(864) 451-7898 info@lifeinabundance.com
Warm Christmas Greetings and Many Thanks

Warm Christmas Greetings and Many Thanks

Dec 23, 2016 | Belief

Dear Friends,

As the Christmas holiday approaches, many of us find ourselves looking back over the year, taking inventory of all that has happened and all that we have experienced. The team here at Life In Abundance is no different. As such, we want to say thank you to our donors and to the many friends who support this ministry. As 2016 comes to a close, we wanted to share some of the things that you helped make possible.

Throughout this year, LIA was able to offer numerous client scholarships allowing those who couldn’t afford counseling to receive much needed help. This past September we were able to donate a used car to a single mother in need. Through our partnership with SOS Thrift Store, we have been able to offer vouchers to several clients who needed to buy school and work clothes. Through the generosity and partnership of another local ministry, we have been able to provide gas and grocery gift cards to single moms in need of assistance. In addition, we have been able to donate several AAA memberships to women in need. Our client library continues to grow with the generous donations of clients and friends who have donated gently used books. We have also helped to sponsor several women’s events within the community. This year LIA received substantial donations of office supplies and we were able to pay forward some of the extra items that we received to other ministries, non-profits and local small businesses who partner with us to provide services to our clients.

God has truly blessed us with wonderful clients, prayer partners and supporters of the ministry. Our prayer for you in the coming year is that you will seek the Lord in all things, grow in your relationship with Him and allow God’s truth to shine into your heart so that you will have life in abundance!  And as we extend you warm Christmas greetings, we thought you would appreciate the lyrics of this lesser-known Christmas hymn. May you enjoy a wonderful time celebrating His birth!

 

hymnal

By Sarah J Malerich (Own work)

To Us a Child of Hope Is Born

To us a Child of hope is born, to us a Son is given;
Him shall the tribes of earth obey, Him, all the hosts of heaven.
Him shall the tribes of earth obey, Him, all the hosts of heaven.

His Name shall be the Prince of Peace, forevermore adorned,
The Wonderful, the Counselor, the great and mighty Lord!
The Wonderful, the Counselor, the great and mighty Lord!

His power, increasing, still shall spread, His reign no end shall know;
Justice shall guard His throne above, and peace abound below.
Justice shall guard His thrown above, and peace about below.

Public Domain

The Team at LIA

Source: www.pdhymns.com

Photo credit: [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 

Seasons of Change

Seasons of Change

Dec 9, 2016 | Life In Abundance

fall

Just like the seasons change, life is filled with “change.” We go from stifling heat in the summer to crisp days at football games in the fall. Then we bundle up as temperatures drop and the darkness settles in earlier in the day. Finally, flowers pop through, the air warms, and the cycle starts over again.

Change is not something we always look forward to.  In our human nature, “change” is not always welcome… we’re happy with the status quo.  “Change” can be fearful, sometimes stressful and difficult.  At times it makes us uncomfortable and tests our faith because we are not sure of the next step we are to take.  Just as there are wonderful aspects in the “change” of each season, God uses “change” to bring newness, blessings and growth to us in the different seasons of our lives.

The word “change” when used as a noun has several meanings which would apply here, such as:  adapt, adjust, revise, refine, reshape and transform, just to name a few.  The verb form for “change” means “the act or instance of making or becoming different.”  The transformed and changed life in Scripture is exactly what our relationship in Jesus is all about.  The moment we are born again we are transformed from unbeliever to believer.  We walk from darkness into light.  Our spiritual blindness becomes sight.  This transformation is the most miraculous and important “change” anyone goes through in this life.  Just like the caterpillar goes through metamorphosis to become that amazing beautiful butterfly, we are born again by the Spirit of God into a child of God the moment we believe. That transformation continues as we “change” and grow to be more like Jesus. So, “change” is necessary for our growth and vitally important to our spiritual health.

“Change” leads us to the “abundant life” Jesus offers us in John 15, as we stay connected to Him, the True Vine. He is the one thing that never changes!  He is the “anchor of our soul!”  The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:6.)  We don’t always know what tomorrow holds, but, we know WHO holds tomorrow.  We need to anticipate “change” because it will surely come, however, we don’t have to fear it. God is allowing “change” to grow us and refine us to be more like His Son.  Even in the most challenging circumstances and seasons of life, we can have Hope and Joy in the moment to moment, unchanging presence of Jesus.

by Nancy Buck