You may have heard that Europe is in a "deep freeze". We’ve certainly felt it here where the end of November/beginning of December has us really in the Christmas mood with snow falling and running around much more bundled up! So with the annual reminder upon us that God became man to redeem us and reengage us in His new Creation project, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and pray God’s abundant grace on you and your family!

Regarding what you prayed for last month:

• Worship- I’ve been so blessed this month to have Rusty Richards join me in the weekly worship time at church. I’m often alone when I do my couple of hours and it’s been a real pleasure to have someone with me on the music-making side who simply enjoys being there and making music and facilitating worship. Thank you Rusty!
  
  At the same time, I’ve had the privilege to up my involvement with Olivia’s youth worship team that Alana Smith directs. Alana is a talented, skilled and experienced music director and youth leader/discipler. She has been gracious enough to seek the input of others involved in worship ministry to partner with her in discipling young worship teams. This is the context tailor made for me to be able to share my experience and learn how to disciple at the same time...something that’s always baffled and bugged me. Thank you Alana!

• Work - This is still an "unanswered question" for me. I’m still negotiating with my current client for a smooth transition for both him and me. I should be doing some one-time IT setup for a new client in December, but the future remains fuzzy...if peaceful (kind of like the cat sleeping on my monitor right now!)
  
  

• The Body of Christ in the USA and France - Obviously not something that we’ll get a quick answer for. I say keep praying!

• Finances - Again, I don’t know if a "source transition" is in progress or not, but I can say that God is continuing to speak to us about our finances and to give us opportunity after opportunity to learn how to steward His abundant provision. In particular we’ve recently received provision that has allowed us to pay off our car loan (no more debt!) and provide for Noah’s college visit in the States this spring! So, thank you Lord for your grace and supply in this season and keep teaching us!!!

• Family Time - We are so blessed that Rachel will be joining us for the holidays!!! Yippee!!! So the house will be "crowded" with everybody home (hard to believe that it was "normal" to have all 5 of us here several years ago!) Please pray for travel safety for Rachel and for important relational connection time in the family and with friends. This is an important time for families to be strengthened!

• YWAM Visit - A group of YWAM France staff is touring the country to visit all the YWAM staff who are not working directly with one of the YWAM bases here in France. This little group is simply going to pray for these YWAM staff members. We’re the first on their list and then I will join them for their next stop. They arrive this Sunday and we leave on Monday afternoon. Please pray for their safe travel in the very wintery weather that we’re having now. Pray also for the important relational connections that are being nourished and built up by these prayer visits.

• Paris SOZO trip - Right after I return next Tuesday from my participation in the prayer tour, Angela leaves Wednesday morning with two other ladies to go to Paris to help support a training seminar for the inner healing ministry of SOZO that Angela is part of here. If I’m not mistaken, this is the first official training in France and will take place in Paris and then in Nimes in the south. This is a crucial ministry, not just for our local church here but for all of France. Please pray for the safe travel of Angela and all the others involved in this training and that all the right people would be able to come in order for this ministry to be solidly sown into France. This is vital seed for France right now.

• Brevet Blanc for Olivia - "What’s a ’Brevet Blanc’?", you say. The "Brevet" is the "graduation" exam given to 9th graders all over France. It is this exam that allows them to go on to high school. To call it a Brevet Blanc is to say that it’s a "practice" exam. Nonetheless the teachers make it as real as possible to help the students prepare for the real thing. Consequently, Olivia is feeling the pressure! Please pray for Olivia and her classmates as they study for and take the test the week of the 13th that they would know the peace and presence of Jesus in the midst of the challenge.

• Family Testimony - On December 18th we will be giving our testimony at church. It’s been perhaps 5 years since we’ve done this. It’s exciting to see how God has continued to work since then, adding to our testimony. Additionally, Rachel will have a chance to participate and share what’s been going on with her since she left the nest. Please pray for our times of preparation that we would discern what needs to be said or left out. Our heart is that families, in particular, would be touched as that is the crux of where God has worked in our life and what is on our hearts.