His Grace Magazine

Grace His

December 2020

WOOD

"God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory." Ministries 1 Timothy 3:16

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Table of Contents Merry Christmas!

December 2020

"I and My Father are one."

John 10:30

Comics................................................................................Page 3 From the Pulpit.................................................................Pages 4-6 Prayer Page........................................................................Page 7 Book in Review..................................................................Page 8 Poetry Page........................................................................Page 9 Athletes for Christ.............................................................Pages 10, 11 Bible Study.........................................................................Pages 12, 13 Recipe Page........................................................................Pages 14-17 In the News........................................................................Page 18 Celebrations.......................................................................Page 21 Movie in Review................................................................Page 22

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Comic...

December 2020

Merry Christmas!

The Word According to Elijah

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Joyeux Noel!

Feliz Navidad!

Buon Natale!

Ho Ho! Ho!!

God Jul!!

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! ”

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W

Merry Christmas!

From the Pulpit...

December 2020

Born God in the Flesh!

Owner/Publisher: Rob Wood

ell, my favorite time of the year is just a few days away now! Yes, that festive, beautiful season of Christmas. Although, just like every other holiday this year, being with our families and friends, enjoying good food and drinks, sitting around the table talking, laughing or watching a good movie together won't be happening like other years. Christmas is going to look a whole lot different this year, thanks to Covid-19, but we can still enjoy our Christmas. After all, it's not really about the gathering, drink, food or the presents; it's about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I remember being in school waiting for the Christmas holidays to begin, going Christmas shopping with my family, seeing lots of snow outside and all the lights on houses, getting into that Christmas spirit with the countdown to Christmas day.

The closer Christmas got, the more excited I would become.

I also remember the smells of all the homemade baking, from tarts, cookies, pies, trifles, puddings, and then of course the smell of turkey in the oven.

We didn't have a big family. It was nice that way; we would all fit in the living room to open presents with my mom, dad, my sister, Lynne, and my brother, John. Afterwards, we would sit down and have our Christmas dinner. We would eat at noon; that would give us more time later to be with the family, have turkey sandwiches, goodies like cookies, chocolates and Christmas movies.

Some of Donna's childhood memories of Christmas are the family gathering for a Christmas Carol singsong every year at their home, a tradition that was passed on to her and her brothers into their adult lives with their own families. Donna's mom's blueberry cheesecake dessert recipe was always a big hit and her nieces love to make this now for Christmas. Donna also loved going to the Christmas Eve church services with her family.

These are some of our Christmas memories of our past. This year, Donna and I are celebrating our second Christmas together. Although it's a different year, we are still celebrating the birth of Jesus, as I think it's more important than ever. After all, He came as the light of the world. John 8:12

says, "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of Life." And also John 9:5 says, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

The day that we celebrate is the birth of Jesus Christ.

We are now in the Advent season, as it usually starts four weeks before Christmas and it finishes on Christmas Day, the birth of Jesus. Advent means "Arrival" which refers to the arrival of Jesus Christ into the world.

Why is the birth of Jesus so important to us all? Well, the reason that it is important is that over 2,000 years ago, God came down from heaven and became a human being without the sin nature. Jesus Christ was born God in the flesh, as John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." A baby who was born in a manger could have come down as the powerful God that He is, but no; instead, God became a man in Jesus. This is called the "Incarnation" which is from the Latin meaning "in flesh." This isn't a biblical word, but it is biblical truth because Jesus is God who became flesh. The incarnation

December 2020

From the Pulpit...

means that while He remained God, Jesus also took on human nature. This means that the incarnation was the uniting part of the divine and human into one Person, because Jesus Christ was fully God and fully human. Why did Jesus come down to be among us?

The first reason why God came down was to give us a revelation of what God is really like. If you truly want to know God, then you don't have to look any further than Jesus.

Without knowing Jesus, you cannot know God and without accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you cannot gain eternal life. We need to focus more on Jesus by reading scripture. John 1:18 says, "No one has seen God at any time.

