Praying, Carol.

By the way, speaking of ministering to others, I meant to post when Phil
posted about contacting him when alone during the holidays, those of you who
are in ministries ministering to others, especially over the holiday, please
be sure to have someone to minister to you.  The biggest problem ministers
have is burn-out from giving and giving and having no way to replenish their
own spiritual, physical, mental and emotional resources.  So have a plan in
place to get back some of the nourishment you give others from an
experienced person or group, in person if at all possible, though I know we
all try to do that long-distance through the list.  Don't let yourself
become depleted.  You can't give others a drink from an empty cup.

Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "carol pearson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2003 12:51 AM
Subject: CHRISTMAS COMING


> Hi All,
>
> Having read these encouragements about Christmas, especially just reading
> Roberta's encouragements to Rhonda, I thought I'd share briefly.
>
> I have not been looking forward to Christmas at all because this will be
the
> first year (in 53) that I will not have any direct contact with my
immediate
> family.  Dad died last February (as you may all remember) and my brother
and
> sister are going to do their own things in their own way.  I can sure use
> some prayer here because I need to rejoice in all the right things of
> Christmas so that I can reach out to those I seek to help on a "Lifeline".
> Many are very sad indeed and hate Christmas and I know I'll get plenty of
> those calls on my various shifts.
>
> God has blessed me so much over the years and has been there for me and
with
> me in some pretty bleak Christmases.  Now I need to be there for others
and
> need your prayers because I myself don't really have much to give - yet.
>
> Christmas sort of starts this afternoon for us.  We're going to an old
> people's home to take a little service.  Most of them can't even
communicate
> in sentences any more, but some obviously respond to us and know us.  They
> need to know Jesus too, so we need the love and power that He has
available
> to us to get through to them simply and clearly.  Please pray for that
> little meeting with them if you can.  I will really be so grateful for
> myself but, above all, you may well help us to show someone the way to
Jesus
> today!
>
>
> --
> Carol