2008 Holiday Organizer by English Mountain Press

Greetings... It is with great honor that I present to you the first annual 12-Days of Christmas Holiday Organizer. It is a gift to each of you who are participating in our upcoming webcast. In this groundbreaking, history making, first of it's kind ever webcast event, twelve of the greatest women in Christian ministry have united. This has never been done before. Are you looking for new strength and inspiration, a new beginning, a new message, a way where there seems to be no way? These famous and well-known authors, teachers, speakers, and ministry leaders will share their gift of giving of themselves to help YOU through the tough times and challenges life is presenting today. Each woman will speak their own powerful and unique message and share holiday advice, tips, and special memories. The humility, unity and focus that I witnessed while working with this spirit-inspired team left me comforted and assured of God's blessing on this endeavor. Thank you for registering and welcome into our hearts. We pray you are blessed with peace, comfort, joy and abundance. I hope you find this ORGANIZER helpful! From our heart and home to yours....MERRY CHRISTMAS

Michele M. Washam Publisher

English Mountain Press & Productions Newport, TN 37821

12 Days of Christmas Holiday Organizer Presented by WebTV4Women Copyright ÂŠ 2008 by the following contributors: Tonilee Adamson, Bobbye Brooks, Jody Capehart, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Sarah Goebel, Linda Goldfarb, Dr. Gail Hayes, Karol Ladd, Linda Evans Shepherd, Jill Savage, Liberty Savard, Thelma Wells, Michele Washam and all of their respective ministries. All rights reserved. Under International Copyright Law, no part of this publication may be republished or transmitted by any means - electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise - without written permission from the publisher. Produced in the United States of America. Library of Congress Catalog Number Pending

2008 Calendars Getting Started Check list Cleaning List Music CD List

2 4 5 6

Decorating Resources Decoration Inventory Outdoor Decorating Plan Christmas Card List Wish List Party Planner Dear Santa Note

7 8 9 10 12 13

Checklist Gift Giving Budget Master Gift List Gift Shipping Log Online & Mail Order Log Home Made Gifts Sales Log & Tracker

Checklist Master Baking List Ingredient Shopping List

18 19 20 21 23 24 26

30 31 33

Cookies! Cookies! Cookies! Cookie Resources Online Cookie Types - Sheet Cookie Gifts Mailing List

34 35 36

Festivity Blueprint Party Shopping List Guest List

38 39 40

Daily Disciples (Bobbye Brooks & Tonilee Adamson

Jennifer Kennedy Dean

Jody Capehart

Sarah Goebel

Linda Goldfarb

Dr. Gail Hayes

Karol Ladd

Linda Evans Shepherd

Jill Savage

Liberty Savard

Thelma Wells

Michele Washam

S 1

12 Days of Christmas Webcast

There is no doubt that the Christmas Holiday Season is a favorite for many. As summer fades to autumn and the leaves begin to change colors the spirit of Christmas and excitement that comes with preparing for this most festive time of the year begins to build. In our home, Thanksgiving Day marks the start of the Holiday festivities. Coming from a large Italian family, tradition plays a vital role in our Holiday preparations. Over the years we’ve come to cherish the true spirit of this season and we strive to make it last as long as we can, thus the reason for launching our Holiday preparations so early. After a hearty turkey dinner, the kids form a team to lug all of our Christmas and winter decorations out of the attic. With boxes piled all over the place we begin to unpack the decorations and reminisce about Christmases gone by. The memories, mixed with the aroma of fresh baked pumpkin pie, fill our home with a warmth and spirit of love that gives us good reason to cherish this special time. Whether you begin your Holiday preparations the day after Thanksgiving or you wait until the first weeks of December, here are some ideas for turning this stressful time into a precious memory and some tips for keeping things organized. From my family to yours, may you be filled with the joy, excitement, desire to give, and love, that defines what this season is truly all about.

Michele

Set a pre-decorating cleaning day. Get kids excited by letting them know this is in preparation for Decorating Day! Go online and make a special CD of all of your favorite holiday music. Sing along with the kids as you clean and decorate. You can make a label for your CD for each year i.e. Jones Family Christmas Music 2008 Set a date for decorating. Assign everyone a job and let the kids help get the decorations out of storage. Spend time talking about the origin of heirloom decorations passed down to you. Let small children help by organizing unbreakable decorations i.e. “Put all of the red bulbs in one pile and green in another”. Be PREPARED for little ones to get bored with the activities after a while. Have Christmas movies, coloring pages, etc. handy to keep them occupied so you can complete the tasks with fewer interruptions. Host a Wish List Party for immediate and extended family who you’ll be exchanging gifts with. A finger food buffet, holiday sales flyers and catalogs, pens, and our festive “wish list” sheets will help! Review and update your Christmas card list. Consider making homemade cards with the kids to send to relatives. Start looking for good deals on cards and start sending by December 10th.

Cleaning List Room

Dust

Windows

Other Housework To Do... Laundry: Dry Cleaning: Storage, Closets, Drawers: Garage: Other:

Floor

Blinds

Misc.

Christmas Music CD

Track

Song

Artist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Christmas Music Websites: 24 http://christmas-mp3-search-downloads.kohit.net/_/ http://feelslikechristmas.com/ http://www.iTunes.com

Found at:

Let’s Decorate! Decorating for Christmas is a special event. It’s a time when the whole family can participate in a project and take pride in the end result. Whether you live in the city or the country, if your space is limited or abundant, a Christmas decorating day or weekend can become a family tradition your kids will look forward to every year. It’s a time to make precious memories and new traditions or honor old ones that can be carried on for generations to come. Whether you are on a limited decorating budget or able to spend freely, we’ve compiled a list of resources and tools to help you make this a truly festive event. Pop in that new Christmas CD you just made and let’s have some fun!

www.amazing-christmas-ideas.com

Tips, ideas, themes, More!

www.blessingsofchristmas.com

Tons of Resources

www.allthingschristmas.com/

Everything for Christmas

www.christmas-celebrations.com

Lots of Ideas & Resources

www.christmas-day.org

History of Christmas

www.o-christmas-tree.com

Tree decorating tips

www.forhappyseasons.com

Decorating Tips

www.123christmas-greetings.com

Christmas Greeting Cards

www.holidays.net/christmas/

Christmas resources

www.santaclausonline.com

Santa’s Home Page!

www.northpole.com

Excellent site for kids

www.theholidayspot.com

Decorating, Cooking, more!

www.merry-christmas.com

All Things Christmas

Decoration Inventory QTY

Item

QTY

Item

Where it Goes

QTY

Item

Outdoor Decoration Plan Use this space to draw a layout of your house and property. Plan which decorations youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll use outdoors to create a winter wonderland!

Christmas Card List

The Christmas Wish List Party started by accident in our home on Thanksgiving Day 2004. There are few things more frustrating than standing in the return line after Christmas to return things that are the wrong size, wrong color or just plain wrong altogether. While sitting around our kitchen table we began sharing our gift wishes. I grabbed a piece of paper and pen and started jotting down my family’s wishes and then set out to get them the things they really wanted. The following year, I designed a festive “Wish List”, instructed the kids and my husband that we were going to have company the following weekend and invited family members who would be with us Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. I whipped up a finger food buffet, made hot chocolate, turned on some Christmas music and piled all kinds of Christmas gift books, sales flyers, catalogs and more onto the table. When everyone arrived, I handed out lists and pens and we all sat around the table munching and filling in our lists. The kids crowded around the Toys R’ Us Toy Flyer, adults shared the wishes of their hearts, we ate, drank hot chocolate and had a wonderful time. We shared stories of Christmases gone by, remembered loved ones no longer with us, planned new recipes and created new memories. We’ve been doing it every year

NOTES:

GIVING is one of the greatest joys of the Holiday Season. We love to give presents - we love the entire experience from the anticipation of the recipient wondering what's inside while unwrapping to the surprise as the gift is opened. But giving doesn't always mean just a "wrapped package". Every single year we GIVE our family new traditions to carry on, and we carry on our families' old traditions. Do you realize you are GIVING your family and your children their old memories? This year many families face financial limitations. If you are among the "many", keep your expectations of what you can accomplish realistic. Be happy together as a family for the holidays not stressed and conflicted over seasonal worries. What else do you enjoy about the holidays? Looking at the lights and decorations? Sitting by the fireplace? Sitting by the ocean? Sipping a cup of hot chocolate? Listening to holiday music? Baking your favorite holiday recipes? Eating your favorite holiday recipes? Visiting with family or special friends? I like to think about why and what we are celebrating. The greatest gift we have been given and will ever receive. The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Whatever your plans are for this holiday season make Jesus a part of them. Invite Him into your heart and home. He is God's great Gift to you.

Start by creating a Gift list with a projected budget. Also use the Master Budget sheet provided. Baked good baskets make great gifts and save tons of money. Create a gift basket sheet with a list of items and then start looking for cheap baskets, bows, etc. Make homemade gifts for family, neighbors, and co-workers. Check out the numerous online photo albums and consider building an album for out-oftown relatives. Start a family blog and send an invitation to family to participated year round. Start shopping for bargains early. Many stores have great clearance racks and bargain tables. Online shopping and purchases should be completed by dec 10th to avoid extra shipping. Keep track of what you;ve ordered and when it arrived. Packages that are being mailed should be sent out by dec10-15th to avoid being late and to avoid long lines at the post office.

