Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! This letter is the second annual Williams family holiday update. Below are the highlights from 2003.
Abbe, now 23, graduates in May from Georgia State University with her degree in nursing. She will have a busy spring semester with a heavy class load and her senior practicum, which involves 150 hours of work at a hospital. She will be assigned to a specific nurse, and Abbe will work her schedule for a season.
In August Abbe began a weekly Bible study at home, which was intended to be for some people at her job. However, the main attendees are residents of our apartment complex, who are involved in a drug rehab program. Several of these individuals would be in jail now, if they were not involved in the rehab program.
It has been an exciting adventure to watch Abbe share the book of John with individuals, who are from varying backgrounds, and who really need the Word of God. She has averaged about six people attending, not counting mom and dad. She has taught with joy and enthusiasm.
Some have come, and some have gone, but those who have attended with some degree of regularity have become like family members to us.
The biggest highlight for me was the night that Tisha was sick, but still attended the meeting. When the time for prayer came, Abbe pulled out a chair, and laid hands on Tisha and prayed. Abbe prayed with authority, and I could sense the anointing of God all over her. Needless to say, Tisha was soon much better.
In February James, who turned 22 earlier this month, moved to San Antonio. He moved there in obedience to what he believed to be the leading of the Holy Spirit. After ten months his decision appears to be a good one. You can see that the maturation process in his life during the last year has moved him from a boy to a man.
Jamie and Kathy Johnson live in San Antonio and they have provided spiritual oversight to James while in San Antonio. Their ministry is Boy With a Ball. The Johnsons, and some of the other team members, will move to Costa Rica in January. For now James will remain in San Antonio, but it is possible that 2004 will include another move for him.
While living in San Antonio, James has been involved with the outreach efforts of Boy With a Ball, and he is a member of Covenant Church of San Antonio.
James works at Home Depot, which has been an interesting experience for him. He is considering vocational options for his future.
Both Abbe and James remain active in the Camp of Champions as counselors. There were two camps in 2003, and they plan to add an additional camp in 2004.
In April Abbe joined James in San Antonio for a few days for a leadership conference called Knight School. As part of that experience they both went skydiving. Even though you know it is a safe adventure, I was still relieved when I received the text message from James that they were still alive.
During the first four days of 2004 Abbe will again be in San Antonio with James for another leadership conference called Next 2004.
Cathe and I are excited that our children are seeking to grow in God and to please him. His grace is evident in their lives.
In addition Abbe and James were both in a wedding in October. And for those who thought it would never happen, Abbe is a licensed driver. I can retire as her chauffeur!
Cathe, my rich and beautiful wife, still works for Cornerstone Medical. She is the patient liaison for Cornerstone to St. Joseph's Hospital. God has blessed her giving and her diligence, and he continues to increase her wages.
On December 15th we celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary. Only one more year until Abbe and James can throw us a party.
Cathe is full of grace and joy. She is a person of high character and integrity. She is a woman of the Word, and a woman committed to worship God, and to obey his commands.
God brought us together in an unusual way back in 1979. I barely knew her, and I had never dated her. But in July 1979 I believed that God spoke to me that Cathe was the one that I should marry.
After prayer and counsel with my pastor, I wrote her a letter, and told her that I believed that it was God's perfect will that the two of us become husband and wife. Fortunately for me God worked on the other end, and less than five months later we married. (Cathe can tell this story in a quite entertaining and inspirational manner.)
I am greatly blessed to be married to Cathe. She is the finest person I have ever met.
Cathe's mom is now 92. She continues to have problems from time to time with congestive heart failure. Earlier this year she moved to a nursing home, but she has adjusted very well. Cathe and I visited her in October for her birthday, and Cathe, Abbe and I returned to New Orleans to visit over the long Thanksgiving weekend.
Cathe's sister, Cookie and her husband Eddie, moved to Atlanta in March. Since we married, this is the first time Cathe has lived in the same city with one of her siblings. She enjoys Cookie living right around the corner.
I continue to work as the accounting manager for SecureWorks, Inc. 2003 has been a tremendous year for the company. Three main goals were set for 2003 which related to sales, client retention and cash flow. We have exceeded expectations in all three areas. We are extremely excited about the growth of the company, and the prospects for the future.
In January I experienced pain and discomfort in my right arm. In addition my right hand turned black and blue. For someone who doesn't like to go to the doctor, a black and blue hand will get your attention.
In late January I visited the doctor and within a few minutes, he decided to call an ambulance to take me to the hospital. Because of an enlarged and overactive thyroid, they claimed my heart rate was over 200. I stayed in the hospital for six days, and they discovered a blood clot in my right arm, which was cleared out by a vascular surgeon.
In May I returned to the hospital for my thyroid to be removed. The three hour operation was successful, and the pathology report was negative.
The May hospital stay lasted for thirteen days because of blood thinning issues related to the surgery. I have a super conservative cardiologist, which some say is good. But thirteen days in the hospital, when I actually felt great for ten of the thirteen days, required several attitude adjustments. But God's grace was sufficient.
I continue to take three different types of heart medication, in addition to a blood thinner. I am trying to be a good patient, but I remain committed to the truth of God's Word found in Matthew 8:17 and I Peter 2:24.
Since the surgery in May I have felt fine, with the exception of a seven to eight week period in the fall when I was over medicated. After making the decision to cut back on one of the medications, I now feel great.
My parents continue to do well in Clearwater, Florida. My mom is still working part-time, and my dad remains active at their church. We will be together with them and the entire family for Christmas this year.
My nephew, Matt, is now Dr. Burton. He graduated from the University of Alabama dental school in May. He practices his trade in Clearwater.
Mom's Uncle David died in January at the age of 96. Cathe and I did not attend the funeral because of my medical issues.
I want to close with a brief devotional thought. Those who are Christians are familiar with the term that we are "sinners saved by the grace of God." That is a true statement. We are sinners, and there is no other way to receive God's gift of salvation other than through God's grace.
However, the Word says in II Corinthians 5:21, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(NIV)
Yes, we as Christians are sinners saved by grace. But, we are also the "righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." We stand before the throne of God not as filthy sinners, but we stand before the throne of God cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and clothed with robes of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
In 2004 I don't want you to forget that you are a sinner saved by grace. We all have the propensity to sin. But, I do want to encourage you to focus more in 2004 on the gift of God's righteousness to you. When you say, "I am a sinner saved by grace," that is fine. But also say, "I am the righteouesness of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul states in Romans 5:17, For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.(NIV)
Make 2004 a year in which you focus on the fact that God has given YOU the gift of righteousness. And through that gift, and through the abundance of God's grace given to you, determine to reign in life in the year 2004 like never before.
Have a great holiday season, and may 2004 be filled with God's righteousness and grace!!!
Wayne L. Williams
December 18, 2003
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