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Archive for December, 2010

Highlights from 2010

Friday, December 31st, 2010

I’m gettin’ ready to kiss 2010 goodbye. Here are some highlights it held:

The birth of our third grandchild, Caleb Matthew.
Grandma Grace and Caleb
Watching our other grandchildren’s personalities develop and enjoying building relationships with them.
Our youngest daughter boomeranged home to attend university.
Our son-in-law landed a job that pays more and provides more fulfillment than the previous one. Our daughter’s online ministry to women using the natural family planning method grew.
Our son graduated from university and found a job he enjoys.
In partnership with Stonecroft Ministries, we produced a 7-part teaching DVD based on Moving From Fear to Freedom, to be released in the spring of 2011 with an accompanying study guide.
Hubby and I taught parenting and marriage workshops in Poland and the Ukraine.
Hubby and I shared the podium at one-day FamilyLife marriage conferences.
Ministered to young adults living with HIV/AIDS in Romania.
Ministered at an evangelistic family camp in Poland.
Trained several dozen Canadian and American volunteers for cross-cultural evangelism.
Enjoyed two interviews with Dennis Rainey and Bob LePine on FamilyLife Today.
Saw God provide our financial needs through faithful donors.
I underwent a personal stretch by taking training to launch into speaking at corporate events in 2011.

It does the heart good to look back and see God’s faithfulness. As I reflect, I see where He’s been faithful through the challenges, too…

Cancer struck nearly 10 close friends and family members.
Our basement flooded three times.
My neck developed arthritic spurs and I now live in constant pain.
Our daughter’s car was vandalized twice.
Two book proposals were rejected.
Hopes for a restful getaway were dashed several times by family emergencies or ministry scheduling conflicts.

All in all, 2010 was filled with blessings, challenges, and personal growth. I anticipate more of the same in 2011. The specifics are anyone’s guess, but I know the details rest in God’s hands. Proverbs 31:25 describes the attitude with which I want to approach the New Year and whatever it brings: “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

I pray this verse describes your outlook, too.

What were some of your highlights for 2010? How have you seen God’s faithfulness?

Tags: 2010, FamilyLife Today, Moving From Fear to Freedom, Stonecroft Ministries
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Another Prayer for 2011

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Hey, hey! Here’s a verse that makes an ideal prayer for 2011. Perhaps I’ll tape this one to the bathroom mirror where I’ll see it every morning. “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you” (Psalm 143:8).

Frankly, you and I don’t have a clue what the New Year holds. But in the midst of uncertainty, we can be sure of this: God’s love for us is like a gushing waterfall that never runs dry, therefore we can trust Him implicitly with every aspect of our lives. Do you believe this is true? If so, I encourage you to incorporate this prayer (or something similar, based on Psalm 143:8) into your daily routine…

“Dear Father, open my eyes and ears to see and hear evidences of Your love for me today. I invite You to be Lord over my time, talents, tongue, money, mind, and health. Direct my steps and show me where to walk. Show me with whom You want me to speak. Show me to whom You want me to listen. Accomplish Your highest purposes through me. I’m Yours.”

Making this prayer a meaningful part of our daily lives could transform our way of thinking and the impact we have on others. I’m willing and eager to experience such a change. Are you?

Have you found a specific verse that you’d like to incorporate into your daily routine in 2011? If so, what is it?

Tags: 2011, God's love, new year, uncertainty, waterfall
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Bidding 2010 Goodbye

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Did you have a good Christmas? I hope so! We enjoyed spending time with family and friends, some of whom we hadn’t seen for many months. The partying continues—as you read this, we’ll be celebrating our granddaughter’s third birthday and later driving to Pasco, Washington to visit our eldest daughter and her husband for a couple of days. If you’re driving, too, I pray for safe journeys.

It’s hard to believe that 2010 will end in a few days. That thought might cause some readers to say, “Whew—finally!” Their journey held unexpected twists and turns that nearly sent them over the brink emotionally or physically and they’re more than ready for a slower, quieter, calmer pace. Some readers might be sorry to see 2010 end, having experienced a year brimming with newness, hope, and fulfilled promises. Others might feel sorry for another reason—they made poor choices that brought unnecessary heartache, and they’re looking forward to the fresh start a new year signifies.

Whatever your reaction at the thought of 2010 ending, I pray you’ll bid it goodbye and enter the New Year resolved to follow hard after God. Psalm 142:5 says, “You are my place of refuge, You are all I really want in life.” If these words are true of us, then we stand in good stead to deal with the past and to face the future with hope and confidence.

As I ponder this Scripture, I’m thinkin’ the words make a powerful mantra of sorts. Imagine whispering them to the Lord before falling asleep every night. What a great way to end the day—with one’s thoughts focused on God and acknowledging that He is all we need or want. Hmmm…I’m going to write this verse on a recipe card and tape it to the headboard of my bed. Anyone want to do the same?

Tags: fresh start, hope, mantra, promise, Psalm 142:5
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An Unforgettable Gift

Friday, December 24th, 2010

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom”! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL … there’s also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS! Pearls – a tangible reminder of God’s grace to us all.

