Candy Cane Outreach

One of the things that we do just about every year, is give some homemade sugar cookies in the shape of candy canes. WHY?? We also include the evangelistic story of the first candy cane that was ever made. Here it is along with a picture of some of the 114 cookies that I have made and frosted in the last 2 days. Now I just have to make up the cards, wait for the frosting to harden, and wrap them all up to deliver tomorrow.

The LEGEND of the Candy Cane

A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a
candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a
Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry,
and death of Jesus Christ.


He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the
virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid
rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.


The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of
Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".


The candymaker then included red stripes. He used three small stripes and a
large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his
life.


The candy became known as a Candy Cane - a decoration seen at Christmas
time. The meaning has faded, but still gives joy to children young and old, whom
Jesus loves and treasures.

Would you pray with us that this gospel message would change someone's life this season?

Caleb's Baptism

Today, Doug had the priviledge of baptizing Caleb. At first our Chilean pastor was hesitant about baptizing such a young man, but after Caleb and he talked, Pastor was impressed by his knowledge and the way he handles scripture. I told Doug LONG ago, that I'm a bit timid about raising Caleb because we think God has something special for him. I hope and pray that God works in his life, in spite of us!
There were 4 candidates for Baptism. Caleb was the first...

Interesting Moment

Where, are the grills? We had been looking for the grill section in the local "HomeDepot/Lowes" store when we decided to ask a tall mid 40's looking man. He answered us and we replied with the typical "Muchisimas Gracias!" that is the traditional and normal way throughout all of Latin America to say, "Thank you VERY much!"

What stopped us in our tracks was his reply. "Con mucho gusto!" This is how they say "You're welcome!" in Costa Rica and in Colombia. It litterally means "with much pleasure!"

Here in Chile and many other countries in Latin America the typical response is "De nada!", which litterally means, "It was nothing!"

Having been trained in the Spanish language in Costa Rica we still use "Con mucho gusto!", but we NEVER hear it spoken back to us, so today, when we heard that phrase, we stopped dead in our tracks and had to ask, "Jaime" why he chose to use that phrase rather than "De nada!"

We explained that we had studied in Costa Rica and he explained that he is from Colombia.

It just reminds us of how much the little comments and sentiments, behind what we say as Christians, mean to others. I would much rather reply with, "It was my pleasure!" Than "It was nothing!" To a Christian our sacrifice of serving others shouldn't be "of nothing" and it should be our pleasure to serve others and our God with happy hearts.

Friend Focus #1

Today, was an AMAZING DAY at ladies' Bible study. We are studying A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. It is WONDERFUL to see ladies who were never taught how to study God's word, but have been in the church for 10 plus years, grow and learn. We start each time together in prayer. First we share OUR requests, not requests for family, friends, neighbors, or as I say, the world. Requests like needing more spiritual growth, and needing to be a better wife and mother. Then each lady commits to pray for the person on her left to open our study and also to continue for the next 14 days until we meet again. Today was such a wonderful bonding of friends who are seeking to grow in the Lord together. I am the youngest, but for some reason God has chosen me to lead these ladies in this study.

Because these ladies are a HUGE part of my ministry and everyday life here, I thought I would share with you about each one. This way, you can picture and pray for my sisters here, all the while I miss my sisters there in the US!!

FRIEND FOCUS

Maria Georgina is a single lady, I’d guess in her late 60’s. She lives with her unsaved brother. He works during the day and on the weekends he is gone to his girlfriend’s home. Maria is faithful in prayer and she has to be the first PRAYER WARRIOR that I’ve ever known so well. She is faithful to be at church EVERY time the doors are open.

Today she shared that she is sick. None of this is life threatening per say, but at her age, anything and everything can be life threatening. She has glaucoma, and cateracts and just recently almost lost her sight. She has to have surgery in January, but she is hypertensive and they just discovered problems with some of her veins and arteries. Maria is like a grandma to my kids, and is VERY special to our WHOLE family. Please pray that God would do a miracle in her body, that even the doctors would marvel at, so that she can do what she is best at, besides prayer of course, which is to share the gospel with those around her.

My study of Esther

As I was reading in the book of Esther last night, I came across a phrase that I didn't understand, so I went to one of the commentaries that we own. On page 722 of The Bible Exposition Commentary in the volume of Old Testament History, I read this and was convicted and challenged. I hope it does the same for you!!

In June 1865, missionary to China, J. Hudson Taylor, had gone to stay with
friends at Brighton, a popular British resort city by the sea. He was weary and
ill and seeking the will of God for the future of his ministry. On Sunday, June
25, "unable to bear the sight of rejoicing multitudes in the house of God," he
went for a walk on the sands and wrestled with God in agony of soul. God met him
in a fresh way, and he trusted God to provide twenty-four workers to labor with
him in China. Two days later, he went to the London & County Bank and opened
an account in the name of the China Inland Mission! It was the beginning of a
miracle ministry that continues today.

The phrase in the account that
tugs at my heart is "unable to bear the sight of rejoicing multitudes in the
house of God." Certianly it's good to rejoice in the Lord and to do it in His
house, bur rejoicing must never be a substitues for responsibility. As a popular
Gospel song expresses it: "God's tables are full but His fields are empty." We
all want to enjoy the feast, but we don't want to shear the message. We don't
have to be hardened unbelievers like Haman to be apathetic and unconcerned about
the plight of the world's billions of lost souls.