Revive (April 2015)

VOL 7 NO 2

APRIL-JUNE 2015

BEING STILL

Love in the home

SPIRITUALITY FOR EVERYDAY LIFE

BRENDA’S STORY

Enquire of the Lord

BIBLE STUDY

Listening to

Intimacy WITH GOD PILGRIM WALKS

E Q U I P P I N G

W O M E N

F O R

M I N I S T R Y

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M I S S I O N

inside

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Listening to God’s voice 04 Hearing his voice 08 Through the earthquake

APRIL-JUNE 2015

revive@salvationarmy.org

10 Giving him our full attention BIBLE STUDY 14 Love in the home MY STORY 18 Pilgrim walks 23 Easter message WORLD PRESIDENT OF WOMEN’S MINISTRIES

04

COLUMNS

IN EVERY ISSUE

07 The obvious answer LEADERSHIP

03 Editorial

20 In his image SPIRITUAL LIFE

16 The Prayer House 21 Review

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22 Resource

Front cover: Captain Angela Anietie Etuknwa Back cover: James 4:8a (NIV) in English and Spanish, illustration by Jooles Tostevin All Bible quotations throughout this edition of Revive are from the New International Version 2011 unless stated otherwise TM - The Message, GW - God’s Word, NASB - New American Standard Bible, NKSV - New King James Version, KJV - King James Version, GNB - Good News Bible, NLT - New Living Translation, SASB - The Song Book of The Salvation Army

Articles on any subject of interest to women in ministry are welcomed by the editor. To send an article, write to revive@salvationarmy.org

A resource magazine for women in ministry and mission Publisher: Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women’s Ministries Editor: Major Deslea Maxwell Editorial assistance: Paul Mortlock, Kevin Sims Designer: Berni Georges © André Cox, General of The Salvation Army, 2015 Founders of The Salvation Army: William and Catherine Booth Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd

Contact email address: revive@salvationarmy.org

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The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EH United Kingdom

Subscription details at:

http://sar.my/revsubu (Revive subscription UK)

http://sar.my/revsubo (Revive subscription overseas)

from the editor

Too busy to hear?

Major Deslea Maxwell EDITOR

S

itting at my desk at International Headquarters every morning without fail my concentration is interrupted by the bells from St Paul’s Cathedral ringing out across the city.

When I hear the bells I often look out of the window to see what impact they have on the world below. Nothing! Life goes on as usual. The beautiful sound of the bells falls on deaf ears. It would appear no one is listening or is impacted by the sound.

Interestingly, I am sure that at other times during the day the bells ring, but I very often don’t hear them. I am engaged in other things – my attention is taken by the many tasks I have to undertake, or the voices of people in the office that I need to communicate with, or the various traffic noises.

I heard a story recently about a time back before refrigerators when people had icehouses. These icehouses had big thick walls and a door that fitted very tightly. In the winter, when the rivers and ponds froze over, the men would go out and cut big blocks of ice and bring them into the icehouse. They would cover the ice with sawdust and there the people would store their food.

One day a man working in one of the icehouses lost a very expensive watch. He and his co-workers combed through all the sawdust but they couldn’t find it. A little boy heard about the lost watch and so he went into the icehouse one afternoon and shortly came out with the man’s watch in his hand. The man said to him: ‘How did you find it?’ The little

‘At times we think that because we cannot hear him, he’s not speaking’

boy said: ‘Well, when I went inside the icehouse and closed the door behind me, I then laid down in the sawdust – I laid very still and after a little while I could hear the watch ticking and I found it.’

As I look into the Scriptures, I am reminded that Jesus himself often drew aside to a quiet place – a solitary place – to spend time alone with his Father. The psalmist says: ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (46:10).

I think we would all say that we long to hear God’s voice – to know his thoughts, to have his direction in our lives, to be able to discern his voice from all the other voices around us. At times we think that because we cannot hear him, he’s not speaking. But I have come to realise it’s not that God is not speaking to us, but it’s often that we’re too busy or too preoccupied to hear. There are so many other voices clamouring for our attention that his voice is just not heard.

Each day, when I hear the bells of St Paul’s, I am reminded to stop, push aside the voices that clamour for my attention, and to listen to his still, small voice and know that he is God. Through the articles included in this issue of Revive the writers have endeavoured to help us discover the many ways in which God speaks to us, and how to discern his voice among the many other voices we encounter each day.

My prayer is that through these articles you will be encouraged to push aside the many voices that demand your daily attention, and be still and know that he is indeed God and that he longs to communicate with you.

God bless!

Deslea

Revive 3

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Hearing

his voice Angela Anietie Etuknwa

L

oving God and longing to hear his voice are the desires of every true believer. It doesn’t matter whether we are old or young, literate or illiterate, rich or poor; God longs to have an intimate relationship with us in order to accomplish his purpose for our lives.

Mankind was made in the image of God. Genesis records: ‘Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness”… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1:26-27). But the enemy of mankind came in the form of a friend and deceived Eve. After the Fall, our intimacy with God became a difficult issue. Each time God appeared to Adam and Eve, his presence reflected their low estate. In Genesis chapter 3 it tells us that Adam and Eve were no longer comfortable to share the relationship they had previously enjoyed with God – in fact they ran away. ‘Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid’’’ (vv 8-10). From that time on, human beings have often been afraid to encounter God, perhaps because he reminds us of our own fallen nature.

When Isaiah encountered God he cried: ‘‘‘Woe to me!” I cried.

“I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty’’’ (Isaiah 6:5).

In Mark chapter 5 a story is told of a demon-possessed man who was living among the tombs. Jesus healed him and the demons entered a large herd of pigs. While there is so much in this story that could be discussed, briefly the presence of Jesus in that environment not only brought about the healing of this young man, but it also challenged the culture of the people. Pork was a food forbidden to Jews and, as such, those who raised these pigs may have done so knowingly in violation of the divine command.

