Saturday 18 April 2020

EVERY DAY, ALL THE WAY - PUT A SONG IN YOUR HEART.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!
       
To  HESKETH MULI,  (as of yesterday)

Hesketh has been a house parent with us, together with his wife, since 2008
This should be his 50th!    And this will be his 12th year with us.   Good years, and we have been so glad for him and his dear wife.     They took over Testimony House in 2008, but currently they are in Drakeley Cottage starting a NEW family of children - currently fifteen altogether.    Most of their original family had grown up and left by the time they moved  to Drakeley.      But Testimony is still a Family Home and you may remember that the previous Drakeley Cottage family run by Francis and EUNICE Lahol moved into Testimony House just before Francis went to be with the LORD.    Eunice continues to run the Family now with 37 of their original group from Drakeley Cottage.

Hesketh is a very energetic, wiry, man with a great sense of humour, at times, balanced by a no-nonsens attitude which keeps him from letting things get out of hand.    He loves the Lord, and honestly and humbly seeks to share his faith with all he meets.    He gets on with helping with daily shopping and also in keeping an eye on the various  needs inside the Homes.      ALICE, his wife compliments him wonderfully and is loved by us all .....


Hesketh and Alice Muli.


THANK YOU HESKETH, and Alice, for your sincere faithfulness toward God, and constant support spiritually in lifting up our Christian testimony.     We have appreciated your determination to carry on, even in difficult times, and to keep persevering in coming to know, understand and encouraging the children God has entrusted to you.    Good fellow laborers and dependable.     God Bless this year ahead of you Hesketh and make it the most 'remarkable' yet, by His Grace.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE VIRUS is still with us in Kenya.    EVERYONE must now wear Masks in public.   No one allowed in Supermarkets without one.   BUT so fare shops have food.
TODAY these are the Government figures for our Country.
Confirmed Cases 262
Deaths  12
Recovered Cases 60

MORE cases of people travelling to other parts of the Country from those parts already infected are increasing.  NOT hopeful.    The World Health is predicting that Africa will be the net most affected area.      In Kenya there is no sign of an early change in the situation, and no sign of a lessoning of the general lockdown.      Our School is of course still closed, and without finance to pay the teachers.       Please pray for us to know what to do next.   We seek the Lord to give us wisdom.        We are still at peace within ourselves, and we feel no anxiety in just being in the hands of GOD.     We do not merely trust Him for the good, but even for the bad; that in being always with us He will provide the courage, patience and pain that may confront us, as well as the Joy in keeping well, and seeing His Deliverance.

Last Sunday, I shared about the sudden loss of daily security and  the disturbance of life that had confronted the disciples when they witnessed the death of Christ.  Filled with fear, anxiety for their life, and an almost frantic apprehension as to what their future held, it must have seemed as if the very world had stopped for them.      Like the world today, facing the present crisis, but unable to KNOW the future.       On those immediate days after seeing HIM DEAD, they could not find JOY or PEACE.   He was GONE, they were alone, helpless, and vulnerable.   HOPE gave way to despair.
BUT WE now know that JESUS ROSE up from the TOMB.    He was NOT dead!   He was and IS ALIVE, and never will leave or forsake any of those who BELIEVED or DO Believe right now.
WE are living in a TRUTH that should throw off ever FEAR AND ANXIETY.    When the disciples came to realise and KNOW this their whole life took on a new concept that change them for ever.

We cannot avoid the Devil's efforts to derail us from the smooth, trouble free life we hope  for.
JOB 5v7 tells us that ' Man is born for trouble'.    He should expect it
This does not change when God walks with us - BUT then we are not alone to bear the trouble,or to see it overcome - in fact we begin the more to see that life can be a 'battle'.     It was a battle for Paul the Apostle.    But he wrote in 1. Corinthians 9 v 26 ' I do not run uncertainly (aimlessly);  I do not fight as one that strikes the air as in a PANIC attack.  (Amplified translation)
HOW did he manage it all?    By laying hold of Eternal LIFE through Jesus Christ;  be GRASPING hold of the LIVING Jesus to be with him in all that he did or went through.  See 1. Timothy 6v12

The Hymn writer Blanch Moffat wrote 
'Trust in the Lord and don't despair,
He is a friend so true!
No matter what your troubles are,
Jesus will see you through.
Sing when the day is bright'
Sing on the darkest night
Everyday, all the day.
Sing, Sing, SING!

In 2 Chronicles 20v17 we read  'Be NOT afraid.   Be NOT dismayed!   Just STAND and see the salvation of the LORD.    (stop letting yourself become 'jumpy'.  Calm down. Stand still - and LET JESUS bring you through.

In  Psalm 107 v 2-3 we hear of those  who are living as refugees, homeless, stateless, hungry and alone.    THEY cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distress.
THEN, in verses 10-12 we are told of those who are afflicted with illness, and in the bondage of habitual sin, and poverty of life.     THEY cried to the LORD in  their trouble, and He heard them, out of all their distresses.
AND AGAIN in verses 23-29 we are told of those in peril on the sea in storm and tempest, and THEY also cried to the LORD, and He delivered them out of all their distresses!

AND THE LORD JESUS WILL DELIVER ANY ONE OF US THAT CALLS UPON HIM out of all their trouble, calamity, distress also 

If you BELIEVE in Jesus, then YOU can say with the Psalmist in Psalm 118v5
The LORD is with me,  I shall not be afraid.

Whatever you are battling with, be it the Virus or the results of it,
or with any of the multitude of troubles that might suddenly accost you
TRUST JESUS with it.    STOP.........settle yourself
AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE
God is WITH you, and HE will bring you through.
HE IS BRINGING YOU THROUGH.


I must close here.     You are all constantly passing through our thoughts, and we talk about you to Jesus and our Father in Heaven.       I  shared a while back that I have been having a problem with my feet, causing me some little distress.       For the last FOUR days and nights I have been quite relieved of all such hurt, and feel so refreshed and strengthened.    If you were praying for me, accept  my grateful thanks in Jesus Name for I have sought only His face for this.

WE ARE all well.     The Children continue to be contented and at peace.     We WAIT quietly for the LORD.    He IS coming soon.       Have I  said it before.    I will   go on doing so, and each time He will be closer.     May he BE with you all, and protect you from doubt and anxiety in His Name.

Lovingly in His Everlasting Love and Mercy

John, Esther, Daryl, and all of us here in Testimony Faith Homes.






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