2023 Christmas Letter!

2023 Christmas Letter – Belated!

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31. Finding this scripture in the beginning of 2023 prepared me for August 12, 2023, happenings as I prepared to go to bed and fell, and endured surgery on my wrist and hip. I spent one week in the local hospital in a haze of pain.

I spent almost 17 weeks in a Nursing Home. As I considered and reviewed the decision-making leading to the moment, I fell. I remembered a verse that found that gave me Hope for such a moment as this.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfast-ness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4.

From the moment I recalled these words, I leaned on my Savior for strength and courage! When I received a get-well card, that said ‘Get Well Quickly!” I remembered the last phrase of Exodus 15:26. “For I am the Lord, your healer!” God is my healer, and it is in His Time that I will heal. Healing is not something I have control over.

I had plenty of time to consider the qualities Jesus Christ provides. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23. The next verse made me pause as I used the call light and waited for help. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24.

As I considered the endless waiting, my daughter, Anna, gave me a word to consider. Eventually! I considered how God had a purpose for this fall, and through the waiting and pain, I realized God taught me humility. The CNAs who came to help me and the endless visits for therapy and their endless goal setting prepared me to go home.

The compassion I saw in their hearts of the CNAs encouraged me. During the 17 weeks in the nursing home, a friend began sending me encouraging scriptures to keep my mind on the Love of God. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

I loved the verses in John 13:34-35. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What is the first word of the nine words of the Fruit of the Spirit?  LOVE!

We just celebrated the birth of Jesus. The gift of Love from God above. All He asks is that we believe and have faith in Him.  Leaving our desires behind, and letting God’s desires to love one another, to find Joy in Him, and find Peace in Him.  The fourth quality we find in the Fruit of the Spirit is Patience. Relying on God’s Timing.

Who is this Jesus? 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.

One of the questions I was asked by various workers included, Are you depressed? I remembered when Mom wrote the book, The Lines are Fallen. The verse in the beginning pages of her memories growing up contained this verse. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. Psalm 16:6. As I read the other verses, and considered Joy, the second word of the Fruit of the Spirit, I found this verse – Psalm 16:3: As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

What is the difference between the world’s ‘fun’ and the Biblical ‘delight?’ I determined that the world’s fun is never enough – and God’s Delight is eternal!

As a child, my memories of Christmas, were waiting for Dad to come home from delivering Christmas packages to families awaiting eagerly. We gathered in the living room after a quick supper and listened to the Christmas Story from Luke 2:8-14.  And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”    

We sang, as a family, the two hymns, Away in a Manger, and Silent Night. Then came prayer.  Then we opened the gallon jar of peppernuts (https://emilys-snippets.com/peppernuts-christmas/) our Grandmother Suderman sent to us. Presents were immaterial at this point.

The lights on the Christmas Tree symbolized Genesis 1:3: And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12.

The question, “Are you depressed?” does not have an easy yes or no answer! The answer depends on the faith in God that grows through the years: “We love because He first loved us!”  I John 4:9.