Dear Praying
Friends:
This amazing sunset was the icing on the cake tonight after what
has been another series of days brimming over with blessings and
highlights. One of them was what we read a few mornings ago in 2
Peter 1:16-19, "...We saw his majestic
splendor with our own eyes when he received glory and honor from
God the Father... We ourselves heard that voice from Heaven when
we were on the holy mountain. Because of that experience, we
have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the
prophets. You must pay close attention to what they
wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark
place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star
shines in your hearts."
In recent days the darkness of the world swirls around our heads
with news of unrest, unrighteousness, and tragedy. All too
easily we can get caught up in the angst of the world, but Peter's
exhortation is to pay close attention
to God's words.
And Jesus himself said, "Seek ye first the
kingdom of God..." This makes it very clear where our
heart belongs. And if our home is where our heart is, then even
though the world around us seems to be shaking itself off its
hinges, we are firmly planted By the living water. He is our rock
and Prince of Peace, and through Him, we can reach out to those in
need around us with truth and life.
Another highlight for us was attending the graduation of the
Bible College of Wales. This was the ninth batch of students to
finish the 12-week course, and the joy and excitement were just
wonderful to behold. They really were "ABLAZE" with the love and
the empowerment of God. How thrilling to see them from such
diverse places and backgrounds being back into the fields of
harvest, like seeds of a dandelion carried off by the wind of the
Holy Spirit
We had a special connection with this class because of times we
got to spend with them at the college campus, as well as their
visit to the "Bend me!" Chapel at Blaenannerch, and afterwards at
our own Cilfowyr Chapel. And another extra bonus was our friend
Paulina from Guatemala, here in the inset receiving her diploma
from Pastor Yang, director of BCW. Her father, along with his four
siblings, had been among my students there over 35 years ago.
And then Paulina's aunt, one of the those five, also came to the
graduation with her husband, the pastors of the Cornerstone Church
in Almeria, Spain. Also with them was the family of another young
student from Spain who we connected with while she was here. One
more addition to the mix was the Mexican pastor from the
Spanish-speaking Cornerstone church in Long Island, NY, who we met
last year. It was such a joyous time to share stories and hear news
from so many years ago, and also meet new friends in the family of
God and rejoice in His love and goodness, and all in Spanish. It
was a priceless and privileged time and a genuine taste of heaven
on earth!
And skipping over far too much to relate here, today we finished off
with a wonderful visit by another one of the graduating class and
her friend of thirty years who came to help her celebrate. She also
just "graduated" from her professional career, and so they are both
spending time here in Wales just taking in of the Lord's goodness,
and looking towards the next chapter of their lives in His service. Please pray for all these precious saints, thank you.
All we can do is rejoice at the immense goodness of the Lord and
His faithfulness to bring to completion all the good works that He
has started in countless lives of saints around the globe. We
realize the extraordinary privilege He has given us of such
wonderful connections with the family of God from so many nations
of the world. Kingdom stories are multiplying across the earth
today, and people are being drawn to His glory. So together we can
boldly proclaim among the nations along with King David, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom
shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall
I be afraid?"
May you be overjoyed and encouraged in the strength of His might
and the depth of His mercy,
Dick & Gladys.
Dear
Friends of Wales Awakening:
The beginning of Luke's Gospel is always a delight to read
through, taking us afresh into the greatest story ever told. This
time was no exception, and Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth is
always a highlight. This 2007 painting by Corby Eisbacher
beautifully catches the joy and wonder of that prophetic moment.
(instagram.com/artbycorby)
Luke 1:41-44 tells us, "And it happened,
when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped
in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then
she spoke out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this
granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For
indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my
ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.'"
I was bowled over by verse 43, "But why
is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come
to me?" Elizebeth's words perfectly capture the
astonishment that God's grace has come to us also! And we have a
far greater privilege. Elizabeth received the mother of Jesus come
under her roof, but in our days we are His roof—we are His dwelling place!
Jesus himself told us this in John 14:23, "If
anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love
him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."
As the magnitude of that reality sunk into my spirit, it
instantly brought me to tears of thankfulness and awe at God's
amazing love and mercy. And I easily joined in with David's words
in Psalm 8:4, "And what is man that You are
mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?"
As we continue in our prayers for this nation, what our souls
long for is that God would grant people the privilege of knowing
His love. When Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, she
received direct revelation from God of what was actually happening
at that very moment—she knew the King of Glory had come into her
home. And so we cry out for each and every one that Christ died
and rose again for, that all will receive the revelation that they
can be His home for a lifetime, and that He will be their home
throughout all eternity.
Last week we enjoyed a brief visit from our friend Janet Phillips
who visits Wales several times a year in her work with Community Bible Studies,
Int'l. This time she was accompanied by Patricia, a new traveling
and prayer partner. It was great to catch up on Janet's activities
and get to share some of the adventures the Lord has her on, and
swap testimonies of all the He is doing in each of our spheres of
activity. Please pray for the rest of their time here as they seek
to see more people getting established in the word of God.
It is always a joy to hear stories about God's faithfulness, and
how His people around the world are being drawn into a greater
desire to know Him better and to serve Him more faithfully. For
example, later this week we will be attending the graduation at
the Bible College in Swansea. We really look forward to seeing
this new group of students being released into the fields where
the Lord sends them. We admire their dedication and hard work and
invite your prayers for them also for clear guidance as they
dedicate their lives to His service.
We are grateful that each of us can so easily follow the
instruction in Hebrews 4:16 that exhorts us, "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help
us in our time of need."
Dick & Gladys
Dear Praying Friends and Saints:
An early frost surprised us last week, bringing with it the
reminder that seasons come and go like everything else, ourselves
included. Changing foliage and bare branches leave us no choice
but to embrace the colder days, and one another to stay warm as we
go tumbling down like the leaves into the years.
What can be the harshness of incoming winter also seems to be
reflected currently in the political wrangling going on in nations
around the world. People are struggling for position and
permanence when the only solid ground is found in Jesus. 1 John
2:17 clearly says, "And the world is passing
away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God
abides forever."
It is only from our position through grace as heirs
of God's eternal kingdom that we can pray correctly. There is some
great guidance for prayer in this exhortation in Hosea 10:12-13, "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy;
break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord,
till He comes and rains righteousness on you."
We can't produce righteousness on our human level, it can only
come from above. And inherent in prayer for revival is the
expectation of fruit in our time, but the real goal is eternal. We
happily continue to have people come join us in prayer, and this
is the very thing we all have in common. The desire among
believers in the nations is for the outpouring of God's grace and
mercy to touch their lands. Of course, we all long to see justice
and peace in this world, but far beyond the cycles of seasons and
nations, God is populating His kingdom forever.
Our last visitors at the chapel were from South Korea, and as
they came up the stairs they didn't yet know that their country's
flag was right above their heads. It just landed there when we
rearranged things to make room for our winter tent. One couple has
lived in London for decades working with people from China, and
the other couple are part of a large congregation in Seoul.
Then last weekend, we were invited to mid-Wales to
a small gathering of people for an extended time of worship and
whatever more the Lord might bring about through that. It was a
rich time in His presence, and some powerful and prophetic prayers
were made on behalf of Wales and beyond. The turbulence in the
temporal sphere came into proper perspective as we focussed on
God's heart for a lost world.
God the Father says to His son Jesus in Psalm 2:8, "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for
Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession."
What a joy to be able to join in with prayers such as these!
Read the whole Psalm for a glorious perspective and power for your
prayers, and may God richly bless you,
Dick & Gladys