Entanglements

Things are kind of quiet for now. We have been finishing Christmas shopping, and Jim is working some part-time hours at his long-time employer for many years. He is helping them with software updating and report writing.

I have been reading a small book published in 1939 by Amy Carmichael. She reminds believers of the dangers of entanglement to social expectations, noisy unproductive talk, ("We should write it down as a law of the house that those who are absent are not to be discussed to their detriment, that no belittling stories are told of anyone, nor anything said about anyone unless it passes through the three sieves: Is it true? kind? necessary?"), and of spending time doing things instead of cultivating a closer walk with God.

We are so often reminded not to be caught up in the worldly entanglements of the secular Christmas celebrations. I need most of all to faithfully have my quiet time devotions and to walk with God. I need to be sensitive to the Spirit's reminders to watch my words especially when talking of other people. I need to pay great attention to my expectations being from the Lord.

Thank you for your part in helping us through prayer. It means so much.

Let us be wholly surrendered to God this Christmas.

First snow

The snow began falling last evening while we were enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with John and Noreen. The snow is beautiful with the Christmas lights. I took these pictures in this morning's early light.

Praise and thanksgiving

Because He first loved us...
"We love him, because he first loved us."
1 John 4:19

Because in Him we live, move, and exist...
"Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."
Psalm 73:25-26

Because we have resurrected lives...
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
Galatians 6:14

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
2 Corinthians 5:21

Because you pray for us...
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
James 5:16

Lookout Mountain

We drove home from Atlanta yesterday stopping in Chattanooga to see beautiful Lookout Mountain. Battles were fought here in November 1863.

Our time in Atlanta was great. We had many opportunities to meet folks, the weather was warm, and we pray for some support from this church.

Thanks for praying with us.

Pressing forward

We will leave early Saturday morning to travel to the Atlanta area for a meeting on Sunday. As always we thank you for prayers of safe traveling but even more, please ask the Lord to help us to minister and be ministered to. We pray for hearts that are Christ-pleasing.

We believe we have some good promises of support coming soon. We will keep you informed.

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
Matthew 21:22

A double blessing is a double grace.

"A double blessing is a double grace."

Shakespeare

We spent two weeks in Denver. We had a good time with family and took part in a great mission's conference there. While we were in the mountains one day, a pastor from Minnesota called and told us their church is taking us on for support. Also, we are praising the Lord for solid assurances from the Denver church that they will be voting soon with the desire to begin supporting us. While in Denver, Jim helped Joe work on a fence project. One Saturday, the family got together for a picnic and we snapped this picture of Dad and the three sisters.

We left Denver to travel to northern Michigan. (Yes, I finally got to see the Macinac Island bridge!) We had several opportunities to speak. While there we were privileged to meet another veteran missionary couple that have truly suffered physically for their missions call to the field of Russia. I was humbled and reminded to think little of my personal discomforts in light of this couple's faithfulness in suffering. We were also given strong assurances the church will be praying and hoping to take us on for support soon.

We are home now and the weather is pretty nice for the first of November. On Tuesday of this week the ladies in our home church blessed me with a shower of personal gifts and ministry items. I was so overwhelmed with the many gifts.

I cannot thank you all enough for praying for us. I believe God is encouraging us to keep hanging in there. We are home this week and then we travel to Georgia. Keep holding us up in your prayers.

"The power of prayer cannot be diminished by distance; it is not limited by age, infirmity, political changes or restrictions. The power of prayer in the life of an obedient Christian can only be undermined by neglect."
David Bentley-Taylor