From Jeanette
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto His name, O Most High.”
—Psalm 92:1
Just as this year has been quite different and unexpected from others, so will my note be. To give you a glimpse of my year’s activities, I found the Lord leading me to do various things…
1. Deeper experience upholding others through intercessory prayer:
- using God’s Word to defeat the enemy
- teaching others to do the same while the Lord was teaching me
- conveying specific messages from the Lord to certain people
- encouraging others in the truth, to set them free
- witnessing the Lord release some from negative emotions to gain His freedom through His perspectives
- teaching others from my own experience not to own their emotional pain but to give it to Jesus who bought and paid for that pain with His Blood
It was very fulfilling to see the Lord release ones from negative emotions to gain His freedom through His perspectives. [Negative emotions should not be ignored; they lead to physical problems most of the time. We can use natural things the Lord provides to help with those “humps,” but don’t overlook the root problem of negative emotions. I am grateful to have the Young Living range of items handy to use for those temporary issues.]
2. Realizing why Biblical stories were recorded
You’ve heard the saying “History repeats itself,” and I found it true as it enfolds before us! The Lord opened my eyes to see that Old Testament stories or prophets’ writings were not just recordings of events, but its purpose was to be a template for every future generation to heed warnings or learn from mistakes.
Can you and I be prepared to make a difference to move a city/state/country in the right direction like a Moses, Nehemiah, Daniel, David, Jehoshaphat, Deborah or Esther? I was led to read specific stories at different times of the year to see how they related to our time and how I fit in. I realized that if I am to prepare myself to grow and be used of God, I couldn’t continue to excuse, overlook, or justify myself as I have in the past. I also found, as one preacher put it, that “the deeper you go into God the less you can take with you.”
3. New experiences with Young Living products!
We’re thankful for God’s provision to have the basics: Thieves® line for clean indoor air and personal care. Essential oils to breathe in what’s best for any season’s “storms” and to have a cozy sleep. My favorite nighttime diffusing combos are: Lavender + Eucalyptus Globulus and alternating with Lavender + Ravintsara. Recently I’ve also been using Lavender with Northern Lights Black Spruce or Idaho Grand Fir. I absolutely love the Bloom skin care set. I noticed results after the 1st week, others now say I have younger-looking skin, lighter blemishes, a brightness and a nice soft glow on my face. I have been using Hinoki and now adding Helichrysum on my legs to support healthy capillary and vein walls and for better appearance! There were just so many things that had gone “south” for me physically over the past year and a half, starting in 2019, and it is nothing short of a miracle to see so many improvements without any conventional medicine. To God be all the glory!
All said and done, we are grateful that the Lord has been our strength, shield and buckler and has kept us safe in the “cleft of the Rock” and under His wings (Psalm 91). He gently guided us through this year’s turbulent waters (Isaiah 43:2-3). As His soldiers, we remind ourselves not let our guard down… but to “continue steadfastly, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (I Corinthian 15:55).
We hope to connect with you more in 2021 and that it will be a turning point for you to boldly do what you are gifted and equipped to do: touch the lives of many to bring God glory!
Warmly,
-Jeanette
From Gabriel
A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.”
—Deuteronomy 11:12
As I look back on 2020, the thing I am most thankful for is that the Lord’s eyes were on His people and this nation throughout the year. The pandemic, the riots, and the political battles only served to magnify the faithfulness of the Lord.
I praise the Lord that I was able to make another trip to Haiti in late February, just before all the travel restrictions and lockdowns were put in place — in fact at the airport in Haiti they had started checking temperatures of arriving travelers. While it was disappointing to see that some of the young people who accepted Jesus on my last trip had backslidden, I was encouraged to see the commitment of those who were still faithful. The church there has begun an after-school ministry to the children and so I spent some time with the little children. May the Lord use the children to move the hearts of the parents and other adults to turn to Him.
The Lord has been giving me opportunities to counsel some family members and friends in India to help them overcome some relationship and parenting problems. We are praying that the Lord will change their hearts. I have also been blessed to work with some young people in Indianapolis in a Bible study setting.
May the Lord bless you all with a grace-filled 2021 and may you be continually filled with the Joy and Peace that comes from living in His presence (Psalm 16:11).