Dear family and friends,
Wow! 2013 is now history! As I think about the different things that happened in 2013, I have to wonder, have I made good choices with how I have spent my time? A month or so ago, I read a quote that keeps coming back to mind. “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.” (C.S. Lewis). That puts things in an interesting light. How does God look at the way I have spent my time this past year? How does one let go of the things that are eternally useless? It is definitely something worth thinking about.
I have taught my elementary school aged children reading, math, history, science, and other subjects. Of course we all need to learn to read. I use the skill of reading every single day. I need to know how to read in order to learn spiritual truths from the precious Word of God. I have also spent time interacting with my students as I tried to model Christ before them. My desire is that they may have seen Christ in my life.
Brad monitors, questions, reports, and organizes all aspects of the NTM-Homes finances. That can include – but is not limited to – interaction with the NTM-Headquarters finance offices, businesses and government offices, explaining various billings to Homes residents, and providing detailed reports to the NTM Homes leadership and in some cases to the NTM-HQ leadership.
Since Brad and I both leave our missionary community and have business in Sanford, Florida and other nearby areas, we have also had opportunities to share Christ and the gospel with those we meet. Have we always been faithful to speak with every person we have met? Of course we have not. We need to become more bold in our witness for the Lord. This may mean a comment or it may mean an extended conversation with someone. We have to keep the eternal in mind.
As you know, NTM Homes is home to many retired missionaries. Folks who live here have served 30, 40, 50 or more years on the foreign fields around the world. These folks spend time praying for unbelievers and believers in remote places on this earth. Many are still involved in volunteer ministries in their churches, in prisons, and in hospitals. Some are still working on different stages of Bible translations and revisions. Some who are physically able, are still traveling back to their overseas places of service to deliver completed translations, visit with folks they worked with, and assist in whatever way they can. We see folks who are failing in health as they struggle with mobility, mental acuity, and/or recovering from different surgeries. Our chaplain sends out daily prayer bulletins to our e-mail inbox that keep us up on what is happening here in our local missionary community. We also see spouses making adjustments after their husband or wife has gone on to be with the Lord. This helps one to keep Christ as the focal point of our lives. “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.”
Please pray:
- That we will fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
- That we will regard others as more important than ourselves
- That we will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
- That we will serve one another in love
- That we will bear one another’s burdens
- That we will encourage and build others up
- That we will be intentional in the way we lives our lives in 2014
Desiring to please Him who has given His all for us,
Wanda (and Brad) Hull