Merry Christmas!!!

 We continue to rejoice gladly as we celebrate not only the birth of Jesus Christ but also His death, his resurrection and  His wonderful gift of salvation that the Lord has given  us. We celebrate the ultimate gift-giver, our gracious Heavenly Father from whom every good and perfect gift flows. (James 1:17).
We count it all joy to be able to celebrate Christmas with with the Bradshers and the Kish family this year! 

  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
Isaiah 9:6

Operation Christmas Child in Charlotte NC!

 This morning we drove 1hr15 min to Charlotte NC at the processing centers to pack shoe boxes!
  Oh my goodness! What an awesome experience. 
Operation Christmas Child is an awesome program indeed!
 I have always been on the receiving end of these gift boxes so it was such an amazing experience to see the hearts, energy and hours poured into sorting out and packaging  these boxes. I was amazed by the cheerful environment, people singing and chanting as they worked. It was like a toy factory out of a Christmas movie. The Joy! oh my word, the joy was unspeakable. 

The gifts are truly heaven sent.
You could honestly feel the presence of God in every thing going  on. People prayed over the boxes during the packaging process as they made them ready to be send out to the ends of the earth, bringing hope and joy to children around the world; including Namibia!


                                                          

Community Hope school received  shoe boxes!

 They go town to town, village to village, spreading the  love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Greatest Gift. One young lady from Romania shared her testimony of how she came to Christ many years ago through receiving a box and being told about Jesus Christ. She came to know and receive Jesus as her greatest gift.
 What an awesome experience for anyone to be apart of this wonderful ministry! 
 What a difference God is making all around the world through these people!
It was a blessing to be part of that today.

A Reminder...!

I am sharing this with those who truly need to hear it as much as I do...almost every day!

 Here are some of my very favorite quotes by Jim Elliot that God used to truly change my life and influence some of my decisions, even today. Proverbs 19:20 says " Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days."  So I try.

 Jim Elliot

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

"Rest in this: it is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond, or what have you."

“The will of God is always a bigger thing than we bargain for, but we must believe that whatever it involves, it is good, acceptable and perfect.”

"I may no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather respond to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not."
 

The advanture of preparing for Christmas