Dear Friends

Have you ever let God down.........or at least felt like you did? I
know I have felt like that on many occasions. Because we are only
human we feel like we can never measure up to the high standards we
think God expects of us.

I want to share with you a little secret. God does not get
disillusioned with you and He never gives up on you. Of course, the
same God wants us to develop and mature as disciples but His patience
never seems to run out.

Imagine a baby learning to walk. When the baby inevitably falls over
for the first time, no-one blames it for that. The parents are not
disillusioned with the baby. Even after many months if the baby has
not started walking yet, the parents are still patient and loving.
They don't harm the child or hate it just because it doesn't perform.

So why do we feel unloved by God when we fail?

The thing is, we only "feel" unloved. The truth is that we are more
precious and loved by God than any baby is by his parents. So next
time you trip up, don't feel guilty, but remember you are loved and
determine to do better next time.

God doesn't blame you for failing, but it does dissapoint Him when you
give up. Giving up is a sign that you have lost heart and your faith
has departed. Don't give up on God because God will never give up on
you.

On a few other matters........I'm going away for 10 days of rest and
prayer. I'm really looking forward to getting away from the rat race
of life and finding that place of fellowship with God. I'm going to
Bargara, a lovely small town of about 2000 on the coast of Queensland.
AFter that I'm going to go hiking for 5 days (just me and God) in the
mountains of the Canarvon National Park. I have a great sense of
anticipation that I will experience God there.

I only mention it because I normally write to you of a weekend, but
next weekend I will not be able to do so. My prayer is that you will
be kept and blessed in every way and that the grace of God will also
draw you towards Him more and more.

Thank you so much for your friendship and being able to write to you.
My sincere hope is that I might be a blessing wherever I can to God's
people.

May the Lord keep you and bless you until I write again.

Regards in Jesus name

David