"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God..."  2 Cor. 1:3-4.

At this time I find it opportune to let this personal word of praise reach  everyone of you.  I wish I could sit down with you individually face to face, - I think the apostle Paul may often have had the same wish when he wrote his epistles - but I trust you will, as it were, "take potluck" with this "today´s special" from my "kitchen".

It has pleased the Lord to (hopefully) make me a happy heart convalescent, even though the doctors don´t seem to be too happy with me right now.  But I´m happy in our Lord Jesus Christ who didn´t allow me to make Him just a "name" or "creed" or an empty, religious word, but on the contrary He has been zealous enough to make Himself a new or renewed , heartfelt experience, just for one purpose, so triumphantly expressed by the apostle, "I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel"  (Phil. 1:12).

I know this will be read by suffering saints too who can smilingly point to a God who uses "afflictions" to make His word of comfort more real and "to the point" than ever.  The Bible suddenly gets a more shining face, its truth doesn´t become dry "theology" only but is a self-experienced  happening or event full of living water.

Maybe some of you have noticed an exciting biblical feature, namely that the frequent openings "The word of the Lord came to..." (e.g. Jeremiah) literally means, "The word of the Lord happened to...(Jeremiah or some other prophet).  That´s the way it´s rendered in our very old Danish Bibles.  Fascinating, isn´t it?

(For those patiently interested, there´s a helpful study on this on https://wherethewind.com/2010/03/01/the-word-happens/

My last heart attack didn´t make me "finished" despite  disturbing lab studies, for I got the assurance that "I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of the Lord"  (Ps. 118:17) and "that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith"  (Phil. 1:25), incl.  "small and great (Acts 26:22).  How long, the Lord only knows or whether some travelling may still be on the agenda.

May this testimony of the God of all comforts revive your hearts as it has mine.

Your co-worker and co-pilgrim for His glorious cause,

Jørn