Love Letter Contest by Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family has announced that they are having their first “Love Letters Contest.” If you’d like to tell your spouse how much you love them, this is a great way to do it and possibly even win a prize. Just visit the Focus on the Family website and explain to them “why you want to grow old with your spouse.”

Each day from Feb. 1-11 they will choose their 4 favorite love letters and each couple will win a prize. February 12 they will choose the Grand Prize recipient from all of the daily winners. This will be a “unforgettable trip to the live ccn.tv/focusonmarriage/” target=”_blank”>Focus on Marriage™ simulcast on Feb. 27 in Colorado Springs, CO.”

Click here to enter the Love Letters Contest!

Grand Prize Includes:
- Round-trip transportation to Colorado Springs, CO
- Two nights at The Broadmoor Hotel and Resort
- Tickets to the live Focus on Marriage™ simulcast event
- An exclusive dinner with the speakers
- Autographed books
- Essentials of Marriage™ products

The Christmas Shoes Video – Tear Jerker!

The Christmas Shoes – If you need a good cry? this is the video to watch. (Get a tissue!)

A Soldier’s Christmas Prayer

Dedicated to the soldiers in all the armed forces—and their many families—who are serving and sacrificing this Christmas. We are proud and blessed to live in a country where we can openly celebrate the birth of our Savior. Thank you!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give
And to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind
A sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different, so dark and dreary,
I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

I heard stories about them, I had to see more
So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping silent alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home.

His face so gentle, his room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,
I soon understood this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night
Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.

Soon ‘round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
Because of soldiers like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone
On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice;
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,
my life is my God, my country, my Corps.”

With that he rolled over and drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still,
I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.
And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,
With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.
I didn’t want to leave him on that cold dark night,
This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
whispered with a voice so clean and pure,
“Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night!
(author unknown)

A Talk Over Tea – Too Many Angels?

I was exhausted and sore, but also bored, and a Saturday evening with television shows featuring violence was not about to put me in the Christmas spirit. So I went to rent a movie, glad to get out of the house and get some fresh air. Something in me sparked as I drove past the fabric store with all of the Christmas decorations, and before I could convince myself otherwise, I had pulled into the parking lot.

As I walked in, I was surrounded by glitz and multiple miniature Christmas trees with branches heavy with ornaments. Beside me stood a woman and her husband and she was telling him something. Then he raised his voice a bit so that I could overhear the conversation.

“But you already have seven angels! Why do you need another one?” he questioned her with desperation in his voice.

I smiled at the fact that he actually knew the exact number of angels she had. Was he counting today as he hauled them out of storage? I wondered.

And, as I walked to the next aisle, unable to hear his wife’s response, I asked myself, “Can you ever have too many angels?” Just last week, standing in the toy aisle, searching for a Christmas gift for my niece, I asked a little girl about her age, “Can you ever have enough Barbies?”

Perhaps we can have enough Barbies (although, not according to the child I asked) but, can we ever have enough angels?

I think not. Whether we feel the presence of the angels that God sends our direction, or not, they are there taking care of us as WE go about our day. In the 80’s, I enthusiastically sang along with Amy Grant’s Angels Watchin’ Over Me because it reminded me that “a reckless car ran out of gas, before it came my way.” Every time I pass an accident alongside the road I thank God for his protection.

God has promised that angels will protect us while He prepares our eternal home (Exodus 23:20). Angels have been known to tell us to get some sleep and something solid to eat (1 Kings 19:5).

Angels have “shut the mouths of lions” that want to devour us (Daniel 6:22). They’ve torn off the handcuffs (Acts 12:7) and have given strength where and when it is needed (Luke 22:43).

Despite the cute figurine representations and their ability to glow in the dark, we must be cautious not to worship the angels, because they are merely messengers of God. But will I ever lose the need of receiving messages from my Savoir? Nope! Bring ‘em on, I want to holler.

I could use a few “handcuffs,” things that bind me, to drop away. I could even use an angel that would ask, “Should you really be having that second cup of coffee?”

