Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Merry Christmas!

We read Isaiah 9 in preparation for Christmas. The cards are the women's prayer requests & reflections.
Total Number of Cookies Made: 150+ Looks on Students/Neighbors Faces: Priceless :)
Amber, Lindsey, Myself & Katie Doing the Silly Shot
These Larch Ladies are Wonderful

Is it almost Christmas?? Really?!? This semester has just flown by. Our Larch Ladies Bible study has wrapped up with its study on "The Unseen Kingdom." We dove into the parables to see what the Kingdom of God actually looks like and what it means to live in it. We ended our semester with a Larch Ladies Christmas Party at my duplex. (See pictures above.) We read Isaiah 9, reflecting on the prophecy of the coming Messiah. I then had the girls write down what they had learned this past semester, prayer requests over break, and how they would like to grow this next semester in Bible study. Then, we made sugar cookies for the elderly at Bickford Cottage and watched "Elf.":) It was a wonderful bonding time for the girls and a great service project in the Ames community. Lindsey and I were able to bring the cookies to Bickford the next day and talk with the residents. They were blessed as we were by their company and stories. On December 11th, we had our Navigator Ugly Sweater Christmas Party out at the Martens home. We had a devotional, games, food, cookie decorating, and craft making. Many students came out and had a great time fellowshipping together.

Well, now I am home in Indianola spending time with family and catching up with friends. I am traveling to St. Louis for Urbana with ISU students Dec. 27th-31st. Please pray for safe travels and teachable hearts as we go to this conference. The spring semester starts up Jan. 11th! We will be studying 1 Thessalonians as a Bible Study together. Please pray for Lindsey, Alicia, Katie, and Amber as we dive into this book.

God bless you all, and I hope you have a Very Merry Christmas! In the hustle and bustle of the season, I pray you are able to reflect upon the Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ.

In Christ,
Sarah Ann

"For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." Isaiah 9:6-7