Happy New Year!!

This was posted on December 31, 2012 by Anna.

As we end one year and begin another, it is a wonderful time to reflect on the past year and look expectantly toward how God will work in the coming year! Truly, the Lord is always faithful, and even though we might not know what will happen next, we can always trust our heavenly Father to give us the grace we need to face each moment!

It’s with excitement that the our family welcomes 2013! We can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned for this year, and we are ready to serve Him as He directs! We pray you are also looking forward to 2013, what the Lord has for each of your lives, and growing ever closer to Him.

Things have taken a bit of a lull at our house over the weekend because half of the family contracted a nasty illness that has been going around! Hope you all stay healthy!

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39

Randomness

This was posted on December 30, 2012 by Sarah Maxwell.

This past week, we’ve had many special family times.

On Christmas Eve, we did our traditional Christmas program. It is a time of reading Scripture and singing Christmas carols.

Christmas morning, we, along with several other families, went up to the nursing home and shared through music. It was such a joy to spread Christmas cheer to them!

Â Austin, a young man in our church, played a Christmas special.

Dad and Mom received Camelbaks, a very useful item for their next big hike.

As we marvel in the miracle of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice for us, may we also rejoice in Our

Creator (Isaiah 40:28)
Redeemer (Job 19:25)
Sustainer (Psalms 55:22)
Provider (Genesis 22:8)
Protector (Psalms 17:8)
Saviour (Isaiah 43:11)

Rejoicing in the One Who is Worthy,
Sarah

“… My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
Luke 1:46-47

Adorable Cousins

This was posted on December 28, 2012 by Sarah Maxwell.

The babies are growing fast, and we love every minute with them. Joshua is almost seven months, and Christina is two weeks behind him. Children are a blessing from the Lord.

I hope your Christmas season has been joy-filled. Ours has!

Rejoicing in Jesus,
Sarah

Christopher and Anna Marie bought the babies matching outfits.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
Psalms 127:3

A Creative Idea

This was posted on December 26, 2012 by Maxwell Family.

Yesterday, on our way to the nursing home (for our usual Christmas service for the residents), our conversation came to discussing the many people in the police/fire/medical services that were working on Christmas. As we talked, the Lord gave Anna an awesome idea – what if we could make some cookies for the police officers in our town?

We made arrangements with the police dispatcher, who said that they would ask an officer to bring the cookies back to the station. The kitchen was soon a major blur of activity while we baked the cookies and Mary crafted a card. After the cookies were finished, we wrapped them in plastic wrap, and arranged them in a basket.

A little while later, the doorbell rang, and we gave the officer the cookies. We are so grateful for our police officers and the other emergency people who put their lives on the line for our protection and safety.

Joseph

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Colossians 3:15

Merry Christmas!

This was posted on December 25, 2012 by Sarah Maxwell.

It is with joy we reflect on our Lord and Savior’s birth. Truly, we have so much to be grateful for. To think that “… he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Amazing!Â May you have a very special day with family and friends.

With love,
The Maxwells

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11

A Bluegrass Christmas

This was posted on December 20, 2012 by Sarah Maxwell.

For six weeks, we have been planning and preparing for a special Bluegrass Christmas Concert in our town. We rented a room in our local community center for the event. Monday afternoon, our set up team (aka: the family :-)) descended upon the community center. Everything came together, and we were excited to see who the Lord would bring. An awesome group of our neighbors and friends came, and we enjoyed fellowshipping with them before and after the concert. Â It was incredible to see the Lord Jesus shine through Joseph, John, Anna, Jesse, and Mary as they shared through music and testimony. In addition, Nathan, Abby, Bethie, and Christopher joined in the music for a few songs with Nathan and Christopher giving testimonies too. I thought the music was amazing, and it was tastefully done.Â Also, Dad, Mom, and I each briefly shared a testimony. We had refreshments afterwards. The evening was a special time to get to better know our neighbors and friends plus share Christmas JOY!

Merry Christmas from a white Kansas,
Sarah