THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS

THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS
Fr. Nigel W.D. Mumford+
Dateline May 2009 First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South Carolina.
I had been invited to lead a healing mission at the First Presbyterian church in Greenville SC. That included a talk Friday night. Two talks and a Q&A session Saturday morning and a healing service in the afternoon. The conference was very well attended, around five hundred people. On Friday evening before my first presentation I was given an office to pray in. As soon as my host had left, I fell on my knees in prayer. Immediately I was given a vision. It was so vivid, so real, so powerful and so quick.
I saw Jesus on the Cross!
He could barely speak but he invited me to pick up the ladder, place it on the cross and climb it. He wanted to say something to me. I was concerned about the guards… don’t worry they are on their coffee break. Coffee break? Jesus, coffee had not been invented yet. Was that my imagination, or was he messing with me? Whatever happened took away my fear of what was about to happen.
I lifted the ladder and placed it on the vertical post just under the horizontal beam. I climbed the ladder very hesitantly. The blood, the smell, the flies, imminent death, the actual crucifixion, the horror… I got to stand on the ladder right next to Jesus. It was all so very real. He looked at me, my heart melted. The sorrow in his eyes… the grief for the world, the burden upon his shoulders pushing him downwards.
He whispered, “I want to tell you something. Put your right shoulder under my left shoulder and lift me up, I’m suffocating.” I slid my shoulder under his and lifted him up the best I could. His head was right next to mine inches away. No flies, no smell. Blood and dirt on his face, matted hair… it was all so very real, all so vivid.
He spoke, “I want you to see what I see…”
I looked away from the Lord, our cheeks almost touching. I looked at the terrain, the geography, the wadies, the light brown burnt looking grass, I looked as everything he was looking at. I thought later that all the painting of Jesus on the Cross are images of the front of the crucifixion. I don’t remember seeing any painting of the rear of the Cross or the view from the Cross!
I was suddenly back in that upper room office. Stunned. What just happened. I was just transported in time to the outer walls of Jerusalem to the year 33 and had a conversation with Jesus. I was wondering why he wanted me to look at the topography, the view from for Cross?
My host came into the room. She knew by my face that something had happened. I was in shock. We did not have time to talk about it as she led me to the worship space. It was a much larger crowd than I had imagined. We praised the Lord with some powerful ‘happy clappy” worship songs and then I was introduced. I was still very much on the top of the ladder. I was in shock… what just happened?
The introduction ended. It was my turn to speak. I smiled and looked around, getting my bearings. I paused to get my feet off the ladder and back on firm ground. I started to tell the gathered crowd of the vision I had just experienced. I got to the part when Jesus said, “I want you to see what I see…” and froze. It was not the view from the Cross, it was not the topography, it was not the land…
His word suddenly made sense.
“I want you to see what I see…”
I stared at the back row on the left side and looked right into the eyes of everyone there. I went up and down the rows, looking at every Soul present. I spoke out the message I had been given as it came to me.
I realized what the Lord wanted me to see. Nigel, I want you to see the pain, the dis-ease, the sickness, the illness, the diagnoses, the mental anguish, the emotional pain, the broken hearts, the real pain, the perceived pain, the rejection, the grief, the loss, the lack of being loved, the raw broken Souls, the emotional bleeding, the triage, the fear, the anxiety, the anger, the rage, the discord, the mental illness, the disconnect, the very real human suffering in all its forms. It was as if I was given the vision of the very real suffering of Jesus and then the Lord showing me the human condition of the same raw pain our Lord suffered in the same moment.
“I want you to see what I see…” I indeed saw what He wanted me to see and I have seen what He wants me to see so many times since this amazing gift and intimate encounter with the crucified Savior.
What is my reaction to this brief encounter with Jesus? It was all so real, so vivid, I know it was not my imagination. The fact that I was not able to connect the dots until I was in such a vulnerable place standing in front of five hundred people and not knowing where this vision was going until it all made sense in the very moment of looking at the gathered crowd.
“I want you to see what I see…”
I saw and still see what the Lord sees… not something I asked for, not something I was seeking, but an amazing gift, an insight, an intimate “showing” into the life of Jesus, and what He saw.
After note.
Five months later I was in a coma for three weeks. I was in the ICU for three months. I had a severe case of the H1N1 swine flu. I was not expected to live. My lungs, hips and legs took a major hit. My liver and kidneys had shut down. I was on one hundred percent oxygen for three weeks, I had a temperature of 105, sepsis and MRSA, my blood was pooling in my legs. I was dying and couldn’t breath on my own. Jesus came and lifted me up and gave me life. He let me speak again…
I know my redeemer lives… I have no doubt who the healer is. Thank you, Jesus, for so drastically changing my life… what more can I say except thank you, I am still in total awe of that life changing moment.
Grace and Peace be with you,
Father Nigel W.D. Mumford
Priest – Author -International Speaker
757-496-0001
Priest Associate; Galilee Church, Virginia Beach /Director of Prayer Ministry
BY HIS WOUNDS INC. /Founder and President
Founder /Welcome Home Initiative© A Healing Retreat for Combat Veterans

