Love Came Down at Christmas

Hello Ladies
As you are busy with getting ready for Christmas, I thought it would be good to just think
on the love of Jesus for a little bit.

Lets think of the wonder of God’s love during this Christmas time?

The Christmas message of God giving us His Son Jesus can often be forgotten, and not just because of the busyness and presents. But something even more important is lost during Christmas. Something much deeper-- the wonder of God’s amazing love for us.

Maybe you were blessed with a warm, loving childhood, and the wealth of memories from Christmases past leaves you feeling full of joy and cheer.
But for many others, Christmas recalls memories that dredge up dark times and feelings of despair. The sights and sounds of Christmas may be a painful portrayal of family fights, broken promises, and loneliness. Memories may be buried but leave a trail of betrayal and hurt. But oh remember!!
"Oh, How He Loves You and Me"

Another message so often lost during Christmas is that the journey of Jesus doesn’t begin with Christmas. It began whereever time began, he always was.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1: 1-2).

Chuck Swindoll’s said last week: Jesus didn’t have to come. He was with God the Father from eternity past and yet He chose to be born in a stable and die on a cross. Why?
Love. A word we throw around so casually all the time.

So how can we even begin to grasp the power, depth, and provision of this kind of love shown to us by God?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

My challenge to you: “Do you ever just let God love you?”

Heart of Christmas is Love

This may be the real Christmas challenge, the one we forget and secretly struggle with daily. Not just that Jesus is the ‘Reason for the Season’ but that God’s love is behind it all. The warmth, the joy, the happy memories – they all come from one Source. We need to simply accept the gift of His love and let Him love us.

Yet it is one we forget so easily. And sometimes it is not just Santa that distracts us. we get wrapped up in, wrapping presents, the endless list of parties, shopping, programs and making food, cookies and candy and every other well-meaning distraction.

Because all of that still misses out on the deeper message: He didn’t have to come. But He did-- out of a deep depth of love for us. (Ephesians 3:17-19) We can not understand this kind of love. That’s a difficult message for us (me)to grasp. Even after decades of being a believer, I know I still struggle with it. Santa and worldy things are so much easier. But So is the cute little baby boy and the wonderful story of His birth.

But the real heart of Christmas is the love that started it all, way back before Mary and Joseph got turned down for a place to stay in Bethlehem.

Here's your "Christmas Challenge" for all of you who chose to accept this:

It’s the message for us to share with those around us -- especially the ones hurting who need it the most. You know---the not-so-lovables? Perhaps like the scraggly shepherds that God chose to send His angels to long ago. (Luke 2:8-20)

God wants us to heal the brokenhearted and to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18). He wants to shake us and remind us why Jesus came at all: I LOVE YOU, He shouts! But all-too-often we can’t hear Him over Santa’s sleigh bells and carols about baby Jesus.

The Bible is a book of love, God’s desire for a love relationship with us, and the gift of His Son. How can we stretch outside our comfort zone, go beyond the commercial ‘reach out and touch someone’, and truly love someone this Christmas? (1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7-11)

Oh, and don’t forget to let the wonder of God’s miraculous love in to bless you this Christmas.
Love you all so much and praying for you all
Carolyn

Mary Was a Reflective Woman
“My mom used to keep a record of things that happened in our family. But it was more than just a list; it became a book for each year, (I still have them today) As I look back on it, I realize how much work that would be and how much time that must of taken her!
It’s hard to take time to reflect when we’re so busy. It seems like any spare minutes we have get filled up with email, cell phones, or texing or face book.

We can learn something important from Mary of Nazareth. The Bible tells us that after she gave birth to Jesus, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Twelve years later, when she and Joseph found Jesus talking with teachers in the temple, once more she “treasured all these things in her heart.”

In the middle of her responsibilities, Mary took time to contemplate what was happening in her life and to meditate on what God had done.
When was the last time you were quiet before God and pondered all that He was doing? I hurry to spend so much time studying but then I forget to take time to sit back each morning and look out the window and longingly seek Him.

