Dear Friends and Prayers:

Yesterday morning I read in 2 Samuel 22:20, "He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." I stopped for a while to consider this amazing statement of David's, and how through Jesus finished work at Calvary, we too can actually delight the Lord. And then soon afterwards, spontaneously we found ourselves admiring this beautiful scenery quite close to home!

As I pondered on this concept of actually pleasing the Lord, it was immediately obvious that there is nothing in us that could ever qualify us. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." So it is all God's doing - His reaching out in mercy and bringing us into fellowship with Himself.

The predominant trend of this world is always to put ourselves first. "What can I get that will make me happy? What can I do so I can have greater security and satisfaction in life?" But for us as believers, what an incredible privilege that we can actually please Him that created us. So the question that follows is, "What can we do to please God?" Surely this must become our life's greatest quest!

It's not about pleasing Him to get something in return, rather it's simply about our desiring to please Him because of His goodness and lovingkindness towards us. It's about our loving Him because He first loved us. And then, when we wisely invest this priceless gift of faith in actively believing Him, and incorporating obedience to His word into our daily lives, then we bring joy to His heart. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:1, " Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God..."

Most of us can remember our own children as they were growing up. What did they do that brought joy to our lives? Perhaps their telling us stories of their discoveries, or making some small gift especially for us. Or everyday things like simply doing what was asked of them, or even just coming when they were called, was sure to please us. Or their just wanting to spend time with us, asking us questions, wanting to hear a story, or just needing a cuddle was almost always a delight.

Likewise, each one of us have unique ways in which we can bring delight to our loving Father's heart. He loves to have us come and spend time with Him! Jesus says in Mark 10:14, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." In essence, the Lord is inviting us to run to Him anytime. And we read in James 4:5, "Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the [His] spirit he has caused to dwell in us?"

And like in any relationship, it comes down time spent together, quality time. That can be worship, study, prayer, or many other ways as individual as you are. And as we come to Him, He is faithful to meet with us and teach us His ways. And as we follow those ways, Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way."

Is there any greater delight for us than to be a delight to Him?

Dick & Gladys 

Dear Praying Friends and Saints:

After several days of heavy rains last week the Teifi River overflowed its banks. This is a picture of the bridge in Llechryd about one and a half miles upstream from our house. To give you an idea of how deep the water is, the inset photo shows us standing by the bridge on the far side when the river is at its normal height.

Of course this is no comparison to the disastrous flooding in different countries from hurricanes and monsoon rains recently. Our hearts and prayers go out to the thousands who have lost their loved ones, and the hundreds of thousands who have lost homes, possessions and even their livelihoods in some parts the world.

Thankfully there are wonderful humanitarian aid efforts underway in most of those places, but the damage and hardship are still great. And yet more storms are on the way. May the Lord extend His grace and mercy in this time of need.

While walking across the bridge we noticed some other people looking down over a spillway section of the wall. On the ledge just below there was a tiny field mouse scurrying back and forth looking for something to eat. Another one was carefully making its way along the debris floating on the water's surface also hunting for food. In their suddenly upturned and miniaturized world, they were just getting on with the basics of living.

It is events such as these that should point all of us towards the real basics of life also. David certainly recognized his place in the great scheme of things when he said in Psalm 39:5, "Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor." And we read in James 1:11, "For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits."

In light of this fact, any humanitarian aid is, at best, just temporary. Jesus  addresses the only lasting "basics of life" when He says in John 17:3, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." God provides the way to have our "lives of vapor" transformed into "lives for eternity" in Christ. And His promise in John 6:37 is that "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." Now that Good News is God's "aid package", and lasts forever!

Last week a young couple from the Netherlands spent a few days with us. We first met them as part of a prayer mission team to Wales a couple of years ago. And then last year they came to serve for a few months at the Bible College in Swansea.

It was a real delight to have some dedicated time with them in our home. Their heart for the Lord is so genuine, and their simplicity and engagement in prayer were a great stimulus for us. We also now have a flag from the Netherlands, which we have wanted after having had two other groups from there over the years.

Before they left on Saturday morning we hung the flag in the chapel and prayed over their nation. And that same morning they got news from home that a statement had just been released declaring that the Netherlands no longer a Christian nation. So that made our prayers all the more significant.

Please join us in prayer for nations, as people there also pray for Wales. Pray that through the inevitable storms of life that people will recognize their need for God's  eternal "aid package", Jesus His own Son.

Dick & Gladys

Dear Praying Friends:

The ever changing beauty of Wales is a constant reminder of God's gift of life to each of us. And like the changing world of nature around us, so are His love and mercies towards us. As we walk through each day in our relationship with Him, He is ever with us and enables us to grow as we go.

Against the backdrop of this bright rainbow we saw on Saturday, there are telltale traces in the leaves as autumn begins to make its entrance. The deep greens of summer are giving way to changes now too. The morning air is cooler and crisp, and brings with it the fragrance of early fall. How did that happen so quickly?

Last weekend we had a brief visit with friends from Singapore. We first met Moses and Angela in December 2008 when they came with two other couples to visit the nearby Ffald-y-Brenin retreat center. He has visited a few times since then, and we had a chance to meet their family when we were in Singapore a few years ago.

