Canal Ministries - on the Inland Waterways
Spring Water - Andy & Sue Smith
Narrowboat Spring Water Newsletter Winter 2020
Andy and Sue at the Alpha Leadership Conference.
"For I know the plans I have for you..." Jeremiah 29:11
It has often been said 'We don't know what the future holds but we know who holds the future'. Praise God!
Dear Friends
The plans we, like so many of you, made for 2020, were thwarted completely or put on hold.
Nevertheless, God's word has not been "Locked down". In fact, we have been delighted to share in the various online services that have been available as church members have discovered and honed new skills.
So what have we done this last year? Well inbetween lockdowns, we have travelled from our home, which we are in the process of selling, to Leicestershire, where we hope to move to and where Spring Water currently resides. When aboard we are blessed to have boaters nearby with whom we spend time enjoying conversations over cups of tea and biscuits. It is good to get to know them.
We haven't had so much opportunity to assist boaters in the way we did before, but we trust that more opportunities will be given us in the months to come. Nevertheless, we continue to pray for those we know who are in need and, when it is safe to do so, we intend to visit them for our mutual comfort and to assist them in any way we can.
We hear a lot about mental health issues as a result of the Pandemic and we pray for opportunities to be available for us to help folk as God leads.
Indeed, we have been reminded of the words of John the Baptist who said 'A man can only receive what is given to him from heaven.' John 3:27). In other words, we can only do the work that God leads us to do, for we know that 'He works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose.' (Philippians 2:13).
We pray for our team, the trustees and for all who read this update. That God will bless you with His love, leading, protection and comfort in the weeks and months to come.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the shower, and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11).
It is wonderful when we hear of folk that have received God's word being totally transformed by it.
We heard a story recently of a person who we gave an Abundant Life New Testament to some years ago. They wrote recently to tell us to say that God's word has been and continues to be a comfort to them. They said that reading the Bible now is like having a conversation with God Himself. God has spoken to them through the pages of the Bible.
We can vouch for that too. How many times have we gone to read His word and the very words on the page that apply to our situation just highlight themselves to us, answering unspoken and spoken prayers. Occasions such as this bring us great comfort and joy, knowing that only our precious Lord and Saviour knows our inmost needs.
May God be praised, for great is His faithfulness. Amen.
Every Blessing in Him
Andy and Sue Smith
NB Spring Water
Canal Ministries - sharing God's Love on the Inland Waterways.