The biggest challenge for all of us is to grasp just how good God is, and especially how good He is to each one of us personally. My best Jewish friend was here at the mini-golf the other day and he was telling two men that were here visiting from America about friendship. The two men were sharing that they had been friends since childhood and now they are in their sixties endeavoring to hear God for what the Lord would have them to do here in Israel.

My Jewish friend was telling these men that about a year before he met me his father had died and one Saturday morning here at the mini golf he felt a desire to ask me if I would be his father. I was overwhelmed by this request but the Lord has given me grace to walk with this man and now his wife and children over these years. Ruby and his wife are best of friends. God is so good. My Jewish friend told these two visiting men that he had discovered a friend in me that he had never experienced in his 45 years.

This is what our God is after. He not only wants to be our father and brother and guide but he wants to be the very best friend that we have ever had. The Lord spoke to me years ago that I must stay vulnerable if I expect to experience true friendship in Him. This is difficult for all of us because life just naturally brings forth unfulfilled expectations, both from God and our fellow man. Hurts can cause us to withdraw and no longer trust our innermost being to anyone. The wonderful good news from heaven is that Jesus came to heal all of our hurts and at the same time to become an intimate friend with us. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to make the following passage of scripture real in us today.

"I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well pleasing in Thy sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and My load is light." (Matthew 11:25-30)

Jesus tells us in John 17:3 that our salvation is not complete until we know the Father along with knowing Him. Lord, I am asking you for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to rest upon each of us today. We want to know you Lord, not just as our Saviour but also as our friend. Thank you for taking us to Your Father and causing us to be known by Him and allowing us to know Him as our Father. Holy Spirit, thank You for making our relationship with the Father and the Son real.

Many of you have written asking me for prayer concerning your money problems and wanting more input from me on what you need to do to get free from your debts. Let me encourage you to read Matthew 6:24-34. Jesus is once again telling us to get our minds off of our problems and get our mind on Him and His Kingdom. A little chorus goes like this: TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS, LOOK FULL INTO HIS WONDERFUL FACE, AND THE THINGS OF EARTH SHALL GROW STRANGELY DIM IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE.

We all need multiplied grace to accomplish this seemingly impossible task of releasing our needs to the Lord and truly letting go of them. Like I shared last week, it took me two months to truly release my 10 million dollar debt to the Lord after He told me that He would take care of it. Yes, His love is so much greater than we can grasp or comprehend with our natural minds. Remember, it is well pleasing to the Lord for us to turn it all over to Jesus and to let go. May He bring you into His perfect rest today.

Thanks for remembering to order our soap and lip balm. It just makes Ruby and I feel good to hear from you and it is truly a joy to be able to provide these really fine products for your use and your friends. Have a blessed week in Him, Homer Owen.

Click here to order the lip balm and soap special:
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