Dear Friends,

I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a New Year that is filled with many blessings from above.

This will be our first Christmas without my mom and sister since both of them passed away this year.  We feel the void but the Lord is faithful to give us comfort and hope, knowing they are in a place where there is no more suffering and pain.  My wife also lost her brother and his  wife this year, but both of them were Christians, too, who also had suffered a lot the few months of their life.  Praise God, all of them are free from their suffering now.

My mom loved this time of year, the decorating and giving; so if they are having a celebration with decorations in Heaven she will be right in the middle of it, enjoying all the beauty.

This is a time of rushing around trying to meet deadlines; but as you do all the things you have to do, don’t forget to focus on the reason that we are celebrating.  Sometimes it may be just a simple "Thank you!!" or "I love you" to Jesus and to those around us.  The best gift we can give to Him is to let our lights shine that someone else may see Him through us.  It is not always the "big" things we do that shine the brightest; often it is a simple act of kindness.

Show a little kindness during this Christmas season.  It will bring a blessing to you and to others.

Again. to all of our friends—From our house to yours—Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Blessings,
Pastor Jerry and Lorinda