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Table of ContentsLinda's LetterGive the "Gift of Giving"! Ministry News | ||
Caring in Calcutta Undeserved Blessings Whose Bounty Fills My Cup When God Paints Reasons to Be Thankful Everything You Need |
1 Chronicles 16:8 Philippians 4:6 Psalm 92:1 1 Thessalonians 5:18 1 Timothy 4:4 1 Corinthians 15:57 For the Children Thanksgiving Jokes Thanksgiving Pages to Color |
T'giving Weather Forecast Black November: A Turkey's Lament Turkey Costume Funny Thanksgiving Poem Pilgrims vs. Indians Bigger Turkeys? Moo! |
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Greetings, dear friends & family! This month, I'm borrowing some things from my Thanksgiving Thoughts newsletter of 2006. November hosts one of my favorite holidays in America, Thanksgiving Day, which is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November.  But you don't have to be an American or live in the United States to celebrate the holiday — and you don't have to relegate giving thanks to Yahweh to only one day a year. Whether much or little, whatever He bestows on us is still much more than we deserve or could ever earn!If you're having trouble coming up with a list of your blessings, perhaps my list will help you get started. This year, I am thankful that God... ....• counts me worthy to continue representing Him to Muslims and Hindus here in India; ....• has given me the physical and mental strength to launch a Spoken English institute; ....• has kept my computer safe in spite of numerous attacks of spyware and trojans — and ants. ....• continues to provide all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus! (Phil 4:19)  But most of all, I am thankful that God didn't give up on me when I had clearly given up on Him! Although I had turned my back on Him 40 years ago and signed His death certificate on my heart, He continued to provide for and protect me. He passionately pursued me and drew my heart back to Him. And against all human logic, 2000 years' ago He willingly endured the horrors of the Hell I deserve to redeem me and reconcile me back to God. He paid a penalty He did not owe for a debt I could not pay!And today, the King of the Universe is my best Friend, my Husband (Isaiah 54:4-5), and the Lover of my soul (Isaiah 38:17). I can't imagine my life without Him! You could take away everything else — even my freedom — but as long as I have my Redeemer, I have everything! What about you? Can you call Jesus your best Friend? Can you tell Him you truly love Him. Or better yet, can you open yourself up to receive His love? No gimmicks.... no catches.... no surprises.... Just God's excessive, exorbitant, unreasonable love that defies comprehension.... Oh, precious one, reach out and receive the love, comfort, and peace that your soul has been longing for. Then.... this will truly be a most wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving celebration of the One who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. (James 1:17) May you be blessed exceedingly abundantly above all you could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) as you reflect on His marvelous goodness and faithfulness!  Be blessed in Jesus' name, and remember: Christianity isn't about going to church; it's about coming to Christ!
Your sister & servant in Christ,  My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, it is impossible for me to respond to every person who writes. If you have an opinion or question, please understand that I will not offer personal advice or debate theological issues. You are welcome to send your opinions, corrections and questions, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to respond. If you're looking for some good Bible study sources, I recommend: Bible.org — Trustworthy Bible Study Resources, Blue Letter Bible Study Resources, Christian Courses by RBC Ministries, Precept Ministries International, In Touch Ministries, Shepherd Serve, Today In the Word, Today's Turning Point, all of which offer hundreds of pages of well-organized teaching articles, Bible studies, and/or daily email devotionals. 
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Give the "Gift of Giving"!  Many of the abandoned and destitute children we're trying to help make their "homes" under makeshift lean-tos in garbage dump sites where they regularly compete with wild dogs and pigs for their daily food. Most of them have never even heard of Christmas. And for those who have, Christmas is for "other people", but not for them....While most of us celebrate the holiday with our families and friends, some of these children will be trying to find one morsel to quiet their hunger pangs. Sadly, many of them have missed so many meals that they don't know what it feels like to not be hungry! The "lucky" ones may eventually be 'adopted' into brothels or as temple prostitutes. The rest, unless rescued by the mighty hand of an Almighty God, will join the thousands of other beggars and lepers who barely survive day-to-day on the streets, eventually finding release through death — unseen and unknown by the rest of the world.... Thankfully, God has enabled five of my partner ministries* to provide a safe home, food, clothing, and an education to more than 250 orphans and abandoned children in India and Kenya. These children have either lost both parents or their mothers are too poor to care for them.  These are the truly fortunate ones; they may not have new toys to play with on Christmas morning, but they will wake up in a warm bed with a roof over their heads, at least one nutritious meal, and people who care about them.In addition to our children's homes, five other partner ministries* in India, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Zambia are regularly helping approximately 800 poor or destitute children — 20% of whom are Muslims or Hindus — in nursery and elementary schools or church outreach programs. For 560 of these children, the only meal they receive Monday through Friday is through our school ministries. (When there is no school, there is no food....)  What we're trying to do goes beyond just meeting their basic physical needs with food or clothing. Many of them have never celebrated even one Christmas, and a large number have never heard the Christmas story. We want them and their families to actually see Jesus working through us!If each person receiving this letter would give just $5, we would not only be able to provide a nice holiday meal for the children and some of their families and give each child a new outfit or shoes, but we would be able to meet all of these children's basic needs for an entire year! Use the Gift order form and share God's heart with one of these precious ones. Whether you can personally help or not, would you please post this request at your church, and where allowed, at your school or workplace, too? His purpose was you; His motivation was love!  Click here for a print-friendly copy of this article.* Contact me for a list of each ministry's name, location, and needs.  Donate online by credit card or e-check! |
