2010nativity
December 2010 
In This Issue
Recommended Reading
Musings
Last Minute Gift Ideas
Featured Article
Lottie Moon
Lottie Moon

Christmas Offering

On July 7, 1873, the Foreign Mission Board appointed Lottie Moon to North China.


For thirty-nine years, Lottie Moon served her Lord and Master in North China with many heartaches, very little help and as many as fourteen years between furloughs.


There was a famine in China, especially in her beloved Pingtu where she had labored so long.  Out of her small resources, she gave all that
she had.


The first of December came and Lottie Moon had a breakdown.  Word was sent to a missionary, Dr. Gaston, to come at once.  One look at her told the doctor the story.  She was starving to death.  They decided a change of scenery might help so they started her home on December 20, 1912, with a nurse to care for her en route.  Four days later, she passed away as the ship rode gently at anchor at Kobe, Japan.  She is buried at Crewe, Virginia.


 

Throughout her missionary career, Lottie Moon wrote numerous letters home, urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. One of those letters triggered Southern Baptists' first Christmas offering for international missions; enough to send three new missionaries to China.


Today this special offering is collected every year by Southern Baptist churches for the sole purpose of supporting international missions. Every penny of the offering goes to the International Mission Board's overseas budget, thus supporting our missionaries and their work.


Merry Christmas From
Contagious Joy!
To all our Sisters in the ministry,

We wish you a very blessed and peaceful Christmas. May you feel the Lord's presence with you as you celebrate our Savior's arrival to the earth.
May God guide and encourage you as we enter into 2011.

From all of us at Contagious Joy 4 Him

"Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5 NIV

A Christmas Book Review
Kristi Cook
Kristi Cook

 

I must admit, I struggled with my book choice this month.  I added a little more pressure to myself with it being the Christmas Season.  I felt like my choice REALLY needed to be a profound one.

 

I am truly grateful for the vast array of books available that can help shine light on my spiritual walk.  I have so many favorites - so many that have helped guide me - so many that have taught me spiritual truths - so many godly authors that allowed God to use them to pen books that help explain His Word. 

 

When I have struggled with my prayer time, there was Stormie Omartian.  When I needed strong guidance in my early walk, there was Charles Stanley.  When I needed to know how to be radical, there was David Platt.  When I needed a new, fresh approach to studying a particular book of the Bible, there was Priscilla Shirer. 

And when I needed to know about just about anything, there was Beth Moore!

           

But if there is only one book I could strongly promote during this holy season - one book that is life-changing and soul-transforming - one book that is the only true source of wisdom and guidance - one book that can calm your worries, erase your fears, and fill your sorrows with joy - one book that can answer your questions and replace your doubts with certainty - one book that is our spiritual GPS and road map for life - it is The Holy Bible - God's love letter to me and you.

           

          "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

                                     Psalm 119:105

 

Donna Hutchman
Donna Hutchman

Donna's Musings

  

If you are the hostess this year you are most likely franticly working on last minute preparations to make sure it's all perfect for your guests. Even if you are not hosting there is still the pressure to "get it all right".  Christmas celebrations you've seen in the magazines set a high standard.. They can make you feel  inadequate because you can't possibly measure up to the glossy pages you've been reading. Reality Check! Practicing Christian hospitality isn't about sparkling table settings or platters of picture perfect food; it's about practicing servanthood right in the middle of your every day world. More It's about loving others through Christ and making them feel special. How can we love others through Christ if we aren't abiding in Him?

 

"Be still, and know that I am God"  Psalm 46:10 

Be still - The word used here means to cast down; to let fall; to let hang down; then, to be relaxed, slackened, especially the hands.

 

My prayer for all of you is that you can be still. Let God fill you with His peace. Merry Christmas.

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a freidn, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charitiy.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect. - Oren Arnold