Merry Christmas 2020
Dear Friends and Family,
In this year’s Christmas letter, we first want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. All of us are dealing with the effects of COVID and the worldwide reaction to it. As I write this letter, Jeneen’s mom is in the hospital with COVID. This morning, I wrote a sympathy card for a wife who has lost her husband to COVID. They are good friends. We had the privilege of ministering together years ago. These are not easy times for many dealing with COVID.
Along with health in our world, we have the political and economic issues. Some have lost jobs and are struggling to find hope in the future. With the instability in the political realm, people are unable to plan, not knowing what will be. These are times of uncertainty.
So, how do you write a Merry Christmas letter? I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4. Troubled but not distressed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed. It is true that we go through many emotions because of the issues we face. But where do we find strength and hope. It is in the blessed Savior whose birth we celebrate this month. Without Christ, there is no hope but with Him, we have a blessed hope, both now and for eternity. So with hope in Christ, I will write a Christmas letter.
Jeneen and I are doing okay with all that has been going on. We did have some meetings this fall and the Lord blessed greatly. The two of us have been in pretty good health. We have been busy in ministering to churches and in our home church. We have things scheduled in January and throughout the spring. I finished the next Bible study and it is with the publisher to be evaluated and published. We continued doing what the Lord sets before us each day.
Our family is doing okay in spite of circumstances. We continue to pray for God’s protection and guidance in their lives. It is a blessing to have family close and to be close to family, no matter where they are.
The greatest gift we have is our Lord. He comforts, gives grace, encourages, strengthens, and is our refuge. We know the truth of being absent from this body is to be present with Him because we have personally accepted the gift of Christ as our Savior. Therein we find our peace, joy, and contentment, no matter the circumstances of life. It is our wish that you may know and experience life in Christ even greater and to the fullest. May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Monte Leavell 