We're looking forward to the day tomorrow as we have our last Sunday before Christmas. We have one more children's choir practice before their ministry at the Christmas Eve Carol Service. They have worked hard during our choir practices and we've enjoyed our time together.

We are having very interesting weather lately. Wet and very windy has been our norm for the last week or so. That continues through the weekend. Thankfully from my perspective we have increased opportunities for some snow showers in our future. :) We (I) wouldn't mind seeing some snow flakes around Christmas time. It looks like the winds will die down in time for our carol service on Christmas Eve.

Mark Hikin had a bit of encouragement today. The Dr.'s are allowing him to go home during the day. That is a blessing as he can be with his family. (It is difficult to get them up to the hospital.) Please continue to pray for God's grace in shrinking this abscess on his appendix.

Please continue praying for Mark. He is still in the hospital with an abscess from his ruptured appendix. They can't drain it yet because it is too risky. He's been in a lot of pain and has to daily wait for decisions about what they are going to do. Meanwhile, his family is missing him at home.  He is also their transportation. With Christmas coming they would really like to see him out of the hospital, but they also want what is best for his health. Thanks for taking this need to the Lord.

I heard that very question today from a man who has lived 18 months with cancer. He was told when diagnosed that he has two years. Please pray for God to meet the spiritual and physical need that he has. He envied my faith but I told him that he could come to faith in God as well. I gave him a John and Romans and a track about accepting Jesus as his personal Savior. He knew what I was talking about when I mentioned being born again. He used to watch a television preacher who God used to bring many to Christ. Perhaps that seed sown back then will bring a harvest before it is too late.

Aren't you glad that we have a book that is authoritative and that mankind has never and will never disprove? They have their theories but they will be proven false at the judgment seat of Christ. My heart goes out to this "hopeless" world. They have thrown God out of everything and they wonder why so many are committing suicide and turning to drink. I could tell you of 4 suicides that I have heard about within 7 miles of our home. (That is in the last two weeks.) 20 people a week are dying from alcohol in Scotland. (Those are the documented cases of death from alcohol.)

Our world needs the light. Please pray for God's bright Light to open the eyes of a sin darkened world. We are looking forward to sharing the Light on Christmas Eve. I've put out flyers the last two days. Please pray for a good attendance and a great evening.

update on Mark: He has another scan today to see if the abscess has shrunk. If so, he may be allowed to go home with an oral antibiotic. Thanks for praying for him.

The ladies had a great time last night. There was an excellent turnout and Adele's Bible study was very well presented. I thought you'd enjoy seeing some pictures. Hopefully you aren't hungry. If so you may want to eat something before seeing these delicious pictures. I'll also include one from Logan's recent birthday. 

Please continue to pray for Mark Hikin. The abscess is shrinking with the antibiotics. They have said that they may not need to remove his appendix but just treat this abscess. Please pray that the doctors make wise decisions and for God's continued grace for Mark and his family. I told him that many of your were praying and he appreciates your prayers very much.

We just had sweet encouragement from the Lord. The delivery man rang the doorbell just a moment ago. He had two identical size boxes from two different churches. They were full of wonderful things for our family and are now waiting for Christmas morning. Tears came to my eyes as I looked inside them and rejoiced in the love of God's people. What is inside if fun and the kid's are going to go nuts. But, the love contained in those gifts is even more wonderful.

It was another windy day today. My A-board sign got blown over during Sunday School. Don't you love weather? (Sigh, Smile of contentment.)

The Lord gave us a good morning with faithful attendance. The Hikin family was unable to be there this morning. Mark's appendix has burst and he is hospitalized. I was with him last night and this afternoon. He is in good spirits. An abscess has formed which has contained the infection but also postpones the removal of his appendix. Please pray for grace and wisdom. (He had a good witnessing opportunity with a man in the next bed over. He has witnessed to several people since arriving in the hospital.)

Tomorrow evening is Katie's Neighborhood Christmas Party. I know she would appreciate your prayers for a great evening. Please also pray for Adele as she shares a bit of the Christmas story.