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Caring in Calcutta "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:40b Courtney Steever is a missionary to the poor in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. The needs are limitless: "Some days it just seems too overwhelming," she says. "Often I get tired of the frequent tugs of little hands on my sleeves asking for rupees as I walk down the street . . . . Need is around every corner, under every bridge, down every street—yet it's so easy not to see." Courtney and some workers from the Missionaries of Charity visited the Sealdah Train Station to search for the destitute and ill. She stopped to give a hard-boiled egg to a young man covered in rags, to wrap the wounds of a woman. They came upon a dying man lying on the ground, covered with flies and his own waste, and took him to the Sisters of Charity home where he lived only a few hours. But he died with a measure of dignity, surrounded by people who cared for him. When Courtney wonders if her work makes any real difference, she remembers that man. It made a difference, for a few hours, to him. Your cup of water will not quench the thirst of all the world's poor, but it will quench the thirst of the one to whom you give it. and you will recognize His face in every human being. Pope John Paul II by Dr. David Jeremiah, "Today's Turning Point" Daily Devotional Back to top
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 Save time and money on all your Christmas shopping! Back to top |
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RMWS Dedicates a New Church Building!  Pastor G. Nireekshana Rao and his wife, Swarupa Rani, officially dedicated a new church building on 30th September 2007. The new church, Bethel Christian Church, is in a poor Hindu village, Ganesh Nagar, consisting of approximately 200 families. The village, which is located near Guntur, is so poor that they have no roads, no water, and no school. None of the village's 80-100 children have ever attended a school! This was a grand moment for Nireekshana and Swarupa, as they have been taking the Gospel message to this village for more than one year, and they have been privileged to baptize 20 new Hindu converts. The building dedication was celebrated by about 15 adults and more than 100 children.Please pray for this new church and the community. It is our desire and fervent prayer to start an elementary school there as soon as possible; but we need money for books and other teaching materials and at least one volunteer teacher.
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Make known His doings among the peoples. 1 Chronicles 16:8 Back to top
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"God . . . has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." Ephesians 1:3 Tennis superstar Arthur Ashe died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. More than a great athlete, Ashe was a gentleman who inspired and encouraged many with his exemplary behavior on and off the court. Ashe could have become embittered and self-pitying in the face of his disease, but he maintained a grateful attitude. He explained, "If I asked, 'Why me?' about my troubles, I would have to ask, 'Why me?' about my blessings. Why my winning Wimbledon? Why my marrying a beautiful gifted woman and having a wonderful child?" Ashe's attitude rebukes those of us who often grumble, "Why me? Why is God allowing this to happen?" Even if we're suffering acutely, we must not forget the mercies God pours into our lives — such as food, shelter, and friends — blessings that many are deprived of. And what about spiritual blessings? We can hold the very Word of God in our hands and read it. We have the knowledge of His saving grace, the comfort of His Spirit, and the joyful assurance of life everlasting with Jesus. Think about God's blessings and ask, "Why me?" Then your grumbling will give way to praise. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by. -Oatman With unwanted burdens also come undeserved blessings. "Our Daily Bread", © 2004 RBC Ministries Back to top
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O Thou whose bounty fills my cup, With every blessing meet! I give Thee thanks for every drop — The bitter and the sweet. I praise Thee for the desert road, And for the riverside; For all Thy goodness hath bestowed, And all Thy grace denied. I thank Thee for both smile and frown, And for the gain and loss; I praise Thee for the future crown And for the present cross. I thank Thee for both wings of love Which stirred my worldly nest; And for the stormy clouds which drove Me, trembling, to Thy breast. I bless Thee for the glad increase, And for the waning joy; And for this strange, this settled peace Which nothing can destroy. Back to top
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by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 Back to top
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Save time and money while supporting this ministry! Back to top
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Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow. Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement. Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character. Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons. Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference. It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. Author unknown Received from Humor Matters Back to top
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It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh, To sing praises to your name, Most High; Psalm 92:1 Back to top
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The following photographs are the last set in a series of 10 photos I've been sharing with you that beautifully portray our loving Father's handiwork in nature. Enjoy!  .. Contributed by Christine Lichtenberg Notice: If you want to send photos for inclusion in this newsletter, please ensure they are in JPG or GIF format, the dimensions do not exceed 360 x 270 px, and/or the file size is no larger than 30 Kb. Back to top
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for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Back to top
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Not Necessarily What You Ask Read: Acts 1:1-7 Thoughts for Today: Sometimes I think the Lord must be incredibly frustrated with me as well, when I don't "understand." When I take His words or action and change them into what I think He "should" be saying or doing. How did Jesus respond? "It is not for you to know " These words need to be underlined and highlighted in all of our Bibles. When you start to get insistent with the Lord, when you get demanding, or when you think you know better — remember these words: "It is not for you to know!" I don't need to know everything — the complete master plan, before I do my part. I think that is why a lot of the time we sit on the sideline and don't do what Jesus instructed. We are confused and don't understand why. The Bible doesn't promise understanding before, during, or even after a project. What kind of faith would it take if you always knew the outcome of something before you started? Back to top
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to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4 Back to top
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In the pre-Thanksgiving rush, we have received an early weather report from our in-house weather reporters. This is one, you should be sure to email your Mom. Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder. During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy. A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator. Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.