Master Budget Sheet Accum Total

Shopping/Gift Budget Projected Budget

Amount Spent

Over/Under Budget

Difference

Savings/ Overage

How much did you save or overspend on gift shopping?

Decorations, wrapping paper, cards, etc. Projected Budget

Amount Spent

Over/Under Budget

Difference

Savings/ Overage

How much did you save or overspend on Decorations, etc?

Holiday Wardrobe...(party clothes, etc) Projected Budget

Amount Spent

Over/Under Budget

Difference

Savings/ Overage

How much did you save or overspend on Wardrobe?

Holiday meals, baking, party supplies, etc. Projected Budget

Amount Spent

Over/Under Budget

Difference

Savings/ Overage

How much did you save or overspend on meals, food, etc?

Totals: Projected Budget

Amount Spent

Over/Under Budget

Difference

Savings/ Overage

Total amount spent:

Master Gift List Gift For:

Item:

Amount: $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Gift Shipping Log Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State: Cost to ship:

Zip:

Gift Shipping Log Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State:

Zip:

Cost to ship:

Name:

Gift:

Address: City: Date shipped:

State: Cost to ship:

Zip:

Online/Mail Order Log Item

For

Website/Cat

Date Ord.

Date Rec.

Cost

Homemade Gifts

Supplies Needed:

Recipients:

Instructions:

Total Cost of Project: 24

Homemade Gifts

Recipients:

Supplies Needed:

Instructions:

Total Cost of Project: 25

Holiday Sales Tracker Item on Sale

Store

Cost

Rain Check?

NOTES:

Growing up in a large Italian family meant that shortly after Thanksgiving Day my grandmother, Lucy, would start preparing for Christmas baking week. The first week of December launched the start of a Christmas cookie baking marathon like nothing you’ve ever seen. This was the beginning of the Holiday festivities in our family and although we didn’t know it then, it would be a time of making memories to be treasured for generations to come. My grandmother passed away several years ago but her spirit is with us every year as we prepare for Christmas baking week in our home. I can still smell the wonderful aromas that drifted from her kitchen all those years ago and using recipes that have been in our family for over 200 years, I am passing these traditions on to my own girls and we’re making memories they can carry forward into their lives and share with generations to come. These days, our kids are distracted by video games, computers, iPods and all that stuff that they really don’t understand the value of carrying on old traditions and making new ones. Have the kids turn off all that noise and join you in a family baking event! Share stories of your holiday’s as a child, what your family did and special memories. If you don’t have special memories to share, it’s never too late to make new traditions and lasting memories for your kids to carry forward.

Make a master baking list and assign certain baking projects to each day of your baking week. Inventory your baking supplies, check to see if anything has gone bad or needs to be replaced. Make a master shopping list for your baking supplies and a separate shopping list for Holiday Meal planning or parties. Make a list of dishes family and friends will bring to holiday meals or parties. Have a meeting and be sure to let them know how many servings, etc. Order Holiday hams, turkeys, or other specialty food items the first week of December and arrange to pick up at least 2-days before to avoid the last minute rush. Be sure to check out the special recipes in this organizer!

Master Baking List Items

Qty.

Ingredients

Baking Date

Master Baking List Items

Qty.

Ingredients

Baking Date

Master Shopping List Baking Qty.

Item

Cost $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Total Spent:

Christmas Cookie Index Christmas Cookies are the heart of holiday baking! Use the Index sheet to keep track of your cookie baking, giving and mailing. Check out the websites below for some amazing Christmas cookie recipes! Use the extra spaces to fill in your favorites.

Website

Description www.christmas-cookies.com www.cookie-recipes.net www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/christmas/ cookie-recipes/cookie_index.htm whatscookingamerica.net/Cookie.htm www.joyofbaking.com/ChristmasCookies.html www.allrecipes.com

Cookie Sheet Type of Cookie

# Doz.

Ingredients

Cookie Mailing Recipients Name

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Date Sent:

Cookie Mailing Recipients Name

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Recipients Name

Date Sent:

Telephone:

Address: City:

State:

Zip:

Date Sent:

Holiday Festivity Plan Event

Date

How Many?

Menu: Appetizers: Helper:

Qty. Ingredients:

Soup: Helper:

Qty. Ingredients:

Salads: Helper:

Qty. Ingredients:

Main Dish: Helper:

Qty. Ingredients:

Side Dish 1: Helper:

Qty. Ingredients:

Side Dish 2: Helper:

Qty. Ingredients:

Side Dish 3: Helper:

Qty. Ingredients:

Dessert: Helper:

Qty. Ingredients:

Beverages:

Qty.

Notes:

Master Shopping List Festivity/Party/Dinner Qty.

Item

Cost $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Total Spent:

Guest List Name:

Telephone

Confirm Y

Total Attending: 40

# Attend.

NOTES:

The kids were back in school and I looked forward to a moment of peace and quiet, just for myself. So, after I dropped my three children off at school, I decided to go to one of my favorite stores, Linens n’ Things. Summer was over and I had some catching up to do at home, which actually gave me a great excuse to go shopping. As I walked into the store, I noticed that it was abnormally quiet at 8:00 AM in the morning, except for the one employee working right in front of the cash registers. He was busy taking out the Christmas merchandise. Christmas stuff in September? This just did not look right or feel right to me. So I walked up to the man and asked him, “Why do we do this? Why do we take out the Christmas merchandise in September?” I was very serious and I was curious to hear his reply. His response was curt as he said, “To give the women something to do.” What in the world was he talking about? His answer took me completely off guard. I had no idea of where he was going with this thought and I desperately needed more words, thoughts, any kind of information to understand what he was saying. I just stared at him, quietly waiting for him to continue. He continued to say, “You know. Summer is over. The kids are back at school. The women need to be busy doing something. We put out the Christmas merchandise in September to give the women something to do.” This man’s response (and attitude) completely caught me off guard. Am I guilty of being this kind of woman? Is Christmas a priority because it gives me something to do or because I truly worship and celebrate my Savior’s birthday?

God was nudging my heart to evaluate the reason for the December season in September. I understood why. Whatever I want to do for Christmas is what gets done. As a nurse, I used to hear the male physicians in the hospital say that there would be no Christmas in their homes if their wives didn’t make it happen. And because Christmas is celebrated by

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Christian and non-Christian alike, I had to wonder how my home reflects Jesus to all who enter.

I hate to admit that knowing the Lord brings a stricter accountability on me to represent Him. Christmas could truly be reduced down to family traditions, beautiful decorations, heartwarming gifts and unbelievable mouth-watering, eye-gazing displays of meals and desserts. Of course, none of these things are wrong or bad or even a compromise of belief but different extents of these things are pursued by all— believers and unbelievers.

So, what part of Christmas is about Jesus in my home? Not about me doing what makes me feel good but what is truly about Him? Let me tell you, I started repenting from the core of my being. Casually stopping by Linen n’ Things left me with thoughts and convictions I didn’t want to address.

The Lord did not let me off the hook so easy. He continued to remind me--- over and over. Even when I tried to avoid the conviction, He would remind me through different circumstances; like, a church ministry leader called to cancel a late October event (focusing on God’s Word) because it would divide her time from preparing for the Christmas tea. As she continued speaking, I realized that her concern was not for the message of the Gospel but about the Christmas décor and displays. We have come a long way from Christmas in a manger. God said it best as He was speaking to Ezekiel in chapter 33, verse 32: “Indeed, to them you [Ezekiel] are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.”

This became my continual prayer, “Oh Lord, allow my life to reflect the power of Christmas. Do not let my efforts be nothing more than hearing a beautiful song and walking away unchanged. Let there be lasting fruit that brings You glory through my faith and work at Christmas time. How do I begin?”

Obviously, the Word of God is a great place to start. I noticed that there was no mention of Christmas trees or even the meals mentioned in the Christmas story. That was a real shock considering I am very Italian and everything is about the food! Anyway, I started with these two areas: the tree and the meal.

My Christmas tree has always been placed in the living room. Most of the ornaments were either gifts from others, handmade from my grandmother, or keepsakes from the kids. Because we all value these things, I knew that the tree had to stay. However, I also knew that not one of those things reflected

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the Lord Jesus. Yes, I could rationalize that the lights are symbolic of being a light of the world, etc. But I would also venture to say that every house with a tree has lights on it.

The verse that came to mind was, “Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35) I rationalized that a Christmas tree could have eternal significance if it had to do with the enduring, everlasting Word of God. I had an idea that I knew was from the Lord but this couldn’t be about me and Christmas again. My family needed to be a part of it too.

(Side note… Ok, I need to stop and say something. I want to assure you that this is how the Lord first spoke to me about making Jesus the center of my Christmas. God is good and He can completely direct you in a completely different way. I can’t even say that I legalistically do these things every year the same exact way. This is not meant to be written in a way as if it the answer for anyone else. This is just how the Lord started ministering to me about Christmas).

So…with all that, after 2 months of repenting and seeking the Lord, I felt led to place another tree in my kitchen. I called it the Truth Tree. It was to represent the Truth of the Word in a place that my family hung out the most. It also would remind me that Christmas is not about the meals and the dessert, but about Jesus.

