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| As in Bible times, the importance of a well is still central in much of Indian rural life. |
We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
May your lives be filled with the blessings of peace, love and holiness throughout the coming year. We constantly thank God for each of you and for your love for the work of the Lord throughout this world. We pray that God would shine His grace upon you.
2013 was visited by sadness for many of you. Yet, we realize that this is the way Time is. We look forward to that long, unending Day in eternity where no sadness, no sorrow, and no tears will ever encroach upon us. Being with Jesus will remove all the memories of ‘trouble and pain’ from our minds. Nothing will matter once we are finally Home.
Hebrews 12: 1 and 2 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The Geneva Bible, an English translation of the Scriptures that preceded the King James Version several years says, “…cast away everything that presseth down…” That’s a unique way of looking at the weights that seem to want to crush the life out of us. The burdens, the worries, the problems, the heartaches, the failures of others, and even the downward slide of our own culture all sorely press us. But praise God, we are made “…more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
There is great reason for rejoicing as we approach the new year of 2014. First of all, God is faithful and will not “…suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…” Secondly, He “… will with the temptation also make a way to escape…” and, finally, we can trust his motives are for our benefit. He will do as He has promised in preserving us and providing an escape so “…that ye may be able to bear it.”
I suppose if I’ve gained anything this year, it is a greater confirmation of God’s trustworthy love for me. I’ve always believed it from my earliest childhood memories. But, it has become so real as I’ve seen God move and work in every part of the lives of our family. That He loves us, should not be a surprise to anyone who has really known Him. But the depth, the strength and the unshakeableness of His good will toward us should become more and more amazing as we continue to know Him in spirit and in truth.
None of us know what is ahead in this coming year. Neither our families, our ministries nor our lives are guaranteed to be shielded from surprises and difficulties. But there is this one thing of which we can be sure: Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.
In closing, let me share two more precious verses with you. May you find strength and courage in His Word to go onward toward our appointed destiny in eternity.
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| Thank you for praying for the nation of India! |
II Thessalonians 2:16 - 17
Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Sincerely,
Beyond Frontiers
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