Dear Friends and praying Saints,

During this Christmas season, we frequently hear the well-known carol, "What child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary's lap is sleeping." The words of this, and so many other carols, are full of meaning and depth, but can also be casually sung out of tradition and memory, so that the fullness of the words escapes our attention.

In the opening chapters of Revelation, I was enthralled by the description of the One whose words John was instructed to write to each of the angels of the seven churches. And I realized THIS is the child that was born to us!

Revelation 2:1, "The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands..."

Revelation 2:8, "The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life..."

Revelation 2:12, "The One who has the sharp two-edged sword..."

Revelation 2:18, "The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like burnished bronze..."

Revelation 3:1, "He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars..."

Revelation 3:7, "He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens..."

Revelation 3:14, "The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God..."

Although perhaps ordinary in appearance over two thousand years ago, this newborn infant was, and is, the awesome and amazing God we serve. What a gift—eternal life to a sin-bound and dying world. The bread of heaven has come down that we might have salvation and eternal life beyond our natural years!

And speaking of gifts, however on a much less impressive scale, we have received an extraordinary gift. God in His wonderful goodness has provided us with a new car! Our old faithful car came to the end of its useful life of twenty years, and through generous donations from friends, we were able to buy a ten-year-old Citroen car with very low mileage. So we wanted to share this testimony of God's faithful care for us, and encourage you in whatever might be your present circumstances. 1 Peter 5:6-7 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you."

May new and unexpected blessings make your Christmas and New Year extra special. And may God’s peace bring some wholesome changes into the world we live in as well,

Dick and Gladys