Some of the readings for yesterday were
taken from the Books of Lamentation and Habbakkuk. In the world and its peoples
today we see present such national situations as anarchy and confusion. In the
midst of self-centeredness and self- preservation of the people in high places,
our Lord is sovereign. In the face of political upheaval and arrogance, Jesus
is King. The passage in Lamentation declares the faithfulness of our Lord. His
mercies never fail. The passage in Habakkuk declares, " The righteous shall
live by faith".
The world is full of people who have an
Entitlement mindset. Christians are called to have a mind of gratitude and
grace. We live by faith knowing that all that we are and have is by His grace
alone. How
blessed we already are. If only we had eyes to see what God has done for us.
His compassions never fail.
“They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23a). God’s mercies are brand-new every morning. “Great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23b). This is the text that led Thomas Obadiah Chisholm to write the poem, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", that became a beloved hymn sung on every continent This week I read an article, "Surprised by Death", by James Van Tholen, printed in the May 24, 1999 issue of Christianity Today. It seems that Pastor Van Tholen had been diagnosed with cancer, received treatment, and returned to his pulpit to talk about his experience. The doctors told him that they could not cure him and in fact he probably did not have long to live. What do you say to your congregation in a moment like that? He remarked that for the first time in his life, he felt as if he had begun to understand God’s grace. He wasn’t afraid of dying per se, but suddenly he realized that at the age of 33, he wasn’t going to live to be 40 or 50 or 60 or 70. He might live a few more weeks or months, but without a miracle of God, he wouldn’t live much longer than that. That’s when it hit him that for years he had subconsciously expected to live to some ripe old age, and that meant he had plenty of time to improve himself, to get rid of bad habits, to repair broken relationships, to grow in grace. Now, for the first time he realized he didn’t have enough time to do it. He would have to go out into eternity less than he wanted to be—with some habits unchanged, some relationships unrepaired, some spiritual growth not accomplished. That’s when he realized that he would have to depend completely on the grace of God, not just theoretically but practically and totally. If God’s grace wasn’t enough, then he was in trouble because there wasn’t enough time for massive self-improvement. Romans 5:6-8 became precious to him because it speaks of Christ dying for us while we were “yet” sinners.
“They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23a). God’s mercies are brand-new every morning. “Great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23b). This is the text that led Thomas Obadiah Chisholm to write the poem, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", that became a beloved hymn sung on every continent This week I read an article, "Surprised by Death", by James Van Tholen, printed in the May 24, 1999 issue of Christianity Today. It seems that Pastor Van Tholen had been diagnosed with cancer, received treatment, and returned to his pulpit to talk about his experience. The doctors told him that they could not cure him and in fact he probably did not have long to live. What do you say to your congregation in a moment like that? He remarked that for the first time in his life, he felt as if he had begun to understand God’s grace. He wasn’t afraid of dying per se, but suddenly he realized that at the age of 33, he wasn’t going to live to be 40 or 50 or 60 or 70. He might live a few more weeks or months, but without a miracle of God, he wouldn’t live much longer than that. That’s when it hit him that for years he had subconsciously expected to live to some ripe old age, and that meant he had plenty of time to improve himself, to get rid of bad habits, to repair broken relationships, to grow in grace. Now, for the first time he realized he didn’t have enough time to do it. He would have to go out into eternity less than he wanted to be—with some habits unchanged, some relationships unrepaired, some spiritual growth not accomplished. That’s when he realized that he would have to depend completely on the grace of God, not just theoretically but practically and totally. If God’s grace wasn’t enough, then he was in trouble because there wasn’t enough time for massive self-improvement. Romans 5:6-8 became precious to him because it speaks of Christ dying for us while we were “yet” sinners.
Our salvation hangs on that little word
“yet.” It is not just that we were sinners once upon a time but that in some
profound way, even though we are saved, we are still sinners desperately in need
of God's grace.
In
Christ,
Bio" Rev Nigel
Mumford..The Key note Spekar and the leader at The Prayer Confernce..
Octobe18.20.2013: First United Methodist church, Endicott and Union Center
United Methodist Church.
Nigel Mumford was born and educated in England. He served for six
and a half years in Her Majesty's Royal Marine Commandos; his last two years as
a Marine were spent as a drill instructor at the Commando Training School. In
1980, he came to America and set up a picture framing business in Connecticut.
His conviction to pray for healing came in 1989 when his sister, Julie Sheldon,
a ballet dancer with the Royal Ballet in London, was healed by God through the
late Canon Jim Glennon. Julie had a very dramatic healing from Dystonia, a
severe neurological condition that curled her up into a fetal position and left
her very close to death. Being a witness to her healing has had a profound
effect on Nigel's life. In 1995, he sold his business and has since dedicated
his life to the ministry of healing.
From 1996 to 2004, Nigel was the director of the Oratory of the
Little Way, a healing retreat center in Connecticut. In 2004 at the invitation
of the Bishops of Albany Episcopal Diocese, Nigel became the director of the
Healing Ministry at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, NY
(East of Saratoga Springs, NY). In December of 2005, Nigel was
ordained by Bishop Daniel Herzog.
In October 2009, Nigel was hospitalized with H1N1,
pneumonia and secondary pneumonia, and was near death. He was in ICU on a
ventilator and in a chemically induced coma for 19 days. His pulmonologist
told him: “You were as close to death without dying that I have ever seen."
Nigel and his family give thanks and
praise to all the intercessors who lifted him up in prayer for his miraculous
healing.
After nine and half years of building the healing ministry at
Christ the King Spiritual Life Center, Nigel and his wife, Lynn, feel led by the
Lord to move "among the people," to become an outreach for the church, and to
help establish healing ministries in individual churches. In 2013 Nigel became
founder of By His Wounds, Inc. (Christian
Healing)
Nigel's compassion for combat veterans evolved from his experience
of being in combat for a year with the Royal Marines. His belief that the
healing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ can help those men and woman who suffer
in silence with combat related trauma (PTSD).
Outside the ministry, Nigel enjoys sailing, boating, gardening, writing, public speaking, e-biking, playing the violin, bagpipes, and the clarinet.
The joy of the Lord...Speaking Engagements & Conferences
The Reverend Nigel Mumford has led numerous healing conferences in
many venues throughout the United States, Canada, England, Northern Ireland, and
Sweden. He has taught Healing Ministry at many Seminaries, ( PA , WI, CT,
& UK)
If you are considering hosting a Healing Conference and would like
Rev. Mumford as a speaker, or would like Rev. Mumford to come and teach at your
church, (or venue) please see the
Bookings section of this website.
Affiliations
Nigel is Vice President of the North American Board of Directors of the International Order of St. Luke the Physician (OSL) He speaks at many OSL events throughout North America, and has twice been the keynote speaker for the Order's North American National conference. He regularly contributes articles to the OSL's quarterly Sharing Magazine.Nigel is on the National Advisory Board of Dr. Francis and Judith MacNutt's, Christian Healing Ministries in Jacksonville, Florida. He is a Member of the Association of Christian Healing Centers in the United Kingdom.
Nigel is a Chaplain of the Royal Marine Association for North America, a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International and received the Wittnauer Humanitarian Award in New York City, 1995
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