I said to my husband and children, “Jesus said that heaven and earth will pass away but His words will not. The way that we celebrate Christmas is very much an earthly thing. Even the mall is consumed by it and the aftermath of spending affects us far longer than Christmas day. However, our expectations are wrong just like the expectations of how the King of kings and Lord of lords would enter into the world. So, we are going to have a tree that represents His Truth that lasts through eternity. Every decoration will represent something from the Word of God.” They didn’t know what to think but they knew I was sincere. It was amazing what happened that year.

Do you know that every time we went shopping, the kids were looking for the things that represented God’s Word more than anything else? They became really creative and spiritually minded as their focused shifted. The options were limitless, just like the Lord. It took little time to fill up the Truth tree and the conversations about the possibilities were the best part of all. We were talking about God’s word throughout the entire season. On the Truth Tree, we had a ladder (for Jacob’s ladder), a rainbow (for Noah),

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a cross, animal figurines (for the manger scene and of course, creation) and the list goes on and on. If we were studying something in the Bible, we would make an ornament. I placed a picture of a dove on the Truth tree because I was teaching about the Holy Spirit. Everyone participated and everyone was blessed. I believe that the Lord was blessed too. It was not about the “perfect ornament” but about the Lord! God is so good to us. If we just make a little bit of effort, He is so willing to reward our desire to include Him.

Every year, I pray about something new that fits that season of life. God is faithful to help me every year to bring a freshness and a focus to see Jesus.

He needs to increase as I decrease every Christmas. All that the Lord wants is the glory. If we learn to include Him in everything and think about Him in everything, He can be glorified through us. It is about “doing something” but it is more about “being someone” who wants the focus to shift off of ourselves and onto Him. To God be the glory and power and honor. Forever and ever…even at Christmas…Amen.

Bobbye Brooks and Tonilee Adamson met at a church bible study and became prayer partners. They share a desire to help women learn how to apply the Bible to their lives on a daily basis. Like many women today, they both have professional backgrounds, busy lives and active families, which give them insight into the struggles and challenges of walking out the Christian life every day. Over the years, Bobbye and Tonilee have continued writing and teaching weekly bible studies, have an interactive website that offers audio and video teachings and daily devotionals, host a daily radio program and live webcast events. They speak to women all over the world through personal appearances, their website teachings and written materials. Their unique style involves two women sitting on stools engaging the audience in an intimate and personal setting. They bring passion, power and fun to Bobbye and Tonilee are the founders of DailyDisciples Ministry as well as co-founders of the WebTv4Women community. Learn more about these terrific ladies by visiting the following websites: www.bobbyeandtonilee.net, www,dailydisciples.net Catch Bobbye & TL’s show “The Way for Today” on WebTV4Women.tv

Cream together ½ cup butter & ½ cup shortening in large bowl. Mix in1 cup white sugar & 1 cup packed brown sugar. Mix well. Beat in 2 eggs & 1-t vanilla. Add 1 cup shredded coconut and 3 cups oatmeal. I used old fashion oats but can use quick cooking too. Set bowl aside. Sift together 1 ½ cup flour, 1 t- baking soda, 1-t baking powder & 2 -t salt. Mix well and add to wet mixture. Chopped walnuts are optional. Drop by teaspoon or table spoon. Depends how big you want the cookie. Bake 350 oven for 12 to 18 min. Baking time depends on size of cookie. Enjoy! Peri Cunefare

Put in this order: 4 cups flour 4 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 2 cups sugar 2 eggs 2 cups of milk 1 stick of butter or margarine melted Beat well 1 cup chopped nuts last

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Grease & flour two bread loaf pans (approx. 5x9) Bake one hour.

2 bags Orville Redenbacher butter popcorn 1 bag - 12 oz - NESTLE white chocolate morsels Cool popcorn Melt 1/2 bag of morsels in microwave.. stir after each minute until smooth and melted Put over popcorn and toss to cover all the popcorn .. FREEZE IN THE BOWL FOR ABOUT 15 -2O MINUTES Break into pieces and enjoy!!

***you can add cashews, almonds, if you want ..

Let Silence Speak When Words Are Not Enough

The time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn. —Luke 2:6–7

Such an economy of language pronounces so momentous an event. No grandiose words or well-turned phrases could have spoken more elegantly. The facts speak for themselves. The wonder is not stirred by the reporting, but by the act of eternal love. Two simple statements and the story is reported. But these two sentences describe the moment toward which all of history had been building since the first molecule of matter was spoken into being. Anticipated and longed for by heaven and earth, this action was so stunning that words could only detract. “God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). How quick I am to speak and to string words into sentences and spin sentences into paragraphs to fill any void in chatter. But I see how spectacularly the arrangement of a few words, nouns left mostly unmodified and verbs left naked, speak the stark and wonderful truth. Silence speaks that for which words are worthless. No words can ever express the enormity of the Word made flesh lying in a manger. “He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). But on that holy night in Bethlehem, You cooed and cried and nursed at Mary’s breast. Jesus, Your hands, which would soon feel the tear of nails, curled around her finger. Your feet, which would soon be pierced for my transgressions, kicked the air in awkward infancy. Your head, which would soon be gouged by thorns, lay peacefully in Mary’s arms. No words. No words. From Pursuing the Christ by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. © 2008. Used

While you are planning your holiday, plan to make Christ the centerpiece. Isn’t it strange that Christmas tends to bring out all the traits that are opposite of what Christ is working into our lives? If we are not careful, Christmas can be the time we are least focused on Christ. Don’t get lost in the glitter and miss the glory! Commit that during your Christmas season, no day will pass without a time of private prayer and reflection and worship. Anchor your holiday celebration in the Christ of Christmas.

By Jennifer Kennedy Dean

It was for me He took on the time and space constraints of earth Let a veil of flesh conceal His worth Set redemption’s plan in motion with His birth It was for me

Jennifer Kennedy Dean...

It was for me

Jennifer Kennedy Dean is Executive director of The Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker.

He gave up His flesh, an offering for my sin Let God’s wrath toward me be spent on Him

She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation. Her book Heart’s Cry has been named National Day of Prayer’s signature book.

Poured out His Life so my life could begin It was for me

You can learn more about Jennifer, order her books, watch videos, participate in live online webcast events and more by visiting her websites.

It was for me He threw off the time and space constraints of earth

www.prayinglife.org www.jenniferkennedydean.net

Shed His veil of flesh, revealed His worth Opened up for me the way to Spirit-birth It was for me

Presents are transient. Colors, fads and sizes come and go. Toys break. But the gift of our inner presence is one that permeates and remains forever in our children’s memory bank. The presence of a calm, happy parent is ultimately a much richer and more meaningful gift for any child. Children are so mesmerized by TV ads and things they see on the internet, and they want to have one of everything! They “want want want” and become consumer-crazy. The Christmas season can become a one-way street with “getting” being the end. One year I decided to be more proactive if my children were going to learn about the importance of presence¯ instead of just presents. I began with writing them this letter: My gift to you is that I choose to give you the following PRESENCE this Christmas: 1. My actual physical PRESENCE.I will keep you near me as I am shopping, baking, wrapping, and all the other myriad of things that need to be done. 2. The PRESENCE of my PEACE. I will take time to do whatever it is I need to do so I can give you a peaceful PRESENCE rather than being hurried, harried and hassled. 3. The PRESENCE of spontaneous JOY. I will try to laugh with you when things don’t go the way we planned. 4. The PRESENCE of my unconditional LOVE. God loved us so much that He gave us His Son Jesus. His love for us is unconditional. I pray my love will shine through even though your ball has just destroyed the centerpiece we have worked for the last two painstaking hours… 5. The PRESENCE of PATIENCE when you ask for the bazillioneth time, “How many more days until Christmas?” 6. The PRESENCE of KINDNESS as I teach you to share with those who are less fortunate than we are. 7. Most importantly, the PRESENCE of mind to always show you by my example that CHRIST is at the center of our Christmas. I thank the Lord every day for give me this wonderful PRESENT called YOU and now I want to give my PRESENCE back to you. I love you! Mommy This began the Christmas tradition of sharing gifts of time with one another. The presence of God became more evident and my children became less absorbed with just thinking of what presents they would receive. I love the holidays, especially Christmas. I like to start early so as the time gets closer, we can just enjoy the lights of the tree, the smells, and sounds of Christmas. We have established many traditions, which I dearly cherish. For example, we do our Devotions for Advent every night with reverence instead of rushing through it just to get on to other things. I want my children to know the PRESENCE of the Christ Child at Christmas and to truly know that Jesus is the reason for the season. The affects of our PRESENTS are short-lived but the gifts of our PRESENCE can last for eternity.

Growing up with 7 siblings in MinneSNOWta, we would do our Christmas baking together as a family. It was fun and messy. Each person had special jobs to do. We sang Christmas carols as we cooked and baked, providing warm memories for all of us. I passed this tradition on to my own children. My grown daughter will still say when I go to visit her, “Let’s put on Christmas music and cook and bake!” even if it’s August!

GRANDMA’s FAVORITE is KRUMKAKA ½ cup whipped cream ½ cup butter or margarine, melted and cooked 3 eggs

1 cup sugar 1 tsp nutmeg 2 cups flour 1 tsp vanilla

Whip the cream, set aside. Beat eggs, add sugar, vanilla and nutmeg. Add melted butter. Fold in whipped cream and stir in flour. Drop by spoonfuls on a hot iron or griddle and bake, turning it after one minute. It comes out flat and you quickly shape it into a cone shape by wrapping it around a cone shaped iron and slide it off the hot iron when it is baked. Place it on waxed paper. This is a delightful Norwegian cookie. It is light and melts in your mouth. It takes time to make, but it is It takes an adult (usually Grandma ) to run the iron for this special cylinder cookie, but worth the patience.

