December 15, 2015

 

Dear Friends,

 

     We think of you so often during the year, and now, in this month of Christmas, we write to wish you all the joys of the Season.  We have so much to rejoice about, “for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government will be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:6)

     In the work of Ceaseless Love Ministries, Dan and I witness Christ walking in our midst as the “Counselor”.  As we look into the living Word with men and women seeking pastoral care, and as together we hear Christ speaking to our hearts, we first come to know Him to be “Wonderful”-the One Who is full of wonders, the One Who loves us with an unmatched love.  Once we see Jesus Christ as the Wonderful Savior He is, we find our hearts ready and willing, yes, even longing for His sacred counsel.  Day by day, the experience of learning His wisdom through His guidance, correction, and instruction causes us to own Him as our “Great Counselor”. 

     God has spoken much concerning His counsel through the writers of the Holy Scriptures.  King David testified that the “counsel of the Lord stands forever…” (Psalm 33:11)  God tells us that His counsel never changes; it is immutable. (Hebrews 6:17)  The prophet, Isaiah, exclaims that the Lord of Hosts is “wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working!” (Isaiah 28:29)  How could we doubt this when we ponder the beauty and complexity of the created world around us?

     Our wonderful Counselor speaks of His own counsel as the fulfillment of all His pleasure.  What is His pleasure?  Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)  His pleasure is righteousness, goodness, and life!

     We have a Savior, the Christ-child, for whom it was the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, the Father, that He be crucified and raised up again in order that we might be saved eternally from the pain and power of sin and death.  How could such a plan demonstrate God’s perfect, loving counsel?  God tells us that Christ’s suffering and death for our sakes could be planned according to eternal love because “it was not possible that Christ, His beloved and perfect Son, could be held by death.  With Isaiah, we worship Him-He who is the Mighty God.

     But can we know Jesus Christ as The Everlasting Father?  Listen to the prophet, Jeremiah, as he prays.  “ Ah Lord God!  Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee:  Thou showest lovingkindness unto thousands and recompenses the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of the children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of Hosts is His name, great in counsel and mighty in work: for Thine eyes are open upon all men: to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”  (Jeremiah 32:)

     In the midst of the hurt, the injustices, and evil of this world, the Mighty God is full of mercy and lovingkindness.  A God and Father who compensates for the wrongs done against us.  He makes amends to the children for the sins of the parents, restoring losses and healing wounds.  His “eyes” are open - He sees all and rewards.  If we do what is right and true, if we walk in His counsel, we receive the blessings of righteousness His love longs to pour out upon us.  He patiently waits for our return when we do wrong, and His heart pours out forgiveness.  Indeed, He is the Everlasting Father.

     What a night it was when heavenly angels announced to the shepherds on the Bethlehem hills the birth of the Prince of Peace!  “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)  The beautiful characteristic of Christ’s rule is peace.  It is a peace that comes from a perfect union of truth and love, of justice and mercy, and an established heavenly order.  It is an eternal peace that transcends earthly care.  We can know Christ as the Prince of Peace when we receive Him as the Prince that He is.  Our willingness to acknowledge His Lordship, His rightful rule over our lives ushers in the life of peace we long for.  The Prince of Peace has come to us - let us welcome Him and give Him His rightful place with adoration.

     Our family wishes you a blessed and Merry Christmas!  We thank you for your faithful prayers for us and for the work of Ceaseless Love Ministries.  Many lives are being touched and divinely changed by the light of Christ.  These are eternal fruits you participate in, and God sees and rewards you.  May you rejoice in His blessing!

 

In His mighty name,

 

 

 

Dan & Marie

  

 

 

“Joy to the world!  The Lord is come: let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room, and heav’n and nature sing.”

 

“Joy to the earth!  The Savior reigns: let men their songs employ;

while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy.”

 

“No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.”

 

“He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove

the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.”

 

                                                                 -Issac Watts