They came this time on combined business trip and mini-holiday, and it was good to spend some quality time with them. They had a couple of prayer assignments that they needed to accomplish - certain places and specific prayers for each one. We were glad that one of them was at St. Govan's Chapel on the south coast of Pembrokeshire, a favorite spot of ours in our own county. It was a blessing to accompany them, and blend our hearts in prayer together.

On our way to the chapel this morning, I parked the car by the little bridge about a mile from home and went back to meet Gladys who frequently walks there from the house. Just before the bridge is a traditional old British "telephone box."  But this is no ordinary phone box. This one is actually a tiny museum, and I'm sure it must be the smallest museum in the UK, if not the whole world.

As I approached it, I considered how ridiculously tiny this is compared to any other museum. There are museums in small towns all around the world. There are massive and famous museums with every sort of collection imaginable. And there are specialized museums of technology, transportation, etc, etc.

Suddenly the Lord began to impress on my heart that this tiny museum is like the Bible among the world of books. One estimate says there are nearly 130 million books in the world, and about 1500 new ones are published every day. That is a lot of books. But there is none like the Bible. It is the Word of the Living God!

It is this Book alone, far above all others, that has the power of God to change lives. Throughout history, this amazing book has changed the eternal destiny of untold millions. When Jesus asked the disciples if they also wanted to abandon Him when others turned away in John 6:68, "But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"

In 1 Corinthians 1:18 the apostle Paul tells us, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

We know that heaven and earth will pass away, along with all of its millions of books. But 1 Peter 1:23 says, "...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,"

As we give our hearts to study the lives of the men and women of old throughout the God-inspired words of the Bible, we find invaluable lessons for life, and spiritual growth and strength. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Obviously I'm not saying anything new here, but I just wanted to pass my morning revery along to you as a reminder and encouragement. We have free access to the hands-down greatest treasure in the whole world. Let's keep it busy renewing our minds and changing lives, both our and those of others. And please remember to pray for believers that don't have this treasure of God's Word available to them.

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

Dick & Gladys

Dear Friends and intercessors:

When we had to go to Swansea last week, Gladys and I stopped in to visit the old Siloh Chapel in an area called Landore. On January 10th of last year, the chapel held their final meeting after a 138 year history. This large beautiful chapel has a seating capacity for well over a thousand people. But sadly, as is the case of so many chapels and churches throughout Wales, the congregation that was 600 strong a generation ago had only a handful of members.

It became impossible to continue and they were forced to close their doors. Their treasurer said at the time that when the congregation had shrunk to only 6 members, "...I think we've come to the end of the road."

However in Isaiah 55:8-9 we read,
"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your roads My roads,' says the Lord.
'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My roads higher than your roads..."

And God's road for this chapel had a wonderful upward turn just ahead! Our friends at Liberty Church, which was started on the grounds of the Bible College of Wales about four years ago, were beginning to look for a bigger place to meet. And as only along God's amazing roads that things like this happen, they were connected with the remaining members of this chapel. It was all in God's timing and plans, and the whole property was handed over to them.

It was just days before the opening service that we stopped by to say hello. Things were happening everywhere and the place sounded like a huge factory when we arrived. After greeting the pastor, Mark Ritchie, and a few others, we went inside for a look. There was a crew of men with huge belt sanders working on the main floors where the old wooden pews had been removed. The noise was deafening and the cloud of dust was like a thick fog.

I sought refuge upstairs and found this incredibly huge and beautiful space before my eyes. I was immediately overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord and my tears flowed freely. There were tears of sorrow that this place which had been once filled with worshipping saints was now abandoned, but also tears of joy because God's ways have a wonderful future for this majestic place. In my spirit I could clearly sense this house filled again with worship and the power of God's presence.

It also became immediately obvious to me that this was yet another confirmation of a powerful prophetic word the Lord gave me out of Jeremiah 32 back on August 23rd of 2010. Follow this link to read the details about it. Actually I just realized it was exactly seven years and seven days before our visit to this place that God highlighted verse 15 to me which says, "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.'" And here I was last Wednesday being moved upon by the Holy Spirit in one of those very Houses!

On Sunday morning we drove in to Swansea to take part in the inaugural service of this chapel's re-birth. Once again the noise was almost deafening, but this time it was with the excited voices of many people gathering and greeting one another and talking loud enough to hear each other! And this time there was a cloud joy filling the place.

There were saints from several nations besides Wales and England. We found several old friends there, as well as many who we had never seen. Among them also was the new group of Bible College students who would begin classes there on Monday. As the number of arriving people increased, so did the volume. And when the meeting started, that old house fairly resounded with the joyful singing of praises, cheers and heartfelt worship.

One of the most exciting things about this to me is that this very populated area of Swansea once held eight full and lively chapels, but currently there is no congregation or Christian witness in the area. And Mark gave a both stirring and challenging message about God's moving Liberty Church into action in this specific community to bring life and salvation to a needy area in this city. This is something to rejoice about!

Jesus said in John 12:24, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." So in a very real sense this stalwart old chapel has done exactly that. A once lively plant, the old congregation, became this seed which died, and now is the time for new life, and growth, and for producing much fruit.

Please pray with us for this wonderful new adventure of faith for all involved, that there would be wonderful Kingdom fruit, and that this re-born old chapel become a shining source of light and hope in Christ for this community and beyond.

Dick & Gladys