December 13, 2004

Beloved Friends and Family,                                                 

May the glorious and awesome presence of God stun you, overwhelm you, and envelope you much like the shepherds must have experienced when the sky split and the heavenly host praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” May the favor of God rest upon you! By faith? Yes! By feeling? Yes! By experience? Yes! By the seeing of the unseen true and eternal realities? Yes! By every possible way that God makes Himself known to you as He lives this new life within you.

            The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), and now the same living Word again becomes flesh in you and me and is powerfully working in us to conform us to His own image. Hallelujah! Hallel to Yahweh!  

            May your every observance or non-observance of “Christmas” be politically incorrect with all things centered on Jesus, the Christ of God. This will help prepare you for the fulfillment of all the ages when everything is under the headship of Jesus for the church, which is His body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Eph. 1:22,23)

            May the marking off of another year in time be to you an irreplaceable opportunity to redeem the time, to make the most of it, to sanctify it, and to get into closer harmony or synchronization with God and His purposes. I just finished making my personal calendar for 2005 with the inclusion of “Evening and Morning.” I hope it blesses and helps you as it has me for many years.

Rhythm and cycles -

   what patterns are best?

Daytime for labor,

   nighttime for rest?

Awake to the morning

   a new day to bear;

work hard and accomplish,

   then crash and repair?

This is the world's way,

   trudging through life.

God has a different

   road for His wife:

Prepare My beloved,

   attend what I say.

Your rhythm and cycles,

   submit to My way.

Evening and morning,

   darkness then light.

The day starts with rest

   to equip for the fight.

Creation was finished.

   Formed 'ere the night,

your first day's existence

   was rest, My delight.

We walked in the garden

   in the cool of the day.

No shame was between us,

   work was like play.

Then satan destroyed

   our relation of love.

You chose his deception,

   so I stayed far above.

A promise I made

   to you, now dead:

Your heel-injured seed

   will crush satan's head.

I will restore

   more than the loss.

I will indwell you

   because of the cross.

No longer your enemy,

   not just your friend.

I will live in you

   and accomplish My end.

Rest in Me, children,

   dwell in My love.

I am Immanuel,

   not, way up above.

Enter My Sabbath,

   your rest and delight.

Live by My presence,

   not by your sight.

From rest comes all living,

   all hope and delight.

Evening and morning,

   the day starts with night.

            God bless you all. Our special thanks to those who have supported Crushed Grapes Ministry with prayer and offerings. Your confidence in us that our ministry is worthy of your support is very encouraging. You are the source that God uses to provide our daily bread. We thank Him and thank you for following His nudges.

May this be the year.

Love,