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Priority Ministries :: GloGirl :: December 2007
How Wise Women Celebrate Christmas
Volume 4.12 | December 2007
It’s our You Glo Girl! Christmas issue, and we’ve got goo-gobs of glo-rious ideas and info to help you glo – glorify God – as you celebrate this extra-special season. Learn how to celebrate like a wise woman, how to simplify your entertaining and multiply your time – we’ve even got a fantastic video, and some inspirational stocking stuffers and gift ideas for you. So, don’t wait for the snow, girl – you glo, girl!
1. Wise women celebrate Christmas by: Pursuing Christ’s coming. Although they lived in the east, faraway from
The star guided the wise men to Jesus’ first coming, but today God uses His Word to guide and prepare us for Christ’s second coming. Let’s celebrate Christmas like wise women by pursuing Christ’s second coming and preparing for His return. 2. Wise women celebrate Christmas by: Proclaiming Christ to others. When the wise men arrived in
Nativity displays are vanishing. “Merry Christmas” is a controversial greeting. Even the word “Christmas” is disappearing. The wise men boldly proclaimed Jesus’ birth to a nation who embraced religion but rejected the Son – much like our country today. Let’s celebrate Christmas like wise women by proclaiming Christ’s birth even when others will not. 3. Wise women celebrate Christmas by: Presenting Christ with precious gifts. No, the wise men didn’t bring casseroles, and perhaps their presents don’t seem very practical, but the gifts they presented were precious. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were costly, valuable commodities in that day and time. The wise men spared no expense. They gave, and they gave generously. December is an expensive month. Budgets are stretched. Finances can be tight. But never forget what God gave you at Christmas: His precious, only Son. Worship Him by giving. There are endless opportunities for you to give and share the love of Christ with your church, with mission organizations and various ministries, and especially with individuals in need. Let’s celebrate Christmas like wise women by presenting Christ with our precious, generous financial gifts.
On that most holy night many years ago, God watched from heaven as a handful of wise men pursued Christ’s coming, proclaimed His birth, and presented Him with gifts. This Christmas, may God witness a multitude of wise women – like you and me – following their lead.
As many of you already know, I love this season. Such excitement, love and anticipation is in the air as we prepare to celebrate our precious Savior’s birth. But this year, my heart is so convicted about “stuff” versus the real meaning of the season – more so than ever before. I feel such an urgency to just share precious time with family and friends. Therefore, this month’s column is dedicated to simple get-togethers with those special people in our lives. So forget the perfect tree and the super-clean perfectly decorated house. Instead, swish the potties, dim the lights, light the candles, and invite away! May the following three recipes give you a wonderful and delicious presentation with little effort and plenty of energy to enjoy your guests! CRAWFISH CHOWDER
1 lb. frozen and cooked crawfish tails (thawed) * Combine all ingredients. Place in slow-cooker for 4-6 hours or until piping hot. *If you prefer, you may use cooked shrimp or cooked chicken for the meat. Both work great! Serve with crusty French bread and a green salad – delicious!
AND FOR DESSERT TRY… APPLE CRANBERRY PIE
1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crust Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut one refrigerated pie crust into star shapes with a 2- to 3-inch star-shaped cookie cutter. Place remaining refrigerated pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate according to package instructions. In a large bowl, combine sugars, flour, and cinnamon. Toss apples and cranberries in sugar mixture. Pour into pie plate. Drizzle butter over apples and cranberries. Top with star cutouts covering the entire pie. Brush star cutouts with milk and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cover pie with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Yield: 6-8 servings. Why not make the following recipe? Place candy in festive cellophane bags tied with a beautiful ribbon. Display in a basket by your front door. Each guest will have a delicious goodie to take home after a most enjoyable and memorable evening! PEPPERMINT BARK
Peppermint candy canes (enough to yield 1 cup crushed) Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Place the candy canes in a heavy-duty plastic bag and hammer into ¼-inch chunks or smaller. You should have about 1 cup. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water until smooth, or melt in the microwave in a 2-quart glass dish. Microwave on high (100%) for one minute, stir, and microwave on high for 10 seconds more. If necessary, microwave on high for an additional 10 seconds and stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Combine the candy cane chunks with melted chocolate. Add one drop of peppermint extract, if desired. Pour the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from the cookie sheet and break the bark into irregular pieces, like peanut brittle. Package as desired. P. S. Just have to share one final tip. Check out www.myhomeideas.com . This is a wonderful website with loads of beautiful decorating ideas for the holidays including some great ideas for tablescapes. Have a beautiful and blessed Christmas season – you are loved!
