Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.¹.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Our best days are ahead!

Bible Gateway – The Message.

Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlit fields of life. 

__Words from The Message.

Psalm 56:13

Here’s a great quote by Dr Keith Warrington, the author of the book – Healing and Suffering: Biblical and Pastoral Reflections. 

“God’s power is for overcoming life’s problems, not for escaping them. It isn’t always there to make the mountains melt, but to make them manageable; not always to make the desert disappear, the darkness depart or the fog fade away, but to keep us, care for us and carry us through, enabling us to grow in the process.” 

Warrington indicates – a healthy balance is needed to remind believers that God is with them in the shadows of suffering as well as health and wholeness.

In truth, David the Psalmist was right-on when he wrote: 

Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because You are with me.¹.

Today, I’m reminded of what Paul the Apostle wrote:

We are hedged in – pressed on every side – troubled and oppressed in every way, but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair. 

We are pursued – persecuted and hard driven, BUT NOT DESERTED TO STAND ALONE; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed.².

Friends, as we travel down this bumpy road called life, we will meet many demanding or stimulating situations along the way, but they can be used to improve rather than damage us. 

Consider this, as followers of Jesus, we don’t completely function in our own strength – we have God alongside us! 

Yep! That’s right! 

God is there – ready to help when we need Him.³.

And know this, His grace is enough; it’s all we need. His strength comes into its own in our weakness.⁴.

Sure-enough, His power becomes clear, visible and noticeable when we don’t have any. 

Now, that’s something to think about. 

Agree? Agree!

¹ New Century Version.

Psalm 23:4 

² Amplified Bible. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

³ The Message.

Psalm 46:1

⁴ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Over the last few years – we at Newday-Prince have been shaped and influenced by so many wordsmith’s. 

For instance – Bob Gass, the fluent and prolific writer of The Word for Today. 

Max Lucado, the best-selling author and writer of over 50 books, including – The Applause of Heaven, Travelling Light, Next Door Savior, Come Thirsty, and so on. 

And there’s Phil Ware, the inspirational writer for Today’s Verse from Heartlight. 

Rick Warren, the dynamic author of the devotional – The Purpose Driven Life. 

Also, William Paul Young, the creator of the top-selling fiction and audio book – The Shack. 

All of these, plus many more, have helped us to draw water from The Well.

And we thank God for them. Everyone! 

One in particular though, Eugene H. Peterson, in his paraphrased version of The Message Bible, has equipped so many people to understand the scriptures in a fresh, clear and precise way.

It’s from here, that we share this week’s E-word. 

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. 

Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”¹.

Consider this, God wants us to be ready to do the task. He wants us to be equipped and empowered. 

In light of this, thank God for the Bible! Yeah? Sure! 

Today, many different versions express the same message in different words

Different languages. 

Different vocabularies – characteristic of a specific group of people. 

Not forgetting the different web resources such as Bible Gateway, which make locating scripture a breeze. 

And those Bible apps mean – as long as we have something like an iPhone or iPod Touch, we also have the Bible with us! 

Thankfully, understanding the Bible isn’t for the few, the gifted, the intellectual. Nah! 

The Bible is accessible. 

Sure-enough, in whatever appearance – open to easy view, spoken or heard – whatever format – braille, on-line, print, and so forth, it’s meant to be read and comprehended by everyone from armchair readers to Bible College students.

No matter who we are, God intended His Word to be a gift that shapes us for the task. 

Remember, God appointments are awaiting us each day, at home, at school, at work, at play. 

But are we shaped up for the task? 

Are we equipped? 

Are we ready? 

Well friends – here’s some sound advice for everyone worldwide. 

Let’s talk about the message wherever we are, sitting at home or walking in the street. 

Let’s talk about it from the time we get up in the morning to when we fall into bed at night.².

Let’s chew-over the Message as often as we can. 

Yep! That’s right! 

And let’s give it plenty of room in our lives!³.

God’s purpose for us is to apply His Word to our lives, not merely to read it. 

The Bible is about betterment, not just content! 

Transformation, not just information! 

Agree? Agree! 

Amen? Amen!

¹ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

² Deuteronomy 6:6

³ Colossians 3:16

With help from Eugene H. Peterson, the publisher of The Message, quit stirring your coffee and start catching Paul’s passion and excitement as he wrote to a group of Christians. 

Here goes:- 

Now that the worst is over, we’re pleased we can report that we’ve come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world-and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. 

But it wasn’t by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on Him, uncompromised.¹.

Friends, to make your way through the journey from beginning to end, direct your attention on who God is. 

In spite of the challenge, and the effect that it may have on you, stick with God! 

Accept Him as true. You can believe Him! 

