From the Editor

Dear friends

One of God's titles is The Alpha and Omega -– the
beginning and the ending -– He is the author and finisher, the writer and the
reader of your book and mine. My lesson this month is that I should fear God and
not men. It's a lesson I have studied and learnt before...I'm just
relearning it again. Of all the demands put on us in life, we need to hear
firstly from God! We must know His preferred direction and then walk in His
favour. In a world where many seek empowerment from 'looking within', God's
Word tells us to 'look without' (outside of ourselves) to Him, the rock that
is higher than us. We must hear from Him before entering the arena of looking
within. I believe in the teaching that says we should find ourselves, I just
believe we can only achieve this as we find Him first! He reveals 'purpose and
plan' and we gain a sense of identity -– and live through good and hard times
without too much focus on survival! The same testimony we saw in Jesus "...who
for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and
is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:2.

I am aware that for some the reality of this type of teaching
would seem illusive -– out of reach. This was why Jesus came. The Old Testament
system was out of reach, unattainable... May I encourage you to look again at
Jesus and His words, because there we find life. If you are finding it too hard,
you are looking past Jesus -– He is not hard to find, He is not hard to follow.
But it may mean we need to lay down our favourite type of thinking (like the
rich young ruler) and move on!

Have a good month -– grow in grace and love

Andrew