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An Unforgettable Gift
by Karen O’Connor

On Christmas morning, 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky, fourteen-year-old Charlie Flowers and his three brothers and two sisters huddled in their beds, fully dressed, trying to keep warm as the wind howled outside their small frame house.

It was a desperate time for the family. Earlier that year the children’s father had died. And their mother had not found work. The coal had run out and there was little money––none for gifts. Their scrawny tree with decorations made from scraps of colored paper had been given to them the night before by a local merchant.

“Can’t sell this one,” the man said with a nod of his head before handing it over to the eager children.

To pass the time, the siblings joked and shouted stories from their bedrooms across the hallway from one another. Then suddenly a racket from the alley at the rear of the house broke into their games.

“Charlie,” his mother called, “would you see what’s going on out there?”

Charlie pulled on his shoes, grabbed a thick overcoat from the hook by the door, and ran out back.

There stood a man in a wagon bent over a load of coal, shoveling it into the shed as fast as he could.

“Hey Mister, we didn’t order any coal,” Charlie shouted. “You’re delivering it to the wrong house.”

“Your name’s Flowers, isn’t it?” the man asked, still shoveling.

Charlie nodded yes.

“Well then, there’s no mistake. I’ve been asked to deliver this to your family on Christmas morning.” He looked the awe-struck boy square in the eye. “And I’m under strict orders not to tell who sent it,” he teased.

Charlie ran into the house, his coattail flapping in the cold morning wind. He could hardly wait to tell his mother and brothers and sisters. God had provided––just as he had on that first Christmas morning so long ago when He sent his only son to a needy world.

Charlie Flowers died in 1994 at age 96. And right up to the last year of his life, not a Christmas went by that he didn’t tell the story of that sub-zero Christmas morning of his boyhood when two men gave his family an unforgettable gift.

It wasn’t the coal that was remembered or cherished, Charlie often said––welcome as it was––but rather what two men brought to his desperate family. One, for his gift of recognizing their great need and taking the time to do something about it. And the other, for being willing to give up part of his own Christmas morning to deliver it.

That gift of so long ago has continued to warm the Flowers family from one generation to another, as Charlie’s son––my husband, Charles––calls to mind these two unknown men each Christmas morning and whispers a prayer of thanks.

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About Karen: Karen O’Connor is an award-winning author and writing mentor living in Watsonville, California with her husband, Charles Flowers. Karen’s latest book is 365 Reasons Why Gettin’ Old Ain’t So Bad (Harvest House 2010).

For more information, please visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com.

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A PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS will be given away on New Year’s Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

Tags: 12 Pearls of Christmas, coal, Karen O'Connor, Kentucky
Posted in Devotionals | No Comments »

Did She Know?