Since we have studyed the book of Revelation together, I see the importance of this. As we begin to look to our new study, I have a question for you to ponder.
How is your spiritual love life? (the study of Rev. and the study of Ruth goes along with this!)
1)On a 1 to 10 how would you rate your concern for others?

2)Are you ready to pay the price that comes with a sincere loving concern for your sisters?

This is what the bible says: "Little Children,let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them and show it by our actions." 1 John 3:18

We will find this thread of self-sacrificing love as we dig into Ruth. I am excited please sign up and join us~!

Love to all Carolyn

Monday night

Hello Ladies
I am so excited to see you all Monday night!
It is a special night filled with fellowship, food, fun and gifts.
Wonderful gifts that you all are bring. That gift that is sitting in your house
and you sure do not want it anymore. That thing that you wonder why you ever bought or someone gave you!!! Come out and join the fun, you will not be sorry.
You are to bring a salad or a dessert and your wonderful gift. See you all Monday night at 6pm. Invite or better yet, Bring someone from church that had not joined us for a while!

The Joy of the Lord is our strength!!
love you all Carolyn

GI 101 meeting planned for Jan. 8th

ladies, those of you who are going to the Domincian Republic in Feb and those of you that want to go on a mission trip in the future, there will be a GI-101 meeting for you.
We want everyone that is going on a missions trip to go though these.
It does not matter where you are going, it is a meeting that will inform you and get you ready for your missions trip.
We are excited that these will now be at our church (New Life) instead of having to go over to Nappanee. These will be led by Dean Bontrager, Marian Byrnes and Clara Miller.
Our meeting will be Jan 8th. 9 to 11:30. All you that are going to the DR, please plan to come to this meeting.
Therefore GO and make disciples Matt.28:19
Love you all

girlfriends fun night

I want to invite you all to our ladies fun night on Dec 6th (a monday night)
It will be a carry in dinner,at 6pm at the church.
(so bring your favorite dish to share)
Ham, scalloped potatoes, drink and tableware will all be provided.
Please sign up tomorrow at bible study or next sunday if you can come.
Please use this evening to invite those who have not been a part of our group.
This will be a fun evening that will not be scary for other ladies that do not usually come.

Also bring a White ELephant - grab bag gift. Oh my the things some of you come up with is so funny. Lots of laughs will be coming your way that night.

If you have any questions ask Kay Simmons, Diane Roe or Kim Taylor.
Kims phone # is 260-350-0666

I want to encourage you to please come. It will be a wonderful evening.Bring your friends that do not come to New Life!Lets make it a night to glorify our Father.
Prov 17:17 A friend loves at all times!

Thanks Giving

Hello Ladies
I am so excited to be able to spend Thanksgiving Day with a lot of you at new Life.
If you do not have anything to do on Thanksgiving Day come hang out with us at New Life.
I found a new favorite verse. I think it is so awesome that God thinks of us this way.
If you are having one of those days that you are feeling down remember this verse!
2 Cor. 11:2 I am Jealous for you with a godly jealous. I promise you to one husband to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
WOW WOW GOd loves us so much that he is helping us to be that pure bride that he is coming back for in Rev. 19. Tell me how that makes you feel as a Child of God that he is jealous for you? Know Ladies that you are loved!

ITs been a long time

Hello Ladies
Ok it is time to get back to the blog.
We need to start letting you all know what is going on with the girlfriends!
we have some very neat things coming up for you to attend.

We have 2 more weeks of Ladies bible study on Revelation.
and on December 6th ( on a monday night)we will be getting together.
Kim will be letting us know all about this night soon.

ON December 12th we are having everyone in the church join us to go Caroling.
We will return to the church for hot chocolate and donuts. Please sign up to bring cookies for baskets to give out.

Those of you in the Knitting group, You will have have a chance to go to The Revolution Church and hand out scarves. If you want to go see Barb Myers soon.
It will be an awesome thing to be involved in. We will be walking the streets with them helping them pass out bibles and of course scarves.

Hallelujah Praise God
Salvation and glory and power belong to our GOd
For TRUE and JUST are his judgments Rev. 19:1

You all are the greatest
Praying for you all
Carolyn