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GraceTouch
Facilitating global impact
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When all is said and done, whether at Christmas or any other day of the year, we all want to leave a legacy that lasts. Look at all the legacies represented in this issue!
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True Arrival
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By Cindy Bushen
(Cindy was a member of the Women of Grace team that ministered in Cambodia for two weeks last month.)
On a journey, it's always great to know you've arrived, and our time in Cambodia involved many arrivals.
Our first arrival as a team was late evening in Phnom Penh, by plane. We were cheerfully greeted by Becky Good and Jill Kane. We experienced a two-day whirlwind tour of the city, taking in sights of cultural and historical interest.
Next we travelled to Battambang by van. Our arrival there was welcomed by Kent Good and Kevin Kane at the hotel's roof top restaurant.
The arrival that we anticipated with both hesitation and excitement was our first opportunity to meet the people at the Grace Center, especially the Cambodia Ministry Partner wives. That arrival was by tuk tuk Saturday afternoon. It was met by the broad anxious smiles of the Grace Staff.
We had come to help with a project, so without hesitation we took places around a long table, distributing ourselves evenly so that everyone had the opportunity to meet and chat with someone from another culture. We spent the afternoon cutting out 500 cardstock angels that would be passed out as crafts to the village children at Christmas. A lot of conversation (made up of broken English and much interpretation) and laughter (watching adult men using tiny scissors to cut out little angels) took place around the table. When the last angel was cut, we had saved Becky hours of labor. But we had accomplished much more than that. We made our first connection with the Cambodian church, and it was good! (continue)
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| Half-price Gifts! |
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Don't you love finding that perfect gift at half price? Right now you can give a gift to help inspire and equip women-and the value of your gift will be doubled! The amount you give will be matched through the generosity of some anonymous donors. They will match up to $3000, so please give your gift soon. Give now
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| Stand Firm! |
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 What does it look like for a woman to stand firm? Why is it important? Our next issue of Women's Spectrum magazine will be examining the many facets involved in standing firm. We would love to hear your experience of a time when you learned about standing firm. More details
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| January Women's Leadership Studies Classes |
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Want to keep growing in your walk with God? Do you want to dig deeper? Join us January 16-17 in Winona Lake, Indiana for the Soul Care Class or January 23-24 in Long Beach, California for the Spiritual Formation Class.
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| PrayerWatch |
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This December I'm reaching deep down into my Christmas stocking to re-examine the gift that keeps giving - my reconciliation to God. When I received God's gift, wrapped in eternal love and paid for by the blood of his only Son, my transformation process began. This gift becomes more valuable to me the more it changes me. Only God could have come up with such a gift.
Adam and Eve must have grieved God when they threw away the gifts he had so graciously given. He had offered them a life co-ruling God's creation, enjoying His presence. But they chose their own way, causing alienation, destruction and death. How gracious God was to present the gift of reconciliation to undo the horrible damage sin caused!
In the insightful book Reclaiming Eve, Susanne Burden gives Adam and Eve's sons and daughters cause for joy that God never stopped dreaming for his created beings to share in his likeness, even after the first couple threw away their precious gifts. "God created us, male and female, to love Him, partnering with each other to accomplish His intentions, creatively and peacefully ruling over the earth he created."[1]
The dream came true because Jesus surrendered to becoming the sacrifice that paid for the costly gift of reconciliation. This gift is NOT cheap. God's people demonstrate the power and beauty of the gift every time they intentionally forgive wrongs done to them, every time they choose to help others instead of themselves, every time they partner together to live out the message of reconciliation in a community of love and unity.
The gift keeps giving, changing us day by day. And then God invites his reconciled ones to share in the joy of presenting His gift to those with empty stockings.
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
[1] Reclaiming Eve by Burden, Sunberg and Wright, Beacon Hill Press, 2014, p. 21.
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| Musings for Moms |
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Traditions with a Legacy
 | | "Mommy! Mommy! Look. It's baby Jesus. He come sleep in your bed." |
by Jen Fretz
Here we are again at the end of another year. Retail stores are in full-swing Christmas mode, neighborhoods are decked in dazzling light displays, and families all over are starting their Christmas traditions.
Having young kids, we're figuring out what some of our traditions are. We haven't quite gotten to the point where both kids understand what Christmas is, and what to expect (as far as how we celebrate it) every year. If you're on any form of social media you, for sure, are starting to see many different traditions as your friends and family practice them and post their memories online. There is Santa, pictures with Santa, breakfast with Santa, cookies for Santa, leaving your shoes out for Saint Nick, Operation Christmas Child, Elf on the Shelf, shopping, gift giving, Christmas trees, Christmas cards, baking, baking and more baking........I could go on and on. There really is a lot happening in only about four weeks.
Growing up, I don't remember hearing about a lot of these traditions. Sure, there was Santa, but my parents made sure that we knew there was no such thing, so anything related to Santa (except for the occasional Santa decoration) we didn't participate in. I'm sure we did the holiday baking, and of course we got presents and put up a tree. But I really don't remember the rush of getting most of those other things done. It could be because I was only a kid and my perspective was different. I didn't have to do those things; I only had to sit back and enjoy the fun that came with them!
As Andy and I raise our kids we have to constantly think about how we want them to view Christmas. (read more)
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| Book Review |
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Read an inspiring book lately? Want to write a review?
Christy Carmean, our regular reviewer,
has requested a break as she adjusts to life in Cameroon. Send your submissions to Cindy.
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| Mark your calendar |
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Opportunities coming up:
A number of Women's Leadership Studies classes are being planned in various regions in 2015. Check the dates below:
WLS - Soul Care, January 16-17, Winona Lake, IN Registration
WLS - Spiritual Formation, January 23-24, Long Beach, CA Registration
WLS - Women and Scripture, March 20-21, Frederick, MD Registration
WLS - Women and Scripture, April 24-25, Cedar Rapids, IA Registration
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| What's going on? |
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with Women of Grace USA
Check our Facebook page to see some of what God's been doing among women through Women of Grace USA.
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| Help a friend |
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If you enjoy GraceTouch, why not share it with your friends? It's as easy as clicking Forward email at the bottom of this page, or forwarding it through your email program. And it's free! |
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