Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
I wrote this last year, but need to say it again, Nancy and I are grateful for the many and varied ways you all have welcomed and blessed us with your love and kindness. Thank you!
Growing up on the farm, the importance of healing, health, preventive care, were important every day! Caring for livestock involved daily awareness of the health of the animals. Were there any sick or injured that required attention or a visit from the local veterinarian? Routine health care with annual vaccinations, treatment for parasites, trimming hooves, horns. Regular attention to nutritional needs. “Mending” or building new fence to protect animals from danger. You also have the health and well-being of the crops. Finally, giving attention to the health and well-being of the family.
August was a month that was filled with many of these needs. Finishing as many livestock tasks as possible before Fall harvest. Preventive maintenance and repairs on machinery in preparation for harvest had to be completed in August. Occasionally in the middle of all this, something unexpected would turn our world upside-down.
Playing “hide and seek” one evening in August 1970, our sister Maryanne tripped and fell on an electric fence interrupting her heart rhythm. Within minutes a fun evening became a heart-wrenching, unbelievable, night filled with grief and loss with her death.
The importance of God’s perfect and eternal healing in the days, weeks, and months following would become absolutely essential.
Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him; they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5
We are called by Jesus to share in ministry life, worship, healing, and the promise of God’s provision and presence with us. Knowing healing is available to us, healing for all nations, and the fruit of the tree of life for every month, not just one or a few!
Healing is needed: physical illness, grief and loss, economic and employment loss, challenges in our lives caused by disruptions in this ongoing pandemic, aging, the loss of friends and family; to mention some needs, certainly there are many others.
We are privileged to know Jesus our Savior, who provides the healing we need in every “season” of life. He calls us to join in serving, celebrating, caring, lifting up Jesus the Good Shepherd who laid down his life to rescue and deliver us. May we continue to help one another follow Jesus and follow His new paths of ministry to others who are not of this fold, to heed his voice and follow. Breakthroughs are happening, and we keep our eyes on Jesus and follow him past obstacles and through open doors! May we not be distracted from His call.
Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love undying.
In Him,
Paul and Nancy Wier