GRANDPA’S FAVORITE is CHRISTMAS “PUFF BALLS” Grandpa would patiently gather up all these items and have the children or grandchildren cut things into little pieces. The real little ones got to roll glasses over the graham crackers to grind them all up into “sand”, as Grandpa used to say.

32 big marshmallows cut up into little pieces

1 cup pecans…you guessed it…cut into little pieces

½ cup of dates cut into little pieces

1 cup coconut

½ cup of red cherries in a jar cut into little pieces

½ cup sweetened and condensed milk

½ cup jarred green cherries cut into little pieces

1 cup graham cracker crumbs, ground very fine

Mix all the ingredients together, except the graham cracker crumbs. Make a little ball and then roll the ball in the graham crackers and place the ball on a piece of wax paper. The children like to them around in the graham cracker crumbs before putting their little balls on the wax paper.

Jody Capehart has been involved in education for over 35 years. She has founded several private Christian schools in the Dallas area including Grace Academy, Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, and Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, TX and served as their administrators. She served as a minister to children for 8 years and has been involved with Child Evangelism for 25 years. Jody is the author of 12 books/video series on education and parenting. She is currently writing books on brain research, and another on manners for girls. She is the Director of the Biblical Counseling Training Program for Hope for the Heart in Dallas, Texas, and serves as the Founder and Ambassador for Legacy Christian Academy. Visit Jody’s website www.capehartconnection.com to learn more.

and then roll

On September 30, 2006 I was awakened at 5:00am by the telephone ringing. Because the cancer had returned and was spreading, we knew my mother’s time with us was short. I had been feeling a real urgency to see her again. In fact, my husband and I were planning to leave around 9:00am that very day for a twelve hour drive to Indiana where my parents were living. With each ring, my heart beat faster as I ran to the phone and anxiously answered “hello”. I had prayed the night before and asked God to keep mom from suffering so when I got the news I cried, God I didn’t mean NOW! I had wanted to see mom one more time. Why couldn’t I have one last visit? It is a difficult truth for every one of us, Christians and non Christians alike, that we will have loss and grief at some time in our lives. We are in a fallen world with fallen bodies and fallen natures. We are dealing with others with fallen (and sometimes) evil natures who may bring suffering into our lives. We are in a world where the financial system is a world system that is less than perfect. Therefore, your loss may come in the form of the death of a loved one, the loss of finances, the loss of good health or of shattered dreams. Oftentimes we ask, "Why?" and sometimes we are tempted to lose our faith in God’s goodness. We step into a period of grief. I have found that the holiday season can amplify that pain while transitioning from a loss. Emptiness felt from the loss of our loved one increases. Financial loss may bring feelings of failure as we are unable to participate in purchasing gifts for our family at the level we once did. Our normal holiday celebration may now seem abnormal due to our loss of health resulting in hopelessness and depression.

How should we as Christians deal with this grief? Is it wrong to grieve? Where is God in these seasons of our lives? I want to assure you this holiday season, first of all, that it is okay to grieve. In fact, it is a necessary process. Secondly, I want to assure you that God is with you and will bring you through. I know the pain is real. That first Christmas only two months after mom left us was especially difficult for my father, my brothers and me. I do not intend to minimize your loss in any way. However, I do want to magnify in your mind the greatness of the gift of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I want to encourage you to ask Him to help you heal. You see, to get through and to find healing and restoration for your life you need His presence. Think about it. What an amazing thing that He would leave the riches of His throne in heaven and come to earth in the weakness of human flesh just for you and me. What a sacrifice! What an amazing thing that He would willingly suffer in all ways as we do in order to identify with us – His creation. What an amazing thing that He surrendered to the cross taking the punishment for our sins that we would not have to suffer for all of eternity. What an amazing thing that He was resurrected and ascended into heaven as our High Priest offering the blood of His sacrifice to God for the payment of our sins, reconciling us to God and securing our eternity with Him. It is amazing grace indeed that God Himself would suffer these tremendous losses for you and me. When He ascended into heaven He did not leave us alone to deal with our troubles. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter (John 14). If you belong to Christ, then He has sent Him to dwell right there in you 24/7. Turn to Him and receive His comforting. It is His presence with you because

Jesus was born, died and ascended into heaven that will bring you through the grieving process to a place of healing and restoration.

need to give up your hopes and dreams that are tied to your loss by giving them to God. God is faithful to give you new ones.

Following the pattern for grieving as set forth by King David in II Samuel at the loss of his baby conceived with Bathsheba, the pattern is to pray and fast (this may involve emotions such as bitterness, emptiness, apathy, love, anger, guilt, sadness, fear, self-pity, and helplessness), rise above the grief, praise and worship God and then let go of our dreams associated with that loss to allow God to give us new ones.

As we experience pain, suffering and loss we either turn from God or we draw nearer to Him. For those who draw nearer, they will eventually find themselves comforting others in their time of loss according to II Cor. 1: 4, "comfort others who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." After a time of trouble, your knowledge of God and His ways increases. As a result, you will find yourself drawn to others and them to you. You will find yourself ministering God’s love in new ways.

We see that David found hope for a future restoration with his child as seen in his declaration that he would see that child again. You and I have that hope in Christ Jesus. We will see those we love who have died in Christ again. Although we miss them, we can be happy for them that they are where they are – a land where there is no pain or suffering. We have hope for our lives now. We have God’s presence available to bring us through any situation and any type of loss. The final piece in the pattern of King David’s grieving process was to go and lay with Bathsheba which then resulted in the birth of Solomon. With this action we see David and Bathsheba letting go of their dreams for that child that had died. This resulted in God giving them a new dream. God gave them Solomon. You may be at that place where you

God has created us for good works that we should walk in them. Christ came to make it available. Just as Jesus’ story did not end with loss, neither does ours. Because Christ was born, died and ascended, He now walks with us every moment through every life challenge. It is He who infuses us with the strength we need for every situation we face. Praise be to God for His goodness towards us. Allow His joy to be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). This holiday season, I want to encourage you with the knowledge that Christ is truly present with you. You can move forward by drawing nearer to, trusting in and focusing on the hope you have in Him. May you find comfort and joy in the midst of your healing process this holiday season.

(Ps 55:22 NASB)

(Hebrews 4:15-16

A Suggested Prayer for you: Thank you God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts me in all my tribulations, that I may be protected from any trouble and hurt as I walk with You, Lord, through the grief of losing _________________. Thank you for healing my heart and restoring joy to my soul in Jesus name!

Pick a day close to the holiday, i.e. perhaps a day or two before Thanksgiving or a couple of days or a week or so before Christmas and set aside as a day of grieving for your loved one. You may want to watch videos or go through the picture album in remembering your special times together. You may also want to visit their grave. I have found that by intentionally setting this day aside to spend with our loved one who is no longer with us, we are freed to enjoy the love from and pour our love out to those who are still with us. This same principle can help in grieving other losses as well such as broken dreams perhaps due to a divorce. Another thing I found helpful after my mother’s death was to make an ornament with my mother’s picture glued to it to hang on our tree. Don’t forget that God is there with you. Turn to Him and allow His presence to give you strength and bring healing to your broken heart. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 NASB You may want to pray something like, “Jesus you came to heal the brokenhearted and my heart is broken today. I ask you to heal my heart over losing _____________. Lord, I thank you to comfort me and restore joy to my soul because you love me and have promised me everlasting consolation and hope through your grace.”

Cranberry Sour Cream Jello Salad 2 pkgs cherry Jello 2 c boiling water 1 can whole cranberries

1 carton sour cream – 8 oz. ½ c broken pecans

Pour boiling water over Jello. Dissolve. Add cranberries. Chill in refrigerator until it begins to congeal. Fold in sour cream and nuts.

Christmas Punch (Serves 25) 1 lg. bottle cranberry juice 1 lg. can pineapple juice 1 ½ c orange juice

½ c lemon juice 1 bottle ginger ale

Chill all ingredients and mix. Float ice ring made of ginger ale with fruit frozen in it in punch.

Mama’s Delicious Pudding and Chocolate Pies 2 c sugar 6 heaping T flour ½ c Hershey’s cocoa 4 c milk (2 c canned milk and 2 c 2%)

½ tsp salt Chunk of margarine (heaping T) 1 tsp vanilla 4 egg yolks

Mix by hand with hand whip before putting on stove all ingredients except margarine. Put margarine in once above gets warm. Cook on medium heat and stir almost constantly to prevent sticking. Makes great chocolate pie filling or can be ate as chocolate pudding. Pour in deep 9” pie shells (homemade or store purchased) and bake at 400 degrees or place in pudding dish and cool for pudding. For pie meringue: Beat 6 egg whites w/ pinch of salt, 1 T sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. After placing on baked pies, put in oven to brown slightly for a golden tipped meringue. Watch closely.

