2013 is quickly coming to a close. I thought it would be fun to put some of the best photos of the year in one place. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this is a documentary.
This is from Lake Victoria
Children don't have store bought toys. Most toys are made from items that are thrown away.
We ministered at a small Masai church. This little girl is so cute!
Jean Nelson edited this photo of Don. It is so true!
The challenges of being tall....
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| This is a real sign in Africa! |
May 5th- Muslims bombed a Catholic Church right here in Arusha
Vicky is tutoring the teenagers
A friend sent Don some fuzzy dice!
Don ministering in a small Masai church located behind us
Witch Doctor got saved and burned all his witchcraft stuff
The papers were inside a package we received from the States. What fun!
Interesting rock formation behind the home
Praise and Worship blow out at the Bible College
Lilian was given a solar light to help her study.
Mary turned 50 in September
Someone told Don he looked like Indiana John!
Face to face with a giraffe in Kenya
Mary is praying for the Tanzanians in Nzega
Photo bomb!
Hayley's House orphans receive Christmas books from a friend in the USA
Christmas Emergency food giveaway feeds over 100 families!
Merry Christmas!
Mary and Don
The following is a devotional that I put together for Christmas. Hope you enjoy!
The Gifts of Christmas, a Christmas Devotional
Begin by reading Matthew 2:1-12.1. Gold was the most precious metal known to the Israelites. It represents purity and great worth. Almost everything in the temple was made of gold or plated with this metal (see Exodus 25).
History shows that gold was given as a way to honor kings or other rulers.
"Then the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon 4 1/2 tons of gold, a huge amount of spices, and precious stones. She gave him more spices than anyone has ever brought into Israel." (1 Kings 10:10 ERV)
Jesus is the King of Kings: "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:11, 12, 16 ESV)
2. Frankincense is a fragrant gum resin from trees from Somalia and southern coastal Arabia that is an important incense resin and has been used in religious rites, perfumery, and embalming. When exposed to air, the sap hardens into a solid that burns easily. Frankincense was a key ingredient of the incense used in Hebrew worship.
Two ways incense was used in the temple:
1 - Exodus 30:33-36. It was used to anoint priests
"You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you." (Exodus 30:30-32 ESV)
2- Leviticus 2:1-3. It was used with the offering of a sacrifice.
“When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord." (Leviticus 2:1, 2 ESV)
Offering incense symbolizes prayer (Rev. 5:8) "And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Revelation 5:8 ESV)
The gift of frankincense prophesied of Jesus’ role as our high priest.
3. Myrrh, like frankincense, is the dried sap of certain trees. Transportation costs made both substances very expensive. Myrrh was an ingredient in perfumes and incense in ancient times. It was valued for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities. In fact, to this day, myrrh is found in salve, mouthwash, and toothpaste. Myrrh can be used to cover the smell of a dead body. the Hebrews sprinkled myrrh on burial cloths which were wrapped around the deceased. Prophetically, myrrh speaks of the sacrifice Jesus would make to cleanse the world of sin.
In Bethany, a woman anointed the Lord with pure nard, an ointment in which myrrh was a primary ingredient. Judas rebuked her for wasting the expensive perfume, but Jesus declared that she anointed Him for His burial.
" And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3-9 ESV)
It is interesting that Nicodemas was responsible for providing the myrrh to be used in Christ’s burial.
"Nicodemas also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews." (John 19:39, 40 ESV)
Conclusion: The magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh prophesied that Christ would be our king, high priest, and Savior. In your time with God, thank Him for the perfect gift of His Son. As king, Jesus rules over the universe and one day will return to reign on earth. As high priest, He intercedes for us so that we can approach God with confidence. And as Savior, He sacrificed His life so that salvation is available to the whole world.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV)
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46 ESV)
We thank God for your prayers and support!
Support in any amount is greatly appreciated. For tax credit, make checks payable to Victory Fellowship. Write a note with the check indicating that the donation is for Don and Mary Bryant. Mail checks to: Victory Fellowship 5708 Airline Dr., Metairie LA. 70003, or on-line giving at this link:
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