Prayer Letters
Graham & Frieda's Update
Come Let Us Adore Him
New Year 2010
Dear friend,
“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (Ps.90:12 NLT)
Another 365 days have passed us by. “Father, teach us to grow in wisdom through remembering Your unfailing kindness and grace to us each day over these past 12 months.”
Lessons learned in God’s classroom throughout 2009
“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Ps.37:5 NLT) ... God has helped us in our writing (emails, articles, reflections), preaching (in Indonesian & English), teaching (in English classes, marriage seminars, seminary classes in Indonesia), counselling and advising (couples, ladies, men, young adults, Christian workers).
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” (Ps.127:3 NLT) ... Our four children with their families including our six grandchildren are among God’s most precious gifts to us – we thank Him for His faithfulness to them ... protecting (in travel and some minor sports accidents), providing (employment, finances), giving wisdom (for training children, purchasing or renovating a home etc.) and strengthening (for the demands of each day) -- we have been so blessed through their special touches of kindness and love to us.
“The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!” (Ps.16:3 NLT) ... What a privilege to share life’s journey with many heroes of the faith, people who love us (through their prayers, gifts, speaking words of encouragement, coming to visit) – in February & March this year two of our special heroes, Pastor Bob & Marsha Davis from Michigan USA, dear friends for 45 years, visited us – we set these 7 weeks aside to relax and enjoy each other’s company which we did as we travelled in Australia and NZ.
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Cor.12:9 NLT) ... Graham experienced God’s strength in physical weakness, undergoing four surgeries (hernia, prostate and two cataract operations) in August through October – praise God, all were successful.
“The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd.” (Eccl.12:11 MSG) ... Our own pilgrimage has been enriched by reading the wise words of Emerson Eggerichs in Love and Respect, J.I. Packer in Rediscovering Holiness, and Michael Card in A Fragile Stone (a beautifully written, insightful book on the life of Simon Peter) – we are thankful that God has continued to encourage some fellow-travellers through some words of wisdom in our own book, United in Marriage by One Lord (in English and now in five other languages) – we’re looking to Him for wisdom and strength as we write another book, this time for Christian cross-cultural couples.
Longings for 2010
How much will you and we grow in wisdom in 2010? The answer lies in this Scripture: “In him (Jesus Christ) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col.2:3 NLT) Most seek other treasures and remain spiritually poor and ignorant. Wise and rich is the person who sets his/her heart to seek after the deep treasures of wisdom and knowledge found in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remembering this, we wish you a truly blessed new year, growing closer to JESUS, the only true Source of eternal life, truth, strength, salvation ... and wisdom.
Yours because His,
Graham & Frieda
“A Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)