Sarah Ann Goebel is a Board certified Pastoral Counselor (BCBC) through the International Board of Christian Counselors (IBCC), a graduate of the Christian Leaders Authors & Speakers Services (CLASS), Member of Christian Women in Media (WCM) and is Founder of Declaring His Answer Ministries, Int’l – a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Sarah is also the host of the Christian Living Channel and Christian Woman’s View show at WebTV4Women.tv. She is also the author of Satisfied Woman. Learn more about Sarah at: www.DeclaringHisAnswer.com

6 Fitness Gifts to Unwrap for Christmas By Linda Goldfarb Start each morning with breakfast. - Include protein to start those cognitive brain cells working. - Limit saturated and Trans fat to keep the ticker running smooth. - Offer a good source of fiber (oatmeal, bran, high grain breads) to keep your pipes clean. - This is a great time to include fruit or 100% fruit juice; fresh or frozen is better than canned. Drink ample water daily geared to your physical activity (1/2 body weight in ounces is a good rule of thumb) if you increase your activity, increase your fluids. - Limit soft drinks, better yet, eliminate them - Utilize sports drinks only during extended work outs (60 minutes or more) when added electrolytes are needed and more calories are burned. Let everyone in the family select one meal a week, make it a combined effort. - Allow children to help in preparing the meals; setting the table, pouring the drinks. Work up to letting them prepare the whole meal, they will meet your expectations as long as they have fun. - Give the “chef” of the night a special plate in their honor; include mom and dad in this fun you’re special event. - Let one person select the entrée and another one the vegetables. - Balanced color on the plate means balanced meals. - Limit dessert to one or two times a week. Increase your physical activity to at least 30 minutes per day. - Accumulated minutes are as beneficial as 30 minutes at a time. - Climb stairs instead of using the escalator or elevator. - Working in the yard or garden counts. - Indoor swimming pools are calling your name. - Walking or riding a bike is great. Strength Train to Change the Look of your body. - 30 minutes, three times a week will produce body changes in 12 weeks - Day 1 – work your chest, shoulders, and triceps - Day 2 – work your back, biceps, and abs - Day 3 – work your quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves - The first key: warm-up 3 times with 1st muscle group, 2 times w/2nd group, 1 time for 3rd muscle group before your sets (use light weights to warm up) - The second key: 4 sets per muscle group to failure (2 sets of 2 different exercises per muscle group) don’t hurt yourself just aim for the 8th rep to be tough) Read the Bible together. - Family Bible reading encourages your children in their relationship with Jesus and offers time for questions. - Husbands and wives can take turns sharing passages that reflect where they are in their journey with Christ. - When you are in the word, it has a better chance of being reflected in you.

Super-Natural Sisters by Linda Goldfarb The mirror reflects who the world says we are With our curves, hair, and make-up you see… But the girl deep inside who has drawn back to hide Wishes others would just let her be… The child that God made to be light to the world In spite of the lies it might bring… So we’ll stand hand in hand as Super-Natural Sisters No barriers… No division… One King!

From Linda’s Kitchen Pumpkin dip (courtesy of the Dannon Institute) Mix the following ingredients: · 3 tbsp pumpkin (canned or left over fresh baked) · 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt · 1 tbsp 100% orange juice · ½ tsp cinnamon (optional) · 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional) Dip in some graham crackers or salt-less pretzel sticks and enjoy Healthy Omelet 5 egg whites 1 oz. cheese (reduced fat saves calories) 1 cup spinach (fresh or frozen – thaw first)

½ cup mushrooms and or onions (eating raw onions everyday is good for your heart) 2 oz. turkey breast

Wipe the inside of your pan with a canola or olive oil to prevent sticking. Set heat to medium. Beat the egg whites and cook over medium heat. Flip the omelet as soon as the eggs have set (means they are not runny) Sprinkle the remaining ingredients on the omelet, fold in half and slide onto plate. Enjoy!

About Linda Goldfarb Linda Goldfarb is the founder of Live Powerfully Now Ministries: Sharing the Power of God’s Truth for Everyday Living, a National Speaker, Media Personality, Certified Fitness Specialist, Media & Presentation Coach, Certified Personalities Trainer, Columnist, Freelance Writer, and a Professional Actress. Her specialty is "edu-taining" adults and youth alike through her empowering and compelling teaching presentations, which her listeners frequently describe as "powerful," "insightful," and "lifechanging." Linda and her husband, Sam, are the proud parents of four great kids, Shawn, Heather, Katie, and Sam III. Linda, Sam, & Sam III are active in their church and live in the South Texas countryside with their three country dogs Moose, Star, and Sandy.

your Handle businessGirl With Dr. Gail Hayes The holidays can either be a time of joy or a whirlwind of misery. It’s your choice how you spend your holiday time and how you manage what you do in order to handle your business where you do business. Here’s a tip that can help make it a time of joy and kick misery out the door. Do not over obligate yourself. You are not Wonder Woman. She is a fictional character whose only job was to wear bullet reflecting wrist bands, use a lasso of truth, whittle her waist line with a corset, and look good. She did not have to meet deadlines, pay bills, take care of a family, or entertain a host of friends. Realize that you cannot be everything to everyone, especially during the holidays. So take off the wrist bands, put away your lasso and enjoy.

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Dr. Gail is the founder and CEO of the Handle Your Business Girl Empowerment Network where she helps women to handle their business where they do business, in the work place and as entrepreneurs. She also served as the founder and Director of the European Executive Women’s Forum, the first active European Network of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). Dr. Gail is also founder of The Precious! Pretty! Powerful! Book Club for Girls—Helping girls, through reading, writing, and speaking, become powerful communicators in word, thought, and deed. Learn more about Dr. Gail at www.drgailhayes.com

Amidst the Holiday Hustle By Karol Ladd

If you were to look up the word “Stress” in the dictionary doesn’t it seem like the words “Christmas Holidays” would be part of the definition? Sadly, the holidays tend to bring more feelings of tension and overwhelm than peace and joy. But that’s not the way it has to be! We can experience more calm and less stress when it comes to the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Here are several practical “P’s” to help us experience more peace in the Holiday season.

Plan Less - I know, I know every year you want to make it the best Christmas ever! But sometimes the best Christmas ever can come from planning fewer activities than more. Always remember, less is better. Consider the 1,2,3 Plan to Planning Less: One Christmas Program - There are many pageants, programs and concerts available during the holidays, but you don’t need to go to all of them. As a family choose one favorite program to attend together and one favorite charity in which to serve together.

Two Favorite Recipes - Narrow your baking agenda down to just a few easy favorites instead of a wide and demanding array of goodies. Get the kids to bake with you.

Three gifts – It’s tempting to buy and buy and buy for the kids or grand kids thinking a huge assortment of presents will make them happy on Christmas day. Instead of buying quantity, consider buying or making three significant and meaningful gifts which will be appreciated and remembered instead of stuffed in the closet or under the bed.

Now you may not have a problem in the three areas I listed above (running to programs, baking and gift buying), so create your own personalized 123 Plan for the areas that seem to get out of control in your own life . We all need to be intentional about scaling back and the 123 Plan can put it in simple terms to keep us focused. Remember to stay flexible and not rigid with your plans. (Continued)

Amidst the Holiday Hustle By Karol Ladd

People First - From cards to food to shopping to parties, the holiday rush and pressure can sometimes make us a little on edge with the people in our lives. Always keep in the forefront of your mind that relationships are more important than your “gotta do” list. Stress can sometimes cause us to get angry and out of sorts, so we must step back and take a deep breath and ask the Lord to love through us. His love is patient and kind. The Holidays are meaningless if we don’t allow love and forgiveness to take center stage over the perfect decorations or best looking outfit. Pursue peace and encourage love, kindness and compassion.

urpose Prevails – There are times I get so wrapped up in the holidays that I completely loose focus of what it is all about. Purpose is everything. If I have baked the best pumpkin pie, but serve it with an ungrateful spirit, I’ve forgotten what the Thanksgiving table is all about. If I give just the right gifts to everyone on my list and yet harbor anger, guilt or bitterness in my heart, then I’ve completely lost sight of the reason Jesus came to this earth. The purpose of this season is to celebrate the abundant love that God has shown us through sending His only Son into this world. Jesus didn’t just come to tell us a few happy thoughts about life; He came to offer His life on the cross as payment for our sins. It is the greatest picture of redeeming love this world has known. Through God’s grace we are loved and forgiven, and that’s the reason we celebrate during Christmas.

rioritize Prayer – Set aside a specific time each day to seek God’s help, strength and guidance. Often we feel too busy to pray, yet our precious time of conversation with God can be a time of creating peace in our hearts. As we take time to praise God for His power, love and wisdom, we are reminded He is able to help us in every circumstance. When we thank Him for our many blessings, we turn our eyes off our frustrations and on to His blessings. And when we cast our cares on Him, we experience a sense of relief from worry. The Bible reminds us that as we let our requests be made known to God, the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep our hearts and minds in Christ, Jesus. I’d like that kind of peace, wouldn’t you?

As we remember and apply the Practical “P’s” to our holiday happenings we experience more peace and less stress. Lasting joy and peace come from God. May the true purpose of the Holidays prevail in our hearts through faith in Him this season and all year long.

