Dear family and friends,

Normally I’d send out a Christmas greeting with a picture of family for Christmas, almost every year. But this year has been a year like no other. So instead of a picture this year, just wanted to encourage you because God knows we need a lot of encouragement right now, myself included. (For those that have sent pictures, letters, notes of encouragement — thank you.)

Dear friends, pray for discernment and test everything. Hold on to the good.
Christ is coming soon. We should live each day as if he can return at any moment — any day, week, month, or year. The time is short.

If you don’t know Christ, it’s not too late!

Bride (God’s true church), let us be ready and live in readiness and revival. When things are bad, instead of looking around in dismay, look up, for your redemption draws nigh.

It’s been a terrible year but many are coming to Christ more than ever before. Lukewarm Christians, including myself, are waking up. . . We’ve gone through tribulations, job loss, loss of family members, and shaking of faith. Let’s put Christ back in Christmas.

The light shines brighter in the darkness. Let us be that light on the hill, Christ’s light in us. We need it. Our families need it. Our friends. Be brave, be brave for our loved ones and don’t give in to panic and fear. Greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world.

Be careful what you read, there is a lot out there. We live in the age of information, but also an age of deception. People are using media to proclaim the truth more than ever, but truth is also being distorted. People and institutions we’ve trusted are unraveling . . . only God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He can be trusted, even when it doesn’t make sense . . . especially when it doesn’t make sense.  Keep a sound mind, be alert, and look for wisdom from God each day, through reading His Word, the Bible, and praying. Man fails, but God does not!

Be patient in suffering, God is working it out, even things that seem insignificant to us, even when it doesn’t make sense . . .  in his own divine timetable, not ours, so be steadfast in your trust.  Know that He loves you. He is for you.

 
Merry Christmas, dear friends, we are in this together. But even more, Jesus is with us, going through this with us. With me. With you.