EPIPHANY!

"After Jesus was born…Magi from the east came to Jerusalem…to worship Him."
(Matt. 2:1-2)

Dear Friends & Partners,

Happy & Holy New Year's Blessings to each of you!  Now that Christmas has passed and the New Year has come, we tend to 'pack up Jesus' along with the Christmas tree and decorations.  We are eager to get back to 'business as usual.'  But Christmas was a series of events, not just a solitary one on the night of His birth in Bethlehem that we celebrate on December 25th. 

Historically, the church has also celebrated the 'coming of the Wise Men' on January 6th.  It is called 'Epiphany' from the Greek word, Epiphaneia, meaning 'manifestation' or 'appearance.'  This day commemorates the time sometime after Jesus' birth when He was revealed to the Gentile Magi -- showing that He was not just 'King of the Jews,' but God's Messiah for the whole world.

Matthew reminds us of this 'Gentile Epiphany' with these words:

"When they saw the star they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh" (Matt. 2:10-11).

So Biblically speaking, 'gift giving' is associated with Epiphany more than with Christmas Day.  But since Christmas reminds us that God is a giving God, giving is appropriate any and every day of the year!

 I am sharing with you Christmas pictures from some of our dear national partners, click here to see them.  We have been able to give gifts to them this past year because of the gifts you have given us.  So as you look at their pictures, I hope you will have a special spiritual Epiphany – a fresh manifestation of the Lord Jesus, through these precious friends and partners you have invested in through your love, prayers and financial support.

Finally, as you read this email, I will be back in Haiti for a weekend of ministry related to the second anniversary of the killer earthquake.  Be watching for my report upon my return next week…

Sharing His Epiphany,

JL

PS:  I hope you will also click on a timely Christmas message from one of our Christian partners in Nepal that I just received.  I think you will be blessed and challenged as you enter this New Year.