If you’re like us, you’re in major Thanksgiving preparation mode. You know, planning where to meet with friends and family, digging out your cornbread dressing and dessert recipes, and maybe even getting your Christmas list started so you can hit the mall running after Thanksgiving. Whew! But don’t forget to glo – glorify God – by taking time to thank Him for the specific ways He’s blessed you this year. And to help you get started, we’ll glo first by sharing our Thanksgiving Top 3 lists in this issue of You Glo Girl!

Thanksgiving Top 3

What’s your Thanksgiving Top 3 – the three things you’re most grateful for this Thanksgiving? Send us your list, and we’ll publish it in next month’s newsletter. Need a little inspiration to help you get started? Find out what’s on Laurie, Janet, Pam, Shanda, Debbie, Stephanie, Courtney and Jan’s Thanksgiving Top 3 lists now!

Laurie

God’s Word and my personal teacher, the Holy Spirit. Daily manna. Personal instruction. Power for living. Promises beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you, Lord, for your wonderful Word and your precious Spirit. My husband and hero, Bill; my children, David, Kevin, and J.J.; my daughter-in-love, Stephanie; and my grandchildren, Ezra and Juliette. They delight me to no end and fill my heart with pure joy. The blessing of being surrounded by people who inspire and encourage me: my parents, John and Julia McKay; my staff, Janet, Pam, Shanda, Debbie, Stephanie, Courtney, and Jan; and my pastor, John Morgan, and the Sagemont Church family.

Janet

This holiday season I am in a very different place than seasons past. I have a serious health issue which influences most everything. With that in mind I am most thankful for: My relationship with the Lord who invites me to bring my concerns before Him in prayer. My precious husband who has been so thoughtful and sweet through these rough times. My precious daughter, Courtney.  She is such a delight to me and has given me the joy of grandchildren. God is good. Life is good, and I am thankful.

Pam

The Lord's impeccable timing as He draws a lost soul to Himself through a sermon topic, an unexpected encounter, and a burdened heart longing for His perfect peace. The Lord's tender assurance that He understands me perfectly and He's still crazy about me. The Lord's quiet composure that steadies my frantic heart when I am undone by circumstances beyond my control.

Shanda

Electricity.  Spending 2 weeks without electricity after Hurricane Ike was a real test of my inner joy, not to mention my outer joy. :-) Thank you, Lord, for modern-day “servant girls”, like refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, and electrical appliances, in general (Prov 31:15 NLT – If you’ve done Laurie’s Beauty by the Book, you know what I’m talking about!) A home in heaven. Thank you, Lord, that you are preparing a future home in heaven that no hurricane can damage, along with the perfect insurance policy – salvation in Christ Jesus. The privilege of serving. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the awesome privilege of serving You through Priority Ministries. It is an amazing thing to be a small part of Your big picture.

Debbie

In spite of a year of difficulties with aging parents, a severed Achilles tendon and a difficult situation with my husband’s former employer, I am thankful for: God’s comfort and peace in the midst of making difficult decisions concerning my aging parents. My desire to honor them and Him in this season gives me a calm spirit. The time God has given me to “be still” and see Him in my circumstances.  Honestly, I learned the most about myself during this quiet time of healing. I began using gifts God gave me that previously I did not recognize, and it gave me a much needed break from the constant go, go, go! A husband that has integrity and honors God over man. When faced with a difficult situation, I have seen him make the hard choice of leaving a firm after 20+ years, not having a job to replace it, and seeing how God provided a wonderful place for him to work. Doing what is right in the eyes of God has a reward beyond our expectations.

Stephanie

I am so thankful for the Lord's patience with me. In the midst of my human imperfections, He gives grace like no other. I am grateful for the amazing husband that God has blessed me with. My heart warms each time I see him love on our children. This year I have come to depend on my One Year Bible. So I am thanking God for His glorious Word and how it supernaturally fills me up and fuels my day.

Courtney

Faith: I'm thankful for my heavenly Father and Savior! Family & Friends: I'm thankful for my amazing husband and precious children I've been blessed with. Flexibility: I'm thankful for my job which allows me to stay home with my children.

Jan

For my precious family – Richard, Les, Shelly, Cathy, Kelly, Caroline, Brandon, Madeleine, Travis – and the joy of seeing God’s hand work for good in our lives. For a God who takes a wrecked life and restores it to a life filled with hope and joy. That in a world of turmoil and uncertainty, I have the assurance my heavenly Father is sovereign and in control.

OK, you’ve seen our Thanksgiving Top 3 lists. Now it’s your turn. Send us your Thanksgiving Top 3, and we’ll share it in next month’s newsletter to the glory of God. At Thanksgiving and throughout the year, we all have so much to thank Him for.

“Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalm 106:1 NLT

Email your Thanksgiving Top 3 to Priority!

Priority Passage of the Month

Even Thanksgiving can’t compare to the feast God’s children enjoy each day! “I will praise you (Lord) as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.” Psalm 63:4-5 NLT

Priority Bible Studies For You & Your Group

Click here to preview Priority Bible Studies now!

Perfect for groups or individual study, check out all three Priority studies and view workbook, video, and leader guide samples now!

Priority Needs YOU!

Partnering With Priority
by Debbie Todd, Director of Support & Stewardship

At Priority Ministries , our mission is to bring practical, biblical resources to women through our Bible studies, conferences and retreats, our website and newsletter, and more. The goal of our mission is for women to grow in their faith by giving God priority (which also benefits the family, friends, and co-workers of these woman in a very significant way).

Find out more about partnering with Priority

But this ministry would not be possible without your direct support.  As a non-profit, donation supported ministry, Priority Ministries is dependent upon the financial help of people like you to keep our outreach and mission efforts strong.

Although speaking fees and resource sales are important to our revenue, the majority of our budget depends on financial support from people like you!  Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us by making financial donation before the end of the year?

Upon receipt of your donation, we’ll send you some very special gifts that we know will be a blessing to you. Thanks so much for your support!

Make your donation to Priority now.

Email Debbie

Going & Glo-ing

Please pray for Laurie and Janet as they go and glo to several upcoming events: December 5 Christmas Dinner Fairfield Baptist Church, Fairfield, TX Contact: Cyndy Gusler January 23-24 Women's Retreat Cornerstone Christian Church, Marrero, LA Contact: Linda Hudson January 30 Spring Brunch Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Seabrook, TX Contact: Julie Requadt

Gloing in the Kitchen
by Jan Hart, Administrative Support

If you’re like me, my mind is going in many directions as I try to make things extra special for family and friends this Thanksgiving. It took me many years (and breakdowns) to learn it doesn’t have to be extravagant to be beautiful. Now I focus on making my home say, “Welcome, I am so glad you are here! Relax and enjoy yourself.” Remember:  K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple, sweetie!) To help you get started, here are some super simple ideas:

1. For a Thanksgiving tablescape, I love using table runners – one down the middle of the table and one across from chair to chair.  This brings a lot of color and is quite inexpensive because any type of material will work from muslin to damask.
2. For the center of your table, take a couple of cake stands (one slightly smaller than the other) from your storage closet, place one on top of the other, add different fruits, fall vegetables, mini-pumpkins, fall leaves, pine cones, twigs of pine to the two layers and voila! You have a masterpiece. On each side of the stands, add candlesticks in various heights with tapers. Beautiful!
3. For your serving table (buffet-style), create a Thanksgiving tree. From your yard, find a small but sturdy branch (2 – 2.5 ft.), remove the leaves and place in a vase with some marbles or rocks to hold it in place. Surround the vase with fall leaves, pumpkins, or gourds (anything fallish) for an extra splash of color. Next, purchase cards (approximately 1-1/2 ” x 2-1/2”), punch a hole in one end, and thread with some beautiful fall ribbon. As your guests arrive, have them write something they are thankful for on the card and tie it on the tree. This is something you can save and add to each year as your family grows.
4. Use your imagination and have fun coming up with your own K.I.S.S. holiday decorating ideas!

In vast array of cookbooks, I am always looking for a different side dish to serve with that delicious turkey. Hope you enjoy this different twist on one of my favorite vegetables. Thanking God for each of you!

Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

4 pounds yellow squash, sliced
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs, divided
1 1/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Cook squash in boiling water to cover in a large skillet 8 to 10 minutes or just until tender. Drain well; gently press between paper towels.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 to 6 minutes or until tender. Remove skillet from heat; stir in squash, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and next 7 ingredients. Spoon into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir together melted butter, remaining 1 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt. Sprinkle mixture evenly over top of casserole.

Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until set.

Yield:  Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Email Jan

Gotta Glo

We gotta glo for now, but next month you’ll get a little sneak peek of our new and improved 2009 newsletter. That’s right. You Glo Girl! is getting a makeover, and we think you’re gonna love the new look.

Bless you, dear friend, for spending time with us as a subscriber to You Glo Girl! As we begin Thanksgiving and Christmas season, one of the things we’re most grateful for is your interest and support for Priority. Month after month, thank you for welcoming us into your inbox. Until we visit again next month, have a Happy Thanksgiving and keep glo-ing, girl!

Loving Him most, seeking Him first,

Laurie Cole, Janet Valentine, Pam Henderson, Courtney Hays,
Debbie Todd, Stephanie Cole, Jan Hart, and Shanda Stiles
Priority Ministries Staff