Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Christmas 2017

Christmas 2017





The melodies of Christmas keep ringing in my ears, and filling my heart with the Good News ... Jesus Christ came, at the will of His Father, to enter our realm as a God Man, to be the perfect sacrificial lamb.  He was the long-awaited redemption of Israel and human kind.

This Christmas I have particularly enjoyed an album by Chris Tomlin.  It's filled with the Good News.  One song in particular causes my feet to tap and my voice to echo with Chris, "It's Christmas!  The angels are singing, and I know the reason, a Savior is borne.  It's Christmas!  The bells are ringing, and I feel like shouting, Joy to the World!"  Every time it plays, I turn up the stereo, whether at home or in the car, because it fills my heart with so much thanksgiving and praise, that I absolutely cannot keep quiet, and of course, I sing along, with great enthusiasm.

How I pray, as all things point to His coming at this time of year, that your heart swells with the love that God has blessed us with by sending His only Son, Jesus, to live among us, joyfully give His life's blood, that we can be restored to God.  There is no greater love than this!

2017 has been a year of transition for us in many ways.  We sold our house in Sun City Grand, Surprise, AZ at the end of March, taking advantage of the great housing market, and paying off some debt.  We moved into a very nice, leased home in a multi-generational community, and we have enjoyed hearing once again the sound of children playing and meeting new neighbors.  Our new address is:  14559 W Desert Hills Dr, Surprise, AZ. 85379.  We will be looking for a new home after the first of the year.  So stay tuned for a new address to follow sometime in March or April.  It will most likely still be in Surprise.  I told Harry, this was the very last time I wanted to move.  I sure hope so :)

Our family was greatly changed this summer with the last of our parents, my dear sweet momma, leaving this earthly home for her eternal home.  She passed away on July 6 after suffering from severe dementia for several years.  Though I miss her so much, she is now whole in body, mind and spirit, and the promise of seeing her again brings us great consolation.  The service for her was, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful memorial services ever.  It was so lovely and filled with reminders of the home God has prepared for those who love Him ... Heaven!!

In October, we were part of an incredible movement in Washington, DC, called Awaken the Dawn.  From Friday evening at 5 pm on October 6, until Monday morning at 4 am on October 9, there was worship,  praise and prayer on the National Monument Mall, 24/7, going up for our country.  ATD set up 10' x 12' tents up and down the Mall, one for each state in the Union, as well as special tents for gatherings during the weekend.  Harry and I had the 6-8 am shift in the Arizona tent.  This was an experience like none other ... hearing praise and worship ringing out through the night and early morning, and all day long ... WOW!!  Since the National Mall is open to the entire DC community and lots of visitors, we had people stopping by the tents with curiosity to learn what was going on, many asking for and receiving prayer.  It was an amazing time for the Body of Christ to come together from all over the country on behalf of our nation.  In September 2018, this movement will move to each state capital and Awaken the Dawn will host a tent on the capital grounds all across our nation, again with worship and praise and prayer rising on behalf of our country.

We are deeply involved in a ministry, The Well, that is engaged in the common goal of investing our lives to bring not just revival, but transformation, to the state of Arizona and our nation, through prayer, training and activation.  It is our desire to actively be involved in our community, particularly with a new Christian university that just opened in Surprise, Ottawa University.  We are excited to be engaged in all that God has for us.  We don't see anywhere in scripture the word retirement; maybe a bit of retreading but not retirement.

We wish you dear friends, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May God be with you and give you peace and hope in 2018.

Harry and CeCi Smith




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