From: Les Young [pastorles@comcast.net]
"Gifts from around the world and more"
Date: 12/14/2006
Dearly beloved of God:
This week they started coming in from around the world - Christmas presents. There were the funky socks from Pam in England (I look forward to those every year). The Monk's package from the Napa Valley in California arrived today, but the contents are still a mystery. We'll see how long Barb can stand the mystery. And then there was the package from Bangalore, India.
That package contained the annual report of Agape Ministries India and was sent by my beloved brother, T.P. Thomaskutty. I am so grateful for being able to travel to India on three separate occasions. One reason is that I am able to put places and people to the report. I can see the happy faces of children invited to a special program, and hearing that Jesus loves them for the first time. I can see the faces of some of the seasoned pastors and evangelists on the staff, faces scarred by the knoves of radical opponents to the Gospel, yet softened by the joy of being counted worthy to suffer for Him. I can see the youth hostel, which is now doubling in size to make room for more orphan children. I can see Alice, faithfully caring for her home and family, and providing affordable homeopathic clinic services to the poor, always bathing the treatments in prayer. I can see the several churches where I've been privileged to preach. I can see the young houseboy carefully washing down the automobile (now almost 7 years old) that was made possible due to the generosity of my friend Tim. This report is a very special present to me and to the people of Living Word Fellowship. It is another proof that sowing into the work of God always produces a bountiful crop.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
These are all gifts from around the world, although the last one in my list gives a strong hint of a gift that is out of this world. Of course that gift is Jesus. When He was born, there was no room for Him in the inn. I pray that all of you make room for Him in your hearts, today and every day. The Bible describes Him as an "Unspeakable Gift" because words cannot describe the beauty and the value of this gift. With that in mind, I will wish each of you a Merry CHRISTmas, as I close with this CHRISTmas message from Brother Thomaskutty.
Through the Manger,
God draws us back to the lowly
place of worship,
to the Peace of His presence,
to the simplicity of the Cross,
to the quiet waters of Salvation,
to the beauty of HIS face,
and to the only Gift
that LOVE could ever give...
God's only begotten SON.
May your hearts be drawn ever closer to His heart this Christmas Season.
Have a lovely Christmas and a great New Year.
Yours for His Purposes,
Pastor Les