The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." Jesus Himself tells us about God's humanity. So we already know what God is like, as Jesus shows us and He says in John 14:9: "...Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father, so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" Colossians 1:15 tells us that, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."

Secondly, when sin entered the world and Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, God then brought

Merry Christmas!

Born God in the Flesh!

in a concept of a substitute sacrifice. But the sacrifice of animals wasn't a long term answer because it couldn't take away the sin, much the same thing with an ordinary person; that person is simply not able to remove sin from anyone. What had to happen and what was needed was the perfect sacrifice to take away everyone's sin. This could only be accomplished by God coming down, becoming a human being, by being born as a baby. This was God's plan, even before the beginning of time, to provide a way for us to be forgiven of our sins.

Before we even existed, God the Father and the Word, who is Jesus Christ, were willing to pay the ultimate price - to have Jesus, the beloved Son of the Father, sacrificed in suffering and death as a substitute for our sins. In Titus 1:1-2, we read: "... the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." Also, 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 says: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew, for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.".

Jesus Christ was born to die

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for us on the cross. All of the sins of the world were put on Him; He sacrificed Himself.

Matthew 20:28 says, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Jesus died and paid the penalty for us, for our sins. He died in our place, so that our sins would be covered by His blood.

Also, God became a man to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament. Luke 24:44 says, "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." When Jesus referred to the Law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms, He was including all of the Old Testament prophesies of Him fulfilling God's promise by coming to this world.

Jesus spoke to His disciples as He stood in their midst and said, "Peace to you," because He knew, that in that day, the disciples would have perceived Him as a spirit and it would be frightening to them. Luke 24:38 says, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not

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Merry Christmas!

From the Pulpit...

have flesh and bones as you see I have." The disciples didn't believe it was Jesus at first, until He showed them His hands and feet.

The fourth reason why God became a man was to identify with our weaknesses. God chose the least of cities to be born in (Bethlehem) for the birth place of His Son. Also, God chose the least in people (shepherds) as first witnesses of the birth of Jesus. Back in the day, shepherds were considered ceremonially unclean, because they had contact with Gentiles during financial transactions.

Because of this uncleanliness, they were not allowed to enter the Temple to worship. This was all done so that God could show His love for us; not as a powerful God that He is, but as flesh and blood. He humbled Himself as a baby... God born in the flesh.

Jesus is God, always has been God and always will be God. Jesus gave up His position in heaven, before He came down to earth as a child. Philippians 2:5-7 says: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."

Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in

December 2020

Born God in the Flesh!

all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." We can take all of our burdens and pains to our Lord in prayer because we know that He understands and relates to us because He experienced all of our temptations, even more so because He was tested in ways that we could not even comprehend.

Jesus' name is 'Emmanuel', and it means 'God with us.' God is with us, He understands us. Apart from Christ, where do we go when we need help? There are times in our lives when we need grace and we will find it in Him. We can boldly go to Him in our time of need. He bore the marks of evil that we deserve so that we can be forgiven; He made Himself approachable, reachable and touchable.

Lastly, God became a man to secure our hope in heaven.

He came down to earth to be one of us so that He could take us to heaven to be one of His. God came down so that we can go up. Until Christ lives in us, we are not fit for heaven. He is the One who prepares us for heaven by living in our hearts here on earth through the Holy Spirit. Until Christ is in us, we cannot go to heaven. Jesus says in John 14:6: "... I am the way, the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me." Everything in the Old

Testament on the first coming of Christ is true and accurate and is fulfilled in the New Testament. You can rest assured that everything you read in the Bible about the second coming of Christ is just a real and just as true.

Jesus came, and Jesus will come again! The message of Christmas is that the Prince of Peace is knocking on your door, desiring to be your Lord and Savior. Won't you invite Him into your heart and your life today? From everyone here at Wood Ministries, we wish you a Merry Christmas!

