Dear Friends,

In almost the blink of the eye, another Thanksgiving has rushed by us. Although our circumstances may change year by year, some old images will never change. Another thing that never changes, and hopefully never will, is our gratitude to God for His constant goodness and provision. He is ever faithful, even when we may not be, and His mercies never fail.

During a visit with friends on Thanksgiving day, we were playing some worship songs, and the music and part of the words of this traditional hymn came to mind. When I looked up the lyrics we couldn't remember and tried to read them out loud, I was surprised by a  deeply emotional response. I couldn't restrain my tears as I was overwhelmed with old and crystal clear memories of singing this with my family in church as a child, and a flood of other recollections. At the same time I was conscious of God's faithfulness through all years up till the present. And so here are the words that I trust will speak to your hearts as well.

1 We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand.
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

Refrain:
All good gifts around us are sent from heav’n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love.

2 He only is the maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star.
The wind and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread. [Refrain]

3 We thank You, our Creator, for all things bright and good:
The seedtime and the harvest, our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer for all Your love imparts;
Accept what You most welcome: our humble, thankful hearts! [Refrain]

These eternal truths of God's provision have not changed since the beginning of time. In today's "advanced scientific" world we live our daily lives practically detached from the miraculous work of nature that sustains us all. And that makes the daily recognition of our dependence on Him, and our giving of thanks, all the more important. It's not just for one day each year, but should be a constant outflow from grateful hearts.

Particularly fitting here are the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18,  "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus."

We pray the coming holiday season bring you joy and  blessings and an overflowing of thankfulness for God's' goodness,

Dick and Gladys

P.S. There are a few more Thanksgiving thoughts in my podcast episodes from November 26th and 27th, Thanksgiving Day, at: https://dfunnell.podbean.com

Dear Friends and Intercessors, 

I woke up this morning with an amazing dream. Gladys and I were somewhere at a conference about revival and prayer for revival. Somebody was talking up at the front about an experience where they had been in a place, and the presence of the Lord began to touch a couple of people. You could tell they were having profound encounters, and he said that there came a point when everybody just knew that God was there. 

At that very moment, I woke up from my dream, and I just lay there enjoying the experience—it was as if I was still in the dream, and the presence of the Lord was so wonderful. Then I began to reflect on that and remember other times where we've experienced God's visitations. Then the Lord brought to mind the description in 1 Kings 8:9-11 when Solomon dedicates the temple and how they bring the ark into the temple. Verse 9 says, "There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. And it happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord."

This is such an amazing and captivating theme. In our day, we hear of the people of God experiencing His glory and their lives being changed forever. That phrase that says "...when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud..." could have knocked me over. But there I was flat on my back, caught up in a beautiful reverie of this dream, and just recalling the things that God has done over the years for and in ourselves and countless others. I was overwhelmed with a glorious joy.

Then it dawned on me that this theme has been the essence and goal of our prayer for all these decades. What I mean is that since I came to the Lord in the 70s, and was adopted into the incredible family of Christ, we've desired for God to pour Himself out in revival power and glory so millions more can come to know Him and His saving grace and fullness of joy. Psalm 26:8 says, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells."

Later on in my daily readings, I was stopped by this portion that describes this heartbreaking antithesis in 2 Kings 17:15. "They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, and His warnings which He gave them. And they followed idols and became empty, and followed the nations that surrounded them, about which the LORD had commanded them not to do as they did." This sounds like the plague that besets the world around us today. It seems to be unravelling right before our eyes! People are empty because they are destitute of the knowledge of God, His ways, and His redeeming love. "...strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world." Ephesians 2:12. 

Paul goes on to proclaim this triumphant hope in Ephesians 2:19-22. "So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."

We want to encourage you to continue seeking His face. We are called to serious prayer for serious times. May our hearts yearn for his glory to be manifested to those within the church, and even more so, those who are waiting for deliverance, whether they know it yet or not.

Prayerfully,

Dick and Gladys

Dear Praying Saints,

The world of nature seems to signal the times we are living in. The last couple of months have been much drier than usual, so much so that the colors of many trees began to change back in August, and other normally green plants had shriveling leaves well before their time. These changes that we're watching around us seem to be reflecting the many things going on in the world of men as well.

To name a few things floating around on the airwaves... France's newly appointed government all but collapsed with the resignation of it's prime minister; insecurity continues in the Pacific with China vs. Hong Kong, U.S trade relations, etc. Add to that the ongoing struggle between Russia and Ukraine; Venezuela's current regime is unsustainable; contortions of economic alliances; and on and on.

Perhaps the most significant in many ways is what is happening with the Israel-Hamas/Gaza conflict. The release of the remaining living hostages last Monday was a huge breakthrough, but the horror of what has followed is heart-breaking.