It was also a challenge to businesses as well. The owners of the pigs would not have wanted to lose their income and so they begged Jesus to leave their region (v 17). They preferred an environment where men were the gatekeepers to a life of sanity and security rather than freedom in Christ.

God still loves us despite our sinfulness and he constantly paves the way for us to come back to him. This is why Jesus came, died and rose again.

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‘Intimacy with God takes constant, meaningful communication.

God is always speaking! However, do we listen?’

The Bible is full of examples of people who were intimate with God – people such as Enoch, Noah, Moses, Abraham and Elijah as well as many New Testament characters. When we look at their lives we see that they were from varied walks of life and were not perfect, but they were ready and willing to yield themselves to God and trust him even through impossible circumstances. God accepted them and walked and talked with them throughout their lives.

Intimacy with God takes constant, meaningful communication.

God is always speaking! However, do we listen?

How does God speak to us?

Through his Word

In 2 Timothy 3:16 it says that ‘All Scripture is God-breathed’. His Word sometimes gives us a warning, a word of encouragement or a lesson for life. Timothy goes on to say that it is a guide for life, ‘so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every

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still, small voice circumstances

visions prayer

dreams

advice and counsel of men and women

inner conviction and peace Angels music nature and God’s Creation

good work’ (v 17). Psalm 119:105 says: ‘Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.’ This is the most clear and effective way God communicates with his people.

When we want to know how something works we consult the manual. If we ignore the instructions in the manual we can run into trouble. The Bible is God’s manual for his people. When we ignore God’s instructions in deference to other things, we can encounter trouble and make it difficult for ourselves to discern his voice.

Through the advice and counsel of men and women of God

Through the inner still, small voice of the Holy Spirit

Through dreams

John 16:13 says: ‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.’

John 14:26 reminds us: ‘… the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’

Proverbs 12:15 says: ‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.’

Through the audible voice of God

‘He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied’ (Acts 9:4-5).

There are many instances in the Bible where God clearly communicates through dreams. Matthew 1:20 says: ‘But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” ’ Revive 5

feature Through visions

In Acts 10:9-22 we have a record of Peter’s vision where ‘he saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat”’ (vv 11-12).

Through angels

There are many times in Scripture where an angel is the spokesperson for God. The angel spoke to Gideon in Judges 6:11-23, telling him that the Lord was with him, and in Luke 1:26-38 an angel visited Mary to inform her that she was to be the mother of the Messiah.

Through circumstances

We must guard against opening doors to Satan by letting mere circumstances dictate our lives. Therefore we must be wise and discerning regarding our circumstances and expecting God to speak to us through them. This must be confirmed through the Word of God.

By inner conviction and peace

This is similar to the inner still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. God can give us a deep conviction and an inner peace about something.

Through nature and God’s Creation

‘For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse’ (Romans 1:20).

Through music

There are great benefits in discerning our Creator’s voice. Not only hearing from him but also obeying him. In Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When He Speaks, author Priscilla Shirer wrote: ‘When we became Christians, we were fitted with the ear. The Holy Spirit has been given to us, so that we are continually connected to the One who can give us clear and consistent guidance for our life. If we are expecting to hear him, he can calm our anxieties as we trust him for specific direction. Many of us don’t really believe God will speak to us about the details of our lives. We claim to believe it, but secretly we are discouraged because we can’t discern God’s voice. We don’t doubt that God can speak; we just doubt that he will speak to us.’

Personally, life has taught me to trust God faithfully, obediently and humbly. It was difficult for me to become pregnant after seven years of marriage. All medical examinations confirmed that there was not a problem, but the reality was it just didn’t happen. During this difficult time in our lives, I learned to trust God and listen to his voice. In his own time, while we were the corps officers (ministers) of Ebute-Metta Corps (church) in the Lagos City Division, God visited me and I discerned his sweet, reassuring voice that he was going to bless me. God spoke to me saying: ‘I will visit you!’ I immediately had an inner peace and a true sense of joy flooded my soul. Since then God has blessed me with the birth of my daughter in 2002 and again with my son in 2004.

Praise God! I can testify that he does show himself and speaks to his children.

When we trust God and earnestly seek him, he will never forsake us but will continue to uphold us with his mighty hand. He is faithful. He desires that we know him.

May God help us to discern his voice and his leading in our lives. In return we must obediently respond to him.

During Jehoshaphat’s reign God released his power and the Israelite army defeated their enemies. Jehoshaphat instructed the people to sing songs of praise to the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:21).

Through prayer

We may not know how to pray, but God’s Word tells us his Spirit makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26-27).

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Captain Angela Anietie Etuknwa EDITORIAL OFFICER NIGERIA TERRITORY

ananssw wer er leadership

s u o i v b o e Th

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man climbed up to the roof of his home when a great flood hit his town. The water continued to rise until it covered the man’s ankles. Understanding that he was in great peril, he pleaded with God to save him. Moments later another man floated by on a huge log. ‘If you want to hang on,’ he said, ‘we can survive together.’

‘I appreciate your concern,’ the man said. ‘But I’ve been praying. God will save me.’

The water grew even higher, covering the man up to his waist. Soon, a rowboat came by. ‘We have room for you,’ the people in the boat said. ‘Come in the boat and be saved.’

‘No thanks,’ said the praying man. ‘God will save me.’

Before too long the water was up to his shoulders. A helicopter flew overhead and lowered a rope. ‘The Lord himself will save me,’ the man shouted, waving off the rescuers.

A short while later, the man was gone. Standing before the throne in Heaven he said: ‘I’m glad to be here, but I was sure you would answer my prayer. Why didn’t you save me?’

