Bill Caldwell - Flourishing in adversity.

It’s easy to praise God when the sun’s shining; not so easy when it’s miserable. But our aim should be to be praising Him come what may.

Jesus suffered in similar ways to us because He was human too. Whatever we go through, He is there for us and totally understands us as people.

It’s always good to proclaim His love in a morning, and His faithfulness at night.

God’s purpose is that we are fruitful even in our difficulties.

As NEW people in Christ we need to fix our eyes on what is eternal, not the temporary life we see here. We should take a FRESH look at God and who we are as His people, and what He’s done for us.

We’re called to take God’s love to our – often – hostile world. We should draw FROM God all that we need so we can GIVE OUT.

Perhaps a good prayer to start a day is ‘Lord today for You, for them, amen.

Steve Jackson - Holy Spirit - excitement or confusion ?

Ordinary people were changed at Pentecost and enabled to do extraordinary things for God.

Holy Spirit has ALWAYS been around, but since Pentecost He has been given for benefit of ALL people.

The pilot light on a boiler is ALWAYS on before the boiler fires up. Something is there but not the full power.

John Wesley had been preaching for years BEFORE he had the experience of fullness.

In his time there were many different manifestations of Spirit.

REAL test of being filled is does it make that person BETTER and more like Jesus ?

In Galatians, the FRUITS of having the Spirit is the evidence.

We shouldn’t be satisfied with where we are in the Holy Spirit and Him working in us. As He does His work in us, it doesn’t matter if we shake, cry, laugh or not. What DOES matter is that there’s a difference in us and that the fruits come through.

Many thanks to Steve Lavill for providing the summaries.