A Glance Back and a Huge Look Forward

You crown the year with Your goodness,
and Your paths drip with abundance
They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,
and the little hills rejoice on every side.

Psalm 65:11-12

From Thanksgiving through Christmas we have had the most wonderful holidays. My cup runneth over! Here are some pics from Thanksgiving afternoon at Nate's, to Christmas weekend at Molly's, to Christmas Day in Naples...

2011 is going to be a big year for the Matthews clan.Ben and I celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary in February...

Nate and Courtney marry May 21...

and Sarah and Sean marry July 16!

Love is in the air!
Now when it comes to love; And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. . and; Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 JOHN 4:21 1 PETER 4:8-9

The most blessed New Year to you all!

Merry Christmas, Dear Bloggers

I think that every Christmas the Lord puts one or two new thoughts in my head and I ponder on them all through the season. This year I am thinking about God breaking through the darkness. From Malachi to Matthew there had been 400 years of silence, 400 years of darkness. No Word from God, no prophet speaking forth for the Lord. The world was waiting for a very long time for renewal, rebirth, redemption - for HIM. And finally at the most unusual time, in the most unexpected way, God brought His Light into the world.

He still does. I was just speaking with a dear friend who says her world looks dark. She said the last four years feel like 400. I am reminded of the ones on my prayer list who are dying, paralyzed, low on hope, rejected, grieving, hurting, unsettled and lost. Sometimes our lives feel so dark and our hopes are so low. Yet, our God reigns! Just at the most unusual time in a way only orchestrated by Him, God breaks into our little lives with Hope and Grace and Love and Glory!

He still is in the business of breaking through the darkness. Look for it. Expect it. Watch for it. I pray this gentle, tender, childlike unfolding of His plan in your life. Merry Christmas!

God is Light; In Him there is no darkness at all.

I John 1: 5

Here It Is

It is with fear and trembling, excitement and held breath that I send you the link to my website. It is finally ready. And I am ready - I think. Ready to let go of my baby and let someone else teach it, lead it, explain it... without me holding its hand. It really is like sending my child off to college!

The website launches Crossings: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua , a seven-week Bible study. It has taken a year of writing, teaching, revising and taping to finish and is near and dear to my heart. Joshua has become almost a personal friend – certainly a mentor.

The website also focuses on two weekend retreats: Prayer Boot Camp and Crossings, the weekend version. In February I will offer a free online video workshop titled Uncover and Discover, expounding dynamic teaching tools to use in Sunday school classes, small group Bible studies, or even in workplace presentations.

My blog, Coffee Tea and Thee, is accessible through the website, so bookmark my website and visit often.

Lastly, but far from the least, I want to give a shout-out and Glory Hallelujah! for my webkeeper, Elizabeth Jones. She has become as near and dear to me as Joshua and I have relied on her prayers, expertise, wisdom and wit to keep me on track.

Soli Deo Gloria, it was all for Him.

www.suzannewmatthews.com