Thank you so much for praying in faith with us about the bank property. The bank finally got back to us today (after 3 weeks of waiting) to let us know that they have accepted someone else's offer. We thank the Lord for His grace guiding us. We know that He will direct us to our permanent home in His perfect timing. My wife quoted Paul, "Perplexed, but not in dispair." We are looking up.

Please pray with us that God will give us wisdom. We are currently only able to meet in person on Sunday PM's. We also recently found out that it is unlikely we will be able to go back to our former location in Loanhead. So, our current meeting location appears to be our only option and they have limited availability.

We don't just want a building, we really need a facility. We have missed opportunities several times this past month to have visitors as we weren't meeting in person. Please pray for God to soon meet this need and to do so abundantly.

"Through God we shall do valiently, for He it is that shall tread down our enemies."

God blessed our day of prayer yesterday. I twas a blessing to be with 3 other men on our knees seeking God's face. Thank you for praying for God's blessing upon that time.

On Monday night God gave us some encouragement on the Journey Channel on Youtube. A woman who received a flyer posted the following as a comment after quoting the sinners prayer from the flyer, "Thank you for your flyer today. I appreciated reading the message you have written, God bless you." I messaged her back, but have not yet had a response.

Today I was over to the Dillmans to do flyers with Don in their area. We put out a few hundred flyers, but didn't have any conversations this morning. It was some of the best weather we have had for doing this work and it was enjoyable to be out.

We continue to wait to hear back regarding the bank property. Our solicitor was going to contact the seller's agent today, but we've not received any communication regarding that chaser email. Please continue to pray with us for God's will to be done regarding this property.

God gave us a good Lord's day although several were absent. Our down attendance was due to illness in a couple families and two teenagers being away. On the other, two of our college students from Ireland were back with us. It was great to see Daniel and Emily. They had to leave at the end of last year when Scotland went into lockdown.

I enjoyed preaching a message on "REJOICE!" from Psalm 33. It's a great text to refocus our life when we forget how much we ought to be praising the Lord. 

We continue to wait on the Lord regarding the bank buildling. We've had no word yet on our offer although we were told that our's was not the highest. 

In other news, normally I teach a Zoom session with a men's home in Ireland (New Hope Residential Centre.) It's a holiday there and so I didn't have that on my schedule this morning. It was a fine morning and so I went into Edinburgh and did some evangelism. It was a bit slow this morning for one on one conversations. 

I finally had a divine appointment after being down there for about an hour. Andrew is a strong atheist (middle aged.) I told him at the end of our conversation, "I could have left this conversation, but you are worth saving." I told him that I'm going to pray for the Spirit of God to convict Him of sin (blaspheming and taking God's name in vain.) He knows that he isn't bothered by taking God's name in vain. If God in His mercy would so convict Him, it ought to "prove" to His sin blinded heart that there is a God. 

The second opportunity was with Josh, a traveler (gypsy) from Ireland. He said that his uncle is born again. Josh has messed up his life and knows he needs something. Please pray for God to open his eyes to His truth. He lives down in the Scottish Borders about 40 miles away, but was up in Edinburgh for work. (Thank you for praying for God's blessing on our evangelism.)

One other prayer request, I have scheduled a minister's day of prayer tomorrow.  Three men have had to back out last minute. Please pray for God's blessing upon our prayer time. I think there will be three of us driving a few hours to meet up in Central Scotland for prayer. 

Katie and I enjoyed getting out doing door to door today. It's a beautiful day and a great day to visit with people at their doors. God gave us several good divine appointments. One older woman indicated she is open to visiting and said she enjoys visiiting churches. We hope she comes. Another middle aged man may come. He gave us an elbow bump before we left and appreciated our conversation. Please pray that God will meet these soul's needs. 

God continues to encourage us with unusual open doors to speak for Christ. Please pray for it to continue and that it will bear fruit. Thank you for praying.

I haven't been able to do much evangelism this past week due to a wee bug I got last weekend. Praise the Lord, I am doing much better. I put out about 150 flyers this afternoon and witnessed to one man for about 10/15 minutes. It was a good conversation. I encouraged him to check out our videos online (The Journey). I got home to find a new subscriber with the same first name. I'm thankful whether or not it is him, please pray that this man  will find Jesus as his Saviour.

There is no final word yet on our offer to the bank. For your encouragement as you pray with us in faith about this property, I have been struck by the authority of God as we have prayed for this building. Whether God provides it for us or not is His choice. But, we know that He has the authority to give us that property if He so desires.

