is a greater challenge as I am aiming to facilitate hands on interactive sessions on Life Planning and Strategic Vision Planning. I really want those ministers to have something tangible that will help their churches and cause them to grow once I leave. It is a tough task with translation but I am up for making the breakthrough. Thanks to my prayer team I am much more prepared and I am looking forward to it.
I would appreciate you joining with them in prayer for these meetings. I believe they will be life changing for that part of Russia.
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Tony Sheard
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LWIC practising the roller coaster ride of life
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Tony attempting to dance like the africans at LWIC conference
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Tony preaching at the KCM partner evening
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