‘Rather foolish on your part,’ the Lord replied. ‘After all, I sent you a log, a boat and a helicopter!’

That’s an old joke, but it makes a great point. Sometimes we wait for special revelations from God, when what we really need to do is apply the principles we already know, or use the common sense with which he’s equipped us.

It is not uncommon for Christians to hesitate to proceed with missional activity or even just normal life decisions because they are waiting for a special revelation from God. To be sure, sometimes those revelations come. It is a shame, however, when we stand paralysed, waiting for a sign that we don’t need and won’t come. We may wish we could roll out Gideon’s fleece (Judges 6:36-40) when God’s desires and our best choices are not hard to discover in the first place.

Many of our life and ministry questions are answered clearly in God’s Word. For example, we don’t have to ask ourselves whether or not we should be involved in Church. Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to neglect meeting together. 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 tells us that believers are the Body of Christ and that each part needs the others.

But what if a person is trying to decide which church to attend?

There is no passage that says: ‘Thou shalt attend The Salvation Army.’ However, as students of the Scriptures, we understand many principles. We understand that God wants us to grow in our knowledge of him and he wants us to be in a position to serve humankind in his name. So, a person can use those scriptural principles to choose a church, even though she can’t find a specific verse with direct guidance. (The Salvation Army is a great choice!)

Is it possible that a person may drive by a particular church and see an aura of light around it as God’s special message that he/she should join that church? Sure, it’s possible. But neglecting to attend church while waiting for such a sign would surely not please the Lord. He expects us to apply his word to our lives and not assume that we need something clearer.

There are other decisions, however, on which the Scripture is silent. But God has given us each a measure of common sense and human intelligence; most certainly he expects us to employ them.

If you’re drowning and someone paddles by and offers help, you thank God for the boat! You don’t need a sign from God when he’s given you the intelligence to assess the impending danger and the good sense to respond to whatever solution presents itself. There are human needs in the world that aren’t being met because someone is waiting for a sign from God. There are corps (churches) that are desperately lacking in local leadership because capable people are busy throwing out their ‘fleece’ instead of getting down to business.

To hear the voice of the Lord is a holy and marvellous thing. But let us not overlook the daily ways in which his desires are made obvious to us. We cannot always look off into the distance, for God uses the mundane just as he uses the spectacular. Let’s not miss it.

Columnist for 2015 Major Amy Reardon CORPS OFFICER, SEATTLE TEMPLE USA WESTERN TERRITORY

Revive 7

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Mayuko Terasawa

W

hy do we want to listen to the voice of God? Because we long for God to fulfil his plan through us. But I must confess sometimes I do not want to hear God’s voice, or I am too busy with everything going on around me. As a result I unknowingly sometimes hurt people. It is dangerous for us to do something without listening to God’s voice!

How can I hear the voice of God?

Whenever I want to really listen to someone who is precious to me, I try to calm myself down and concentrate on his or her voice. In the hustle and bustle of life it is often difficult to hear their voice clearly above other voices.

To hear God’s voice clearly we need to be in a quiet place.

This is very difficult to do because women generally bear heavy responsibilities. We long for even a moment of quiet time, but rarely find it.

Isaiah says: ‘Your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it”’ (Isaiah 30:20-21).

God speaks to us clearly through Scripture or the voice that echoes in our mind as described by Isaiah. God directs us in the way we should go. But how and when can we hear him?

A sacred place

As a Salvation Army officer (minister), I have been appointed as a corps officer (pastor) at two different corps for 13 years. During this time, I gave birth to my second child. It was near impossible for me to have a quiet place or a quiet time to listen to God’s voice.

In my hunger for God, I trained myself to have an image of a quiet lake in my mind. No matter how busy I was or how noisy my surroundings, I tried to picture this lake in my mind. Then I would take a deep breath, calm myself down, and wait for God’s voice to speak. Just as Jesus stood by the lake quietly, I also stood there. It was my sacred and secret place.

One of the Chinese characters used in Japan is 忙 which means busy. It consists of 心 (kokoro) which means heart, and 亡 (bou) which means death. What a meaningful word it is! In the busyness of life we often lose ourselves. Making a sacred place protects us from losing our heart and ourselves.

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e a r t h q r a eearthq a r t h q r ea

Through the The sudden storm

‘A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm’ (Mark 4:37-39).

At the time of this event, Jesus and his disciples were tired.

Having spend some time teaching by the shore, they sailed to the other side of the lake. Soon after they set sail Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly, a storm came up. Some of them who used to be fishermen would probably have tried to keep the boat steady, but without success. Finally, they asked Jesus for help because they could not handle the situation on their own.

Often life’s storms hit when we are tired. They come suddenly and we try to manage the situations on our own – without success.

This reminds me that when the storms of life come, I firstly need to go to Jesus.

Through the earthquake

On 11 March 2011, as I was on the way to a parents’ meeting at my daughter’s elementary school, the ground started shaking.

I rushed to the school as aftershocks continued to occur. I heard one of the children shout out: ‘I have never felt an earthquake like this before!’ I heard her words and thought to myself: ‘Me too, even though I’ve lived for more than 40 years.’

Of course the meeting was cancelled and the school decided that the children were to go with their parents to the designated shelter in the park. The park was next to our corps (church).

I wasn’t sure if the corps buildings were safe, so we stayed in the park. However, the park was becoming more and more crowded and the rain began to fall. I looked up at the sky and asked God for help. God spoke to my heart and told me that I should not stay there. When I looked around the park and saw all the nursery

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e k q a u e hquake quake

, 11 20 rial ch to , ar rri od rs M te fo ute in y’s ide m n v pa Arm pro com a ti J tion to any h e lva ed m ak Sa s us the u q e a f rth Th w e o me ea l at kyo om ho ge al To s et hu h in to g a hip rs lter to n rs te e le he o ar sh ab W e w qu nd un h t ead a re h rink we d ho w

school children sitting on the ground in the corner of the park I thought I should return to the corps and check the buildings for safety. I judged it was safe and invited the children into the building until the school reopened as a shelter in the evening.

