Pastor's Monthly Letter

Pastor's December 2024 Letter

In verse six the end result of the Lord being our Shepherd is “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.” “Goodness” refers to blessings. “Mercy” refers to forgiveness. Finally “we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
This last verse is the only one that refers to heaven – our eternal home.

Dear Beloved of Faith Family Fellowship,

Greetings in the name of the Lord! This month I want to share with you on the subject of “THE CHRISTMAS PROCLAMATION”. This was the proclaiming of Jesus’ birth by the angels to the shepherds that is found in Luke’s Gospel 2:8-20.

On that particular night like any other ordinary one the shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks. Sometime during that night God sent His messenger angel to proclaim to them and to the whole world the good news of His birth. In verse 10, it says “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people”. Then in verse 11, He tells us what the good tidings are. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”. Jesus was born at the right time in a manger just for “you”. He was born, lived, died, resurrected and ascended to the throne to redeem us back to right standing with God.

In verse 13, it tells us that suddenly there appeared the heavenly choir of angels singing praise to God. In verse 14, the angels expressed in song on earth peace and good will toward all mankind from God because Jesus was born to restore back the fallen human race to God. This was not peace between men but rather peace between God and fallen Man through the redemptive work of Jesus for mankind. Jesus the Prince of peace came to give us the peace of God in our hearts.
n Jo

The true proclamation of Christmas is not that Jesus was born but rather why He was born and became human. He did so to identify with us in our human condition and our fallen condition of sin and therefore redeem us from it. The proclamation of Christmas is the whole redemption process beginning with His birth, His redeeming us and ending with His coming for us. Because of this we are loved, accepted and forgiven.

The shepherds that night made their way to the manger and found the babe. Verse 17 tells us they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child. Just like the shepherds let us also tell others about the good tidings of great joy concerning Christ the Lord our Saviour who has saved us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). And tell of Him who came to give us life more abundant with true meaning and purpose.

This Christmas season let the Holy Spirit lead you to tell others in your world the good tidings of great joy – Jesus Christ and the life He lived and gave for them to be saved. God Bless you this Christmas season!

We love you,

Pastor Ron and Betsy

1. A refreshing and renewing of His Spirit and Word.

Through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ He has become our Shepherd—Lord on a personal level. Everything we could ever need or desire has already been provided for us in Him. He is everything we need Him to be to us. Our redemption in Him has made sure of that. That is why it is important that we as His sheep not just try to know the Psalm. We must come to know the Shepherd in the Psalm. For it is in knowing intimately the Shepherd in Psalm 23 that we begin to understand the fullness of our redemption and all that God has made available to us in Christ. As you meditate on Psalm 23 allow the Holy Spirit to bring it alive to you in your heart. Let Him reveal to you all that the Shepherd is to you and all that you are to the Shepherd as His sheep. It will transform your thinking and change your life.