Merry Christmas!

The Candy Cane Legend

Jesus Gentle Shepherd,
this cane of red and white
proclaims the sweet love story
born on Christmas night

This cane, you see, when turned around
begins your name of Love
and now becomes a symbol
of peace proclaimed above
The lively peppermint flavor
is the regal gift of spice
The white is your purity
and the red your sacrifice

And so this cane reminds us
of just how much you care
and like your Christmas Gift to us
it's meant for all to share.

His Burden Is Light

My hands are full, My load is light.

My mind at rest, All through the night.

I trust in God, His name I’ll praise.

I’ll walk with Him, For all my days.

God is so good, His love for me.

He picks me up, He sets me free.

I’ll live for Him, And trust His name.

My trust in Him, He’ll never change.

Submitted to Him, His direction I’ll go.

My eyes on His Word, The promises I know.

I’ll not pick up the cares of the world with my hands.

For, to do so I’d have to lay down all His plans.

If I reach to pick up a care of this life,

My light load from Him, would have to take flight.

Judy Lavine- 2012

Matthew 10:30

December 2011

Dear Friends & Family,

Our family sends you our warmest love and Christmas wishes for God's continued hand of protection, provision and love upon each and everyone.

Hebrews 10:35 reminds not to cast away our confidence in Him for it has great recompense of reward.  It goes on to say that we must have patience to wait after we have done the will of God, that we might receive the promise.  There are times the load is heavy and the way seems hard, the waiting before the receiving.  Luke 11:28-30 says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." KJV

In his book, "The Holiest of All" Andrew Murray gives the example of carrying a load.  The more you pick up, the heavier the load, and eventually, your cargo begins to drop off.  You cast away those things you initially picked up to carry.  I remember as a child when walking across the field with my father.  He would say, "Pick up rocks or sticks as you walk across the field, make each trip count."  Sometimes, I'd pick up too many and the smaller ones closer to my arms would slip out and fall to the ground.  I couldn't carry a large load.  God has given us a light load, easy to carry, but we pick up many cares along the way, piling them onto our light load until it slips out of our grasp and we are left with the heavy load.

Lay down your load, pick His up and carry it throughout 2012, refusing to carry the burdens and cares of the world.

May God Richly Bless each of you,

Mark & Judy Lavine

Mark Lavine Ministries