GOD'S JOY PRODUCING GOODNESS

Yesterday we enjoyed seeing the Pacific Ocean from the Chilean vantage point. It was a beautiful warm fall day as Mark, Pippa, Naomi, and Caleb posed for a perfect four generation photo. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we all head for home after a wonderful time of ministry and being with family.

I’ve been looking at Psalm 81 and considering the delight we have enjoyed being with Jorge and Naomi’s church here in Chile. The incredible strong bond that unites all of us is that God has rescued our souls. Can there be anything more amazing than God’s faithful work in our lives? No matter where a Christian goes in the world, an immediate connection happens with others who know the joy of having their sins forgiven. “Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!” (Psalms 81:1) Spurgeon expounds on this a bit more. “Now if they, on their solemn feast-days, were thus to call to mind their redemption out of Egypt, much more ought we, on the Christian sabbath, to call to mind a more glorious redemption wrought out for us by Jesus Christ from worse than Egyptian bondage, and the many gracious answers he has given to us, notwithstanding our manifold provocations.” We are a highly blessed people.

This Thursday morning Patricia Hubbard will be leading the Ladies Bible Study in Psalm 81. Plan to study the lesson well and be prepared to participate in the discussion of this beautiful Psalm.

Mark and I will be home later on Thursday and look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday morning. Here is a short video of some of the happy time we spent with Jorge and Naomi’s church.

THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN CHILE

Getting to meet our first great-granddaughter Pippa certainly is one of the experiences that we will not forget. A big bonus for us is that we get to also enjoy her parents, Jorge and Naomi (our granddaughter), our son Caleb and our grandson Mishael while we stay here in rural Chile near Patagonia. What an amazing world God made for us to enjoy and to cause us to be in awe of Him.

Ladies, it doesn't look like we need to be concerned about snow this week in Gig Harbor. The lesson plan for last Thursday will be happening this week instead. Emily Hunt will be leading the study of Psalm 86 and I hope you will plan to be there.

Thank you for praying for Mark and I as we spend time with family and prepare to speak at a couple of conferences.

BLESSINGS AT CHRISTMAS AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Zwingli’s church in Zurich, Switzerland—built in 1100.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”(Isaiah 9:6)

 With cheerful hearts we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus this Christmas. God has blessed us for more than 38 years to serve together with a passionate band of His people at Discovery Baptist Church. As we gather on Christmas Eve by candlelight to remember His humble birth, once again our hearts will be rejoicing together.

During this past year we added to our dear grandchildren two more little girls, Irene and Grace; that makes our total of blessings so far at 28.  A new role for our lives also began with the birth of our first great-grandchild, little Pippa who lives in Chile with her parents Jorge and Naomi.

As we are in the middle of our 50th year of marriage, we took a special trip to see amazing and beautiful Switzerland by train; what an unforgettable adventure. The photo shows us near the Matterhorn. Then we joined our two missionary kids and their families for a conference in Malta.

Resting at Gonergrat, Switzerland at over 10,000 foot elevation with view of the Matterhorn.

Now we look forward to 2019 knowing that God is in control of everything and we trust Him concerning all the days ahead—the comfortable and the difficult.

This is an early Christmas present with the dates of all of our family birthdays and anniversaries.

Blessings to you this Christmas,

Mark and Nancy