I saw on the news that so many people had to walk back to their homes in the suburbs from the centre of Tokyo because, as a result of the earthquake, all the trains were stopped. With the corps being situated on a busy street about six kilometres east from the centre of Tokyo, I opened the doors of the building and placed a sign on the notice board that said: ‘You can rest here’. We served hot tea, made the restrooms available to the public and allowed people to shelter and find comfort in our premises. Some of them expressed their shock at the earthquake while others said that it was the first time they had entered a church and prayed for something.

I kept our corps open as a resting place until the public transport commenced its normal service.

The earthquake was a big thing for me but when I asked the Lord to help, he answered. He calmed my mind and gave me a clear indication of what he wanted me to do in order to help people in need.

who are suffering and saves those who ask for his help.

If like me you try to make a quiet place in your mind to listen for God’s voice, even though the storm may rage about you, you will hear his voice. He will guide you and direct you in the way you should go and you will receive the power needed to do something good for others.

The Spirit of God leads us. I often sing this song when I need to make a decision:

Doing God’s will

Sometimes we think we do not hear anything from God. But if we wait and keep searching, asking and praying, I believe we will be able to hear his voice. I hope you will be ready to discern the voice of God at anytime and anywhere.

When Jesus and the disciples reached the other side of the lake after the storm they were met by a man who had been haunted by an evil spirit for many years – Jesus saved him. God cares for those

‘He calmed my mind and gave me a clear indication of what he wanted me to do’

‘Who is it tells me what to do And helps me to obey?

Who is it plans the route for me And will not let me stray?

Who it tells me when to speak And what I ought to say?

That’s the Spirit! Holy Spirit!

That’s the Spirit of the Lord in me!’

(John Gowans)

Major Mayuko Terasawa ASSISTANT TO EDITORIAL SECRETARY JAPAN TERRITORY

Revive 9

bible study Ann Braund

Giving him our full

attention

T

he Old Testament books of First and Second Chronicles were written after the Jewish exile and address people who are seeking to rebuild their lives, their place of worship and their worship practices. As they consider what went wrong in the past (that which led them into exile), and how they are to move forward, the chronicler emphasises the phrase ‘enquire of the Lord’. He says: ‘Saul did not enquire of the Lord’ (1 Chronicles 10:14). Because David learned to enquire of the Lord, the chronicler uses him as a good example.

If you read 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 alongside 1 Samuel 28:6 you will see that the two accounts differ. The 1 Samuel account says Saul ‘enquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets’, but the chronicler says Saul ‘did not enquire of the Lord’.

What are we to make of this?

Some scholars say Saul’s enquiry was not done in the right way – in humility and repentance. Others have said that Saul’s enquiry of the Lord only came after he had tried everything his own way. Therefore, God refused him. When the chronicler says ‘Saul did not enquire of the Lord’ in verse 14, he is actually speaking about the whole of Saul’s life – the totality of his behaviour – not isolated acts. Saul generally did not enquire of the Lord, which led to his downfall.

Throughout Chronicles unfaithfulness and a failure to seek the Lord resulted in divine judgement (2 Chronicles 12:2, 14; 26:16, 18; 28:19, 22). The chronicler recorded: ‘If you seek him [the Lord] he 10 Revive

will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you’ (2 Chronicles 15:2). The chronicler urged his hearers to practice the discipline of enquiring of the Lord.

Read 1 Chronicles 13

David, as the newly crowned king, decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This decision reveals David’s desire to draw near to God, to commune with God and to seek God. Read the following verses and you will discover that the Ark represented the presence of God. ‘So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the Ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim’ (1 Samuel 4:4).

‘And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth”’ (2 Kings 19:15).

‘When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forwards, blowing their trumpets, and the Ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them’ (Joshua 6:8).

‘Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?”’

(2 Samuel 7:18).

To sit before the Ark was to sit before the presence of the Lord.

David said: ‘Let us bring the Ark of our God back to us, for we did not enquire of it during the reign of Saul’ (1 Chronicles 13:3). Saul neglected the Ark of the Lord.

David longed to give the Ark of the Lord a central place in his city, in his leadership and in his life.

Where had the Ark been that it needed to be brought back? The Ark narratives make for a very interesting study:

bible study

‘The act of bringing the Ark to Jerusalem was deemed good and right, but the method they chose was not right’

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In 1 Samuel 4 we are told that the Ark of the Lord was taken into battle during Eli’s time and captured by the Philistines.

In 1 Samuel 5 the Ark of the Lord caused havoc in Philistine territory (tumours, rats, fear and death).

In 1 Samuel 6 the Philistines determine that the only safe thing to do was to return the Ark to Israel. So the Philistines placed the Ark on a wooden cart attached to cows separated from their calves.

(Nursing cows would have to go against their nature to walk away from their calves. This was the Philistine’s way of testing divine will.) The cows, without a driver, turned from their calves and went straight to the Israelite town Beth Shemesh. There the Ark was mishandled and many in Beth Shemesh were killed. The town sent

the Ark of the Lord to the house of Abinadab (1 Samuel 7) where it remained for 20 years.

In 1 Chronicles 13 we read that David saw how God blessed Abinadab, and he desired to bring the Ark to Jerusalem to ensure God’s blessing on the entire nation.

Read again 1 Chronicles 13:1-4

One of David’s first acts following his coronation was to bring the Ark of the Lord – the symbol of God’s presence and activity – back to the centre of Israel’s worship. David wanted to correct past neglect and make ‘enquiring of the Lord’ the new norm.