WOOD Ministries Publisher/Sales Graphic Designer/Writer: Rob Wood wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

Editor/Writer: Donna Wood

wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

Writer: Lynne Wood

wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

Owned and published by Rob Wood of Wood Ministries. Contact us at 905-380-4489; email us at wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

Prayer Page...

December 2020

Merry Christmas!

Prayer at Christmas

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Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the joy that comes from You alone.

Thank you for the Holy Spirit who gives us A calm and quiet spirit.

Let us see the beauty of that holy night So many centuries ago.

Your name is called ‘Wonderful,’ ‘Counselor,’ ‘The Mighty God,’ ‘The Everlasting Father,’ And ‘The Prince of Peace.’

Help us to be a living vessel carrying The “Good news of great Joy!” So that others may see the light And love of Jesus through us and in us, Always pointing the way to You. You are no longer a babe in a manger; You are King of kings and Lord of lords And we celebrate You This Christmas and always, In Jesus’ precious name we pray,

Amen

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

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Merry Christmas!

Book in Review...

Forward

December 2020

Discovering God's Presence and Purpose

Book by: Dr. David Jeremiah Written by: Lynne Wood

I

don't know how Dr. David Jeremiah does it, but obviously his writing and teachings are definitely a gift from God. Forward is the title of his latest book, just an incredible read. This would make a wonderful Christmas gift.

In his book Forward, David Jeremiah will take you through ten steps. Each chapter is a step to dream, pray, choose, focus, risk, pursue, believe, invest, finish and finally to celebrate. Inside the chapters, you'll find many interesting people who have followed God's plan for moving forward.

It doesn't matter what you're going through or where you are right now in your life; it doesn't even matter how old you are. God has a plan to move you forward.

Through this book, you will find God's presence and His plans for your tomorrows as you begin to move forward in your life.

Musician, Tommy Walker, wrote and performed his song called, Forward, on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at Shadow Mountain Church. The lyrics to that song are: It's been a long, long road;

It's been a crooked path with many twists and turns.

But I'm not looking back; I'm walking straight ahead, Believing what you've said, Lord, That you're gonna be with me no matter what life brings.

Forward, I'm going forward to the plans you have for me, To horizons yet unseen, Forward to your new mercies, I will find as I'm pressing toward the prize, I'm going forward.

When David Jeremiah heard

him sing those lyrics, they tugged at his heart and that's what inspired him to write this book.

This is a very powerful book that will open your eyes to new possibilities, that you may never have thought possible.

As David Jeremiah always says, your car's rear view mirror was designed small for a reason, for you to just glance at from time to time, not to dwell there. Your windshield, on the other hand, is large for you to look forward to your future and everything God has to offer.

Just remember, there is no going forward without Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, in our lives.

He is the ultimate goal to begin moving forward.

Philippians 3:12-14 says, "12.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

"Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established ."

Proverbs 16:3

Poetry Page...

December 2020

Merry Christmas!

The Good News

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While shepherds were in the fields nearby Watching over their flocks at night, The Angel of the Lord appeared to them Bringing good tidings of joy to men.

“Today in the town of Bethlehem A Savior, Christ the Lord is born!”

Then the heavenly host came down; The Glory of the Lord shone all around.

The host praised God in the highest heaven; The shepherds sought this thing that had happened.

There in a manger the Christ Child lay; The little Babe sleeping on the hay.

The shepherds marveled at the sight; That night the Star of David shone bright.

For us, our Savior was born to die To take us with Him to His home on High.

(Hebrews 2:9)

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

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Merry Christmas!

Athletes for Christ...

December 2020

Jean Pronovost Found Jesus, playing in Atlanta H

e was the eleventh of twelve children. Jean Joseph Denis Pronovost was born on December 18, 1945, in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec. Jean's older brother, Marcel, was playing in the NHL in a successful pro hockey career before Jean had even put on a pair of skates. But even though Jean was younger than Marcel, he was still Jean's idol growing up, as he wasn't around when

Jean w a s in his hockey development stage.

