Happy new year my Compassion friends. Here’s my New Year’s letter. Wisconsin, so January is not my favorite month. But the story of Lazarus is one of my favorite biblical miracles. May this letter bless you and feel free to use it for your kids. I pray you had a merry Christmas. Be inspired.
Happy New Year! As we head into January, it is cold and snowy here in Wisconsin. It’s one of my least favorite months. I prefer a little sunshine and warmth. As January goes on and I think about the brown trees, The white snow and cold weather. I am reminded of a story that starts out sad and turns into a very blessed miracle. The story of Lazarus is one of my favorite miracles in the Bible.
John 11:1-44 is the story of Lazarus. Before I start writing to you about Lazarus. I want you to head into the story remembering who Christ is and his love for you. Lazarus was a man of God who became very sick. His sisters Mary and Martha went and asked Jesus to please come and heal him.
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
Jesus stayed a few days in the town he was in and in that time Lazarus died. But God had a plan he wanted to use Lazarus death to glorify him. When Jesus arrives in Lazarus hometown, his sister‘s response was.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
Jesus was moved and verse 35. It says he wept. He asked where they had placed him and asked them to remove the stone from the tomb. But they said he had been buried for four days. He responded
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
Jesus healed Lazarus and raised him from the dead. He waited to go, knowing that inside of this miracle people would come to find him as the savior and turn to God.
So this day started sad for his sisters, but ended in a great miracle. So though something may seem sad like January, hardships and pain. Remember that God is always there and inside of all that happens in our life. Christ will uphold us. His response will be different for each of our lives. But inside of each miracle whether big or small he is there.
We love you! We are praying for you! We are proud of you!
We are doing well. My health is better and we thank God for that. Praise be the Lord.
Love Mark and Laura
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