Yep! That’s right! 

Your status cannot faze the character of God! 

He’s reliable! Consistent! Trusty! Authentic! Real! 

He never changes! 

Remember this, the rhythm of God’s grace is still in full flow. He is so crazy about you, even when you’re oblivious to it. 

And know this, the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.².

For this reason, test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. 

Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. 

Give yourselves regular check-ups.³.

Now, that’s the challenge!

Direct your attention to who God is. 

Give yourselves regular check-ups. 

Consider this, a dull axe means harder work. Being wise will make it easier.⁴.

Then, come out of this with conscience and faith intact. 

Don’t just put up with your limitations; celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. 

Meanwhile, let’s pray hard that it will all come together in our lives.⁵.

And finally, let’s party, celebrate, and spread encouragement with friends and fellow travellers on our journey of faith

Come-on!! 

Amen? Amen!

¹ 2 Corinthians 1:12

² Martin Luther King, Jr.

³ 2 Corinthians 13:5

⁴ Ecclesiastes 10:10

⁵ 2 Corinthians 13:9

I was sick and you stopped to visit…¹.

Think of those who are unable to church it on a regular basis. 

 The sick. 

The house-bound – those confined usually by illness. 

A lonely individual. 

The elderly couple. 

And there’s that family – long time no see! 

 Don’t forget to stir, encourage and build them up! 

A word of comfort, a message of encouragement, a telephone conversation, even a knock at their door – all can become to them a candle of hope! 

Come-on!!

¹ Matthew 25:36

Over the years, some folks have spoken of me as being just like Job: a hero in the Old Testament who maintained his faith in God in spite of afflictions that tested him. 

To a greater degree, he patiently endured continual wrongs and trouble without giving up hope. 

Now, some may question the comparison. 

Job lost everything he closely-held, had all of his children wiped-out, and was grievously affected with gruesome disfiguring diseases. 

Still, don’t take my word for it, judge for yourself. 

Here goes:-

I was diagnosed with Diabetes at the young age of four. 

And, as a teenager, I was also taken ill with Pneumonia. 

Already, my future appeared grim! 

Whilst in my mid-twenties, I became totally blind – due, in part, to diabetic retinopathy 

This followed an episode when my wife, Judith, had also undergone surgery to remove an abnormal artery growing from her pituitary gland to the hypothalamus in her brain! 

A little while later, I had renal Failure. 

And, overlapping this, my wife and I suffered the emotion of having five babies born into Heaven. 

By the age of twenty-eight, I had to have a kidney & Pancreas Transplant. 

Four months later I was given only three days to live – due to septicaemia 

Just over two years later, I endured the pain of a fatal Car Crash. 

At age 30, I had lost my health and my wife.! 

What’s more, three years after that, my kidney transplant failed! 

At this point in time, I was diagnosed as having an enlarged heart and bowel, experienced Angina, and also had a heart murmur. 

During this time, I fell ill with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, not once, not twice, but three times. For this reason, on one occasion, apart from being unable to see, for a little while, I also lost all sense of hearing! 

Then came the second kidney transplant. 

Sometime later, I found new love, and got married to Rachel. 

But, it wasn’t long before I was diagnosed as having an enlarged bladder, endured bladder retention, and had to start using speedi caths up to eight times a day. 

And then, my lovely wife, Rachel, not only had a prolapsed disc, but also suffered Temporomandibular joint Disorder. 

Then, if this wasn’t enough, I began to develop a skin condition, which, at one time or another, was examined by numerous health professionals, with the diagnosis just as varied. 

At one time, it was thought I had Eczema, or possibly Psoriasis. Then, at some other time, we believed it could be another episode of Staphylococcus Aureus, or maybe a Pseudomonas infection, or simply, an unknown Keratosis! 

Anyway, our recollection remains clear of the uneasy feeling we felt, as something didn’t seem right. 

Sure-enough, in November 2011, we discovered I had two types of skin Cancer – Basal cell carcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma. 

The Squamous was growing through, and spreading within the Porokeratosis, which in turn, appeared to be imitating Eczema. 

These, and multiple other issues could render most people immobile or at least cause them to lose faith and become ineffective for God. 

Bringing heartache, and gloom, on top of suffering! 

Nevertheless, our confidence today, is found in the concluding part of the story of Job – when it ends with him restored to health, with a new family, and twice as much livestock. 

Wow!! A God-sized dream! God-given! 

So, let’s consider this, we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good! 

Agree? Agree! 

Yes, that’s right! 

For this is God’s promise – He will bless us with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering. 

What a comfort! 

What a promise! 

So now – we walk in grace! 

For-sure, we are who we are because of God’s grace. 

