Most of you have probably received our Christmas letter and picture card. So you know some of our holiday news. Thank you for your Christmas cards and greetings. We are here through New Year's Day after which we'll travel to Wisconsin to be with Sarah, Joel and girls. We'll be here Christmas Day with Leah, Kurt and girls and will enjoy dinner with John and Linda Dykstra at their home late afternoon. John and Linda are great Uncle and Aunt to Kurt. We have enjoyed Hope College Christmas vespers and the Holland Symphony and Chorale joint Christmas concert. I'm also happy to say that I've finished my shopping though would like to find something nice or unique for our 45th wedding anniversary. Any suggestions or ideas out there. We are doing an overnight to Chicago on December 26 with Leah's family taking the train from Chesterton.
I've been meaning to share the following writing with you for the past several weeks but haven't gotten it done. I've had some personal prayer concerns in my life that this connects with and think it may also connect with some of you.
"If you but gently persevere through [the stress of dryness and darkness], you will come out at the other end of the gloom sooner or later, into even deeper, tenderer day...There is each time one crucial point - to make no decisions, to change nothing during such crises...The crisis goes by, thus, with much fruit. What is a sense of God worth which would be at your disposal, capable of being comfortably elicited when and where you please? It is far, far more God who must hold us, than we who must hold God. And we get trained in these darknesses into that sense of our impotence without which the very presence of God becomes a snare." (Friedrich Von Hugel in 'Letters to a Niece')
Now along with that Lloyd John Ogilvie, Presbyterian pastor, author and former chaplain to the US Senate writes this about our prayer concerns.
Picture yourself approaching the crowd around Jesus. You long to get through to him about someone you love. Now see the crowd part and the open corridor directly to the Lord made for you. Jesus is there for you. Now stand before him face to face, heart to heart. Jesus is waiting for you to ask for what he is ready to give. Tell him about a person or persons on your heart. Then wait for his answer. At this very moment you prayed, says Jesus, my power has been released in the person for whom you interceded. My will shall be done, in my timing, according to my plan, and for the now and forever blessing of your loved one. You and I are of one heart now. We both love and care. Now go your way in faithfulness."
Wow, God! I believe but help my unbelief. Please.
May the light of the baby of Bethlehem that gives life and light to everyone; a light that can never be extinguished by any darkness, shine brightly and intensely in and through your life.
A meaningful and fulfilling Christmas holiday season is prayed for each of you.
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