Christmas = HOPE.

I LOVE Christmas time! The lights, the music, getting together with friends and family… and celebrating the birth of my Savior, Jesus.  This year we get to celebrate Christmas twice! Christmas is celebrated on January 7th… so our family will celebrate on the 25th of this month, and again with the Ebenezer kids on Ethiopian Christmas. 

With this being our first Christmas in Ethiopia, I thought I would share a bit about what God has been speaking to me this holiday season!  There are definitely various challenges.  We are faced with the effects of sin on a daily basis.  These can vary from children being abandoned or living on the streets, tribal practices of infanticide, prostitution, extreme poverty, and false teachers leading people astray from God.  It can all be overwhelming and at times I feel a sense of hopelessness as I walk the streets.  However, when I go to the children's home and I see those precious faces I have hope again. God has spared each of these kids from a life of who knows what, and has brought them to EGCH. Even though their earthly families have cast them off, God has not.  He says in Isaiah 41:9, 

"For I have chosen you, and will not throw you away".  

He has a plan, a future, and a HOPE for them... and for you and me. Every time I'm over there I'm reminded how God has not forgotten about His children (you and me included).  And this is what Christmas is about--God fulfilling His promise to us by sending His Son Jesus to live and die, and live again, and that by believing in Him we can have life with Him and He with us.

Luke 2:14 tells us that after Jesus was born a host of angels were praising God saying, 

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased". 

Hebrews 11:6 reveals what God is pleased with:

"…and without faith it is impossible to please God".  

Peace is promised to those who believe.  And while God doesn't promise an easy life, He does promise His peace and presence. I recently read, "…the key that unlocks the treasure chest of God's peace is faith in the promises of God" (Piper, Good News of Great Joy Daily Readings for Advent)  We can trust that God ALWAYS keeps His promise, and Christmas should be the biggest reminder of that to us.  God gave.

I'm also challenged to love the Ebenezer kids, as well as my own, with this kind of believing love, 

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (1Corinthians 13:7). 

This begins with the the love God has shown us!  I pray that by His grace, I can respond with this love to these kids by: not giving up, not losing faith, and remaining hopeful through every circumstance--remembering that God is at work in their lives!   

My prayer for the Ebenezer kids--as well as for you--this Christmas season is as Paul prayed in Romans 15:13,

"I pray that God, the source of HOPE, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you TRUST in Him. Then you will overflow with confident HOPE through the power of the Holy Spirit"

prayer requests. 

• There are packages on the way for us and for the Ebenezer kids for Christmas... Please pray these packages arrive in time and intact! 
• Praise: God has opened the door wider for Shaun to share monthly with a group of village pastors in the Sidama region.  Please pray, as he will travel and share with the pastors tomorrow (Wednesday).
• Pray for continued health and safety for our family.

Love,

Megan... Shaun, Jude & Sonya