Pastor's Monthly Letter

Pastor's December 2025 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. Beloved, this month I would like to share
with you on the subject of God’s plan for Christmas.

What I want to do is look at the human perspective of that first Christmas from Joseph’s and Mary’s standpoint. Many times we read about people in the Bible and view them as extraordinary people when in reality they were ordinary, everyday people like you and me.

In Luke 1:26-38 we see that the angel Gabriel appeared unto Mary and told her she would conceive and give birth to Jesus. In verse 29 and 34 Mary was struggling to fully understand with her mind the words of God that were spoken to her. However, in verse 38 she responded by saying, “Be it unto me according to Thy Word.” Even though she didn’t understand fully everything with her head she obeyed by faith the words God had spoken to her through the angel.

In Luke 2:1-7 we see the human perspective of Joseph and Mary obeying by faith the words God had spoken to them. We can see the human element of their having to take an unexpected journey at the end of her pregnancy instead of at the beginning. And that she would take a donkey ride of over twenty miles. And that she is at the time of giving birth. This journey was unexpected and would be an added cost. Then by legal decree Joseph and Mary were required to pay tax money to the government. This too was an added expense. And to top it all off they couldn’t even find a room at the Inn. The only room available was a stable. There was nothing about this journey that was easy. They had to deal with fear and frustration as they walked out God’s will.

As human beings we may find ourselves not always fully understanding the words God has spoken to us in our hearts. Often times our minds struggle to comprehend God’s will that He is speaking to us in His Word. But if we’ll obey Him by faith we will not only fulfill His will for our lives but He will glorify Himself in us and touch and transform the lives of others through us.

We learn three things from this first Christmas story. First, just because we face fear, frustration and confusion as Joseph and Mary did it doesn’t mean the words God has spoken to us in our hearts aren’t working in our behalf. They are. Second, just because there are pressures, trials, and conflict in life it doesn’t mean that God is not able to fulfill His will in us and bless others through us. Third, being in God’s will doesn’t necessarily mean that everything will flow perfectly without problems.

This Christmas story reveals to us that no matter what the devil tries to bring against us for evil in life as we follow God’s will God will turn it around for our good.

At this season of Jesus’ birth let us all understand more fully God’s plan for Christmas in our lives. It is to birth more of Himself and His will in us so that we may bring more glory to His name and be brighter lights and greater witnesses for Him.

God’s greatest gift to you and me was His love in the Person of His Son Jesus. The Holy Spirit will help us realize how much love God has for us and is still speaking His love to us and His will for our lives even till today! Merry Christmas to you all!

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.