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December Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER

December 2019
Merry Christmas!  What a wonderful time of year to take time to remember what our Father did for us in sending his Son as a precious gift for each one of us.  I am participating in a bible study on the book of Revelations which has given me a new perspective during the advent-Christmas season.  Advent is a time to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming birth of Jesus.  As a believer who has already accepted God’s precious Christmas gift…Jesus as my Lord and Savior, now it is preparing and anticipating Jesus’ second coming.

Remember what Jesus tells his disciples regarding him going to prepare a place for you in John 14:2?  In the Jewish wedding ceremony, it is the father of the groom who looks for a bride for his son, such as Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for Isaac.  Negotiations take place between the two families and a bride price is paid and a covenant is made without the groom or bride ever meeting.  The two are betrothed.  The groom’s father expects his son to build a dwelling place for his betrothed and to the father’s satisfaction before the groom can claim his bride.  This can take quite a while.  But once the groom is finished, he goes and claims his bride.  The bride stays at her family’s home eagerly awaiting her groom’s arrival because when he comes, she is to be ready to go with him back to his family where they get married, then after a week of celebration the couple travel back to her family’s home to celebrate with her family.  Jesus is preparing a place for his bride and waiting for the Father to tell him when he is finished so he can go get his bride.  We are his bride, are we ready and anticipating eagerly for his arrival?  We do not know when he will come (Matt. 24:36) but Jesus says he will come back to take us to be with him (Jn. 14:3).  A promise that will be fulfilled just as Jesus’ birth fulfilled the prophecies of old.  

Are you ready for your groom?  Are you eagerly anticipating his arrival?  If not, this is a the most wonderful time of the year to receive the most precious gift our Heavenly Father has given you…His Son, Jesus Christ.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:2-3

PRAYER REQUESTS
Praise the Lord for family and friends!
Pray for my trip to Peru, January 3rd-13th as I will be helping Safe Place Ministry to train some new member care people for our missionaries and staff in Peru.
Pray for wisdom, discernment and clarity for me in decisions I need to make.
Pray for our women’s retreat, January 17th-19th. 
Pray for Lindsay and intern who will be serving with us in Constanza, January 29th-March 22nd.
Pray for our new missionaries who will be arriving to the DR in 2020:  Robin, Audrey, Ann Peyton, and Rachel.

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 29, 2019 at 9:13 PM

    A little late but praying for you and remembering how enjoyable your visit was earlier in the year. Aunt Alice

    ReplyDelete

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