Love Karol 61

Karol Ladd Karol Ladd is known as the “Positive Lady.” Her encouraging and joyful personality shines brightly through both her speaking and her writing. Karol is not only positive; she is authentic. She is open, honest and real with her audience. Her message is Biblically based, as she desires to point people to Christ and a closer walk with Him. Karol is the best selling author of over 20 books, many of which have been translated into other languages. She is best known for her Positive Power series, and has spoken to audiences all over the world with a message of hope. Karol lives in Dallas with her husband, Curt and daughters, Grace and Joy. Her sincere desire is to share the message of God’s redeeming love through her actions and words. Learn more about Karol at her website: www.karolladd.com

Finding Peace By Linda Evans Shepherd The weary mother used her baby’s stroller to slice through the thick mall crowd as she tried to entice her two-year-old toddler to keep up. “Come on Bryce, we’ve got more shopping to do,” she said in a voice laced with stress. The tired toddler plopped to the floor in protest. The mother looked down at him, “Don’t you want to have Christmas tomorrow?” The boy, too exhausted for reason, shook his head. “Bryce, I’m warning you, let’s go.” The child’s face reddened. “No!” he chirped. “Honestly,” his mother said as she grabbed his small hand and pulled him into a standing position. “I know it’s past your naptime, but mommy has to pick up a few more things. Okay?” She gave the child a tug, but his yell was so startling that it silenced the nearby holiday chatter. The embarrassed mother muttered under her breath, “Whoever invented Christmas ought to be shot.” A woman, who was caught in the swirl of shoppers that flowed around the drama, responded without a beat. “Jesus? He wasn’t shot, he was crucified.” Sometimes we get so caught up in the holiday rush; we forget the song the angels sang in that sleepy town of Bethlehem.

Let’s revisit the moment as found in the book of Luke. First, an angel appeared to the shepherds who were tending their flocks on the hillside. Under a stretch of velvet night that glowed from a risen star, the angel said, "Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly, a great host of angels appeared, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Wow, what a Christmas celebration that must have been. But that was then. Is it even possible to find the peace that the angels sang about that long ago night, this Christmas?

The answer is, yes, but only if we accomplish our holiday tasks with these ideas in mind:

Remember, Christmas is the time we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Remember too, that because Jesus fulfilled his earthly mission, we can know God. Start off each day with a prayer of thanks to the reason for the season. Invite the presence of the Lord to go into the rush with you.

(Continued) Also, too, invite God into your very life, through the forgiveness of sins he offers through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Instead of focusing so much on your ‘to do’ list, focus on enjoying your friends and family. Ask God to guide you to do what’s really necessary and table what’s really not. For example, plan your holiday party for late January. Also, January’s a great time to read and to send out your Christmas cards. In other words, creatively stall for more time to finish your lists.

Linda's Pe can Pie

3 eggs ½ cup red Karo ½ cup white Ka ro 4 tablespoons bu tter, melted Vanilla

½ cup sugar 2 tablespoons flo ur ¼ teaspoon salt ½ to ¾ cup peca ns, broken

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op on stove t n a p e c u a po ur ok in a s s. Slowly e r a nd c o ll a h t b e ' g ft o o t 's r n like o k t he d wate s off spoo . Next, co , s yrup a n s ip r e r a d it g h u e s r w u ix t g . Add M off spoon g until mix be a t e n e g s in y ll r a fl ir b if t t ' s s d , r e h to th r to ke 'ha on hig ing a mixe mixture in il it drips li s t p u n u , u r s y e e s r it u f h t o s 1/3 syrup mix t he e g g w e develop e r o t h u t t e f r ix o u m t r e ix e cool. yrup m gg whit remaind e d pa n t o n o f t he s il syrup/e r t io e n t t r u t o u t p a b e t a s B ful in the la antly. t he s po o n a nd c o ns t y b ly e w r u lo t s t ix be a ro p m points.) D r (o s k a e p Linda Evans Shepherd, author, media personality and international speaker, uses humor and story as she shares refreshing encouragement with her audiences. She says, “I love watching the audience give their burdens to God. It’s like seeing everyone get an instant face lift as they lose 20 pounds each.” Visit Linda’s website to learn more: www.VisitLinda.com

By Jill Savage Ok, Christmas is just around the corner. Yes, it did come fast; in fact it always is here before we know it. Do you have your baking done? Is your shopping finished? Do you have the house cleaned? Are you packed for traveling? There are so many things to get done to "do" Christmas. Isn't it time to let go of some of the expectations for a "perfect" Christmas and really enjoy this time with our families? I'm issuing a challenge to myself to today, and to you if you want to take it, to drink in my relationships and let go of my "to do" list for this week. No my gifts aren't all wrapped yet, but I've got a few gifts to give that can't be wrapped. I want to give the gift of listening today. I want to make sure that when my children and my husband speak to me, I look into their eyes. I want them to feel that they are special. I don't want anyone to feel like they are in the way of what I need to do. They are what I need to do. Lord, let me give the gift of listening today. I want to give the gift of time today. When my 7 year old asks me to play Barbies with her, I'm going to stop what I am doing to play with her. Playing Barbies is not my most favorite thing to do, but it's hers, so I must value it, too. I recently heard the convicting response of a young girl when asked what kind of message she would give to parents from a child's point of view. She responded, "Parents have too many tomorrows. Tomorrow I'll play ball with you. Tomorrow we'll bake cookies together. Tomorrow I will play that game. Most of the time tomorrow never comes." Lord, let me give the gift of time today. I want to give the gift of touch today. Have you ever gone through the day or the week and realized that you really haven't given out any hugs lately? People have the need to touch and be touched. Our children and teens need hugs from mom and dad daily. I'm going to make sure that my husband gets a bear hug today. When my daughter

comes in to tell me a story, I will try to remember to touch her as we interact. Lord, let me give the gift of touch today. I want to give the gift of encouragement today. I want to make sure I tell my 12 year old daughter how much I appreciate the responsibility she has been taking on lately. I want my 10 year old son to know that I think he has been doing well in his music lessons. I want my husband to know I greatly appreciate how hard he works to support our family. Sometimes the people we live with receive the least verbal encouragement from us. Lord, let me give the gift of encouragement today. I want to give the gift of Jesus today. Since we are celebrating His birthday, I want to make sure that we invite Him to the celebration. When I'm tempted to skip that Christmas Eve service tomorrow night because I still have too much to do, I will resist that temptation, gather the family, and make sure we take time to worship together. Lord, let me give the gift of Jesus today. Yes, Christmas is days away. The gifts aren't all wrapped, the food isn't all prepared, and guests are arriving soon. Yes, some of these things need to be accomplished today. But I want to do it with my family, not for them. I want to give them the kinds of gifts that can't be placed in a box and wrapped in red and green paper. Come on, join me. Fix yourself a cup of hot chocolate, sit down, put your feet up, and gaze at the Christmas tree lights for a few minutes. Think about the incredible blessings God has given to you. Thank Him. Ponder the gifts that can be given today that don't need to be wrapped. Lord, thank you for the gift of family you have given to me.

Jill Savage (www.jillsavage.org) is the founder and Executive Director of Hearts at Home (www.hearts-at-home.org), an organization designed to encourage, educate, and equip women in the profession of motherhood. She is the author of five books including Professionalizing Motherhood, Is There Really Sex After Kids?, and her newest release My Heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s At Home. Jill and her husband, Mark, have five children and make their home in Central Illinois. ÂŠ Copyright Jill Savage

FamilyDynamics By Liberty Savard

I come from a family where everybody is a chief—no Indians, just chiefs. Every chief seems to come with lancepacking, territorial, turf-oriented, issues that particularly arise during the holidays. We experience some very dynamic family dynamics every year. Dynamics are continuous interacting forces within a group. That’s us, all right—heavy on the forces and heavy on the continuous. Most family dynamics begin over an upset of the balance of power among hurting souls. Then a second dynamic to change the focus enters and you find yourself embroiled in emotional discussions about things that have nothing to do with where it all started. Once a family is rolling this rapidly, everyone seems to get drawn in and it’s downhill from there. God has been teaching me for some times now about making a paradigm shift in my thinking when viewing such negative situations. I believe that many times people want a way out of such situations, but they do not know how to withdraw without losing face or being embarrassed. Christians can become that doorway out if they are willing to. It is only hard to do this when you have unhealed hurts and unmet needs that cause you to fear being thought of as weak or doormat material. When you have bound your will to the will of God and loosed all hindrances within your soul blocking your own healing, you can move closer to becoming a positive doorway. Not a door mat, but a doorway. However, if a doormat is what Jesus needs you to be for a hurting family member, the fruit of love will immediately begin to flow out of His heart to your born-again spirit to obey His request. If it can’t get out, it is because of the hardness of your own heart. Our difficult relationships are always more difficult when we still have negative feelings towards the other person. Some Christians tell me that they love their families, they just don’t like them. What a deception. First Corinthians 13 was not put into the Bible because its makes a really neat wall plaque to hang in your bathroom. It is the pattern of love. Only by binding my will to God’s will and my mind to the mind of Christ and by loosing my soul’s finite interpretation of difficult circumstances and issues, can I really see what is going on in dynamics with difficult people. Then I can become a door for them to exit the dynamic. (Taken from Liberty’s 3rd book Producing the Promise).