Images of angels abound throughout Christmas, and the Christmas story is no exception. Perhaps my greatest need right now is an angel like the one who visited Mary and the shepherds and reassured them all, “Do not be afraid.”

Even during the season of joy, life can be difficult, and we all need a messenger from God sent to us that simply says, “Do not be afraid. The Lord God is with you.”

I hope God sends you an angel this season with the message that you need to hear. And in case you’re wondering—the woman at the fabric store left in front of me with two new angels and a beaming smile.

Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and is currently working on a Christian book for moms who live with chronic illness. Lisa has rheumaoid arthritis and fibromyalgia and is recovering from a recent hand surgery.

Send a Soldier a Free Card This Season

Numerous people have reported feeling better after helping others and this should come as no surprise as the Bible tells us “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25.)

Take just a moment today to go to www.LetsSayThanks.com and pick out a thank you card to send to a soldier. Xerox company will foot the bill to print it and send it off to a soldier who is currently serving in Iraq. You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

What are the Nicest Things Someone Did For You?

During this season of thankfulness we asked our readers “What did someone do for you that made you feel special?” As you will see, it’s not the presents, but the presence of a friend that encourages us to keep pushing forward when we wonder if we will make it through this life. . . Do something special for someone today. They’ll never forget it!

My chiropractor came to my home and worked on me without charge.—Jerry Ann

My 9-year-old daughter made me a cup of hot tea when I had a horrendous migraine. I hadn’t even asked her for anything. —Beth

Right after my father passed away a friend turned up at my house with a teddy bear as big as she was. Then she took me out for a “mystery journey”—her treat. First, to her hairdresser to have my hair done; then out for lunch. —Carole

When I wasn’t feeling well was my four-year-old granddaughter, Rianna, cuddled me and wiped my head with a wet cloth; I was on the floor after collapsing and being sick from the overloading my liver with medication. She tucked me into bed afterward and held my hand. My sister wasn’t able to help; she hadn’t seen me having “a fit” before and was afraid, so Rianna also comforted her by telling her not to worry, she would look after us both.—Penny

My father paid a cleaning service to come into my home and clean everything, top to bottom, in and out. It really gave me a lift to have everything clean and it was so much easier to keep up after that. —Kim

Someone said she didn’t know how I felt but she cared. —Julie

A friend from church called and said she was coming over to help me. When she got there she wanted to start cleaning, but I told her I wanted her to sit down with me. She did and I cried out my heart to her and she held me and let me cry for over an hour. It felt as if Jesus Himself was holding me. I have never forgotten what she did. She still comes and checks on me and has taken me to doctors’ appointments. I love her because of her Christ-like nature. —Tanya

Someone came with home-made chicken soup. I don’t know whether it was the soup or the caring that made me feel better. —Phyllis

At a church retreat it rained and I could not get out of bed. Not only did people visit me and bring me meals, they squished as many people as would fit into my room and sang for me. I was lifting my hands and praising God in bed. —Linda

My church made meals, had people buy me groceries, provided companionship and organized rides for me to all my appointments. I was restricted from driving for six months, so that was a lot of rides. Some folks even brought me fancy coffee from Starbucks just because they knew I liked it. I will always be grateful. —Diane

What did someone do to encourage you? Comment below to share! And if yo are looking for more ideas, be sure to check out Lisa’s book Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend for lots more ideas!

How is Faith Related to Pain Tolerance?

How is faith related to pain tolerance? Can a person with great faith endure more than a person with little or no faith? What can we learn from people of great faith that will help us live with chronic illness?

In the early years of my husband’s illness, pain made him angry. He fought against his pain, often lashing out. To suggest he give it to God only frustrated him. He was the one with an uncooperative body. How could I know how he felt or what he suffered? Yes, he believed in God and in Jesus Christ, but that belief was not faith. It was head knowledge, not heart knowledge

In our thirty years together, my husband and I have “grown up” in the Lord. Our faith has changed and deepened. Dependence on God has replaced resentment with hope. Faith enables us to say, “this world is not my home” and live based on a healthy spirit rather than a healthy body.

