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December Newsletter


SHANNON’S CORNER
December 2016
This Christmas I am navigating through new waters, how the Dominicans celebrate Christmas and how Kids Alive here celebrates Christmas.  I had the opportunity to share a devotional with the ladies of my Bible study before Christmas break.  I want to share with you some of what God had me share with these women.  Advent season is a time of preparing our hearts, minds, and souls for the most precious gift that we can ever receive, Jesus.  With that in mind, God led me to Isaiah 40.  This is not a common Christmas passage but lets take a look.

At this time in history, God’s people have been exiled to Babylon.  The first eleven verses of chapter 40 talks about God’s comfort, deliverance, and God’s word stands forever.  God is their Shepherd.  He knows their needs and will tend to their wounds.  The following verses (12-21), tells us of God’s greatness, vastness, majesty, understanding, all-surpassing power and greatness even over idols.  He is Creator.  There is no one like our God.   God has no rivals.  In verses 22-26,  we get a glimpse of the word from God’s view point.  The Babylonians may worship the stars but God made the stars and knows all the billions of stars by their name.  God’s power and glory is over men of power on earth.  God is reminding His people that He remembers them His own special people.  The last verses 27-31, Isaiah is showing us how understanding God’s greatness and glory makes a difference in our lives.  It persuades us that there is nothing our life hidden from God and there is nothing neglected by God.  Know the truths about our God.  He is the Lord God.  God is the Creator of all the earth.  He neither faints nor is weary.  God’s understanding is unsearchable.  God gives us His power and strength.  He calls His people in exile to faith like He does to us today.  Know that God our God is not powerless but He has the will and the power to redeem all who accept His gift.

If you are doubting God’s love or that God even exists because of the struggle, circumstance, or hurt you are going through, read Isaiah 40, and ask God to reveal Himself to you.  His comfort.  His deliverance.  His power and strength.  His greatness.  His redeeming love.  His gift to you.  God’s love is so great, vast, majestic, powerful and glorious.  God is our Shepherd who tenderly carries us close to His heart (vs. 11).

You may be thinking, how can God let all the violence, our love ones have a terminal illness, loss of a job, or loss of family.  I believe the answer is in John 9:3, which I recently heard my pastor preach not so long ago.  Jesus said to his disciples, “this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Merry Christmas!!!
Happy New Year!!!

PRAYER REQUESTS
Praise the Lord for the purchasing of a 2007 Susuki Sx4!
 Praise the Lord for allowing all our 10 sites to celebrate Christmas with the kids before Christmas vacation.
Pray for God’s wisdom and discernment.
Pray for God’s leading as I build relationships with my fellow KAI missionaries.
Pray for our missionaries, as some will be traveling back to the states in December to spend Christmas with family and friends.
Pray for protection over and spiritual covering over our missionaries, our staff, and the kids we serve.


Caraballo

Palo Blanco

Santo Domingo

Constanza

2007 Susuki Sx4



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