Though David’s desire was right, his method was wrong. Notice his decisionmaking process. David firstly went to his leaders, saying in effect: ‘This is what I want to do, what do you think?’ When he got their approval he proceeded – ‘Let us send

word far and wide…Let us bring the Ark of our God back to us.’

The act of bringing the Ark to Jerusalem was deemed good and right, but the method they chose was not right. It matters how we do what we do!

Read again 1 Chronicles 13:7-10

David followed the pattern of the world when he set the Ark of the Covenant on a wooden cart. David desired something good when he sought to move the Ark of God – the object of God’s presence – to Jerusalem, but he went about it in the wrong way. David missed an important step when moving the Ark the first time – he neglected God’s specific instructions.

David sought the counsel of his commanders and officers but did not seek the revealed will of God. And David’s first attempt to move the Ark ended in death.

Uzzah, son of Abinadab – in whose house the Ark had been kept for 20 years – Revive 11

bible study

‘Enquiring of the Lord is giving him our attention’

died because he touched the Ark. There is a danger in taking too casually the presence of God. Uzzah may have been overly familiar with the Ark (it had sat ‘on his doorstep’ for 20 years). There is a warning in this for us when it comes to our worship preparations and practices.

Read 1 Chronicles 15

David’s second attempt to move the Ark, recorded in 1 Chronicles 15, was successful. David acknowledged in verse 13: ‘It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it [the Ark] up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not enquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way’ (italics added for emphasis).

The second time David was careful to follow God’s instructions. The priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to move the Ark of the Lord. They appointed musicians and approached God’s presence in the prescribed way, which had been documented in Numbers 1:51; 4:15. David experienced success when he followed the 12 Revive

prescribed way – enquiring of the Lord.

When making decisions (big and small) we are wise to look first to the revealed Word of God, asking: ‘What does God say about this matter?’ Before turning to the counsel of others or seeking the popular opinion, find out if God has given any specific instructions for the decisions we face. If we fail to seek God’s revealed will, we put ourselves and others at risk. ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’ (Proverbs 14:12 KJV).

In Jeremiah 10:21 we read: ‘The shepherds are senseless and do not enquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.’ For those who are spiritual leaders, we need to enquire of the Lord for the good of ourselves but also for the good of our people. 1 Chronicles 16:10 says: ‘Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.’

Saul did not enquire of the Lord and David did. Therefore, the chronicler suggests, be like David.

There was only one right way to move

the Ark of the Covenant. In many areas of life there is only one right way. God’s Word makes many of our decisions easy for we are guided into truth by clear instructions in the Ten Commandments, in the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and in the letters to the churches.

What about those decisions where it seems there are many good and right options? When there are many possible ways we could choose?

Enquiring of the Lord is giving him our attention. It is praying and reading God’s Word and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God by his Spirit can whisper into seeking souls: ‘This is the way, walk ye in it’ (Isaiah 30:21 KJV). The apostle Paul says we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can discern what the will of God is – his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).

Discernment literally means to separate, to determine, to decide or to distinguish between two things. Discernment is the capacity to recognise and respond to the presence and activity of God. Discernment

bible study

requires that we pay attention to the experience of life. God wills that we have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). In Deuteronomy God says: ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.

Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live’ (30:19 ESV).

Ignatian spirituality* encourages its followers to pay attention to the interior realities of consolation and desolation.

Consolation is that which gives a deep sense of life-giving connection to God, others and our most authentic selves.

Desolation is the loss of a sense of God’s presence – feeling out of touch with God, with others and with ourselves. Paying attention to consolation and desolation helps decipher God’s will – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The practices of ‘enquiring of the Lord’ and ‘discerning his will’ involve asking ourselves questions: ●●

How does this choice fit with the overall direction and calling of God upon my life?

●●

●●

●●

●●

●●

Which choice brings the deepest sense of life, inner peace and freedom?

Is this choice consistent with what I know about the mind and heart of Christ and his redemptive purposes in the world?

How will this direction nurture the fruit of the Spirit in me?

Does this choice value what is eternal and permanent rather than what is transient and impermanent?

How does this choice fit with other observations of who I am and what God is doing in my life?

These questions, drawn from Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton, encourage the reader to enquire of the Lord and discern his will.

She states: ‘Discernment is about falling in love with God to the point that nothing else matters more than his will. It is about trusting God so much that all we want

is to abandon ourselves to the goodness of his will. It is about knowing God so intimately that we can tell what he wants just by turning our hearts toward him.

Discernment is about loving ourselves, God and others so much that we are willing to wait until we understand what love calls us to and then give ourselves to it, no matter the cost.’

Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk and author, prayed: ‘My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself. And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire, and I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone’ (from Thoughts in Solitude).

*Spirituality for everyday life. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. It is a pathway to deeper prayer, good decisions guided by keen discernment, and an active life of service to others. See more at: http://www.ignatianspirituality.com

Lieut-Colonel Ann Braund TERRITORIAL SECRETARY FOR SPIRITUAL LIFE DEVELOPMENT AND CHAPLAIN AT BROADVIEW VILLAGE CANADA AND BERMUDA TERRITORY

Revive 13

my story When everyone loves one another,

there will be sunshine in the home.

When everyone helps one another,

there will be no loneliness in the home.

When everyone treasures one another,

there will be harmony in the home.

When everyone forgives one another,

there will be joy in the home.

Let there be love in your home each day, Let there be love in my home each day.

Whether it be day or night; autumn, winter, spring or summer,

Let us love our home with all our heart!

Picture from photo library from Malaysia

(Lyrics by Heavenly Melody Singing Group)

14 Revive

Love

my story

in the home

Tan Lee Mei Ying, Brenda

T

he lyrics on the opposite page often remind me that in order to have a happy home, everyone needs to be committed to bear some responsibility.

