Dear Praying Friends and Saints:

A patch of low lying fog catches the morning sun in the Teifi Valley seen from the long ridge above the chapel. The sun is coming up now just after 8 a.m. and goes down at 6 p.m. That means we have about six hours less sunlight than we did in June, and the time keeps slowly racing by.

And speaking which, it's hard to believe it was over 18 years ago on the hilltop just to the left of here when the Lord gave me the first vision of the coming revival. And as the time draws closer, the pace is steadily picking up. Many people both here and abroad are aware of a growing sense of expectancy.

We continue to hear from or meet more and more people are feeling an urgency to pray for this coming move of God in Wales. In September we got an email from a lady who said, "I received a call to pray for Wales some time ago, and as a result purchased a Holiday Cabin in West Wales." It turns out her place is very close to us and we have met and prayed together, and will surely do so again.

Then just two weeks ago I took a friend to visit a nearby retreat center and we met these young ladies who came with a group from America to pray in and for Wales. One was from a church in Birmingham, Alabama that has been praying specifically every week for Wales and God's purposes here. You can imagine their surprise when I mentioned some new friends that stayed with us in early July and also happen to be from the Birmingham area! They didn't know each other but hopefully will be able to meet and pray together soon.

Hunger for the Lord, and prayer, is growing wonderfully on so many fronts. On that Sunday afternoon we had a few local musician friends over for a time of worship and prayer. Each song led us into different areas for prayer and we really had a powerful time. Because it was a warm afternoon we set up on our terrace and filled the valley with some sounds of heaven. (We didn't know our cat was a music lover, but she seemed to fit right in!)

Then, last Friday we spent the day with a brother from Cardiff, who I've known just over the phone, and his fiancee who lives farther to the west. We met at the "bend me" chapel in Blaenannerch and had a great time of sharing and prayer. Then after lunch, we moved on to our chapel for a bit of our story and more prayer. Later, a cup of coffee at the house stretched into a makeshift supper and more time of precious fellowship and prayers together.

This week has been full as well. A friend from Singapore came to stay on Monday with a couple of his friends and left yesterday. All three came up to the chapel with us in the mornings, and it was a real blessing to have their input into our prayer times. As they were led to certain portions of the scriptures, they developed their prayers around them. We followed each other's prayers in an easy and smoothly flowing way, and it was a delight to see how the Holy Spirit guided us along.

On Tuesday they spent time at the Ffald-y-Brenin retreat center. Then Wednesday I took them to the 500-year-old chapel at Mwnt, and from there we went to New Quay where the first manifestations of the Holy Spirit started things moving in early 1904. Florrie Evans, a young member of the chapel there, was moved to stand out and proclaim out loud, "I love the Lord Jesus Christ with all of my heart." And God used that simple but profound act of obedience and declaration to set into motion what would become known as the Great Welsh Revival.

It is always a privilege as well as an encouragement for us to help visitors connect with the tremendous spiritual heritage of this land. It is a blessing that works both ways. People that visit hope to take some of the Welsh revival anointing back to their own countries and churches. But they also inevitably carry away with them a burden to pray for Wales, which itself has a tremendous need for widespread revival. And we know that it is because of God's great faithfulness that our work here is bearing fruit for His kingdom.

Earlier this month we attended the annual Pembrokeshire Prayer Breakfast. One of the highlights for me was a time of prayers of gratitude, and people came forward to testify and thank God for the many things He is doing around the nation on a far greater level than just the things that we see. There is definitely an upswing in His activity in this small nation, and we constantly pray for and watch for more!

Thanks for praying with us. And, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Dick & Gladys

Dear Saints and Praying Friends:

While visiting friends many years ago, I discovered this cross-stitched embroidery in a frame on the wall. It made an instant impression on me - I laughed my head off! As I recall it was made by our friend's grandmother many years ago. And of course I had to take a picture of it for you to enjoy as well. :o)

But after the humorous element subsides, the message grows serious and is a good exhortation for us all. These words of Jesus from Matthew 22:14 were few, "For many are called, but few are chosen." But they are profoundly significant and challenging to us today.

Thankfully God's mercies are new every morning, and every new day He gives us presents new opportunities to grow in our knowledge of Him and to walk in His ways. They are not only are merely opportunities, but are also responsibilities.

Last week in the chapel my curiosity was piqued by the shadow from this ceiling lamp in the top of the arch of the window to the left. Why would it be higher than the lamp itself? The early morning sun was shining down, not up, so how could this be?

There could only be one explanation, the sunlight had to be bouncing off of something. So I marched outside with camera in hand to prove my 'theory' and explore what could have such a shiny surface. I couldn't imagine a gravestone having such a perfectly reflective surface.

To my surprise and delight, I found that the best of man's handiwork had been embellished by the One Who knows how to perfect things indeed! The rainfall during the night had pooled on the surface and had this brilliant effect and blinded my eyes with light. I don't think even a glass mirror could have produced such a dazzling result.

While I gazed in admiration of God's doings that so surpass our abilities, lots of things came to mind. First among them was the scripture in Ephesians 5:14 says, "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." Now here is something worth getting up for. What an amazing promise!

And there are many many more. Jesus, the light of life, has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). And earlier in Ephesians.5, verse 8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Do a search on "darkness + light" and you will be greatly encouraged.

There is a price to be paid (read Romans 6 and 12:1-2) - but it is SO worth it!

And just at that out-of-place shadow caught my attention, so can our lives draw the attention of the people around us that still walk in the darkness of this world. That is what we're called to do. The words of Jesus in Matthew 5:16 say it best. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven"

People running to humble themselves at the foot of the cross of Christ is one of the best ways to glorify our Heavenly Father, wouldn't you agree?

Longing for more of His light in our own lives, and in the lives of all Christians everywhere,

Dick & Gladys

Dear Friends:

"Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns.' The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." These words of Psalm 96:10 are a good exhortation and encouragement in the times we are living in. As global events seem to make our world shake every which way, it is an amazing privilege that we get to stand on solid ground.

Like everyone else we were shocked and dismayed to learn of the horrific incident in Las Vegas. Such unprovoked and unthinkable aggression that devastated the lives of so many innocent people just seems too impossible to be real. But tragically it is all too real and intensely painful for every person directly affected. And it is painful for the rest of us as well.

And we cry out like David in Psalm 61:1-2, "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Sadly, this was just one more of countless tragic happenings around the world. And how about the many more that we never hear about? They make us ask ourselves, "Where is righteousness and justice? What is going on in this world?" And just as sadly, we must recognize the answer as stated in Isaiah 53:6. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way..." This is the simple and uncomfortable fact, both for individuals and for nations. And the Lord will judge each one with equity and truth.

And yet in this same place we see the greatest of God's interventions made crystal clear. Isaiah says in the previous verse 5, "...He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." In sending Jesus, God provided the only solution.This is what people need to see, and this is why we need to faithfully pray for revival.

And this also is why we must continue to proclaim among the nations His invitation in Isaiah 45:22, "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." We are called as ambassadors to boldly speak out Jesus' own words in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Thank you for joining us as we pray and long for the nations to hear and recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Dick & Gladys