The Lanyons -- Pat, Christine, David & Joseph

47 Long Hill Street

203/ 528-7205	East Hartford, CT 06108

December, 1993	LANYON FAMILY NEWS

THANKSGIVING

We are glad to come to you again this year. We first must thank the Lord for all His blessings. Especially we thank the Lord for the privilege it is to know each of you. Many of you have written with news to us and we have read and prayed for you as we have heard. Many have trials new to this year; it seems that the forces of evil are abounding in their influences as righteousness wanes. But God's grace and mercy still abound and we cast our burdens upon Him for relief. Psalm 55:22

Some of the things we are thankful for are ...

GOOD HEALTH

We both enjoy relatively good health! This is a goodness from God, for health can be taken from us in an instant of time.

NEW SON!

On January 21, 1993, one day following Chris' 44th birthday, she received Joseph Patrick as a birthday gift from the LORD! Joseph means: God "shall add His blessing." We named him after Jacob's son because of the great blessings God has overwhelmed us with these years. Chris chose the middle name!

He is a very joyful child and has a peaceful disposition. We, therefore, tend to spoil him! We are in prayer that the Lord will make both of our boys mighty men of valor! Please pray that we may set the best example.

HOUSE PROJECTS!

Last year the Lord led us to a beautiful 3 bedroom cape with a double car garage on a area lot size of 100 x 150 in a quiet section of town. We are overwhelmed at God's provision of this house. I pray that God would give us the wisdom in how to best use this stewardship. This year we have engaged in several projects that had to be done.

The first need was to install a new hatchway door. The second need was to put a new roof on our shed, and then repaint it. The third major project that we worked on has been the repainting of the eaves of the house and garage exterior walls. The house work is very new to me, yet it is needful to get the experience.

NEW COMPUTER!

In July, after perhaps about 10 years of waiting and watching the computer technology advancements, I decided to get one to use for both home and business. It should prove to be a valuable asset, but it is going to take some time and especially patience to learn to use it with prudence. I am using it for this newsletter, and I pray that God would allow it to bring Him great glory. One of the first tasks I used it for was to print the Prayer Notebook I first typed in 1980 when I moved to Connecticut. I get great joy in giving copies out to anyone interested in it.

SUCCESS IN BUSINESS

Though we have experienced some business setbacks this year, I have observed one thing. There is greatness all around me. I have found a fulfillment in owning and operating the business. The Lord has brought great and successful elements into my life to see His expectations for me. I must confess to you all that I have not had a desire to become great. Perhaps because of the pressures, the responsibilities, the complexities of being more than a self-
employed one man operation, I did not want to grow. And the Lord kept before me His sufficiency and excellence, and GREATNESS.

2 Samuel 5:10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. "Great" is defined by the lexicon as to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things. We see that God expects us to become great, yet not for our own promotion, but for His kingdom's sake. (Matthew 25:14-23)

Thus, I cannot ignore what the Lord has shown me. Please pray for me to develop some skills I believe will be absolutely essential to being a successful business man: 1)Self-control, 2)Foresight, 3)Discernment, 4)Diligence, and most important of all, 5)Wisdom to Focus and Concentrate on the things God wants me to without getting off balance.

CHURCH BLESSINGS

We both continue to serve Truth Baptist while we are learning our home roles. Chris supervises and schedules the nursery, composes the monthly calendars, and continuously gives to those who come to our church services. We both continue to serve monthly at the nursing home service, Chris leads in some songs and I speak briefly from the Bible. They love to hear the singing, and recently a few adults from Truth have also come to help out.

There have been many burdens and trials that have come upon our church this year, but there have also been steady growth of attendance and maturing of the believers. Pastor Rowley is being greatly used in these days and we pray that God will use his excellent example.

We wish you a most spiritually prosperous 1994. Thank you for your prayers for us. May we learn and obey the Lord throughout this year.

Psalm 119: 5,6	O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

This is our prayer for our house, and for yours.

Pat, Chris, David, and Joseph LANYON