This Christmas season many will be depressed. I admit that I also have that tendency. Why? I’m not really sure – my physical makeup, my personality, raised in a very dysfunctional family, past experiences of failure. As I look at my past – a divorce, financial problems, failure to be the husband, father, Christian, minister, and person I should be, there is much over which I could be depressed, grieve over and have regrets for. BUT I have no regrets. Why? Because of Christmas. How? Christ came and took care of all that stuff. Have you ever wished as I have that some great cataclysmic and earth-shaking event would take place and in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye all your problems, sins, issues, struggles, needs, failures, addictions, etc. would fade away into nothing as you look at them in the light of what has taken place? REJOICE! Lift up your head. Your redemption is near. It is here. Light has shined out of darkness. Christ has come.
Why did He come? He came for you. What did He come for? He came to give you what you as a dead person trapped in your sin desperately needed –LIFE. Not just an extension of your life, BUT HIS LIFE. HE Came to give you HIMSELF – real life, abundant life, divine life, eternal life. Gal. 2:20 says it all I have been put to death on the cross with Christ; still I am living; no longer I, but Christ is living in me; and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who in love for me, gave himself up for me. Jesus took all your sins and gave you Himself and His righteousness. That is the Gospel. Sins are no more. Your past is gone. Condemnation, guilt, shame, and judgment are gone. That’s what freedom is! God is working all things for our good and meeting all our needs according to His glorious riches in Jesus, regardless of what it looks like or how we feel. That is truth. As I look outside and it is light, I know the sun is shining, but I can’t see it as the clouds obscure it. There may be clouds in your life that overshadow the truth but the truth is still true, whether it looks like it or you feel like it. Christ lives in you and is your life and is living your life. You are one spirit with Him and you are dead to sin and freed from it.
Julia and I have been in ministry for 35 years and have been living on support for 28 years. This is the lowest our support has ever been. Last May Harvest House Publishers sent me a birthday card and it said, “The Lord has blessed you in all the work of your hands.” Recently I read the whole verse that said, “For the LORD your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched your every step through this great wilderness. During these forty years, the LORD your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing” (Deut. 2:7). That is true! God has been with us and blessed and provided for us and we have lacked nothing.
If God leads you to send us a one time financial gift it would be very much appreciated. Please make the check out to Grace Walk Ministries and send it to PO Box 6537. Douglasville GA 30136. Be sure and enclose a note in the envelope indicating it is for the Quarles. Or you could go to www.gracewalk.org and click on “Donations” in the left column, then click on “to make a donation by Visa or MasterCard, fill out the form and make sure you designate it for us. If you don’t need a receipt you could send a gift through Paypal to freedfrom@bellsouth.net. Call or e-mail me if you have any questions. The Freedom From Addictive Behaviors Basic Webinar begins Tuesday, January 14. For more info and/or to register go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/225112154
Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Mike & Julia
Grace Walk Recovery Ministry
Phone – 404-275-5122
Freedom from Addiction 