Merry Christmas!
My favorite word in all language is a word found only once in the Bible: Emmanuel. This magnificent word means “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 describes the account of God coming to Earth: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” It is a marvel that God came to Earth, but even more profound is the truth that God is with us.
We have great hope knowing that our God can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. When you are acquainted with grief, despised, rejected, or afflicted and carried with sorrows, remember to be of good cheer with a merry heart, knowing that the chastisement of our peach was upon Christ. This is a reason to celebrate Jesus Christ the Lord on this wonderful day.
This is God’s report. God asks two important questions in Isaiah 53:1: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” Do you believe His report? God’s is actively working among you. I encourage you to testify to others about what God, through Christ Jesus, is doing in your life.
One opportunity God gave me this month was a Christmas campaign called “Bags of Love.” I felt led to distribute bags of love to the numerous prostitutes standing in front of their scant lodges in the vile brothels of San Salvador. A dentist, a secretary from a local clinic, and an employee from a radio station, along with social media influencers, all got involved to help. The bags were filled with a John/Romans booklet, gospel track, toilet paper, soap, baby wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste. The best report is that most of the women allowed me to share some of my testimony and explain the magnificence that Jesus Christ loves them so much.
As I got to know some of the women and listen to their stories, thoughts vividly came to my mind that these outcasts each have a name and are living souls that are acquainted with grief, despised, rejected, afflicted and carrying sorrows. It was merry to be able to proclaim with cheer the good news that the chastisement of their peach was upon Christ. One woman named Sandra began to cry as I told her how much she is loved. She told me that she has been working in the brothels for 18 years. Another woman told me that before I arrived, she had been lying on her bed thinking about leave the work, but she doesn’t know how to leave or what to do.
It grieves my heart with sorrow that there are so many individuals ensnared by Satan, whether in prostitution, the gang life, or addiction to drugs and alcohol. There is such a great need for all of us to proclaim Christ Jesus and to get involved in the lives of individuals. Therefore, I am begging God to send forth labourers in His harvest, because the harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few. God is not praying for more pastors, evangelists, or missionaries; God is praying for labourers.
On this Christmas day, I pray that you and I will be faithful labourers because the need is great and the King of Kings is soon to return. The Christmas chapter of the Bible, Isaiah 53, ends with this magnificent warning: “Therefore I [JEHOVAH] will divide him [CHRIST] a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Merry Christmas my friends.
I am grateful for our friendship!
Lawrence Bowman
My favorite word in all language is a word found only once in the Bible: Emmanuel. This magnificent word means “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 describes the account of God coming to Earth: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” It is a marvel that God came to Earth, but even more profound is the truth that God is with us.
We have great hope knowing that our God can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. When you are acquainted with grief, despised, rejected, or afflicted and carried with sorrows, remember to be of good cheer with a merry heart, knowing that the chastisement of our peach was upon Christ. This is a reason to celebrate Jesus Christ the Lord on this wonderful day.
This is God’s report. God asks two important questions in Isaiah 53:1: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” Do you believe His report? God’s is actively working among you. I encourage you to testify to others about what God, through Christ Jesus, is doing in your life.
One opportunity God gave me this month was a Christmas campaign called “Bags of Love.” I felt led to distribute bags of love to the numerous prostitutes standing in front of their scant lodges in the vile brothels of San Salvador. A dentist, a secretary from a local clinic, and an employee from a radio station, along with social media influencers, all got involved to help. The bags were filled with a John/Romans booklet, gospel track, toilet paper, soap, baby wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste. The best report is that most of the women allowed me to share some of my testimony and explain the magnificence that Jesus Christ loves them so much.
As I got to know some of the women and listen to their stories, thoughts vividly came to my mind that these outcasts each have a name and are living souls that are acquainted with grief, despised, rejected, afflicted and carrying sorrows. It was merry to be able to proclaim with cheer the good news that the chastisement of their peach was upon Christ. One woman named Sandra began to cry as I told her how much she is loved. She told me that she has been working in the brothels for 18 years. Another woman told me that before I arrived, she had been lying on her bed thinking about leave the work, but she doesn’t know how to leave or what to do.
It grieves my heart with sorrow that there are so many individuals ensnared by Satan, whether in prostitution, the gang life, or addiction to drugs and alcohol. There is such a great need for all of us to proclaim Christ Jesus and to get involved in the lives of individuals. Therefore, I am begging God to send forth labourers in His harvest, because the harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few. God is not praying for more pastors, evangelists, or missionaries; God is praying for labourers.
On this Christmas day, I pray that you and I will be faithful labourers because the need is great and the King of Kings is soon to return. The Christmas chapter of the Bible, Isaiah 53, ends with this magnificent warning: “Therefore I [JEHOVAH] will divide him [CHRIST] a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Merry Christmas my friends.
I am grateful for our friendship!
Lawrence Bowman