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A Turkey's Lament When I was a young turkey, new to the coop, My big brother Mike took me out on the stoop. Then he sat me down, and he spoke real slow, And he told me there was something that I had to know; His look and his tone I will always remember, When he told me of the horrors of . . . Black November. "Come about August, now listen to me, Each day you'll be thick, where once you were thin, And you'll grow a big rubbery thing under your chin. "And then one morning, when you're warm in your bed, In will burst the farmer's wife, and hack off your head. "Then she'll pluck out all your feathers so you're bald 'n' pink, And scoop out all your insides and leave ya lyin' in the sink. "And then comes the worst part," he said not bluffing, "She'll spread your cheeks and pack your rear with stuffing." Well, the rest of his words were too grim to repeat; I sat on the stoop like a winged piece of meat, And decided on the spot that to avoid being cooked, I'd have to lay low and remain overlooked. I began a new diet of nuts and granola, High-roughage salads, juice and diet cola. And as they ate pastries, chocolates and crepes, I stayed in my room doing Jane Fonda tapes. I maintained my weight of two pounds and a half, And tried not to notice when the bigger birds laughed. But 'twas I who was laughing, under my breath, As they chomped and they chewed, ever closer to death. And sure enough, when Black November rolled around, I was the last turkey left in the entire compound. So now I'm a pet in the farmer's wife's lap; I haven't a worry, so I eat and I nap. She held me today, while sewing and humming, And smiled at me and said, "Christmas is coming........" Back to top
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It was the day before Thanksgiving, and the butcher was just locking up when a man began pounding on the front door. "Please let me in," said the man desperately. "I forgot to buy a turkey, and my wife will kill me if I don't come home with one." "Okay," said the butcher. "Let me see what I have left." He went into the freezer and discovered that there was one last scrawny turkey left. He brought it out to show the man. "That one is too skinny. What else you got?" said the man. The butcher took the bird back into the freezer and waited a few minutes and brought the same turkey back out to the man. "Oh, no!" said the man, "That one doesn't look any better. You better give me both of them!"
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the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
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Twas the night of Thanksgiving, I just couldn't sleep, I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep. The leftovers beckoned — The dark meat and the white, But I fought the temptation with all of my might. Tossing and turning with anticipation, The thought of a snack became infatuation. So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door, And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore. I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes, Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes. I felt myself swelling, so plump and so round, 'Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground. I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky, With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie. But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees.... Happy eating to all — pass the cranberries, please. May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump. May your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize. May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs! MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING BE BLESSED!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!! by Tootsie-Pie
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Thanksgiving Jokes What key has legs and can't open doors? A tur-key. What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children? If your father could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy! If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims! Why did the turkey cross the road? It was the chicken's day off. If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for? Their AGE! Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building? Yes — a building can't jump. What do you get when you cross a turkey with an octopus? Enough drumsticks for Thanksgiving. What kind of music did the Pilgrims like? Plymouth Rock. Which side of the turkey has the most feathers? The outside. Why did the police arrest the turkey? They suspected it of fowl play. What did the turkey say before it was roasted? Boy! I'm stuffed! Why did the Indian chief wear so many feathers? To keep his wigwam. Back to top
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Thanksgiving Pages to Color Click on an image to open a page for printing it full-size.  .. .. .. .. Coloring pages provided by All about Coloring....DLTK's Growing Together....The Holiday Spot Visit these sites for lots of fun themed activities! Back to top
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A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked the stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy answered, "No ma' am, they're dead."
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has a vision for a great Christ awakening and revival around the world, and a passion to help bring this about, directly or indirectly, irrespective of national boundaries, languages, denominations, or ethnic, racial or social/economic castes or classes. We are a non-denominational, Christ-centered Free Church Ministry and Missions Society. In accordance with IRS Code § 508(c)(1)(A), all donations are tax-deductible. National Association of Evangelicals United Christian Ministries International Scripture taken from: King James Version (KJV), Copyright © 1990 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. New King James Version (NKJV), Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society World English Bible (WEB) Copyright © 2007. My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry™. All rights reserved. |
