Good News and more good news.

Dec.23,2005
"When they saw the star they rejoiced." Matthew 2:10
The star that shone with splendor at Christmas is known as the Star of Bethlehem and not by any other name. The light that beamed earthward is named for a dusty little village without distinction, except...except that Jesus was born there!
It is another pointer to the ways that God has of dignifying, enobling, and advancing His grace upon each of us in whom Jesus has been born. Just as Bethlehhem is a profitable business center today, because Christ was born there, so God is willing to ordain fruitfulness for each of us in whom Jesus lives. His glory is ignited over you just as over the town to which God sent his son to earth for us. Indeed Good News.* (*parapharsed from the Spirit Filled Devotional, T. Nelson.Pub.)

Steven's recent post-surgical follow-up with our doctors rendered good news. It felt unusual to hear something hopeful, having been hyper-vigilant for so long. But after a few days of emotional processing, the intensity began to lift especially since Steven's energy level is increasing, consistent with pretty good CBC and chemistry panel results. Steven has been ordered to change some eating habits to promote long term liver health and that's it; no medications! He'll follow-up in a month and if all's well then, follow-ups will be every six months. Amazing news. Amazing grace!

Through our School District, Steven is being provided with a home/hospital teacher in order to bring him up to speed from now until February when second semester begins. The hope is that he will be ready at that time for re-entry into a full school day and a full load of academics. Just beginning the process proves difficult because interest, focus and concentration are yet to be reignited.

Part of what we've learned:
Since our lives are nestled between the boundaries of God's soverignty and his unfailing love we have come to know that what happens to us is purposefully within those boundaries and isn't exculsively about us, but also about how others are impacted by an event or circumstance which was intended all along, to point to the Lord. He causes us to wonder what He's doing, what's going to happen, to be gripped by the possibilities and to pray. If we're brave, we might even enter into His presence and search out His will. And the whole time God is pleased that we have come closer to Him. That He reveals more of Himself to us. That our faith grows, that our prayer joins with multitudes of others and is rewarded. That His glory is ignited in you. That you have a story to tell, that was intended all along, to point others to the Lord.
With enormous gratitude, Blessed Christmas to all of you.
The Landers Family

Hurray! We're home already! All went well yesterday and both surgeons agreed to our coming home right away. No need for an extended stay. So Steven will be recuperating at home, moving gingerly about the house, with all surgeries mending. Nothing more on the calendar for major procedures, just follow-ups for now and continued prayer for recovery.
The separation our family has experienced has been draining, so we're all glad to be under one roof joyfully beginning our December. Hope you will too! Hopefully we'll start moving toward normalcy with new knowledge of God's love for us and His sovereignty over all the details of our lives.
This testimony of healing is full of God's Glory...thank you for your part in it.