Hulsizer Christmas Letter 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

It seems like only a few weeks ago I was sitting down to write last year’s Christmas letter! But I counted, it’s been 12 months! As I begin thinking back over the happenings of the last year I only have to go back to last month for the year’s highlight. Jessica is cancer-free! She and Matt went back to Omaha for her one year out scans/tests and everything came back negative. Praise God! They said to see her local oncologist in six months and go back there in a year. Whew, what a huge relief! We thank God for Dr. Mahzer and Dr. Vose, all the nurses, lab techs and everyone and everything else that God used to bring about this healing. We also thank everyone who prayed for her over the last couple of years. Last Thanksgiving we ate hospital food in the Lied Transplant Center at the University of Omaha Medical Center. Jessica was going through a stem-cell transplant and things were scary. But it’s all good now and we praise God for His healing. She is back at work and doing well (promoted even!). Matt is still steady as a rock and always there to do what a good husband does. We are thankful for the loving devotion he has shown our little girl.

Jennifer is in her senior year of college, WHAT!?! That’s right, she elected to take the Special Education block which will extend things one additional semester, so this time next year our baby girl will be a college graduate! She is doing very well with her grades and loves being with the children at the schools at which she has had internships. She is still a great kid and we love to have her home on the weekends that she can. Jennifer and Shelia ran the Soaring Wings Half Marathon together last month, but she still loves riding on the back of dad’s motorcycle too! She loves Pinterest and is always trying out new recipes on us…Dad likes that!

Shelia still loves working in the registration hub with her friends. It’s hard work but the people you work with can make or break the situation for sure. She continues to run and has also tried some various fitness classes at the Jacksonville Community Center. She loves to visit with Matt and Jessica but we really think she especially loves to visit with their dog, a Corgi named Scarlett. Shelia has already enjoyed a few snow days and continually watches the weather in hopeful anticipation of another, she’s worse than a kid!

Ole’ Jeff just keeps on trudging along. Over the last year our church hired a Pastor of Family Ministries and a Worship Pastor, this makes Jeff very happy. All four pastors work together well and things are going great at Faith Baptist Church in North Little Rock. Jeff has gone back to playing the drums in the church orchestra and enjoys every minute of it. When he’s not at church he does’t have any problems staying busy. He and Matt have redone completely both bathrooms at their house and he’s just finishing installing new ceramic tile in the laundry room of the Hulsizer Hacienda. After this we’re stripping the wallpaper out of the hall bath to make way for a fresh coat of paint. Ah, home ownership, your work is never done!

We hope you and yours realize just how precious life is and how important family is. We pray for you and yours and wish for you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. Come see us when you can!

With the hope and joy of the Season,

Jeff, Shelia and Jennifer Hulsizer; Matt and Jessica Petty (and Scarlett)

Lessons from Luke 1 & 2

I love Christmas! The real Christmas that is, the hope that Jesus brought to a world that needed a Savior, the long awaited Messiah. Reading through the account of the birth of Jesus should be a prominent part of every family’s Christmas celebration. The difference that Jesus makes in the lives of those who receive Him are such an encouragement and even a challenge to me. Let’s take a look.

In Luke 1:11-17, Zacharias, the man into whose family God had chosen to bring John the Baptist, should have received the news with “joy and gladness”, but instead questioned God about His plan. For his doubting he was rendered speechless until John’s birth. Lesson? God’s plan is a good plan. No matter what we may think, trust God—He knows what’s best!

In verse 37, in the discourse between Gabriel and Mary, the messenger of God reminded Mary and us, “For with God nothing shall be impossible”. The words to the great song by Don Moen come to mind, “God will make a way, when there seems to be no way.” Lesson? Trust God, for with Him nothing is impossible!

In verses 29-45 Mary has gone to visit Elisabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. When Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, was greeted by her cousin, John the Baptist leapt in Elisabeth’s womb. The baby John recognized the presence of the baby Jesus and leaped for joy in his mother’s womb! Oh how the presence of Jesus should fill us with joy! But how many times do we meet together, in the presence of Jesus, and come away unaffected; or worse, affected negatively by things that should enhance our worship but instead we allow to distract us from worship. Lesson? The presence of Jesus should make a difference! The methods are not as important as the Messiah!

In chapter 2:8-18, the angels appear to the shepherds. At first, the messenger of God informs the shepherds of the birth of Jesus. The angel did not appear to Caesar Augustus, or to King Herod, or Governor Cyrenius; the angel appeared to shepherds. What a beautiful way of showing that the Messiah Jesus had come to all the earth and that He is no respecter of persons, but that all are loved and have access to Him. Then in verse 13, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared live in concert to these men, deemed insignificant in the eyes of other people, singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” How powerful is that? Lesson? It’s not who we are that grants us access to Jesus, it’s who HE is! Receive Him now!

Let me quote Luke 2:17, And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. When the shepherd met Jesus, they immediately wanted to tell others about Him. Lesson? The presence of Jesus in our lives should make us want to share the good news about Him with others? I believe this is a proof of salvation, that our soul’s desire is to share the difference Jesus makes in us.

In Luke 2:25-38, two people are mentioned, Simeon and Anna. They had both been looking for the Messiah, trusting God’s promise that He would come, and when Jesus was brought into their presence they recognized Him and spoke freely about the fulfillment of God’s promise of a Messiah. Lesson? We too are looking for the coming of Jesus, the second time. It is promised and we should anticipate His coming by preparing! Tell this lost world of the difference Jesus can make, for indeed one day His presence will be felt mightily all over the world. [Philippians 2:9-11 KJV] 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; 11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Amidst all the celebrations and gift-giving that goes with this holiday, may we be faithful to give the greatest gift for which there is so great a need, the gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope of sinful mankind. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”

May the joy and peace of Jesus be with you this Christmas (and all year long!)

Bro Jeff