Christmas Greetings

Dear friends and family,

I will begin by asking your forgiveness for the general nature of this letter.

I have been combing through catalogues and on-line looking for the perfect gift to give to friends and family for this Christmas. Christmas is a wonderful time of year- when you think about it- when you have the opportunity to acknowledge those nearest and dearest by giving them a gift that you think is especially wanted and maybe even needed by them. So you observe their lifestyle, you listen to what they talk about, you think about their likes and dislikes- think about what they need or maybe what you would like them to have and come up with some ideas. Then you take your list to your spouse (Russ)and you make adjustments based on the current state of the household budget and maybe the list shrinks (or expands). All of this time and thought and care for the perfect gift- that communicates love, thoughtfulness and caring on my part. Ah, but truth be told, the gift may not be exactly what the receiver needs or : { wants. I may not know about the gift being left in its original box, returned or worse yet “regifted”.(my computer is telling me this is not a word-must be a new term!)

To be honest, all of my work and thought and in some cases-generosity- pales in comparison to the One True Gift that started all of “this”. When I reflect on the Giver and the Gift I am in awe of what has been given, the price paid and my general state of “undeserving”. So what has been given? Christ was born more than two thousand years ago. The story- retold so many times- in hymns and songs, through poems, stories, plays and verbatim from the scriptures in Matthew and Luke. Shepherds (lowly they were) were the first group to greet Him. And what did the angel reveal – that the baby they found “wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger” is the Messiah, the Christ! When Jesus was brought to the Temple for dedication, they met there an old guy named Simeon. The Holy Spirit came upon him and he declared in Luke 2:30 “My eyes have seen your salvation..” How cool is that? God has sent His salvation in human form. Why do I need a Savior and why do I need salvation? Because I am human and because of my sin! Yikes.. Diane sins! (Russ says he does too.) Yes, I have been known to sin and though it may be unfashionable to say it- I also know I need a Savior. It was in June of 1970 at a Christian camp in New Hampshire that God spoke to me and showed me my sin and how His Son Jesus took my punishment for sin. Well, you may say” isn’t God loving and why would He punish you for your sins?”. He is loving and He is also holy. He wants to be in relationship with us, He wants to lead us and guide us, – but sin and often pride gets in the way. Well, what makes Jesus any different? He was and is God. Don’t take my word for it- read the Gospel of John. John chapter 1 begins “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us…” Love is the motivation and that is so clearly stated in John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

So I received that Gift in June 1970 –Russ received that Gift in his youth. We have also received with this Gift of His love and forgiveness, joy unspeakable, peace eternal, hope and a purpose for living.

Now we are going as missionaries to Germany where we can share with more people about that Gift-so they can receive Him too! Psalm 71:14-18 states “But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, 
of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; 
 I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, 
 do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”

What a wonderful Gift! What a wonderful Savior! And for us, what a wonderful privilege to go in His name for His glory!
Diane , for Russ too!