I'm reminded of that today as I read the story of the man who asked Jesus to heal His servant. "I also am a man having authority...saying to this servant do this and he doeth it and to that servant....(paraphrase)" He believed Jesus had the authority to command whatever He wanted to command.

God has put on my heart to pray that way (God's authority) about this building from the beginning. There were some verses in Jeremiah where God says - this will be done and it was done. (Jeremiah 27:5  I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. (end of the passage as well.)

God also gave me some verses in Ezekiel 37 regarding His authority with this building. I intend to preach on this passage when we dedicate the sanctuary God gives us.

14  And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

26  Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

27  My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

28  And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

We are content to let God do His will regarding this property and continue to wait on Him. I just thought I'd encourage you with a reminder of His authority in the present situation. We will update you as soon as we hear what has been decided.

Praise the Lord, the kids are safely at the Bill Rice Ranch. They got up at 3:00AM our time (EST +5) and we were at the airport a 4:00. They flew to Amsterdam, Atlanta and then Nashville. They arrived at 10:00PM our time. It was a good flight plan for them and worked well. The camp is only 15 minutes from their arrival airport.  They did well even when they had to collect their luggage unexpectedly in Atlanta, board a train between terminals, recheck their luggage, etc. We're excited that they get to serve the Lord in camp ministry.

Thank you for praying for their travels and this transition for our family. 

Today was a special Sunday. We gave a thank offering towards the building fund. We scheduled this as a building fund offering, but changed it to a thank offering after God supplied the funds for the building itself. (Note: we continue to pray about the building, but will not know until they either accept or reject our offer. We have already been informed that our offer was not the highest, so we need a miracle if God wants us in that building.)

Our people gave generously and we gave £2,745 to the Lord tonight as an expression of our gratitude to God for His goodness. We want everyone who has given to this project to know that we are very thankful for their help in obtaining a permanent location.

It was special night as well, because Benson and Kay Lee fly out tomorrow morning to the Bill Rice Ranch. They have their negative covid test document and everything else needed. Please pray for safety and for God's grace as they get to where they need to be. They have layovers in Amsterdam and Atlanta.

I preached tonight on, "Obedient Children" from 1 Peter 1 (currently uploading) and Peter's challenge to the church to live holy. There was a good spirit in our service. An older sister of one of our church kids came out to the service. This young lady used to attend frequently and it was good to have her back.

Thank you for praying for our family and ministry. We get to see the fruit of your prayers.

We had not heard anything yet regarding our offer and so our solicitor asked the seller's agent for an update this morning and received the following.

"It can take the Bank up to 2 weeks to get internal approval and carry out some checks on prospective purchaser etc…

This is not yet complete however, I can tell you your client was not the top offer so unless something unexpected happens you can assume you were unsuccessful I’m afraid. 

Many thanks for your offer and apologies for the delay."

With regard to our offer, we offered £12,450 more than the suggested starting price. We knew that others would likely do more.

We are content to let God close the door. Please pray for God's leading if He does in fact close this door. When we bought our house, our offer wasn't the highest, but the seller selected our offer. Would this seller, a bank, do this? It seems unlikely unless God intervenes. 

Proverbs 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

God provided waterproof shoes for me a couple weeks ago and they have come in handy this May. It's been a very wet May and it continues today. I enjoyed getting out into Loanhead this morning. I had a divine appointment with a family who is dear to our church. (They had moved house.) Please pray that God will keep working in their hearts. We have a good friendship.

We had some great news on Sunday night. The Loxley family's little girl, Abigail, trusted Christ. We knew she was close to salvation. Katie does an excellent job teaching our children and her parents do a great job teaching her as well. It was obvious to all of them that she would soon be saved. In fact her dad and I prayed specifically for her salvation in our men's Sunday afternoon prayer time. Praise God. The angels are singing again!

God is answering other prayer for our church. Our newly saved man, Lewis, got employment today. Another lady in our church, Glenda, also was given a job. We have been praying much about these requests and we rejoice in God's provision.

There is still no word (as of Tuesday at 10:43AM) about the bank building. Please pray until we get word back from the seller regarding our offer. God has given us many Scriptures to encourage our hearts in His leading. We appreciate your prayers very much.

Also, we praise the Lord for His abundant supply of funds for the purchase of the building and the remodel of it. (We will not fully know God's purpose regarding this property until He has allowed us to have our offer accepted and have closed on the property.) God has done great things for us whereof we are glad!