Setting Healthy Boundaries

SETTING HEALTHY BOUNDRIES by Fr. Nigel W.D. Mumford+
I am often asked for advice about the efficacy of “toxic people” in the power they have to “train wreck” their day.
If you are being “slighted, put down, verbally attacked or verbally abused” please consider setting some healthy boundaries. Remember “NO” is a complete sentence.
People are habitual. You may have been the recipient of verbal abuse over a long period of time. Perhaps it is time to set boundaries. If you gently and quietly after a slight pause, speak these words or words that work for you, you will have set a healthy boundary. You may have to do this several times until the message is received. A hand, flat and pushed forward with the word “No” is a powerful statement.
Presented in gradual firmness…
1) I am feeling hurt by your words. Please stop.
2) What you are saying is really hurting/offending/disappointing me. Please stop
3) Please be gentle with me. I am hearing your verbal attack
4) What I have heard you just say really hurts me. Please don’t do that.
5) Please don’t say that. It really hurts me.
6) Your words are not sitting well with me. Please stop this verbal abuse
7) Please stop, you are hurting me. (then change the subject.)
8) Say, “Stop it”
9) I’m going to hang up now. Your words are hurting me.
10) Walk away or Hang up.
Here follows an interesting verse that might apply to toxic people in your life and the pain they might cause you. This bible verse sets out a very healthy boundary…
2 Corinthians 2:1
“So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you…”
“NO.” is a complete sentence.
Fr. Nigel W.D. Mumford+
www.ByHisWoundsMinistry.org

I thought I was going to be late…

MUMFORDS MUSINGS…
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE LATE…
Virgina Beach 11.00am Mon, March 11th 2019
I was wearing my clergy collar, driving a mile from my house on my way to a prayer appointment when I saw an older man crouched over a brick mail box, with a younger woman with her arm around his shoulder. He looked stressed.
I turned around and went back to see if he was OK. He was very winded.
His Daughter was in tears saying,
“I just prayed for help and you came by…”
I asked if they needed an ambulance?
She said they had gone for a walk… a bit too far, and that he was winded.
I asked where they lived and then gave them both a ride to his house.
We spoke about the priest in the story of the Good Samaritan, * who, you may remember, crossed over to the other side of the road…
I was convinced I was gong to be late for the appointment but got there five minutes early!
It was a good morning in the vineyard… with the fruits of the Spirit.
To God be the Glory.
Fr. Nigel W.D. Mumford+
*Luke 10:25-37

A Middle C Miracle Moment.

~A “MIDDLE C” MIRACLE MOMENT~
At the start of my homily at the healing service
this past Tuesday, the piano, out of the blue
played middle C.
We all (95 People) looked at the piano… in awe.
The pianist was ten pews away from the piano… we had a note
from the Lord. I confess I had goose bumps on goose bumps.
It was as if the Lord said, “Listen to me…”
It was a key note moment!
~Fr. Nigel W.D. Mumford+

The leaf blower… part two.

