So do I. I doubt the combination of circumstances which led to my departure will repeat themselves. God is good.
So what have i been up to?Some of you may reme,ber that I had a particularly personal and intimate encounter with Jesus whilst rehearsing for a Passion Play that my town's local churches got together to perform. It was during this encounter that the Lord pressed on me the absolute importance of knowing Him- everything else is rubbish.
The following summer, I was baptised whilst still at the Army. I started going to a local Anglican church on a Wednesday and learned the amazing comfort that comes from the Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer!). It was sometime in this period I left the forum. I was under attack from a few directions, including on the forum, and I just felt the tremendous urge to throw myself further into God's protection. I am sorry however, that I did not say good bye properly. Please forgive me.
Then I was made redundant by The Salvation Army. I think there was an increasing tension between my personal needs and the Army, so although in the end it was their decision, I was cool with it. Now I have a job as a Children's evangelist working with the Church of England, at the very church which scooped me up on Wednesdays!. God has been really good to me, and after a time of considerable difficulty, I am blessed to be part of a thriving church community with a big heart for prayer, worship and the lost. Recently I have had the tremendous honour of being asked to become a server at communion. After spending 10 years away from sacrements, the Lord has brought me straight into the very heart of them. I am so blessed.
I still have many many struggles, primarily with this so called 'quiet time' that the Christian world seems obsessed by, but I am deeper in the word, and prayer and God than have ever been and the abundance of grace in my life amazes me. I am half way through my first winter in ten years that isn't characterised by SAD. My mother has ccome to church happily over christmas, and God assures me that the last shall be first, so I no longer fear for her. All is well.
St Johns Woodbridge