NEWSLETTER - MAY 2006

VERSE OF THE MONTH:
"and in the desert.... you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place" Deuteronomy 1:31 (NIV)

IN THIS EDITION:
Carried By Our Father
Events
Newsletters

CARRIED BY OUR FATHER

Let me start off with a question – what burdens are you carrying at the moment?

Many of us carry burdens: decisions that weigh us down, problems that need solving, relationships that need help or restoration. We need wisdom for work, for our families or just simply to know what to do next. We may be at the end of our tether and don’t know what to do or where to turn.

Of course, human nature tells us that we have to work it out for ourselves, that we have to have everything together. O ur pride wants us to appear strong and competent. Sadly, our churches may reinforce this, unintentionally, by praising strength and shunning weakness.

Yet, as we read Deuteronomy 1:29-31 we see the heart of the Father which is summarised in verse 31 above. God is a Father and His desire is to reach down and carry us.

Let me unpack these few verses…

• “Do not be afraid” – so often the pressures we feel or the burdens we carry make us afraid, maybe even terrified. The uncertainty or the panic of not knowing what to do breeds fear in our heart. Fear paralyses. Yet God’s love frees us from fear. Fear has to do with punishment (1 John 4:18) yet love has to do with relationship.
  
• “The Lord your God is going before you” – all we have to do is follow. He leads and shows us the way. I would rather have Him in front of me, facing my enemies before I get there, than being the one leading! We do not have to cut a path, we can follow where He has gone. This is a secure place to be.
  
• "He will fight for you” – the battle is not ours it is His and the good news is that He is victorious! We do not have to strive or rely on our own strength.
  
• “in Egypt and the desert” – He will fight for us even when we are in a desert place, where everything is stripped away.
  
• “The Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son” – of course God is interested in carrying your burdens but He is more interested in carrying YOU. It is His strength, His provision and His comfort that gets you through. We can come to Him with a childlike heart and let Him carry us. This is the way of rest.
  
• “all the way you went” – He carries us ALL the way. He does not get tired or weary, He does not get fed up. He carries you all the time.

At the end of Moses’ life as he blesses the people, he paints a picture of the greatness and majesty of God. Our God is One who rides on the Heavens to help us, He sits on the clouds in His majesty. Yet He is a Father who is our refuge and underneath us are His everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:26-27).

Isaiah 40 also paints a picture of the greatness of God. Once again His strength and greatness is mixed with the gentleness and compassion of Him as our Father. He tends His flock like a shepherd, He gathers the lambs in His arms, He carries them close to His heart and He gently leads those with young (Isaiah 40:10-11).

Too often we think that everything depends on us, on our strength, our will and our decision making ability. However, our own effort is not enough; we will end up striving and being driven. We will live out of frustration rather than rest. Our activity will consume us.

His way is a way of rest. He is more interested in YOU than in your activity.

As we allow ourselves to be carried by Him we will start to live in His love. His love makes us whole. It heals our pain and wounds. It fills our emptiness and brokenness. It removes our guilt and condemnation.

Jason Upton has written a song with these words:

“So I need for you to know, whenever I go
God is in control and you are in His arms.

Daddy don’t sleep, Daddy don’t slumber
I don’t wonder when it thunders, if I’m safe in Daddy’s arms”

I started with a question, let me finish with one: Are you willing to let Him reach down and carry you, allowing Him to hold you in His arms?

(Jason Upton website: www.jasonupton.net)

EVENTS

We are pleased to be able to host Barry Adams (Father’s Love Letter – www.fathersloveletter.com) in Abingdon, Oxon. Barry will be with us on Saturday 1 st July for an evening celebration of the Father’s Love. Further details, including the venue and time, will be available shortly and will be posted on the Events page of the website - please visit www.afathertoyou.com/signposts/events.html or contact us.

“Experiencing Father’s Love” is a week long school being held in Hemel Hempstead from 2 nd to 8 th July. James Jordan and Barry Adams are the main speakers, for more information please contact Jeff Scaldwell, or phone 01442 216621.

Other events will be posted on the website so please visit it regularly.

NEWSLETTERS

We hope to move to a monthly newsletter which we trust will be an encouragement to you on your journey in His love. Our vision is to be a signpost to the heart of the perfect Father and we hope more regular newsletters will help you find that love. Feel free to pass these on to your friends and if they are interested encourage them to subscribe.

In His Love

Mark Gyde