Food for thought  7th January 2010

~ When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around. ~
Willie Nelson

 

 

 

The Word of the Lord Ministries
  

When I looked back over the last year, it was hard to believe how I had got through it. Yet all I could do in recalling it was to praise the Lord for getting me through in victory.

Just a few days after starting this website in March, only my closest friends know the heartache I endured because of a trial my son was going through with someone who is very precious to me.

The trouble and pain I would go through with ex brother-in-law Phil first having his skull fractured, at the beginning of April was then topped off with finding him dead of a heart attack after seeing him miraculously recovered of his injury. He died on May 22nd and they didn't bury him till October 26th. I was the one who had to deal with the police, the burial, the funeral, everything. I also went through all the hassle of having to sort his will and bungalow, and the physical strain caused the most painful condition, bursitis of the shoulder. I couldn't move my arm for weeks.

Alongside all this the pain of disappointment and anguish in leaving a church after putting my life into it was excrutiating. And yet I came through it all intact, healed and praising! And I believe I know why!!!...... God had a group of people who had loved and undergirded me in prayer, through every detail of my trials!!!

 

Never underestimate the power of prayer!!!

 

Round about the time of Phil's funeral our living room was being totally replastered, refloored and receilinged. We put a tent up to store the furniture in the back garden. We still have that tent up now full of stuff we have to get rid of. A few days ago the tent threatened to collapse under the weight of the snow. The metal poles in the roof just couldn't take the weight and started to give way.. We took three wooden planks and wedged them into the roof of the tent. Its holding up nicely. As I looked back at the year in triumph, I saw the parallel. When the weight on someone is just too heavy to bear, loving prayer supports and strengthens the emotional framework of the person so they can stand up under the strain. Thank you Lord for my dear friends who cared enough to help carry me through.

In JESUS'S PRECIOUS NAME

Shirley

 

 

 

 

Inspirational Moments
by Catherine

Adventures in India

We left a part of our hearts in the little village next to the Western Rubbish dump that morning.

After lunch at Brother Raju's, he explained more about what he does for the people and what it costs. Anita writes in her journal what a remarkable human being he is. Gudrun knows him well, but for the other three of us, our admiration just kept on growing everyday as we saw his love and care for the people. He is a trained doctor and the government would like him to work for them but he has given up the chance of a good wage, to look after the poor every day of the week. We once asked Brother Raju how he found all these people. He answered that the Lord shows him where to find them.

He is a pastor of a few churches and a doctor but insists that everyone call him Brother Raju. He is what I would call a true leader. He served us with such humility all the time we were there. He insisted that he and his family would not eat until we had eaten and he would stand by and serve us our dinner. Yet he was strong in his protection towards us even as far as stopping a man taking a photo of me when he felt it was inappropriate. Anita wrote for all of us when she said she felt honoured to be part of BrotherRaju's team.

After lunch we went to another slum area. It was almost dark by now. We were only going to go and give them biscuits but I took my guitar and sang a song. These people had probably never heard a guitar in their lives. Soon we had a crowd. Gudrun got them saved. They were so humble standing there with their eyes closed asking Jesus into their hearts with such earnestness. We spent ages praying for them all. Anita was so saddened by an old man who was so thin. He had no sons so no one to look after him. He looked so pitiful. Please agree with us that the Lord will undertake and bless him along with all those precious people.

Just to end this amazing day, I'd like to share this testimony. The wonderful young man Prakesh who helps Brother Raju was leaving to go to college tonight. We all had a whip round for him. Brother Raju told us later that as he put him on the train, Prakesh had shared that he had needed £5,000 rupees to take with him to the college. He had been praying for several days as his parents could not help him. He testified that we had given him the £5,000 rupees he needed. We all praised God for being so wonderful!!!

 

See Gudrun's newsletter about India

 

 

email shirleyhowitt@yahoo.co.uk

The Word of the Lord Ministries

Happy New Year from
Katey Moreland

New Beginnings Conference News

God gave Katey a vision to do a number of conferences in Ireland.
Read about the wonderful work the Lord is doing In Ireland through Katey in her recent conference in Athlone

Itinerary for 2010 Conferences in Ireland

Information about follow up discipleship course

Just Joking

A guy joins a monastery and takes a vow of silence: he's allowed to say two words every seven years. After the first seven years, the elders bring him in and ask for his two words. "Cold floors," he says. They nod and send him away. Seven more years pass. They bring him back in and ask for his two words. He clears his throats and says, "Bad food." They nod and send him away. Seven more years pass. They bring him in for his two words. "I quit," he says. "That's not surprising," the elders say. "You've done nothing but complain since you got here."

 

 

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