Happy New Year!! I hope that you experienced a prosperous 2004. I am looking forward to seeing the favor of God in new and fresh ways in 2005.
First, here are some of the highlights from 2004. We did experience some sad times during the past year.
On Easter weekend Cathe's family was stunned with the unexpected death of her nephew, Michael Stuebben, Jr.
My saddest memory from 2004 is standing outside of the church after Michael's funeral. As the church bell tolled slowly and sadly, I watched the pallbearers, healthy and strong, place his 34 year old body in the hearse. It reminded me of how fragile human life is. We should treasure each day of life, and every opportunity to see or to communicate with someone we love.
In May Cathe's mom, Merlyn Stuebben, passed away at the age of 92. She suffered with congestive heart failure for several years, but in reality, her body simply wore out. She steadily declined over the last several months of her life.
Cathe visited her several times during the last year of her life. She also made one last trip to visit her on Mother Day's weekend to say good bye.
Cathe misses her a lot, and often wishes she could just pick up the phone and call her mother.
I knew Merlyn for almost 25 years. And I knew Cathe's dad, Fred, for almost 19 years. In all of those years neither of them ever said one unkind word to me. Neither of them ever did anything to meddle in our marriage. Both of them were always steadfast in their commitment and devotion to their faith in Jesus Christ. They both had an infectious enthusiasm for life.
They raised a large family of 8 children. The Stuebben family remains a vibrant model of love, acceptance, and of a willingness to help others in need. In their family there is always room for "one" more.
Fred and Merlyn never had much money, and in the world's way of thinking, they were simple, common people. But their legacy of faith, and of love for their family, signify true greatness. They both died leaving their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, in-laws and friends richer in the things of life that really matter.
I was blessed to know Fred and Merlyn for many years. I am extremely blessed to be married to their daughter.
On December 15th Cathe and I reached a milestone. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Our children have chosen to give us airfare for an anniversary trip to London. We plan to visit London later this spring. It is nice to have children who are making money.
After 19 nights in the hospital in 2003, I didn't spend any days or nights in the hospital in 2004. I feel great.
2004 was a big year for Abbe. She graduated from Georgia State with honors on May 15th with her degree in nursing. Several family members joined us to celebrate that event.
She has been busy since graduation with various personal interests, working part-time, and studying for the NCLEX exam, which is the examination one must pass to be licensed as a nurse. She passed that exam recently, and she will begin work full-time on January 4th at Saint Joseph's Hospital as a registered nurse.
James moved home in August after 18 months in San Antonio. He moved there in obedience to the Holy Spirit to join a community of faith consisting of people he had met through the years. Many of those believers moved to other locations, and it became apparent that it was time for him to make a move.
He moved home with the tentative plan of moving to Costa Rica in early 2005 to join some missionary friends there. He and Abbe visited Costa Rica the last week of August to scout out the land. They both returned thinking this is not the right time for either of them to move there. (Neither mom or dad were disappointed with that news.)
James currently works two retail jobs, and he is saving up money with the plan to return to school. He applied to Georgia State, and he was accepted, but since he was out of state for 18 months, he needs a year back in Georgia to qualify for in-state tuition.
I want to conclude with a brief devotional thought about the favor of God.
I am excited about the prospects for good things in 2005. The primary verse I have meditated on for this year is Psalm 5:12. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
If you are born again, then you have become "the righteous." Paul wrote in II Corinthian 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. Through the blood of Jesus we stand before the throne of God as if we had never sinned. And to those who are righteous, God desires to show his favor.
Dictionary.com had the following definitions for the word favor.
1. an act of gracious kindness
2. an advantage to the benefit of someone or something
3. an inclination to approve
4. a feeling of favorable regard
God desires to surround you with his favor. He wants to perform acts of gracious kindness on your behalf. He wants to fill your life with advantages that will benefit you. He is inclined to express his approval toward you. He has tremendous feelings of favorable regard for you.
Because of previous teaching contrary to the Bible, some believers feel that God is out to get them. They think that God is angry at them, and that he is stingy with them.
But that is not the nature of God. He longs to fill your life with his bountiful blessing. In fact Ephesians 1:3 states that God has already chosen to bless us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.
Luke 4:19 records the words of Jesus as he quotes Isaiah 61. Jesus came to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
It is not that I think 2005 is some type of special year of the Lord's favor. Every year under the New Covenant of God's grace is a year of the Lord's favor. But God has stirred my heart to believe that 2005 will be a year in which we more fully discover the benefits of being surrounded by God's favor as with a shield.
Begin this year by believing that 2005 will be a year of God's favor in your life and in your family. Then during 2005 begin each day believing that day will be filled with God's favor. When the difficult times come, remember that it is not God who is out to get you. Rather, remember that God has chosen to surround you with his favor as with a shield.
May your 2005 be filled to overflowing with the favor and blessing of God!!
Wayne L. Williams
January 1, 2005
Wisdom From the Word
Christmas Letter 2003
Christmas Letter 2002