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

Here’s a sneak peak post of the 12 Pearls of Christmas series that I’ll be hosting at my blog for the next few weeks! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL … there’s also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS! Pearls – a tangible reminder of God’s grace to us all.

~~~

Did She Know?
by Anna Joujan

Mary, did you know . . . that your baby boy is Heaven’s perfect Lamb? And the sleeping child you’re holding is the great I AM

I am in the middle of a revival of my used-to-be-annual project of a Christmas card sketch. For several years, with a few years missed, I have done a sketch of some image of Mary the Mother of Jesus, something that came to my mind without complete awareness of why that particular picture was needing to be put to paper. It was originally a simple pencil sketch that, once completed, I would have printed out into a set of cards that would go out to all my friends and family. Along with the sketch, however, I have always had a verse that came to mind to signify the meaning of the drawing in my mind. And so I have had images such as “Be it unto me according to your word,” as well as a more enigmatic one that went with “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me . . .” But each one was important for that year of my life. And so I would spend the necessary costs in order to produce and mail in relatively large scales, for my general penny-pinching tendencies.

This year I did not expect to produce a card. The fact of my life lately as a boarding school librarian/teacher in Zambia, Africa, has made such projects feel rather far-removed from the realm of possibility.
And yet, I have had an image in my head for several months now. I started to put it to paper, and I abandoned it for a bit, figuring it was a bit frivolous with all the practical work I had to do. But then I picked it up again, and it is now nearing the stage of completion, hopefully to be completed with printing and mailing once I arrive in the U.S. for a holiday visit with family.

What I realized is that, frivolous though it may seem, it is actually quite important. For women [especially Western women of faith], the holidays carry with them great amounts of expectation and stresses. So much so that we often get swallowed up with the hectic pace and forget to soak in the meaning. What is important for each of us, I believe, is to “pick and choose.” We must resist the pressure to do what doesn’t not bring meaning for us. And we must cling to those traditions and activities that promote an aura of true, Christ-centered celebration for ourselves and for our loved ones.

So this year, Lord willing, I will be sending out my cards—and enjoying every bit of it; and in case you wondered, Mary did you know . . .? will be the theme

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About Anna: Anna G. Joujan was born in South Dakota, as a Canadian citizen, and was raised in Zambia, the child of missionary teachers. Since her family’s move to the U.S., Anna spent her childhood and early adulthood traveling throughout the world thanks to various educational and work opportunities . . . France, China, Peru, and Jamaica being some of the stops in her journeys. Her undergraduate degree in French Literature led to a Masters in Information Sciences, and to work as a college and high school librarian, and a cross country coach. She has also returned to Zambia multiple times to teach for individual families and for local schools. All the while continuing pursuing her passions of writing, artwork, photography . . . and card-production. You can find her online at http://annajouj.wordpress.com

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A PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS will be given away on New Year’s Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. One entry per person, per day. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

Hurting Near Christmas? 10 Tips to Hope Again

Sunday, December 19th, 2010

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Hurting Near Christmas? 10 Tips to Hope Again
by Stacie Ruth Stoelting

Feel sad this Christmas? Hey, I know the feeling. In fact, many programs have interviewed me to share about it! Last year, I tried particularly hard to share stories and tips on how to cope with grief during the holidays: I wrote a feature for CBN.com, Coping with Grief at Christmas, visited and counseled grieving people, etc.

Then irony hit: Near Christmas, two people I loved died within two days (December 15-16, 2009).

Are you or a loved one hurting during the holidays? I relate. But let me encourage you: Jesus remains faithful! As real as my pain, He met my needs and comforted me with peace unexplainable. I’m serious. He’s real.

Before I continue with tips, let me share this: If you feel suicidal, contact an emergency counseling service like the New Life Call Center at 1-800-NEW-LIFE(639-5433).

10 Tips for Hurting Hearts to Hope and Cope at Christmastime

1. Realize and internalize it: God still loves you and wants to hear from you. He wants you to know that there is a Way out of your pit of despair. The Way is Jesus.

2. Sometimes, our suffering causes us to forget His. Understand He understands you. He suffered more than any of us when we bore the weight of every sin and pain on the cross! In fact, Is. 53:3 describes Jesus: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” Think of it: He took your punishment and pain on the cross. He was your capital punishment Substitute! And your Deliverer -your Rescuer- wants to hear from you. His heart hurts with yours. Will you pour your heart out to Him now? He’ll pour His love in where the fear previously resided. Let Jesus inside. Do you know Jesus on a personal, one-to-One basis? Visit here to learn why Jesus was born to die and how to be born again. (Hey, Jesus said it: “You must be born again.”)

3. Rather than mere gifts, make a Christmas prayer list of other hurting people. Then pray for them and request prayer for yourself, too. Contact your church. Tap into ministries (including CBN.com) that offer extra prayer support. And feel free to join my prayer e-group at www.PrayingPals.org or on Facebook by clicking here.

4. End the Christmas comparison game. Don’t compare your Christmas to your neighbor’s. Don’t compare your Christmas to past celebrations.

5. Center on the Savior! This year, trade a superficial Christmas for a real one. Deepen your appreciation for the true Christmas: the arrival of Jesus Christ to banish the effects of sin and death!

6. Whatever your loss or pain, open up and let God be your Gain. Maybe your pain comes from another cause: a divorce, a devastating diagnosis, a job loss…the list extends. God offers to be your Counselor, your Father, your Healer, your Provider. Let Him answer your heart’s cry.

7. Love on people. Even if you don’t “feel” like it, prayerfully do something for someone else who is hurting.

8. Remember: Feelings change. God doesn’t. Loved ones’ deaths never kill His love for you. God’s immeasurable, unconditional love still flows to you! When you know Jesus, you know eternal love and security. Nothing separates you from His love! “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV).

9. Realize the reality of the sudden reunion. Holidays exacerbate the feeling of long separation from our loved ones in Heaven. Does it feel like it will take forever for you to see your loved one in Heaven? Be encouraged: Jesus IS coming again and it will be a time you don’t expect! So the fact that you feel like it won’t happen soon is a good thing! Once reunited, it will feel like no time transpired. All sadness will be entirely removed!

10. When Jesus comes back to earth, it will be a celebration greater than any previous Christmas you’ve ever experienced!

For believers, losses hurt but never win. We will celebrate Jesus together -and it will be glorious “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4, NIV). In that Day, all believers will be able to jubilantly say, “Merry Christmas to all and to all the true Light!”

Additional Help: Ready for some practical tips for coping with grief at Christmastime? Here’s one: Rearrange furniture to reduce absence reminders. To read this tip and others found in another of my CBN.com’s articles: “Coping with Grief at Christmas”, visit www.CBN.com.

Going thru a rough time? Join Stacie Ruth’s prayer group at www.PrayingPals.org.

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About Stacie: Stacie Ruth knows pain, but she also knows Jesus! After Stacie Ruth met Jesus, her life blossomed with true joy and purpose. Life’s blows hurt her, but Jesus heals and strengthens her. Now an author, actress, and recording artist, she laughs at the irony and praises God, who uses unlikely people…like herself. Discover why she’s written a book at age 15, sung/spoken for the 43rd President, been pictured in major media (i.e. The New York Times, USA Today), and keynoted conferences since she was a teenager. To watch video clips, worship Jesus with music from her album, or get in touch with her ministry for women, visit www.brightlightministries.com.

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12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info