[I apologize for the visuals. After spending hours preparing some visuals, I couldn’t upload them, so I resorted to using some from the past. Hopefully the problem will be fixed before my last report next month.]
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Another month of reporting and visiting has flown by. I have enjoyed spending time with many of you, especially having several of you come to my place in Brantford. Tomorrow I will be reporting to the last of my supporting churches followed by a couple personal visits in other cities. I was hoping to finish the driving before the weather changed, but we’ve already had several days of snow, and I still have a few more people to see next month. If you live in southern Ontario and I haven’t contacted you yet but you’d like a visit, let me know ASAP at brenda@teamven.org or call at (226) 887-2909.
I’m also grateful for your prayers for the El Faro church in La Paz, Mexico. Before I retire, I really hope to be able to let you know that the property title transfer has finally been signed in favour of the church. Please continue to pray in that regard and also for the outreach ministries and growth of the church, both numerically and spiritually. They are planning several special activities to celebrate Christmas, so please pray for them to grow in unity and their love of our Lord as well as to see lasting fruit from their evangelistic efforts.
I’ve been enjoying a Precepts Bible Study at church on Hebrews. Today I was reading in chapter 10 and noticed the reference to Christmas. Verse (vs.) 5 says, “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said to the Father: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me”. At Christmas, we remember that Christ came into the world as a baby in the body God had prepared for Him. Why did Jesus come to earth? In vs. 7 Jesus is quoted saying, “I have come to do your will, my God.” For emphasis, it is repeated in vs. 9 when He says, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” What is God’s will? The answer is found in vs. 10: “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This verse teaches that all who believe and trust in Jesus have been made holy and cleansed from sin through His sacrifice, offered once for all time. So, what is the importance of the body of Jesus?
In the Old Testament system, animals were sacrificed constantly as the believers sought to be cleansed from their sin and wrongdoing, but vs. 4 says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Jesus, the Son of God, had to take on a human body so He could offer Himself as the fulfillment of the entire sacrificial system. Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Christmas is a wonderful celebration, but it leads to my favourite celebration – Easter! Praise God that Jesus came to earth to offer His life to provide salvation for all who put their trust in Him and that He empowers us to joyfully serve Him.
Romans 12:15 instructs us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” I have had much to rejoice over as the Lord has provided abundantly for me, but I’ve learned of the health struggles of several of you and of the recent passing of loved ones. May the Lord comfort each one who is hurting and draw each one closer to Himself.
Rejoicing in God’s goodness and faithfulness,
Brenda