This scene from the "wailing wall" in old Jerusalem on Yom Kippur this year is particularly striking. in recent years attendance to High Holy Days has been on the increase. The adverse conditions have awakened many to the need for God's help to sustain their nation. But this time around has broken records — the highest numbers in decades, with some reports reaching the hundreds of thousands.

In our increasingly unstable world, the human longing for meaning and significance is coming more and more to the forefront. The continuing growth of revival among young people and old presents growing evidence that something transcendant is afoot as people turn as turning to Christ throughout the nations, including Muslem nations. This description in Daniel 7:14 of Jesus' arrival in heaven puts our eternity into proper focus. "And to Him [the son of man] was given dominion, honor, and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed."

I recently watched a great interview with John Lennox, a retired Oxford professor of mathematics, philosopher of science and Christian apologist. It is titled, "Finishing Well", and I'd highly recommend investing 20 minutes of your time to watch it. I seen it two times and found a great encouragement and exhortation. You can watch it at this link.

In the words of the Apostle Paul from 2 Thessalonians 2:16, "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word."

Dick & Gladys

Dear Friends of Wales Awakening,

Reading Psalm 61 Monday morning, I found myself swept up into a glorious cloud of recollection of God's unfailing mercies. Verse 1 says, "Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry unto Thee when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." It was like King David was telling my story all over again!

52 years ago, nearly to the day, I was on the rocky coast of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State camped out with some friends. I was desperately seeking for God at the time. And alone on the beach that first night, I literally cried out because my heart was indeed overwhelmed—I cried out to God, and He heard me. Then about eight days later on the 23rd of September, I got radically saved at the Lord's Land near Mendocino, California.
Verse 3 continues, "For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tent forever. I will trust in the covert of thy wings."

Reflecting over the last 52 years, together with Gladys now for more than 47 years, and all the incredible adventures on which God has kept us and and covered us with his grace and protection, we have continually experienced God's amazing faithfulness, His being a shelter for us and a strong tower from the enemy.

Last week we returned home after a wonderful week away in North Wales. It was an especially precious time because we hadn't had a vacation since June last year when we visited family in the U.S. We know the area quite well because we've traveled countless times to prayer-related events over the years. This time, however, we only had plans to relax and enjoy exploring the area around Snowdonia. We saw such beauty everywhere it was pure joy.

We did manage a couple of meals with dear old friends, but the Lord had control of the rest of our wanderings. We had many wonderful encounters and conversations with people in unexpected places, and just had to marvel at how He ordered our steps and timings. One particularly memorable event was meeting a young couple on a once intensely mined slate mountain high above the Lakes Padarn and Peris across from Llanberis, near where we stayed. Gladys struck up a conversation with a young cross-cultural couple, he from Tasmania and she from Rumania. After hearing of  their failure to have a family, we wound up praying for the Lord to give them a child, along with tears and embraces. Please help us pray for N. and L.

Another special highlight was my late birthday gift from Gladys. We rode the narrow gauge steam railway from Caernarfon to Beddgelert and back through amazing mountain and woodland scenery. We opted the first class Pullman Coach, and what a treat. As you can see in the photo, the woodwork was elegant and the furnishings very posh. And across the aisle from us was a French-speaking couple from Quebec with whom we enjoyed lots of laughs, using Spanish, English, and French in 3-way translations to add to the humor. People frequently assume we are here on holiday, and so are curious about what brought us to Wales when they learn that we live here permanently.

Because of this we always have open doors to share the Good News of Jesus. And so we try to make the most of each opportunity as we are encouraged to do in 1 Peter 3:15, "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense [explanation] to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." For all of us as believers, it is our privilege and joy to share our faith with as many as we can. We never know what reaction we may encounter, but the Lord has His ways of directing our steps and words.

We barely had time to catch our breath after coming home before another joyful aventure began. This threesome of amazing intercessors had been on a prayer assignment to the Isle of Lewis, the well-known site of the Scottish Hebrides revival, and several other key places for prayer. Their last stop was West Wales, and we had the privilege of taking them to the chapel in Blaenannerch and then sharing sweet fellowship at our home. Once again the Lord was far ahead of us and gave us an exceptional time together.

We want to encourage you to press hard into the plans that God has for each one of us. We all have an important part to play as we see the ugly fruit of godlessness in the world around us. And may we always remember and boldly proclaim that God is a strong tower for all that run to him. So our prayer is today that thousands would run to him and be saved.

Dick & Gladys

P.S. Just a reminder of my 3-minute podcast Welsh Morning Moments available at: dfunnell.podbean.com.