December 2014
“God rest ye merry gentleman, let nothing you dismay! REMEMBER, CHRIST OUR SAVIOR was born on Christmas day!..O tidings of comfort and joy”
During the chaos of the holidays we may choose to accept the invitation to enter into His rest. The power of dismay could steal the joy of the Lord that is our strength! The strength we need to believe His promises, the strength to remember Him every moment of every trial, the strength to trust in the eternal glory that awaits us at the end of our pilgrimage! For our hearts that are heavy with suffering and loss, there is comfort in His presence.
We are mindful of several of you that have walked through “the valley of the shadow of death” this past year, and others as you read this are suffering physically, emotionally or spiritually. We have prayed many prayers for you and share in your grief as we have walked through our own.
Take comfort and joy in our Savior’s gift to us, “What was intended to tear you apart—God intends to set you apart. What has torn you-God makes thin places to see glory. The places where you’re torn to pieces can be thin places where you touch ‘the peace of God.’ No matter what intends to harm you…God is never absent, never impotent, never distant. You can never be undone. No matter what intends to harm you? God’s arms have you.” Ann Voskamp
It’s in His kingdom that our hearts will testify we’re home! The death and suffering we face here is meant to remind us that this world is broken and temporal. His gift to us in coming was to show us the way. He shows us the way to walk through this life daily breathing Him in and exhaling a provision to others suffocating in darkness.
“Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood each now other embrace; This holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.”
Our prayer is that you do feel our “true love and brotherhood” as we journey this life together. We would love to embrace each of you! Our hearts are full of appreciation for your faithfulness in giving as God’s arms have you. Even in your trials and need you continue to provide for the ministry so that God’s Kingdom may reach down and show the way home to our neighbors. We are filled with comfort and joy in all the good gifts God faithfully gives in believing.
Thank you for your care, prayer and gifts to Cast Your Cares throughout the year. We love being the hands that extend His love. Your generous hearts enable His tidings of comfort and joy to reach a hard and hurting place. The smiles of appreciation we get to experience daily are a gift we wish we could share. You are making a difference here in the lives we touch. We wish you a Merry Christmas filled with His presence and love!