He knew the plans He had for us before we were born, and He has led us through many a circumstance for us to be where we are today. 

The future’s bright with Him! 

Praise Him! 

Amen? Amen!

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:28

2 Corinthians 12:9

James 1:12

Recently, Laura Story, the writer of the song “Indescribable”, released a touching new song called “Blessings”, the lead single of her album of the same name.

It’s one of those songs which you just want to play over and over again, and that’s what Rachel and I have been doing. 

For us, the chorus has been rather moving:- 

“Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops; 

What if Your healing comes through tears, 

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near - 

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?…” 

Sharing the story behind the song, Laura investigates,”Could God possibly be blessing us by not giving us the things we’re praying for?” 

Bob Gass reminds us, “To get the best out of God’s creation it’s essential there are three other seasons on top of the sunny one. 

The same is true of the seasons in our faith life.” 

Yes, that’s right! 

As for us, in spite of all the obstacles, throughout the course of our Christian walk, had Rachel and I been expecting a journey without any hard times, pressures, or problems, then of course we’d be disappointed. 

Realistically, both of us are aware that some of the hard times have been necessary to meld us into whom we’ve become. 

And we give thanks to Him for developing and strengthening us in a manner that brought about the transition of who we are today. And we’re still on that special journey with Him! 

Whether one is a Christian or not, each of us, no matter who we are, experience difficulties almost beyond our ability to endure. 

Quite often we find these painful challenges and problems creating demands that are a great effort to bear and overcome. 

Just because we’re Christians, doesn’t mean we have freedom from obstacles in life! There’s no such immunity for anyone! 

Storms know no boundaries! 

But, thank God, He knows what lies around the corner and because He’s all knowing – He helps us to get ready for every season. 

Indeed, the Psalmist sums it up in the New Century Version:- 

Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID because YOU ARE WITH ME.

What an insight! 

What an idea! 

What if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are His mercies in disguise? 

Now, that’s something to think about. 

Psalm 23:4

Blessings, by Laura Story – You Tube.

Story Behind The Song.

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“We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts Me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts My Father, who sent Me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.”¹.

Matthew 10:40-42 -

¹ The Message.

This week we’ve been reminded of a story which we heard some years ago, and feel it could be relevant for someone today. 

A friend happened to be sitting in a railroad coach next to a young man who was obviously depressed. 

Finally the young man revealed that he was a paroled convict returning from a distant prison. 

His imprisonment had brought shame to his family, and they had neither visited him nor written often. 

He hoped, however, that this was only because they were too poor to travel and too uneducated to write. 

He hoped, despite the evidence, that they had forgiven him. 

All the same, to make it easy for them, he had written to them asking that they put up a signal for him when the train passed their little farm on the outskirts of town. 

If his family had forgiven him, they were to put up a white ribbon in the big apple tree which stood near the tracks. 

If they didn’t want him to return, they were to do nothing, and he would remain on the train as it travelled onward. 

Anyhow, as the train neared his hometown, the suspense became so great that he couldn’t bear to look out of his window. 

He exclaimed, “In just five minutes the engineer will sound the whistle indicating our approach to the long bend which opens into the valley I know as home. Will you watch for the apple tree at the side of the track?” 

His companion said he would; they exchanged places. 

The minutes seemed like hours, but then there came the shrill sound of the train whistle. 

The young man asked, “Can you see the tree? Is there a white ribbon?” 

Came the reply, “I see the tree. I see not one white ribbon, but many. There is a white ribbon on every branch. Son, someone surely does love you.”¹.

Friends, one of the things we can learn from this short story – which is absolutely vital to knowing and accepting forgiveness, and having the willingness to forgive others – is recognising – as God, our heavenly Father forgives us, He frees us from the discomfort of chewing-over the mistakes of our past, and clears away the obstructions that make it difficult to move forward. 

In short, He forgives our sins – every one! 

In truth, God makes everything come out right; He puts victims back on their feet.².

Okay, no man can run from his own story! 

But as the psalmist declares, God is sheer mercy and grace.³.

Sure-enough, if grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking! 

God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. 

As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is His love to those who fear Him.⁴.

And as far as sunrise is from sunset, He has separated us from our sins.⁵.

Now listen:, let us inhabit the place called Forward; knowing that God already knows our future and has given us a new out-look for every day. 

Yes, that’s right! 

Oh, how He loves us so!⁶.

Amen? Amen! 

¹ From a 1961 Reader’s Digest article.

² Psalm 103:8

³ Psalm 103:10

⁴ Psalm 103:11

⁵ Psalm 103:12

⁶ From the worship song “He Loves Us” – sung by Kim Walker, original lyrics by John McMillan. 

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