My family has had a variety of Christmas trees throughout the years. There have been a few real ones, but for the most part, they have been fake. Yet with all the moving we've done for ministry, we have not been able to hang on to any one fake tree from one year to the next. This year, my husband surprised me with a nine foot pre-lit Christmas tree. It's beautiful! It's the prettiest I've ever owned! The nice tall ceiling in our bedroom and huge window is the perfect spot to display this beauty of a tree!
This past Thursday was Thanksgiving. While we should give thanks for all things every day of our lives, this special holiday serves as a reminder to give thanks continually. Here are just a few things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving:
1.) Family! What could a Thanksgiving day be without family?! It has been wonderful being with my family as much as we have: deputation, living on the field, traveling together, ministering together, etc. This is the first period in our lives since starting deputation where we are separated during the days: the kids are now in school and Jason and I are building sheds to pay for school. I can hardly believe I only have a few short years left with my children when they will be leaving the nest and starting their own journeys the Lord has planned for their lives!
2.) Ministry! The picture above was taken in the last town my family lived in Hungary: Szombathely. I am thankful for the time He allowed us to serve in the country. It was wonderful to minister there and it will always hold a special place in my heart!
3.) Salvation! 2020 has certainly been a difficult year for many, but I can not imagine going through life without knowing Christ as Saviour. I am thankful that I can have a personal relationship with Him!
We each have much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
1 Samuel 18:1 — 1 Samuel 18:4
1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
Friendships like that of Jonathan and David are rare these days. When they are discovered, it's in the best interest of each friend to cherish it and not take it for granted. Two people can be friends even if they are very different. Jonathan was a prince. David was a shepherd boy and a harp player for the king. It’s kind of like peanut butter and jelly. They are very different. One is sweet. One is salty. But even though they are very different, they go wonderful together!
What makes a good friendship? Well, one thing we can see about the friendship of David and Jonathan from verse one is that Jonathan loved David as his own soul. Proverbs 17:17 says “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Friends don’t always agree on every single thing, but even when they don’t agree, they can still love each other.
Another thing that makes a good friend can be found in verse three, “Jonathan and David made a covenant”. A covenant is basically a promise and when you make a promise, you do anything that you can to keep that promise. A good friend is one who says what he means and means what he says.
And the third thing we can see from these verses that makes a good friend is a friend is someone who is a giver. Friends shouldn’t constantly be taking from others but giving. We can see from John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave…” God, as our example, gave to show His love for us.
Check out our new ministry video!
Reaching Europe is the type of ministry that, as our pastor says, "Missionaries love it! Pastors don't understand it. This is the biggest challenge for Reaching Europe."
Our desire is to clarify the ministry through this video:
Today, my husband and I ran into the store to grab a few items for dinner. I noticed one lady on a few occasions making her way speedily down the one-way isles with her mask and disposable gloves on. She took no notice of the people around her other than to avoid them as though she had an actual 6-foot pole in her hands. We managed to make it to the self check out lane the same time she did. When the man directly behind her ventured too close, she extended her hand to warn him not to proceed any further. When the associate in charge of the self-checkout station passed by her, she quickly moved to the other side of her shopping cart to maintain her distance. She looked increasingly agitated whenever someone did not observe proper social distancing It really is sad that Covid 19 has produced people fearful of each other. While watching that one paranoid lady in the store, I could not but help thinking of that song that says, "How can we reach a world we never touch? How can we show them Christ if we never show them love? Just to say we care will never be enough. How can we reach a world we never touch?" This song, of course, is talking about missions. It refers to getting wrapped up in our comfort zones, serving in our local church, but not allowing our reach to extend past that. The incident in the store made me think literally our world has become one we "never touch". If you don't maintain social distancing, you do not care about other people. You are being selfish and unsafe if you don't wear your mask. Keep glass barriers between yourself and the people you serve for safety's sake.Literally, a world we never touch. Praise the Lord, when Christ walked among men that He did not social distance. He wrapped children in loving arms, touched blind eyes, and healed those who. likewise, reached for Him as the woman who was sick for twelve years had. No 6-foot rule. No masks. No social distancing. We have heard this verse quoted often since March when the pandemic hit: 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Instead of fearing our fellow men, we need to reach out to them, not physically, but a kind word does go a long way. Everyone is so fearful of catching this virus that kindness has gone out the window. This is no way to live. After that woman finally secured her lone spot at the self-checkout, my husband caught the eye of another customer making his purchase. He tugged his mask down, and said: "I just wanted you to see I am smiling at you."Today I graduated from the Groundwire Training Academy, a ministry where people can chat with someone who will care about them and liste...
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