The Christmas season is finally here and we are all looking for ways to make our holiday meaningful and fun! Several glo girls sent us their go-to websites for Christmas organization tips and ideas.
Marilyn Starnes (
Denise Lewis (
Another great site is whychristmas.com. This site includes information on how Christmas traditions and customs were started, how Christmas is celebrated in different countries around the world and, most importantly, why Christmas exists. There's also lots of Christmas fun on the site, as well as links to other Christmas sites!
Send Shanda your favorite sites
Looking for something to help someone special grow and glo? The
Check out these resources and many more in Priority’s online store. And as our gift to you, you’ll receive a FREE You Glo Girl! tote bag with your $50 purchase!
Thank you for shopping online with Priority! Your purchases will bless those on your gift list AND encourage and equip them to give God priority!
At Priority, as this year of ministry comes to a close, we can't help but praise the Lord for all He’s done and for the way He’s answered prayer. We are so thankful for you and your faithful prayers for us. Glo with us again this final month of 2007 as we bring our needs before the Lord:
If you need prayer, we’d love to pray for you. Simply email your prayer request to Stephanie Cole (Priority's Prayer Director), and be assured of our prayers – it is our joy and privilege to intercede for you.
The end of the year is an ideal time to prayerfully consider a tax-wise donation that will help spread God’s love and the Gospel. We’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider
Laurie just finished piloting our third Bible study, Beauty by The Book. The videotaping of this study is scheduled for February 2008, and the estimated cost to produce the videos, workbooks, leader guides, and CDs is $44,000.00. God provided funding for all of our previous studies, and we’re trusting Him for the finances we need for this new study as well. Might He want to use you in funding this project? Please take this question before the Lord and, if you feel led to give, our promise is to be a good steward of the funds He provides through your gift to this ministry. To make a donation now, click here to give online. Or, mail your gift to Priority Ministries,
On behalf of the women all over the country who are being blessed through this ministry, thank you so much for your consideration, prayers, and support.
Video is no longer available. To watch additional videos and find out more about Michael Jr., visit his website at www.michaeljrcomedy.com.
In Laurie’s first Bible study, There is a Season, she teaches that life can change from one season to another – sometimes with just one phone call. That truth came to mind as I began to pack for the trip home. The winds of change were blowing me into a season filled with uncertainty. Yet I traveled with full assurance that God was with me even though I was afraid – I was not without hope. I experienced His peace and presence during each moment. God never failed to bring comfort, grace, hope and wisdom as we navigated the choices of a surgeon, hospital, rehab and skilled nursing facility. I felt His presence with us as we prayed with my Daddy before the surgery. I’ve also seen my Daddy demonstrate his love for the Lord (which is deep and strong) throughout this process. His attitude is positive even as he is struggling to recover. And we’ve experienced some tender moments since he’s been in the hospital. Prior to the surgery, Daddy’s pain level was almost unbearable, and from time to time I could hear him shout, “Help me, Lord! Help me, Lord!” God heard. He was there, and He continues to help him. One of the first things Daddy asked us to bring him from home was his harmonica. As he lies in his hospital bed, he plays hymns that can be heard throughout the wing. He’s witnessing to all the nurses, physical therapists and other patients, and he’s sharing about the love of Christ and what He has done for us to all who will listen. He may be confined to a hospital, but his heart is full of hope. I heard a new song through this process – it’s not a Christmas song exactly, but it really epitomizes my celebration this year. It’s entitled My Hope and the chorus says, “My hope is in the Lord from this time on and evermore. My hope is in the Lord forevermore.”¹ Christ was born to bring us hope, to make a way for us to be in relationship with Him, and Christmas is the season to celebrate all of that – even from a hospital bed. So, this Christmas, my family is celebrating the birth of our Savior, the hope that He brings, the gift of family, and the opportunity to have Daddy with us this year. May your Christmas be filled with a new awareness of Christ and the hope He’s given you, too. ¹My Hope is from the Women of Faith 2004 Irrepressible Hope CD, Integrity Music, Don Moen & Chris Thomason Executive Producers.
We have a huge reason to glo – glorify God – this month. Brittney Hood, our gifted graphic artist (she produces the “glo girl” artwork you see at the top of this newsletter each month and loads more for us) and
Baby Ethan is an answer to many, many years of prayers, and we know he’ll bring many, many years of blessings to his mom and dad. Can’t you just see God’s glory on their faces in this precious family picture?! Congratulations, Brittney and
Have a God-glorifying, Christ-centered Christmas!
Loving Him most and seeking Him first,
“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart…soul…(and) mind.” Matt. 22:37 |
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