Dear Friends,

I've been having website troubles this week (you know how it gets with technology sometimes) and so I was getting a bit frustrated this morning.  Other than that - I felt that things were looking up.  God is as real as ever and there always seems to be something new and exciting looming for the person looking for it.

Also, this last week I took the big decision of restricing my online time to only one day a week.  This leaves me much free-er to be with my children and to devote myself to prayer and my wonderful country congregation.  My sincere apologies to you if I am unable to reply to your mail very quickly.  Thank you for your understanding - I do appreciate you greatly, but sadly I will need to take a week or so to get back to you if you write.

Also, I have not forgotten you in my prayers.  You are on my mind.  I pray the Lord wil guide you into all His goodness and the very best He has.

Last week I was with some friends and we were discussing a verse found in the gospel of John which says something like this: "If you love me, you will obey my commandments" (Jesus was speaking).

At face value it certainly sounds like a tough scripture (or at least I thought so) but actually it is a very liberating scripture when you see it from the right angle.  I have often heard this verse preached from more than one church that if we obey God we will prove that we love Him.

Last week my friends and I realised that actually the opposite is true.  The scripture is not telling us to seek obedience - It is telling us to seek a loving heart.  So often we force ourselves to do all the good and right things but it is a huge effort.  What this verse is saying is this - "Look for a heart of Love towards God - and then you will be able to obey Him."

Now doesn't that sound possible - its sure does for me.

I believe that God will give us this loving kind of heart if we would earnest desire it and pray with a heart that believes.  I believe that a loving heart is not an impossibility but is actually very reachable for all of us, including you Shawn .

The Bible says that "we love because He first loved us."  Praise God for that.  In closing, my hope is that this weekend your heart with be moved with the joy and blessing from a righteouss life and a genuine heart.  (Righteousness is of course a gift from God which we don't have to earn)  May the truth be with you and reveal much.

Cheers in the name of Jesus

David