I was born into a poor family that consisted of my parents, an older brother, two sisters and me. Unfortunately, I don’t have any fond memories of my father. He was often not at home and, when he did come home, he would always ask for money. This ended up, without fail, in a fight with my mum.

My mother – who had no formal education – found herself paying all the expenses for the family, caring for my siblings and me, and worrying about our education. Fortunately, she got a job to earn a living to support us.

I vividly remember when I was young my siblings and I would wake up before dawn every day to take turns in helping mum at the food stall and then quickly rushing back to school for lessons. Unlike other children, my siblings and I rarely went out to play after school. Because our family was often in need of money we had to go straight home to help out with the household chores. Sometimes, my friends would go to different classmates’ houses after school to do homework or just hangout, but I would never invite them to my house.

I resented being born into such a family and found myself questioning: ‘Why did I come into this world?’ I would often tell myself how nice the world would be without me! Growing up, I didn’t like myself. I always thought that others were far better than me, far more fortunate than me, and that I was totally worthless. I longed for the day when I could leave my broken and loveless home. I am sure my siblings were having the same thoughts.

‘Our home, which used to be a living hell for us, became a loving haven for all’

I can remember my mum saying to us once: ‘I really can’t take it any more; I don’t know how to support the family. I would like to leave everything behind me, but you children are still so young, and I could not bear to abandon you. On second thoughts, I wish to die together with you – maybe that would solve the entire problem’.

Fortunately, during this time of great distress God allowed my mum to meet a fellow Christian sister. Mum received much-needed support and encouragement and was soon invited to participate in church activities. Even though she was illiterate, mum began to read the Bible, sing praise songs and even started to pray. But a complete transformation came to her when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. The Lord became the source of strength and joy in her life and, even when the going got tough and times were bad, she continued to love and support the family.

My childhood was not a happy one but, because my mother became a Christian, my siblings and I also had the opportunity to get to know God. Our lives too were radically changed. Our home, which used to be a living hell for us, became a loving haven for all. The physical environment did not change, what had changed were our hearts – now filled with God’s love.

I thank God that he helped us understand what love is. The apostle Paul said: ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

I thank God for becoming the Lord of my life and my home.

Through the teachings of the Bible, I not only became a Salvationist (member), but was called to be a Salvation Army officer (minister). I am so blessed that I can go to different places to preach God’s love, to care for different communities and to build the house of God. My prayer is that God’s love might reside in my home every day.

Major Tan Lee Mei Ying, Brenda CORPS OFFICER, KUALA LUMPUR CORPS, MALAYSIA SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA AND MYANMAR TERRITORY

Revive 15

THE

prayer

HOUSE

‘They all joined together constantly in prayer’ (Acts 1:14)

Reflecti

W

hen the Australian cricketer Phil Hughes was struck down by a fast ball while batting for his state team, the country almost came to a halt.

It made headline news, and messages began pouring in, many of them saying: ‘Thoughts and prayers are with you’.

Many of the newspaper headlines stated: ‘Prayers for Phil’.

It is interesting that in a country that is becoming increasingly secular, the automatic response of so many was to pray. Cricketers who were interviewed on television said: ‘He is in our prayers.’

This seemed to demonstrate to me just how natural prayer is, and yet we can sometimes make it otherwise. We can end up letting it become more complicated than it was meant to be, to the point where it is a formality or an exercise that leaves us feeling good because we have ‘done it’! We sometimes hear the expression: ‘I have done my devotions.’ And then, when we have not ‘done our devotions’ we feel guilty.

Relationship

Prayer is first and foremost about relationship – our love relationship with God. So prayer could be thought of as developing our love relationship with God. As a relationship develops between two people, the conversations become more and more natural. We talk to each other about everything – always conversing. So with our praying – it is a natural conversation about everything to do with our lives. ‘Tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful

16 Revive

Lyn Pearce

prayer’ (Philippians 4:6 J. B. Philips paraphrase). The idea of this ongoing conversation is also captured in ‘Never stop praying’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT).

When we think of prayer in this way, the idea of guilt just melts away. For example, if we miss a meal, do we feel hungry or guilty? So if we miss having a time of prayer or ‘doing our devotions’, do we feel hungry or guilty? It would be hoped that we would simply feel hungry!

So prayer is firstly about relationship – that growing intimacy with God.

I find it helpful to remind myself that his resources are unlimited, unlike ours – we tend to often ‘run out of gas’! How important it is then to depend on him for everything, and even to receive guidance about the pace at which we work. It is possible to expect more from ourselves than God expects.

Even though you may have a very good way of praying, sometimes it is helpful to try something different when we come to pray. For example:

Dependence

1. Take time to be quiet and still in your heart, your body, your mind.

(This may be difficult if you have small children, so it may be helpful to simply grasp the opportunities when they come). Perhaps focus on the verse ‘Let the peace of Christ

Secondly, prayer is about dependence on God. It is about leaning on him, trusting him, receiving from him. ‘I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit’ (Ephesians 3:16 NLT).

Be still

The prayer House

ing on him ‘Prayer is first and foremost about relationship – our love relationship with God’

rule in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15). It is easy to let stress, anxiety and the expectations of others or of ourselves rule us, but try consciously to let the peace of Christ rule.

2. After becoming still, take time to absorb the fact that God takes pleasure in us. ‘The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!’ (Psalm 104:31 NLT). ‘God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure’ (Ephesians 1:5 NLT).

Be open

Allow the Lord access to every part of your life – your emotions, your concerns, your fears, your joy, your energy level,

your mess! This requires absolute honesty. ‘O Eternal One, You have explored my heart and know exactly who I am; You even know the small details like when I take a seat and when I stand up again. Even when I am far away, You know what I am thinking’ (Psalm 139:1-2 The Voice).

