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Godard Newsletter December 2007 |
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Feliz Navidad Familia y Amigos!
“Father, show me where I fit into this plan of yours.
How can a man be father to the Son of God?
Lord, for all my life I’ve been a simple carpenter.
How can I raise a king?
How can I raise a king?”
From “Joseph’s Song” by Michael Card
Last Sunday in church, Enrique and Tere, parents of the 2 yr. old birthday boy, Oziel, gave thanks to God for their son’s life and prayed for wisdom to continue raising him to be a disciple of Jesus. May God respond to their prayer for Spirit-filled wisdom!
This week I have been thinking of the different people involved in Jesus’ birth. In Mexico, most of the focus is on Mary. But I have many questions about Joseph. So little is said about Joseph- there is no mention of him after he and Mary spend three days looking for their 12 year old son, only to find him in his “Father’s house”. How could he have been, much less felt capable of raising Immanuel, God with us?
Joseph surely was inadequately equipped for that task, but I think his wisdom and power came from God with him! Immanuel was not just the representation of God, but was God incarnate. He was the Word become flesh, God walking with and talking to Joseph. Would that have made Joseph’s parental role any easier? I think not. When any of us earthly children stand facing our Heavenly Father, we know there is nothing that we can offer to Him, except ourselves. So it seems Joseph had to become the child of Immanuel, in order to have the wisdom to be the father to Jesus. What a mystery!
Though there is still so much to understand about Immanuel, we feel such gratitude and wonder that He lives in us, fulfilling His purposes through us. As a New Year stands waiting for us, we will continue to allow Jesus to direct us each moment of every day.
You, our family and friends bring us joy! We are humbled that so many of you pray faithfully for us as a family as well as for the people and ministry God has entrusted to us. Some of you have given sacrificially so that we can do and have what God says we need. Many of you have sent us beautiful words of encouragement. Some of you have come to Guadalajara this year or sent teams and individuals to help build God’s Kingdom here. You have even sent along gifts and treats to bless our Mexican friends or ourselves. We praise God for all that He has accomplished through you!
With so much left to do in order that all nations may know Jesus, we look to Immanuel, our God with us. And because He is with us, imagine what another New Year will look like!!
Love,
Trever, Joan and Kenia Godard
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