Wishing you a most powerful New Year in Him!

It’s the day after the day after the day after!!  If you use that verbiage, as I just did, what do you mean?  What do I mean?  Post-December 25^th?  Post-anticipation of December 25^th?  Is this verbiage positive or negative?

This Chanukah/Christmas season was exciting!  May I share one day?  December 12^th was stirring.  I’m smiling and I’m thanking God as I recall that day.  Bobby and I traveled to Gilbert during rush hour!  An endoscopic ultrasound on his pancreas was scheduled.  I sat next to a woman in the waiting room who was playing a game on her phone and laughing.  I inquired about the game.  Her response: mah jongg.  That registers with me as many Jewish people play mah jongg.  I asked if she celebrated Chanukah.  “Yes, I celebrate all holidays.”  I then asked if she was Jewish.  Her answer: “I’m born again!”  I confirmed what she meant and she further explained that she is indeed Jewish…knows Jesus…and wishes everyone would know Jesus.  She continued to play mah jongg as I shared our upcoming Chanukah/Christmas Celebration.  OK…must be something more about this Chinese game about which I’m not aware.

Following the pancreatic procedure, the Doctor conveyed that they found nothing “dangerous” with Bobby’s pancreas.  After our additional questions were asked and very completely answered, Bobby asked the Doctor if he has a faith.   His reply: “No, not really.”  His tone was despondent.  I had spoken of Jesus with this Doctor approximately three years ago.  Bobby passed along a flyer for the upcoming Chanukah/Christmas Celebration.  While the Doctor seriously poured over the flyer, he mentioned with disappointment that he was scheduled to work a double shift on that date.  Of course, God could rearrange his schedule.  What seemed rather disjointed, he stated that he lives in a certain neighborhood in Phoenix.  “I teach a Bible study in your neighborhood,” I blurted out.  He then asked if I’m Jewish.  I said, “No, but I grew up in NYC.”  My most odd “explanation” didn’t seem to throw him.  “So, you’re half Jewish,” he very matter-of-factly stated.

At my next stop on December 12^th, I “ran into” a woman I’d met several weeks prior.  Conveniently, she asked what I do.  In an attempt to not erect walls, I typically respond with, “Bible teacher/speaker.”  I shared my testimony.  Her comments: “I’ve never heard that perspective.  I’ve been cloistered.”  At that moment our conversation was interrupted…until….  We hugged when we parted.   With a Chanukah/Christmas event flyer in hand, I made my way down the street to visit a Sales woman at her place of business.  She is Israeli.  Two years ago I had a most wonderful Jesus-filled conversation with her son who was astounded that our church would sponsor a Chanukah event.  The Israeli Sales woman and a few of her co-workers recently visited a Christmas presentation at our church.  Their critique regarding the production: “We loved it!”  Their schedules didn’t accommodate the Chanukah/Christmas program, however.  I conveyed greetings to her son.

You might be thinking, “So, big deal!  Nothing seemingly concrete occurred on Dec. 12^th.  You really didn’t maximize your time.”  That reminds me of a question posed to me seven or eight years ago concerning how many Jewish people I’ve seen come to faith in Jesus.  I was rejoicing in what God had done within the ministry when I conveyed to the man inquiring, “Between 30 and 40.”  He laughed…not in a rejoicing manner…and said, “That’s all?”  My question to him, “How much is one soul worth?”

It’s the day after the day after the day after.  His mercies are new every morning.  Great is His faithfulness!  I’m thankful that God is giving me the opportunity to jot down what HE has been causing to occur.  And, I’m reminded of an excerpt I read in Oswald Chamber’s “My Utmost for His Highest”: “We are apt to imagine that if Jesus Christ constrains us, and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success.  We must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite.  We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not.  The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident.  What we call the process, God calls the end.  What is my dream of God’s purpose?  His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now.  …  God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now.  If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that dependence upon Him and His power* is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.”

  *my note

So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. … 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! … 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us (Psalm 90:12, 14, 17)

Wishing you a most powerful New Year in Him…one in which He will satisfy you with His mercy and cause you to rejoice in HIM moment-by-moment!

And, the 14th annual Chanukah/Christmas Celebration presented on Dec. 16th…it was so OF GOD!!!! Check out the December ministry newsletter which should be Emailed the first week in January. If you do not receive the monthly (or nearly monthly) newsletter, please let me know: cathylouwilson@live.com