This openness and absolute honesty helps our intimacy with God.

Let the conversation continue

Generally, after this we may want to move into a time of thankfulness.

However, other things may come first if they are pressing on our hearts and minds. ‘He told them a parable, urging them to keep praying and never grow discouraged’ (Luke 18:1 The Voice).

Be listening

Let us hear the whispers of God, which may come at any time. By intentionally spending time listening, it helps us to be alert to the whispers of God when they do come. ‘Speak, your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:10 NLT).

This may take one, five, or 15 minutes – whatever is right or manageable for you.

Commissioner Lyn Pearce LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN AUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY

Revive 17

social issues

Gro Merete Berg

Pilgrim walks – searching for intimacy with God

I

t’s enriching sometimes to leave our everyday life and attend a retreat or take ourselves off on a pilgrim walk. For this to happen, many people need to answer two questions: ‘why?’ and ‘how?’

Augustine said: ‘Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee’ (The Confessions of Saint Augustine).

My desire is to live in his presence – searching for intimacy with God – in my everyday life as well as in those special moments or days which have been specifically set aside for spiritual enrichment. Retreats and pilgrim walks are among some of the things I find helpful to fulfil this desire.

I have undertaken pilgrim walks in Norway, Spain and ‘The Jesus Trail’ from Nazareth to Capernaum. Recently I had the opportunity to be a guide at a Women’s Ministry Pilgrim Walk in our territory.

The tradition of a pilgrimage stretches back many years with most cultures and religions having specific walks and sacred places of interest.

The Bible often speaks about people either walking alone or in fellowship with others. We read about God walking in the garden and Jesus walking among the people. Some scholars believe that many of the Psalms originated from pilgrim walks. In the Middle Ages people walked at the command of a priest as a penalty or punishment – sometimes with shackles – and were freed when they reached their destination. Others walked on their own initiative with sincere prayers for spiritual growth and renewal or healing for themselves or others. This was an accepted way to live.

While many could not take a pilgrimage to places like Rome or Jerusalem, people began to take pilgrim walks closer to their homes. The pilgrim

Left: an inscription on a door of one of the Nativity churches in Bethlehem taken during a pilgrim walk Right: a pilgrim lending a helping hand to a fellow walker

18 Revive

tradition developed as people hungered for intimacy with God. During the past few decades there has been an increase in pilgrim walks – perhaps in response to the busyness of life today. So instead of travelling to experience ‘the most possible in the least possible time’, there are growing attempts to slow down and ‘sign out’ for a while closer to home. Many want to be more than the ordinary tourist and so they come with their prayers and their questions, longing for intimacy with God, trying to discern his voice from the voices of the world.

It can be a gift to leave your calendar, watch and mobile phone for a few days and move slowly through the landscape with both believers and non-believers walking the pilgrim routes.

I believe all people are created with a longing for God and that our longing for intimacy with God, whether realised or not, is a small response to that great longing.

As a Christian I have been blessed to experience his presence. It feels good to walk, reflect, meditate and pray. At times this comes easy to me and at other times it is hard. But that is when I focus on Paul’s words recorded in Romans 12:1-2: ‘So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before

social issues

God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out’ (MSG).

Sometimes I also find it good to combine my steps and breathing with prayer. For instance saying ‘Jesus’ while breathing in and ‘Christ’ while breathing out, or ‘Jesus’ as I breathe in and the name of someone I want to pray for as I breathe out.

A pilgrim walk can be seen as a metaphor on life; nice landscapes, beautiful views, bright days, green grass, refreshing waters – the feeling that God is letting us catch our breath – then sending us out in the right direction. At times the hills are steep and we wonder where both he and we are – wondering if we will ever get out of death valley and

away from our enemies. But he is there as the Good Shepherd.

No matter where I go on my pilgrim journey I look for the signature of Christ in me, in others and in his creation, and I desire to live in his life-giving presence until I reach my final destination.

Following a pilgrim walk in Norway last year I received notes from my fellow walkers which said: ‘Thanks for the great days with myself, fellow walkers and God’ … ‘Thanks for the inner journey – the confirmation that he is the most important thing in my life’ … ‘Thank you for giving me time with God who helped me discern his will and way for me. It was a blessing!’

Hebrews 12:1-3 says: ‘Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no

parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it … That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!’ (MSG).

Lord, show me your way, and make me willing to walk it.

An old Irish blessing says: May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Major Gro Merete Berg

DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, NORTH NORWAY DIVISION NORWAY, ICELAND AND THE FÆROES TERRITORY

From left: pilgrims showing a lot of energy at the end of their journey – tired but blessed; one of the beautiful morning sights along the journey; the pilgrim ladies from The Salvation Army pictured with a couple who showed them hospitality during their journey

Revive 19

spiritual feature life

Hellen Munde Obimbo EDITOR, THE WAR CRY KENYA WEST TERRITORY

Columnist for 2015

In His

IMAGE

P

‘

raise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise?’

(Psalm 106:1-2).

Sometimes one of the hardest things in life is to be ourselves. How many times do we look in the mirror and find that we don’t like what we see? The mirror talks and we seem to follow the voice that screams back at us either positive or negative messages. God says in 1 Samuel 16:7: ‘The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.’

Believing in Jesus as God’s holy Son is the first step to simplifying our lives through him. Simply loving him because he first loved us makes it possible for us to trust him, to abide in him, to discern his voice from the voices of the world and listen to him. I know God loves me. In fact he loves me enough to convict me of my sin. He loves me so much that even if I were the only person on earth he still would have sent Jesus to die for me so that I could live in his presence for eternity. Once we fully accept his love for ourselves, we are able to reach out to others.

