merry christmas 2012

Dear Friends and Family near and far, Merry Christmas 2012.....It is December 23rd, and in Norway they call this "Little Christmas Eve". I remember a Christmas spent in far northern Norway..Fauske, the home of my fathers birth. We actually stayed in the old home with relatives and shared Christmas Eve together. I remember trudging through the clean, crisp snow to the Christmas Eve service in the Kirk my father was Christened in. The warm candles glistened through the windows reflecting light  as we walked under the clear starry sky. I am sending love and heartfelt Christmas cheer to all of you from our hearth to yours. Thirty-five years ago Michael and I were engaged  at thanksgiving and shared a very romantic Christmas.I remember ferryboat rides to Pt. Orchard as we visited his family freom our school-life in Seattle. He lived in Ballard and attended SPU and I stayed with an old vintage Italian couple..The Paoluchies (retired bakery shop owners). They had a beautiful old home on Finney Ridge. Michael called them Anna and Pablo. I attended the UW. It seems like yesterday. We were married the following July 7, 1978 at St. Marks Cathedral..Capitol Hill. Father Dennis Bennet married us and became such a close friend to our family. He blessed each of our children in the womb before they were born and officiated a formal houseblessing at two of our homes. Michael had initially proposed  July 7, 1977 at Lake Washington by the lily pads. God gave us seven children and has continued to lead and guide our lives. As I reflect back at our life, our calling has always been to lift up the broken and give hope and Gods love to people in need. Michael started in private Christian Counseling for two non- profit ministries. Burden Bearers Seattle...Alpha Branch in Poulsbo, and then Cornerstone in Federal Way. After completing his masters in counseling, he continued completing his masters of divinity. At this time he served as a hospital chaplain with Love The Neighbor Ministries in Tacoma. We were expecting our sixth child when a door opened for Michael with the Department of Corrections. He became the intake Psychologist for the state of Washington. His specialty became Testing , Evaluation and Placement. Later he worked in other areas..IMU etc. He was invited by Dr. Merrit Lawson to join the staff as seminary professor teaching Biblical Counseling at Covenant Bible Seminary , Tacoma. He completed his Doctorate of Ministry...specialty in Biblical Counseling. He also serves as DMHP for BHR Thurston-Mason County. This position involves going into the community and evaluating people in crisis under the Involuntary Treatment Act. Everyday  when Michael leaves our home, I pray Gods shalom over Thurston-Mason County. I know that God loves each of these people and I pray for God to solve the problems. It is amazing how many times we have witnessed nothing less than miraculous resolving of complicated cases. Jesus commands us to become as little children and simply ask. He longs to help us. My message this Christmas is a message of hope. God writes last chapters! The key to everything is allowing God to love us. To quietly sit and allow his holy spirit to come and cleanse us through the cross...through the blood. We are created in His image to be provided for and protected by our heavenly father. The other key is receiving forgiveness..and releasing all who have offended us by forgiving. The third key to freedom and blessing is" Christ- centered relationships." To serve one another in humility and grace. I believe the greatest thing we can individually do this Christmas is extend Gods loving grace to others. To extend kindness and mercy. To keep a pure heart and pray for God's guidance. My dear mother always said.."forgive everyone, everyday , for everything." This is the key to keeping our joy. When we understand how Christ has forgiven us we want to forgive others. Michael's Biblical Counseling class is centered on these themes. I love reading the papers of his students . The freedom in Christ resulting from applying these and other simple principals from God's word are staggering. I pray we will all pause this Christmas and give the pen to God...allowing Him to write the next chapters of our lives. He is , as Hebrews says..."The Author and Finisher of our Faith."  selah  Blessed New Year to all ...Susan Elizabeth Shoemaker