Hidden Treasure
Nov 30
Our ever-busy backyard squirrels are very excited every fall. There is a tall walnut tree in our neighbour’s yard that produces many a walnut which becomes a windfall for the squirrels that love them. As you know, walnut trees are known for their valuable wood and stain plus I received a good price for a bushel of walnuts from the tree in our first parsonage in the 70s when I sold them to the Ministry of Natural Resources for replanting. The three-inch diameter nuts fall down in a strong wind or just by the squirrels chomping at them. (You don’t want to be standing under the tree when that happens!) The squirrels will snag a walnut in their small mouths and head to our backyard or elsewhere to crack open the covering for a tasty treat inside and leave a mess behind on our driveway or porch. They will also hide their valued treasure for the winter any where they can find. But why the corner of our porch railing, on a windowsill, on the seat of an outside chair, or on the top of our hose holder – all not good hiding spots. Silly squirrels!
Everyone of us gets excited about finding hidden treasure. Children, and adults too, anticipate finding hidden treasure under the Christmas tree every year which will happen in less than a month for 2021. Our Lord promises in Isaiah 45:3, “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
Our Hillside Church family is excited about finding hidden treasure in the lives of our Milton contacts that we now know and the new ones we will meet in the days to come. We have culled our list and about 360 will receive another mailing this week to encourage them to attend our Come and See Sunday December 12th. Next week we will need to do lots of personal invitation calling to them for that to happen. We do so appreciate your prayers for this community outreach. Please remember Scott Lockhart, our Outreach Pastor. He finally had to quit his job for unethical and stressful reasons. He really needs to find another position soon.
Our concern for our suffering friends in Myanmar continues. I was denied sending money to them through Western Union but was able to connect with someone in Singapore for the money to be passed along. Thankfully Thomas has received some of the raised money with more to be sent in the weeks ahead. This well-received treasure will allow them to purchase land and build an orphanage.
Enjoy the treasure of another Christmas season with your family and friends. May you stay healthy and safe particularly with another COVID variant raising its ugly head.
Yours in Him,
Wendy
Wendy.carter@kainos.org