February 2016
Dear Friends in Christ,
January ended with several deaths of elderly people that we knew. Some were believers and others left us uncertain as to their relationship with the Lord. Once again, we were aware of the difference it makes when you know the Lord as your Saviour, both in the one dying and in those left behind to mourn.
I Thes. 4:13 “…we sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” We have seen families rejoicing that their loved one is finished with the suffering and know that they will see them again in Heaven. What a gift to knowledge is to give to our family and friends.
We stood at the bedside of a Navajo believer who was on pain medication. His family shared with us that as he drifted in and out of the conversation around him, he would start preaching and sharing the gospel message. They said that he knew that some of the family were still “traditional” rather than Christian and even as he was dying, he was concerned about their relationship with Jesus Christ and wanted to see them accept God’s gift of salvation. What a testimony! Before we left, he asked Sam to give a short message and then Sam was able to speak personally to his nephew. Wish we could say that this man accepted Christ but he stated that he was still undecided. Pray for Albert as he spends his last few days on earth with his family. What a blessing it would be for him to see another loved one come to Christ even this late in his life.
Sam is still available for pulpit supply on the different reservations here in Arizona and this month we were able to fellowship with a Navajo congregation as the pastor had to be away. We always enjoy seeing friends that we have known for years and their children, now grown, carrying on the ministry.
We’ve also been busy this month with nursing home visits and hospital visits. The month started off with definite winter weather but it soon warmed up and was more like spring weather. This change in weather seems to affect the health of many and we’ve had various older ones that have been struggling as the virus went into pneumonia. We have been spared personally but have found ourselves at the hospital visiting a bit more than usual. It is not unusual for us to have freezes until the beginning of June, so we are hoping to get a bit more snow and the moisture it brings to our mountain desert before spring officially arrives.
We have also had several visitors in our home as folks come to Flagstaff to do business. Many have to drive by our home and stop by for a visit and ask about various struggles that they have to deal with in their lives. Pray that as we counsel and encourage others that we will stay true to God’s Word and not just give opinions or wisdom that is popularly accepted but contrary to truth. One of the blessings of the slower winter months, is the freedom that we have in our schedules for just spending time in the Word of God, renewing our minds.
Thank you once again for your prayers and gifts to help us stay in the ministry.
In Christ,
Sam & Janet Grammer
II Cor. 2:11 “Ye also helping together by prayer for us.”