Dear Friends,

I've been sporadically reading through a book called The Welsh Revival of 1904 by Eifion Evans. I recently read Chapter 8, titled "The Inspired Itinerary." He mentions many travelled to Wales to experience the revival firsthand, but also some who were unable to travel to see it for themselves.

Among those was R. A. Torrey, who you may have heard of. He was used greatly by the Lord in Australia and the southern Pacific area years ago around the same time. And curiously, Gladys had just run across something about him the other day and mentioned his name to me. And so when I picked up the book and read this portion, I thought it was worth passing along here.

"R. A. Torrey was unable to make the journey to the Principality, confined to Liverpool by his mission activities. On reading of the revival he wrote the following letter to Roberts, dated 29th November, 1904:

" 'I have heard with great joy of the way in which God has been using you as the instrument of his power in different places in Wales. I simply write you this letter to let you know of my interest in you, and to tell you that I am praying for you I have been praying for a long time that God would raise up men of his own choosing in different parts of the world, and mightily anoint them with the Holy Spirit, and bring in a mighty revival of his work. It is so sadly needed in these times.

" 'I cannot tell you the joy that has come to my heart, as I have read of the mighty work of God in Wales. I am praying that God will keep you, simply trusting in him, and obedient to him, going not where men shall call you, but going where he shall lead you, and that he may keep you humble. It is easy for us to become exalted when God uses us as the instruments of his power. It is so easy to think that we are something ourselves, and when we get to thinking that, God will set us aside. May God keep you humble, and fill you more and more with his mighty power.' "

That is an important lesson that we see illustrated throughout the scriptures time and time again. When Jesus also gave it special emphasis when he said in Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." and verse 5, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." God is the center and the source of it all, and without him we can do nothing.

In the midst of my recent illness, the fact that He was all I had became very real. I'm relieved and happy to report that the Lord has been restoring my strength and I'm able to do some work in the garden with Gladys. But here too is the lesson repeated. We can dig and plant and pull weeds, but only He is the one that sends rain and sunshine makes things grow.

I find that pulling weeds and trying to get all the roots out is hard but good exercise, both physical and spiritual. It is an ideal medium for prayer and meditation. I liken the weeds to my own stubborn ways of thinking, and how important it is to allow God's word to be the judge of all that. During these recent months, time and time again I find that His word or worship song lyrics easily bring me to the point of tears as I realize it is only His goodness that's kept me in the land of the living.

God's word and time with Him in prayer are the source of our strength and hope. And we delight to see Him moving in hearts and lives in the challenging world around us. We find powerful fuel for prayer in David's words in Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."

Dick and Gladys