A Holiday Time Prayer for You... Thank you, Lord, for the Keys of the Kingdom. I believe these Keys are going to help me change my attitudes toward my family members. Changes in my attitudes and actions will help others to see what you have done for me and can do for them—far more than anything I can ever try to say to them. Help me to forgive my family members, and show me how to be the one who will break the old, negative family patterns of thinking that keep recycling through our relationships. Lord, once again I bind my will to your will and I loose, smash, crush, and destroy my soul’s attempts to drive me to follow its old, negative plans and purposes. I bind my mind to the mind of Christ, and I loose, smash, crush, and destroy my soul’s attempts to control my thoughts and attitudes and beliefs so that it can run its own agenda in the situations I find myself in with my family members. I loose all of the negative influences from my soul’s wrong agreements with others. I loose all of my soul’s ties that it has hooked into other family members’ souls, causing all of us to try to manipulate and control our relationships. I loose all of their wrong patterns of thinking that would cause them to do the same thing to me. I bind my raggedy and tattered emotions to the healing, comforting balance of the Holy Spirit and I loose all of my emotional distractions and reactions that try to come whenever things get heated up in my family’s interactions. I also loose the enemy’s distractions and reactions when I am trying to pray, asking your help, and hearing from you. I bind each one of my family members to your will; I bind their minds to the mind of Christ, and I bind their wounded emotions to the healing balance and comfort of the Holy Spirit. I know this will not control their thoughts and reactions, but it will help to soften the hardness an the defenses they have built to protect their own pain and need. I will not go back into negative, old family dynamics with members of my family. I choose to believe that I can be the one to work with you to create the doorway for all of them, including me, to walk out of the contentions and strife we have been bound by in the past. Help me to remember and to let you teach me how to show others that being a doorway has nothing to do with being a doormat. Doormats function mainly in the arena of collecting dirt off peoples’ shoes. Doorways open up opportunities and possibilities for everyone. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me the Keys to the Kingdom of heaven. I intend to use them whenever and wherever I can. In your Name, Jesus, Amen

Libertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Holiday Tips

Holiday Pre-Spot Miracle Juice I learned from either Heloise or Ann Landers how to make a really great pre-spotter for your clothese before you wash them. Mix equal parts of white vinegar, dishwashing liquid (Dawn, Dove, generic brand, etc.), and water. Use liberally and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the shake the spray bottle every time you use it. Spray liberally on all spots on clothes that you plan on washing. Let it set for a minute or two, then wash as usual. This works a lot better than most commercial pre-spotters and it way, way cheaper!

Silly Way to Keep Plastic Bags I love plastic bags, plastic jars, and just about anything that can be tied, capped, or closed up. Go figure! I know this is not politically correct green thinking, but it does contain trash contained in manageable bits. Fill a plastic bag full of other plastic bags and tie a knot in the top. There is usually an open gap on each side of your knot. Pull one bag at a time out of that gap. I know this is not politically-correct, green thinking, but it does keep your plastic bags under control nicely. Everything in nice and neat!

Favorite Easy Party Dip with White Corn Tortilla Chips One brick of Philadelphia cream cheese on a party plate or shallow bowl. Cover with a cup of your favorite salsa. Enjoy

About Liberty... Rev. Liberty Savard is an ordained minister with credentials from the Evangelical Church Alliance (Bradley IL) who has served as a Singles Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Bible teacher. She is a Senior Editor for BridgeLogos Publishing of Gainesville FL. Many have attended her meetings in several areas in the U.S. and British Columbia. Don't miss this opportunity to understand the missing pieces of your Christian victory. This is one teaching you will not walk away from without fullness of understanding of the simple steps you need to take to cooperate with God's principles of freedom from your own soul.

For more information about Liberty, visit her websites: www.libertysavard.com & www.libertysavard2u.com

What Are You Doing In December? By Thelma Wells Every year, the month of December causes me to reflect and evaluate the past 11 months and project and pray about the coming year. My ministry is in transition moving from familiar places in the Word to new venues, conferences, churches and media. This December is no different in context, but much different in content. As I move to the places God sends me, I must see His perfect will for my life. You see, for the month of December I will be reflecting, evaluating, projecting and praying from a different vantage point than in the past 31 years. New changes bring new challenges. New challenges cause new commitments. New commitments add new responsibilities. New responsibilities call for fresh preparation. Fresh preparation creates richer knowledge and wisdom. Richer knowledge and wisdom demand a greater accountability to the Lord. Therefore, I’ve resigned myself to prayer and consecration for much of December 2008. This means that while I care about you a lot . . . o

You may not get an e-mail message from me during this time.

My website will be refreshed with new information during this time.

My telephone conversations will be extremely limited during this time.

My entertainment calendar will be ministry-focused during this time.

My usual activities will be drastically revaluated during this time.

My prayer and study time will be greatly increased on the Truth of the Word of God, and our dedication to Him will be the order of the day for those of us who have been called to teach and preach in His Name.

(Can you believe this is coming from my always overloaded, running-away-with-itself brain and mouth?) There is one exception to my “inactivity” in December: I will be spending time with my family (children and grandchildren) for Christmas. I must be around to see their eyes light up on Christmas, to break bread with the family, to laugh and talk, play and enjoy the glories of the holiday season. The most important time is the celebrations at churches when the Christmas speeches, Christmas pageants, and Christian celebrations are observed. So, what am I going to do in my “spare” time? I’m going to be laying or sitting by a warm fireplace, sipping tea or hot chocolate, reading, watching television, sleeping, or listening to wonderful Christian music. I may be writing to meet my deadlines that have been assigned to me. By God’s grace, He has given me the gift of time to accomplish everything I need to do. Christmas is the busiest time of the year for many people. The hustle and bustle of

Lord, once again I bind my will to your will and I loose, smash, crush, and destroy my soul’s attempts to drive me to follow its old, negative plans and purposes. I bind my mind to the mind of Christ, and I loose, smash, crush, and destroy my soul’s attempts to control my thoughts and attitudes and beliefs so that it can run its own agenda in the situations I find myself in with my family members. I loose all of the negative influences from my soul’s wrong agreements with others. I loose all of my soul’s ties that it has hooked into other family members’ souls, causing all of us to try to manipulate and control our relationships. I loose all of their wrong patterns of thinking that would cause them to do the same thing to me. I bind my raggedy and tattered emotions to the healing, comforting balance of the Holy Spirit and I loose all of my emotional distractions and reactions that try to come whenever things get heated up in my family’s interactions. I also loose the enemy’s distractions and reactions when I am trying to pray, asking your help, and hearing from you. I bind each one of my family members to your will; I bind their minds to the mind of Christ, and I bind their wounded emotions to the healing balance and comfort of the Holy Spirit. I know this will not control their thoughts and reactions, but it will help to soften the hardness an the defenses they have built to protect their own pain and need. I will not go back

· Begin to think rationally about gift-giving versus what you think other people think you need to do. · Concentrate on the needs, not the wants. The needs are important but wants can be put on the “to do when it becomes important” list. · Set your budget by calculating what you can afford versus what you would have to charge or borrow. Charging big debts or borrowing only leads to guilt, a back-lash of bills, and frustration. ·

Work within your budget and do not succumb to impulse buying.

· Within the family, you can exchange names and give only one gift, or give a family gift that everyone can use. Give something they need or a keepsake that can become a conversation piece for years. · Explain to your children and family the real reason for the season: Jesus’ birthday celebration. Sure gifts are given, but the greatest gift was God sending His Son to earth for the purpose of saving everyone from their sins when they accept Jesus. · In the workplace, ask yourself if it is really necessary to give individual gifts. Coworkers may appreciate an appropriate card and a kind word rather than a gift that they think they have to reciprocate. A telephone call or e-card may serve the same purpose and accomplish the same mission as a gift you cannot afford. If you love to bake, give cookies, candy, slices of cake, or some other goodies. If you love to read, inexpensive books can be inspiring and encouraging to many. · Shopping the “sales” during the year can take some of the pressure off. Discount shopping is intelligent shopping! · Choose a family from a charitable organization and give them a basket of Christmas dinner items and forego some of the gifts that people don’t need. My family gives to The Bethlehem Foundation in Dallas, Texas.

I’m expecting this Christmas season to be powerful; not for physical gifts, but from the power of God working within me to take me to a higher level in Him. I’m expecting God to give me more wisdom, revelation, and discernment. Therefore, a great deal of my time will be devoted to prayer. Ministries are grown and sustained by much prayer. I’ll be spending more and more time with God, learning how to really pray. I must be still to learn of Him from Him. When we are silent and are listening for His voice, we can hear Him in the noise of the day as well as the stillness of the night. So, I won’t be shopping much for emotional gift items, I’ll be shopping much for the gifts that will last a lifetime.