LEAF BLOWER: PART TWO.
Ok,
I just pulled out the washer and the dryer to clean the vent.
Now, this time it was good.
The battery leaf blower is excellent at cleaning the vent
As long as you point the thing outside!
You should have seen what came out… half a doz
Single socks… we are having a party here.
Reunions all over the place.
Not really.
Just a lot of that gray fluffy stuff…
NOTE TO SELF.
DO NOT use a leaf blower to clean the coils on your fridge.
This is really NOT a good idea.
Dyson or a hair dryer!
DO USE a leaf blower to clean the dryer vent at least once a year!
The Nozzle fitted into the vent very well.
Gray matter all over the side yard.
BRILLIANT.
PS.
Why is dryer lint always gray?
I don’t even have any gray clothes.
PPS.
I drained the hot after heater too.
I didn’t need the leaf blower for that!
PPPS
If I had brains I’d be dangerous!
Stay tuned for more adventures of
Fr. Nigel+

NOTE TO SELF… I didn’t think it through.

NOTE TO SELF…
Is it a good idea to bring a leaf blower in to the house?
In a word NO.
So, I started my spring cleaning check list…
First on the list, pull out the fridge and clean the cooling coils.
I wheeled the fridge out of its nesting place to find a huge
gathering of dog hair entangled amongst the coils.
I attacked it with the vacuum cleaner. It picked up
some of the offending dog hair but nowhere near all of it!
Ummm wha to do?
The vacuum did not pass the test.
Ah har…
Yes, you guessed I went outside and got the “Leaf Blower”
I thought, no worries, that will do the trick. It did…
I confess I did the “Tim the Tool Man Taylor” thing and
Did not think it through.
I knew it would remove the blockage but that’s as far as thought!
BIG MISTAKE…
My bride was watching the TV.
I warned her of an impending very loud noise, but that was all.
I then put the battery leaf blower on full power.
The out come was very effective for the fridge.
It did the trick.
BUT
the explosion of dog hair and 5 years of dust on the other side of the
Fridge was so bad one could NOT see the other side of the room.
World war three had taken place in the kitchen.
We both ran out of the house looking like zombies.
NOTE TO SELF and fellow gentlemen…
Warning…
If you are using out Door equipment, indoors, it is most likely a mistake!
There’s your clue…but you can expect fantastic results…
THE OUTCOME.
The motor house and coil of the fridge are like new…
The kitchen… looks like a bomb has gone off.
It took me ten minutes to clean the fridge.
And an hour and a half to clean the kitchen…
Five years from now I will use another plan…
Definitely PLAN B. At least I’ve got five years to think
What Plan B is….
All I have to say is
Hahahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahahaha
Needles to say… a redundant quote… My bride was not amused!
Laughing to myself in Virginia.
JOB WELL DONE…. NOT.
Feeling like a bit of a twit…

God Got Our Attention

~GOD GOT OUR ATTENTION~Dateline 1/26/19 at a private residence, Virgina Beach, VA. ~Fr. Nigel W.D. Mumford+ 
I spent the afternoon with a woman’s group interestedIn the healing ministry. About twenty five attended in a private home. I spoke on “Forgiveness”. A woman needed healing of a rather unpleasant memory from the past. As we started to pray for this woman and after being in the home for two hours a neighbors dog started to bark, rather loudly. It was very distracting. After a while, in a quiet voice, I commanded the dog to quite. The dog could not have heard me, however the dog was instantly silent and did not bark again!  Total silence from the dog. The peace of God reigned down upon us with such power.  The woman looked so different after we had prayed with her. The trauma of the past was removed and she was set free. The dog’s silence got our attention.


And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.Genesis 1:28b

Devine Favor

Blessed are the cracked pots, for they will let in the light.
Blessed are those who leak, the Holy Spirit.
Blessed are the flexible for,they will not be bent out of shape.
Blessed are singers, for they are noteworthy.
Blessed are those who cook, especially for those who don’t.
Blessed are those who laugh for laughter is contagious.
Blessed are those who are healed, as healing is contagious.
Blessed are the cheese makers, because someone has to do it.
Blessed are wheel dealers, for they never get tired.
Blessed are those religious who cook fries, for they shall be know as the chip monks.
Blessed are those who choose the Lord, for they will be blessed.
Blessed are those who smile…
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6
~Fr. Nigel Mumford+