January 1, 2002
Greetings, dear Shannon!
You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. The love I feel for you is second only to my love for our Father. I understand why the Word of God uses the love between Father and Son to illustrate His love for His people: the love of parents for their children is a profound human experience that helps us grasp His awesome love for us. Oh, precious child, I love you and miss you so much!!! My peace comes in knowing that you are in His care, and that everything He has given me -- from relationships to material possessions -- I have joyfully dedicated and consecrated to Him with a prayer that He will use my gifts and empower me to love, worship, and serve Him in complete obedience to His will for my life. One question is always on my mind: How can I be a good steward of what the Lord has given me and use my blessings to bless others?
I pray that during the past four years God has blessed you and is using you in a powerful way so that you can be a blessing to others. We will support you in whatever ways we can, being confident that the Lord will continue the good works He has begun in and through you, dear Shannon. God has been so good to Jason, Ryan, Gran, and me. His Word and work are the focus of our lives. I have just returned to Washington, D.C. from 18 months of ministry and work in the Middle East. The missionaries there are a mighty witness to the glory of our Lord, and they are bringing light and love to this dark land.
The Lord has led me to make known to you my daily prayers for you through weekly letters that I will send to you. I also hope to develop a web site on which I can post letters as well as spiritual readings that might be of interest to you. Just as my love for the Lord manifests itself in sweet communion with Him, my love for you will manifest itself in communication with you. The awesome power of the Word and words work miracles in nurturing relationships as ordained by God Himself. Relationships can't exist without communication, and God delights in the love we show through our communication with Him and with one another. I pray that you find God's love for His people and the families in which He placed them through my letters of love and support for you.