Why am I doing this? I’m obeying a divine mandate to know God better and impart what I learn to people everywhere! How drastic will this process be? It will be so drastic that I will need everyone’s fervent, effectual prayers to maintain my determination to do this. And I pray that you steal away time doing this busiest month of the year to also know Him better. For it is our Savior who is the only real reason for this season. It is He who will prepare you and provide for you in the year to come. It is He who will be your comfort and stability during these unsettling times. My wish for you is that you will choose to have a faith-filled, God-centered, Jesus-celebrated, Holy Spirit-inspired, non-stressful holiday season. Prayer: Jesus, this season belongs to You. I submit to You. Thank You for being patient with us this year. Help us to have peace during this season. Show us how we can be servants to those in need. Help us reflect, evaluate, pray and position ourselves for your work during the coming year. All our hope is in You, Holy Dove. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

About Thelma Wells A.K.A. “Mama T Dr. Thelma Wells, president – A Woman of God Ministries, Dallas, Texas Watch Thelma on television on Channel 34 each Sunday morning from 8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. CST and on GospelOnDemand.com Tuesday at 11 a.m. CST, or everyday via tv4woman.com

Join Thelma on the READY TO WIN CRUISE WITH THELMA & FRIENDS, June 13-18, 2009. See details on her website at www.thelmawells.com

”

Mama Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fabulous Fruit Salad INGREDIENTS: 1 can or mandarin oranges 1 can of pineapple tidbits 1 carton of sour cream

1 bag of marshmallows 1 bag of shredded coconut

Whatever size can you choose, please keep that same size for the rest of the ingredients. Drain the cans of fruit. I always drain the juice in a container so I can keep the juice to drink. Mix the juices. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good! Put drained fruit in a large mixing bowl and pour the bag of marshmallows and coconut over the fruit. Empty the carton of sour cream in the bowl with all the ingredients and mix well with a large spoon or spatula or your CLEAN hands. Spread the ingredients into a pretty salad bowl, garnish with a few sprinkled nuts over the top of the salad and/or pretty red cherries or bright red strawberries on top to lure the taste buds to enjoy the yellow and orange color bursts folded in the white, tasty marshmallows and the coconut. Place this salad in the refrigerator and let stand for twenty-four hours. Remove from the refrigerator just before serving. Do not freeze. I have used this salad every Christmas or Thanksgiving for three decades and this dish wins points at the party every time.

There has never been a time in my life when God hasn’t supplied my needs; but the most memorable miracle The Lord has ever blessed me with came in the form of a pizza! With so many of us facing the challenges of a slow economy, job loss, and other life changing issues, it’s tough to believe that miracles still happen, they do. I have learned that when things seem the worst, when the day seems darkest and God seems a million miles away, that is when you have to believe the most. This holiday season, no matter what you situation, look for miracles. They’re everywhere you need only open the eyes of your heart to see them! And don’t forget, Angels can come in many forms... The summer of 2002 was a bittersweet time for my three young children and I. For the first time since my divorce 5-years prior we were able to purchase our first home. The apartment we had moved from was too small for a family of four and when the time came to start searching for a place to live I prayed that somehow God would let me find a house I could buy. I realized that with my credit and the fact that I was a self-employed web designer the chances were slim. The September 11 terrorist attacks were wreaking havoc on my business. Normally I would be doing quite well at this time of the year but business owners were hesitant to spend money on web sites. Needless to say we were struggling financially. The chances that I would be able to find a home big enough for all of us in a good neighborhood at a price I could afford were slim. I rallied my faith and prayed that God would pick the perfect house for us. Knowing that The Lord can do the impossible, I figured I would throw in my request to live on the water for good measure. Hey, faith knows no boundaries. Exactly two days later I called a number in the classifieds advertising a home available for lease-option. The man at the other end of the phone gave me directions and when I arrived I almost fainted when I saw the home was on a huge lake. A tour of the home revealed a fairly good sized 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 2-car garage home in one of the most sought after family neighborhoods in Palm Beach County, Florida. The home was located in the best school district available. I knew instantly that this is where we belonged. The man who owned the house drew up the contract and I was leasing the home with an option to buy it in one year. He gave me free reign to make any changes I wished. The Lord answered my prayers in a mighty way. The lake the house sat on was a source of peace and at night the moon would reflect on the water making it look like millions of glittering lights. We were in Heaven. This was the place I needed to be in order to gain my strength, draw closer to God and where I always found peace. In the middle of August 2002, money was non-existent. One of the women from my ladies only group helped me obtain school supplies in order for my kids to start school and even though things looked bad I believed The Lord had led me to this home that was really more than I could afford and I believed with all my heart He would make a way for me to pay for it. One afternoon after picking my two youngest kids up from school I noticed my car was on empty. Actually, it gave a new meaning to the words "on fumes". I handed my daughter my purse and told her to dig some change out of the bottom so we could get gas. I had searched my purse that morning and gave the kids my last $3.00 for lunch and I knew I had no currency. My daughter pulled three, one dollar bills out of my purse and said "Mommy, why don't we just use this paper money?"

I asked her where she found the dollar bills and she told me they were "Right here in the pocket", this was impossible as I had given them the last $3.00 in that pocket for lunch. I felt peace move through me and knew God was responding to my unshakable faith that He would provide. On our way home from the gas station, my 7-year old son asked if we could have pizza for supper. My heart broke a little when I replied that we couldn't afford pizza that night but I would see what I could do for the weekend. My 9-year old daughter spoke up and told my son that if he really wanted pizza he should just pray for it because God could afford it. My son proceeded to lift his little request up to God with all of the faith a child has. For a split second, I envied his childlike faith and wondered at what point in my life I lost the ability to just believe. During the course of his prayer, my son remembered we were out of toilet paper, "God, could you please send a little extra money for some toilet paper because my mom gets mad when the napkins plug the toilet". I was slightly embarrassed that he would ask our Creator, the Lord of Heaven and earth for such a thing. My daughter rolled her eyes and began to lecture her younger brother about the need for some dignity when requesting material things from God. "Mom, do you think God uses toilet paper?" my son asked. Is this a trick question? "Well son, I imagine if there is a need for it here on earth He might" I replied. "He probably uses Charmin that's the really good stuff and it has double layers" he said. Had he not been so serious I would have burst out laughing, but knowing he was seriously wondering about the needs of God in Heaven compared to those of us on earth, I just let it go and drove home. The rest of the afternoon was uneventful. The kids went in their rooms and watched television, my 12- year old daughter came home around 4:00 and as with most pre-teenagers went to hibernate in her room. At about 4:45 the doorbell rang and my two youngest children went to look thru the window to see who it was. Fully expecting them to tell me one of their friends was at the door looking for someone to play with I was not in any way prepared for what came next. "MOM!! The pizza dude is here!!"â&#x20AC;Ś"The who?" I asked, not sure I was hearing them right. "The Pizza Hut delivery man" my youngest daughter replied. As I made my way to the front door in a state of confusion, my son came running thru the house and stated "It's an angelâ&#x20AC;ŚGod sent an angel to bring us pizza!!" I hushed him and went to the door to clear up the confusion as I was sure this Pizza Hut "pizza dude" was at the wrong house. My oldest daughter graced us with her presence when she heard all the commotion and stated "Louie, you're a dork, God doesn't send angels to deliver pizza". "Oh yes He does" my son replied. I was worried about the disappointment he would feel when this delivery boy realized he was at the wrong house but I greeted him and explained that we hadn't ordered pizza. "I know ma'am" he replied "Someone called the order in and paid for it with a credit card, we were asked to deliver to you around 5:00". I must have been quite a sight standing there with my mouth hanging open in total disbelief with my two daughters standing next to me doing the same and my son standing behind all of us saying "See, I told you God sends angels to deliver pizza!".

The delivery boy smiled a kindly smile, handed me 4 large pizza's and told us to enjoy. He left with a wave and I carried our feast into the kitchen still in shock. The managers and employees of our three local Pizza Huts had no idea what I was talking about when I called them to find out who had been so kind. I spent the rest of the evening absorbing the importance of what had happened to us that day. I realized that the unshakable faith of a child is what I needed to find and hang on too. While I was pondering these things my son yelled from the garage "Mom! I was looking thru this box and look what I found!! Four rolls of Charmin toilet paper!!". I had packed the toilet paper in that box some 3-years ago when we moved from Delaware to Florida. I broke down and cried thanking God for the miracles he had showered over us that day. Two weeks later, I was approached by a woman I had known for some time, she offered to invest $20,000 in my business to keep it afloat. That summer of 2002 turned out to be one of the best of my life. I learned to "simply believe" no matter what life looks like. God is good and He does send angels to deliver Pizza.

About Michele Michele is a 40 year old author and web designer. She now lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains with her new husband and 3-children and is the developer of the Just4Ladies.com web community which is dedicated to helping women find their way thru the anguish and pain of a broken heart. She also founded the RequestAMiracle.com community and world renowned HeartbreakUniversity.org where she presents "A Course In Heartbreak" - her own lesson on how to survive and overcome heartbreak by combining faith and knowledge to produce miracles. Michele is also the author of Protecting Those You Love in an X-Rated World, a book dedicated to protecting and restoring your family and marriage from the destructive forces of pornography. Michele, along with her partners Bobbye Brooks and Tonilee Adamson founded the WebTV4Women.tv eTV community. Join Michele on the Marriage and Relationship channel for inspiration and guidance on the issues EVERY woman faces...Matters of the Heart!

Come Blog with Me! http://shellsblog.just4ladies.com/

NOTES:

WebTV4Women.tv 2008 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Organizer 12 days, 12 great ladies, 12 messages that will change your life! The greatest women in Christian ministry team up to help you stay organized this Christmas! Join us online at WebTV4Women.tv starting November 28, 2008 for 12-days of messages to help you survive the hectic holidays.

The 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Organizer is a compilation of organizational tools and heartfelt gifts from the most faith filled, inspirational ladies in ministry today.

It is our gift to you! From All of Us, to all of you!

English Mount Press & Productions Newport, TN 37821