May, 2007
Dear Friends,
A
friend and I were having a gripe session on the phone the other day, sharing
stories about how tough it is sometimes to shake off the doldrums and
depressions that come with life and the 
daily news every day. I told
her how I had been down and out of sorts, but had gotten into a conversation
with someone from the church who needed a kind word, and lo and behold I said
just exactly the right thing to lift his spirits. I was actually surprised with myself, saying
(in my head, of course): “Wow, that’s very insightful – where did that come from?” Of course I knew where it came from. Whenever something loving pops into our heads
or hearts unbidden, we know it is that still small voice of the Holy
Spirit. My friend on the phone said that
whenever she experiences those beautiful moments of epiphany, when God steps in
with love and encouragement just when she or someone else needs it, she calls
them “new mercies,” hearkening back to that old favorite hymn, “Great Is Thy
Faithfulness.”
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new
mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand
hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me!
Honestly,
as many times as I’ve sung that hymn, I had never seen those new mercies in
just that way. In fact, my friend
sharing her insight 
with me was one of those very new mercies reaching out to me. God is gracious and merciful indeed to
whisper in our ears sweet somethings of hope in the darkness. Isn’t it wonderful how it works? I was feeling low, talking to someone else
who was low, and God gave me a new mercy for him that lifted us both up. Then when I shared that new mercy with
another friend, she in turn gave me a new mercy that lifted us both. And that’s how the world gets changed, my
friends, one mercy at a time. Another
great hymn is “Lead On, O King Eternal,” which tells us, “For not with swords'
loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums; With deeds of love and mercy the
heavenly kingdom comes.”
Keep
your eyes, ears, hearts and minds open for new mercies of God’s great faithfulness. It is indeed great, and it is unlimited, if
we but choose to see.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to
guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for
tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand
beside!
Love,
Martin
To read
Martin's letters from past months, please click here.