What a privilege and blessing to spend a little more time with this cute guy while Mom and Dad are tending to new sister. What fun we are having--what memory building--praise our great God!
How we praise our great and faithful God for the gift of Sienna Faye Pound. She had a pretty smooth entry--an answer to many prayers, How great that we get some time to know and love on her too.
Thank you for your prayers! We give thianks to our Heavenly Father for the precious gift of life.
Taken at our church Christmas party--cutest little boy ever
I like the little book of Habakkuk because like Job and like the Psalmists, Habakkuk pours out his heart, his emotions to God. He doesn't hold anything back. Habakkuk means both to wrestle and to embrace. "How long O Lord must I cry for help, but you do not listen?" Habakkuk was a man looking for answers. Troubled by what he observed, he asked difficult questions. These questions were not merely intellectual exercises. Habakkuk saw a dying world, and it broke his heart. Why is there evil in the world? Why do the wicked seem to be winning? He boldly and confidently took his requests directly to God--to the One who could truly answer. And God did answer! God spoke and told the prophet to write his answers so all would see and understand. God told Habakkuk that though it seemed that the wicked triumph, eventually they would be judged, and righteousness would prevail. It may not come as quickly as Habakkuk would like, but it would come. In his grace, God relieved some of Habakkuk's anguish--even as He left other questions unanswered. Habakkuk closes his book with a prayer of triumph. He now has a new understanding of God's power and love--here is a God who responds to his questions. Habakkuk, like Job, rejoices in who God is and in what He will do. "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in god my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."
Our Church Christmas Drama
God wants us to come to Him with our struggles and doubts. God is not shocked. He reads our hearts and knows our confusion, our disappointment. His shoulders are big--so much better that we go directly to Him. More than 1/3 of the Psalms are prayers or songs of people in pain. But God's answers may not always be what we expect. God sustains us by revealing Himself to us--not in providing answers to all our questions. His answer to Habakkuk was, "Be patient. I will work out my plans in my perfect timing." Maturing spiritually takes time, effort and spiritual understanding--it is a process, and the process is as valuable as the end result. We want God to sanctify--transform us now--we don't want to go through the process, but the process is important. Craig Groeschel says, "To really know God, you have to wrestle through pain, struggle with honest doubts, and even live with unanswered questions."
Dave and I have been going through some difficult processing, and we have been reminded of these truths--to wait on Him and to trust Him to work out His plan and purposes. Once again, Groeschel says, "While turning to the only true God and asking for His help is always a good idea, Jesus said the the key was having trust--faith that "with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26) This is the embracing part. We have been here before-- and we know that in the waiting and trusting we learn valuable truths not otherwise gained. We have both had some health issues that have required seeking out doctors and decision making. We appreciate your prayers in all this. We haven't experienced the difficulties with which many have to struggle, but these are real issues for us. Dave had a serious kidney infection and is looking ahead to possible prostate surgery in the near future. We have done some of our own "crying out to God," and through it all we are reminded of His marvelous goodness in the past. He is sustaining us in the present--we feel His presence with us. The truth of Christmas--Immanuel--God with us!
Habakkuk says in 3:2 "LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD, renew them in our day."
Just like Habakkuk, Asaph cries out to God for courage during a time of deep distress. (Psalm 77) As Asaph expressed his requests to God, his focus changed from thinking of himself to worshiping God. "You are the God who performs miracles." Only after he put aside his doubts about God's care did he eliminate his distress. Memories of God's care sustained Israel throughout their history. They knew God was trustworthy and capable. God often had them set up memorials of some sort to remind them of God's faithfulness and provision in the past. Asaph begins to recall God's past work, and his faith is renewed. Asaph would tell you in your doubt, in your struggles, review how good God has been and what He has done for you in the past--and it will strengthen your faith and renew your resolve to wait and trust Him in the current situation. Wrestle and embrace! "We serve the same God who split open the sea by His power, hung the sun and moon and established the boundaries of the earth." (Beth Moore)
After the wonderful drama, food time
And, of course, game time!
Gabriel and the heavenly host
Pastor Dave's message on the greatest of all gifts--Jesus
Finally, Groeschel says, "Instead of finding that the questions (like Habakkuk's or those of the Psalms) distance you from the heart of God, you will discover something else,...honest questions, sincere doubts, and deep hurts can draw you closer to God thatn you've ever been before."
Reading of Luke 2:1-20 in 20 different languages Christmas Sunday
We appreciate and covet your prayers. Please pray:
- Health concerns
- Surgery in the future--wisdom and discernment --trust in the One in whose hands we ultimately rest
- Matthew and Audrey and family--FHF ministry here
- Strength and empowering to encourage people of Gathering Church in their walk and understanding of spiritual things
- For one young man to relinguish all concerns and yeild life to Christ
- That we be a positive witness for Christ--wherever we go and whatever we do
- Opportunities to share the reason for our hope
- For Christians in several countries experiencing increased persecuted for their faith
