As I look out my window, I see wispy clouds lying gently on the surrounding foothills and I am mindful of the verse,

"How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

     If I could walk back through time, over CRC's history, and see it all sped up, it would be such a joy to see the thousands of people that have come to CRC to hear good news. People from Portland and Vancouver, Salem and Woodburn, but also California, Idaho, Alaska, and even China! People have come hungry to get a word from the Lord for their life, whether it is through the speaker, their personal quiet time in the Word, or in the fellowship around the table...and the Lord fills them. What love our Father has for us. He's not a god far off, one made of wood or marble that can't understand or hear. He's the living, all powerful God who is able to answer us when we call on Him and give us His peace and salvation!

    A couple of weeks ago we had a group in the Rotunda that sang worship songs late into the night. It is at these times that I especially like to push our sliding glass door open wide, as our house is adjacent to the meeting room. I love to lie in my bed and listen to the melodies sung by grateful hearts. In between the songs, at times, they would stop and pray out. I couldn't quite make out the words but I imagined in my mind that they were speaking out intercession for others and words of trust and joy that God, who is faithful, had heard. Is there any better way to fall asleep?

With Thanksgiving coming up I hope that we will all stop our cell phones, TV's, and projects and pause to thank God for all of His goodness. May we sit around our table, not at the couch or with fast food, but with our family, and rejoice that we are together. And, may we thank God that the sun came up faithfully and that we have laughter, friends, and freedom. Up here at CRC we have a retreat every Thanksgiving, and it is such a special time as we gather together and share what God has done in our lives over the past year. It is one of my favorite times of the year. It is encouraging to see so many families excited about Jesus, longing to bring Him the honor that is due His Name.

     It's easy to fail to remember all that God has done for us. Just last week I was convicted that I was pushing someone away in my heart. This person tends to exaggerate and not always tell the truth and I was weary of their company, but then the Holy Spirit hit a cord in my heart, the one that needed to be strummed, the note of 'C' for compassion. Not compassion for their sin, but because they are, in many ways, lost and without the teaching of God in their life. Was it really that much for me to bend low and show them the way gently? Have I so easily forgotten all that God has saved me from? What a wretch I was and still would be, if not for the grace of God. 

In closing, I want to share with you all that Tim and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary this month! And what a fortunate woman I am to have such a handsome God-fearing man who is intelligent, knowledgeable, capable, exciting, pleasurable, strong, patient, interesting, hard working and gentlemanly... a real renaissance man. God has enhanced our lives, too, by giving us five wonderful children that we are so proud to live and work alongside: David, Grace, Josiah, Peter, and Jonathan. Also, it has been our joy to serve you all in this vibrant ministry that Tim's folks, Allan and Eunice, founded over forty years ago. What a heritage! Our beloved staff and the many friends that we have made along the way have been like family to us and have enriched our lives. Thank you for your love and support over the years. I can truly say, with King David, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me." Psalm 16:6