Hebrews 11 names and praises many great people of faith. Verses 13-16 states, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

When faith is strong enough to assure you of eternal life with God, it is strong enough to see you through the pain in your physical life. My husband has greater physical pain now than ever before, but he knows God has prepared a place for him where pain does not exist.

Just today he said to me, “I can hardly wait for the day when I’ll never have pain again.” He is looking for that city where his real home lies and because of this, he can endure today.

Lora Chandler has been in a care giving role since 1982 when her husband began his life-long struggle with pain due to a bone disease. Lora welcomes your comments at lorac@yucca.net.

Emmanuel Faith Community Church Reaches Out To Ill at Turkey Time

I received this email from Emmanuel Faith Community Church and thought it simply wonderful. If your church has an outreach ministry to people at thanksgiving, let them know that there are many chronically ill people too who would love fellowship and/or food.

I always say. . . remember that the Bible tells us not to “announce it in the next bulletin” or to say “call us if you need anything” but “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame,”‘ (Luke 14:21).

Thank you, Emmanuel Faith Community Church, for reminding of this!

Dear Chronic Illness Support Group Members:

Each Thanksgiving since 2003, the Married & Company Sunday School class at Emmanuel Faith Community Church love to provide a limited number of complete Thanksgiving Dinners that they purchase from Major Market to persons in our support group who meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Persons who have limited energy or severe pain, for whom cooking a special meal would be nearly impossible.
2. Persons who are alone and have no one to share a meal with, or live with just one other person and have no place to go for Thanksgiving.
3. Persons who are experiencing financial challenges and who would find purchasing a Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings a hardship.
4. Persons who feel they would be blessed by a visit and a meal from another family due to loneliness, isolation, and/or depression.

These meals can be delivered on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday during Thanksgiving week. Please give me the following information when you contact me if you feel you qualify on even one of the criteria. Please contact (name removed) as soon as possible with:

1. your name,
2. the number of meals you need,
3. your address,
4. your phone number,
5. your email address,
6. the day and time frame you would prefer the meal to be delivered.

Blessings to you.

New Marriage Book “Cracks the Code”

I am honored to call Pam Farrel a friend. She is the author of many books such as Men are Like Waffles and Women are Like Spaghetti and Woman of Influence: Ten Traits of Those Who Want to Make a Difference. She was a recent guest on Invisible Illness Week, talking about Coping with Chronic Illness in Your Marriage.

Her newest book with her husband Bill is The Marriage Code and it is hot off the press!

Here is a bit about it. I can’t wait to read it as I know it will be a wonderful resource to add to my books on making marriage a blessing. (Or at least, how to understand why your spouse does what he does…)

Codes are all around us: access codes for banking accounts, to make reservations for travel, or to gain entry into buildings or our own computers. Do you want to know how to use a code to move your marriage “above the line of success and security” where everything is good, life is enjoyable and romance sizzles? In Bill and Pam Farrel’s newest book, The Marriage Code, couples will learn the secret code to unlock love.

The Farrels are relationship specialists, international speakers and authors of over 30 books including best selling Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti. With their characteristic humor, solid wisdom, and practical illustrations, the Farrels will help you use the marriage code to gain entry into your mate’s heart and life. If you want to trade in conflict for connection, use The Marriage Code.

Since I am a friend of Pam’s she’s offering our visitors to Rest Ministries web site some special discounts:

• The Marriage Code: $12 (a $2 savings)
• The Marriage Code Study Guide: $7 (a $2 savings)
• Code Breaker Couple’s special: $25 (3 book set!) (One Marriage Code and two study guides – one for him, one for her)

• Pam and Bill’s interview on The Marriage Code will be on Focus on the Family radio October 21, 22.
• Download a free chapter of THE MARRIAGE CODE today!
• For more information about Pam and Bill Farrel and their resources: www.farrelcommunications.com