So next time you stand in front of the mirror and tremble, try to remember that God made your smile, your eyes, nose and face. We are his creation – called to reflect him in all we do. Spiritual transformation does not mean a diet programme, a makeover or a slim body. Spiritual transformation comes from an intimate relationship with the Saviour. And because of his gracious nature, he looks beyond our physical features and appreciates us for who we are.

Helen Steiner Rice wrote the poem ‘Breakfast for the Soul’ that says: ‘I meet God in the morning and go with him through the day Then in the stillness of the night before sleep comes I pray That God will just take over all the problems I could not solve, And in the peacefulness of sleep my cares would all dissolve.

So when I open up my eyes to greet another day I’ll find myself renewed in strength and there will open up a way To meet what seemed impossible for me to solve alone, And once again I’ll be assured I am never on my own.’

20 Revive

‘We are his creation – called to reflect him in all we do’ If I try to stand alone I become weak and fall. But I have found that God is always great when I am helpless, lost or feeling small. No day is unbeatable. If on rising each day my first thought is to thank God for the blessings that his loving care has brought me, then there can be no failures or hopeless situations. If I enlist the help of God each morning and go with him through the day and thank him for his guidance each evening, I come to realise that nothing is impossible because I have learned to listen for his voice faithfully guiding and directing me.

review

Through My Eyes

by Eva Kleman

How do people cope with life-changing illnesses? Eva Kleman, the author of Through My Eyes contracted cancer that deprived her of her sight. She used this time in her life to reach out to others rather than recoil into herself.

This book allows the reader to see through Eva’s faith just how much God can do and does do for us all. It will inspire you.

Through My Eyes is a book that you can pick up and put down.

It makes you consider and think about ordinary, everyday things from ‘human paperclips’ to roast veal and gherkins! And if you are looking for words of encouragement to give to others at times when perhaps you don’t know what to say, then this book would be ideal. There is something for every age group and every situation.

Through My Eyes is easy to understand, and will connect with your heart, inspire you and make you realise that there is so much to see in life – whether visually or not.

A quote from one of Eva’s writings that has helped me says: ‘The Bible contains snapshots, as it were. I sometimes call them God’s Kodak moments. Moments that suddenly appear brighter than anything else. Sometimes a trivial event in the background of a larger picture. In secret understanding God allows me to discover something unique in his world … I capture the moment in the picture. And in that moment something happens, which can only happen in an encounter between God and me. Surrender.’

When God Becomes Small

by Phil Needham

In his book When God Becomes Small, Phil Needham unfolds some misconceptions about God and ourselves. He speaks about two types of people and how they view God, enlightening the reader as to why people crave ‘to be better than the next person’.

In his study on the life of Jesus Phil says: ‘We are shocked even more by his disdain of wealth, status, adulation and fame. He’s born dirt poor and chose to stay that way. He spent most of his time exclusively with the poor and marginalized.’ He encourages the reader to try and understand that Jesus had his own way of dealing with things.

Phil Needham encourages the reader to see God in the little things that connect us with who we are in God’s presence, rather than who we desperately aspire to be.

I highly recommend Through My Eyes as a feel-good book – a feelgood book with God. Thank you Eva for allowing me to see God through your eyes.

The God of generosity and grace, he alludes, is the God of new beginnings. He wants us to start over – start seeing things in a different way and take another look. He positions each one of us to reach out beyond our inner circle. To share ourselves generously, keeping little for ourselves until we are small enough to make the difference that really matters.

Mrs Deborah Condon

Major Pamela Shiridzinodya

ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY TO THE COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

www.amazon.com Also available as an ebook at the above address

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

www.amazon.com Also available as an ebook at the above address

Revive 21

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2015

Easter message

from Commissioner Silvia Cox

Dear Sisters in Christ,

Easter is a reminder of the incredible power of God as we think once again of the mind-blowing resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. However not everyone saw it that way at the time. In the Gospels we read of two men who left Jerusalem to go to Emmaus. They were disturbed and deeply saddened by the events that had taken place. Something significant happened to them on that journey which utterly transformed them. Having shared a meal with someone who they thought was a complete stranger – they were suddenly energised. And instead of going to sleep after their meal they decided to go back to Jerusalem immediately.

Sometimes because of our sorrow, affliction and despair, like the two men, we do not recognise that Jesus is walking beside us, that he is talking to us. He has promised to be with us every day, until the end!

What was the reason? It was during the evening meal – when the stranger who had joined them and walked with them said grace – that they suddenly recognised that this was no stranger.

Jesus then disappeared from their sight. Jesus, who they thought was dead, was alive! This was so extraordinary that they needed to share this good news with the other disciples. When they arrived back in Jerusalem the disciples told them: ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon’ (Luke 24:34). What excitement there must have been between the disciples! What had started as a terrible day was transformed into a memorable day. All because of a meeting with the risen Jesus! All because of the realisation that Jesus had indeed conquered death!

Edmond Louis Budry

Even today, this is what can happen when we meet with the risen Lord – he can give hope where there is no hope!

As we once again celebrate Easter, let us open our eyes, and see the risen Lord beside us. Together let us sing: ‘Thine is the glory, Risen, conquering Son; Endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won.’

With my warmest greetings,

Commissioner World President of Women’s Ministries

Commissioner Silvia Co x Zimbabwean Salvation with ists at Harare airportw

the International Bible Reading Challenge In 2015, the year of the Boundless Congress, Salvationists and Christian friends around the world are called to join together to read through the whole of the New Testament within one year – The Whole World Reading!

You are invited to journey with us as we reflect on God’s timeless message to his Church.

Will you rise to the challenge?

BOUNDLESS WORLD THE WHOLE

READING

illustration by Jooles Tostevin

Acérquense Acérquense a Dios y él se acercará a ustedes Santiago 4:8 (NVI)

A DIOS

Come near to God

and he will come near to you James 4:8 (NIV)