Dear Friends of Wales Awakening:

What amazing opportunities The Lord gives us to behold His works in the world of nature! Gladys spotted these deer last Thursday as we were driving our newly arrived friends Bryn and Sylvia to Cardigan for their first glimpse of the nearest "big town." I missed them so just had to turn around and get a look for myself.

The gaze of these creatures has spoken volumes to me about the amazing love of God. When we turn our hearts towards Him, He turns His heart towards us! We actually have His attention when we pray or think about Him with a sincere heart, while meditating in His word or just worshiping Him aloud or in silence.

It also seems to provide an insight into how the triune God of the universe, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, is attentive to us when we pray. I believe this is far more than just some nice sounding imagery.

Jesus explains it very clearly in John 14 verses 17-18. "the Spirit of truth [the Comforter], whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." And in verse 23 he says, "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." What a marvellous and staggering truth!

When I took one step too close, the deer turned and ran off towards the woods at the far edge of the field. They moved with such a graceful smoothness over that uneven ground it they seemed to flow like oil. Then they slowed down and leisurely grazed a little more of the fresh grass before disappearing among the trees.

I considered how they live in a different world than ours. They come out of the wild to forage and watch the farmers' activities and see the cars on the roads, etc. But at any sign of danger and they simply turn and leave it behind. They don't race off in a panic, but just peacefully float away to safer ground. Isn't that how we can be with the world around us?

Jesus said that we are in the world but not of the world. Not so unlike the animals, we too live in a different world - God's kingdom!  Jesus continues saying in verse 27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." So another marvelous blessing we have besides our being His dwelling place is God's peace through troublesome times and situations. We can have freedom and confidence like this adventurous little lamb, knowing that His care for us is far greater than our friend Mark's care for his flock and their beautiful newborns!

May this knowledge of His wonderful care and acceptance and love for you thrill your soul. And may He stir your heart in prayer for the multitudes lost in this material world like sheep without a shepherd.

Dick & Gladys