The children's choir practice went well this evening. There are two neighbor girls who practiced with us. It seems they may not be able to be there on Christmas Eve. Please pray that God would allow them to be able to come. (I told them that we would pray that God would help them to be there.) Thanks for your prayers!

We enjoyed a Christmas lunch with a sister church in Dunbar. We love the pastor and his wife and are very thankful that they invited us to be with them today. I preached on the Christmas Prophecy, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given...." Specifically we considered the prophetic names of Jesus found in that verse.

We are thankful for journey mercies today as there were gales to severe gales blowing. Our vehicle has high sides and it makes you feel the wind a bit more. But no matter what vehicle we would have been driving, we would have felt the wind today.

The Lord gave a good witnessing opportunity with a young man who attends their ministry as a care giver. Please pray that God will awaken his heart. He sits in on the services each week because of his employment. 

Mark Hikin would appreciate your prayers. He is at the hospital tonight with abdominal pain which they believe is his appendix. He has been in terrible pain this past week.

Also, there is good news for Violet. She does have breast cancer but they did not find cancer anywhere else. I know she would appreciate your continued prayers.

Thanks for your part in our ministry. I'm preaching tomorrow morning on Mary's song of praise found in Luke 2.

PS. :)  The Lord gave a good witnessing opportunity with a young man from France. He said that he worships mother earth. Interestingly he didn't admit he was a pagan until I questioned him. I shared with him an illustration I got from Dan Pero. I pointed at the painting on his display and said, "You can see the art but not the artist. You worship the painting instead of the painter." The Lord gave us a good 15 minute discussion.

We've enjoyed having missionary friends from Ireland with us today. They arrived early this morning. Brother Dan preached tonight and was a blessing to our church. God gave us 3 great witnessing opportunities as we went into Edinburgh late this morning. We witnessed to a young muslim. He graciously took a John and Romans and showed a real interest in reading it. We also witnessed to a lady who is in the Guiness Book of World Records for piercings. I've spoken with her before about God's love. Please pray that God will awaken her heart. We also spoke with an evolutionist for about 20 minutes. He had actually seen Ken Ham videos online. He didn't agree with Ken Ham but it was pretty amazing that he had researched his viewpoint. It was fun to see the Lord open those doors.

God's good. We didn't have a big group out tonight but the Lord encouraged our hearts. Thanks for praying.

I was able to put out several hundred more Christmas flyers this afternoon. I had a few divine appointments. One was with a man whom I've witnessed to before. I thought about him several houses before getting to his drive. He was out working on a car. Another young man was witnessed to by Mark Hikin and I over a year ago. Mark still prays for them (there were two of them) during our prayer time on Monday nights. I told the young man that and invited him to our carol sing service. Another lady I witnessed to today was a follow up opportunity from a conversation over a year ago. So, God's good to give these opportunities.

I spoke last night with the MSP (Member of Scottish Parliament) for Midlothian (our county.) I asked him how he voted on the marriage issue. I then spoke with him about the religious persecution that "hate crime" legislation is leading into. Please pray for secular society to realize that Christians are being treated in a worse way than those whom the law is trying to protect. Thanks for your impact in our ministry.

Benson and I just got back from painting with Alec. He is doing well. Thanks for praying for his health. A new medication seems to be meeting his needs. Thanks for praying for him.

Yesterday I was able to get out with Carol Sing flyers. One ladies response was especially encouraging. "I love Carol Sings. I will be there." Please pray that she will come. She was older. So, I trust her word a bit more than the younger generations.

A JW called me by name yesterday. I had spoken to her in her garden for about a half hour over a year ago. She was out with another lady giving out JW material. I took their Bible and showed them some passages about the deity of Christ. (I had taken my Bible out of my bag and had forgotten to put it back.) I told them they ought to be concerned about the fact that their Bible had changed these passages about Christ's deity. Please pray that God will awaken their hearts. They'd be great soul winners if they would get saved.

We have several ladies who are planning to attend the Neighborhood Christmas Tea. Please pray that nothing will hinder them from coming. Last year was remarkable for how many ladies had legitimate excuses for not making it. We really hope that those who have indicated they are coming will be able to come. Thanks for praying for these needs.