Friday

Dear friends,

let us continue to love one another,

for love comes from God.

Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7 (NLT)

CaringBridge

• http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kathyjothompson
• http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole

Baptist Press

December 10, 2009

GEORGIA–Missions: the ultimate road trip. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31847

GEORGIA–5 basics for planning a mission trip. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31848

ALABAMA–Volunteers stretch their comfort zones. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31849

MISSOURI–Chapel construction relies on volunteers. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31850

LOUISIANA–Missions urgency sounded at seminary http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31851

TENNESSEE–China pastor gets 15 years in prison for media interviews. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31852

NEW JERSEY–Lacking support, N.J. ‘gay marriage’ vote is delayed. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31853

WASHINGTON–High court takes Christian student group case. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31854

LOUISIANA–Baptist pioneer Helen Driscoll dies at 93. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31855

VERMONT–FIRST-PERSON (Terry Dorsett): The church, getting its ‘hands dirty.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31856

This is a repeat, but a devotional that reminds us of God’s forgiveness.

REMEMBER THE DUCK?

In his book, “Will Daylight Come?”  Robert Heffler pens this moving illustration:

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.  He was given a slingshot to play with, out in the woods.  He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target.  Getting discouraged, he headed back to dinner.

As he was walking back, he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.  In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching.  Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.”

But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn’t you Johnny?”  And then she whispered to him, “Remember the duck?”  So Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help me make supper.”

But Sally smiled and said, “Well, that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help.”  And she whispered again, “Remember the duck?” Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer.  He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck.  She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, “Sweetheart, I know.  You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing.  But because I love you, I forgave you. But, I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

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You would think that once we receive forgiveness from God, Satan would leave us alone, but he doesn’t.  He continues to accuse us and tries to make us feel guilty.  That’s what he does best — he’s an accuser.  Sometimes we make the mistake of listening to him and thus remain a slave.  Forgiveness offers freedom — freedom from guilt as well as freedom from sin.

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.’ ” (Rev. 12:10)

May you seek to know God’s forgiveness, and the freedom that goes with it.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

What is the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®?

Southern Baptist churches collect the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the sole purpose of supporting international missions. Every penny of the offering goes to the International Mission Board’s overseas budget, thus supporting our missionaries and their work.

What is the goal for this year’s offering?

The goal for the 2009 offering is $175 million.

What is the 2009 theme?

The 2009 theme is “Who’s Missing? Whose Mission?” More than 1.5 billion people are missing out on the opportunity to hear the Gospel. They are living in pockets of lostness, hidden behind cultural, physical, political and language barriers to a Gospel witness. Yet God calls every church and every believer to be on mission with Him to break down the barriers.

What part of the world is being spotlighted this year?

For the first time in several years, IMB is not focusing on a particular region but instead on heavy concentrations of lostness across the globe. Many of the world’s people missing from God’s family live in these pockets of lostness where barriers to the Gospel keep them from hearing. More information on the pockets and barriers is available on our “Who’s Missing? Whose Mission?” Web site.

Jesus is the reason for the season!  Merry CHRISTmas!

Anna Lee