A-Team's 2013 Christmas Newsletter

"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD

AND SHALL BEAR A SON,

AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,"

which translated means, "GOD WITH US."

Matthew 1:23







 

Isaiah turned 15 and is now a 9th grader.  He is looking forward to attending high school, but not the hurdle of the exams that needs to be crossed.  He is also seriously praying about which school he will be able to get into.  Some of the highlights for this year are going to the Laker's game, getting his first cast, joining the school wide athletic meet and the relay race (his class got second place and was very disappointed as they had won first place in 7th and 8th grade), winning first place for the school basketball tournament, driving a go-cart, and reaching the final round of the Northern Regional English Speech Contest.  The word for this new year is Renaissance, meaning 'new beginnings'.  The verse that he would like to focus on is Prov. 4:23 -- Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. His biggest prayer request is for the BIG EXAMS on May 17th and 18th.  He needs to do very well in order to attend his number 1 choice of high school.

Abigail turned 14 and is now in the 8th grade. She continues to do well in school and is liked by her classmates and teachers.  She tried out for the lead singer of the school's club band and will be performing at the Christmas Outdoor Concert on 12/22.  Some of her highlights are going to the One Direction Concert with her cousins this summer, her class winning first place in the relay, the best sportsmanship, and actually first place in every event.  She also won first place in the school wide English Reading Contest. The focus for this New Year is Fullness.  She would say that this past year has been one of Giving.  The verse that she likes to focus on for this New Year is I Peter. 2:2

like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.  Her biggest prayer request is to continue to grow in her love relationship with God.



Lovely immensely enjoys her retired lifestyle.  She still does not seem to have the time to run 5 or 6 times a week. She is happy if she gets to have an hour run 3 to 4 times a week.  She stays busy with baking or cooking for the church's different events, speaking at HOP and other churches, taking care of the household needs, and teaching part time at Soochow University.  She wants to continue to be obedient to what the LORD wants her to do, no matter how impossible the task might seem when it is first put in front of her.  She has learned that God can do all things through her as she finished the long run in March.  The focus for this new year is Forever Redeemed, Forever Redeemer.  This year she wants to go back and review all the verses that the LORD has given her over these past 7 years. Her biggest prayer request would be that "God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven".

 

To Alan this year has been a year of reflection, joy and challenges.   In March when his Dad passed away, it was a time for him to reflect over his relationship with his Dad and the influence his Dad had on those around him. There were so many fond memories of time he had with his Dad.  It was also a time of joy, knowing that his Dad was no longer suffering in his earthly body.  Furthermore, the year was filled with personal challenges as he realized how much influence a father has on his children's lives. He felt challenged to be more actively connecting with his children and to spend time with them.  He took steps in committing himself to spending time each morning to pray with Isaiah and to read the Bible together.  He has also started to meet regularly with the HOP Pastor and his fellow overseers  in order to challenge one another and to pray for one another.  The focus for this New Year is Discipleship.  The verses that he wants to focus on is -- Matt 28:18-20

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." His biggest prayer request would be to have wisdom as he grows in his relationship with his children, students at Soochow University where he teaches full time and those at HOP Church.  He wants to influence others to be more like Christ.

As we look towards 2014, please do pray that we will grow in our love for one another as a couple and as a family.  We also want to be a family that prays often and for all people and all things.  In addition, we want to be a family that walks in obedience, bringing glory to God. 

Our family verse for 2014 is -- Eph. 2:10 --

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

 We want to wish you
Merry Christmas

Happy New Year

Happy Chinese New Year

and God's Best Always!

 

Seek Him First!