Jean, having a brother that was an All Star defenseman, really helped to persuade him to play a well rounded style of hockey. With defense as his strength, it was his best bet to guarantee a successful

career.

In 1968, the Boston Bruins made a significant mistake when, on May 21, they sold Jean for cash to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While playing for the Penguins, Jean's full potential came out and he started to shine. During the next ten years in Pittsburgh, Jean became a player of consistency and stability, gliding on the right wing with his speed and resolve, defending against other teams' top forwards. Digging the puck out of the corners, he also made great passes and could score the big goals.

In the 1975-1976 season, with Syl Apps Jr. and Lowell McDonald on his line, Jean reached the height of his career when he scored 52 goals in 80 games. But in the 1978 season, Jean was traded to the Atlanta Flames for Greg Sheppard.

In Atlanta, Jean played his kind of hockey, solid two-way game. But the team broke down and couldn't compete for the Stanley Cup...the one piece of hardware that he had not won in his career. The Atlanta Flames had talent to win, but they couldn't get to that next level of winning consistently.

Jean's last two seasons were played with the Washington Capitals. The difference between them and Atlanta was that they had so much desire to win, but they didn't have enough talent to get the job done. After those two seasons, he played 69 games in the AHL with the Hershey Bears and after that in 1982, Jean retired from hockey.

December 2020

Merry Christmas!

Athletes for Christ...

After Jean returned from road trips, he liked to just sleep in a bit, but that was a hard thing for him to do in his house. His wife Diane would put the vaccum on early, in hopes of getting him up to watch their two boys. This was Jean's wake up call every morning when he was back home.

But this one morning was different. Jean had noticed something weird; it was strangely quiet. Diane didn't have the vaccum going and the boys were eating breakfast without make noise. Jean decided to get up and as he walked into the kitchen, he asked Diane what was going on. Diane then told him that she had become a Christian and gave her life to Jesus; then she told him that He had changed her life, everything is different now. When Jean was traded from Pittsburgh to Atlanta, he told Diane not to go near Mrs. Kea and her Bible study group. Jean was warned about the large Atlanta defenseman named Ed Kea, who was a Christian. However, Diane still went to a few Bible studies that the other Flames' and NFL Falcons' wives attended.

Now what was captain Jean going to do? This was a big problem for him. God was now working on Jean; he was shocked by all the changes in Diane and his two sons, Erick and Marty. Even though his teammates warned

Jean Pronovost

him to stay away from Ed Kea, he had been very shocked on how much peace he had in his life, a peace that Jean didn't have, even with hockey success. With Diane suggesting that Jean should pick up the Bible and read it for himself, he decided to sit down and read

it. Soon after reading the Bible, he realized that he would have to trust God or go separate ways with his wife Diane. When Jean realized he was a sinner, and God loved him and wanted him saved, through His loving grace, Jean made the decision to accept Jesus

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Christ into his heart, bringing joy and peace upon him.

Jean was then traded to the Washington Capitals, where he continued to live his faith in and out of the rink. He was always concerned about his teammates; this would show when he would take them under his wing. By helping players like Mike Gartner, Mike would become one of the great right wingers to play in the NHL. Jean was very passionate about sharing Jesus with the other players and their families. Jean and Diane opened their house for Bible study and they felt the joy of having other teammates also feel that same joy and peace of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, such as: Wes Jarvis, Ryan Walter and Mike Gartner to name a few of them. Just think of the impact that Jean and Diane had on players and their families over the past 30 years! John 15:16 says, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

Jean, after retiring from hockey, worked at Emmanuel Christian School in Dollard des Ormeaux in West Island of Montreal, Quebec.

Jean is now retired and he is living in Calgary with Diane where they attend Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel.

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Merry Christmas!

Bible Study...

December 2020

Matthew 20:28

From Babe to King!

Written by: Donna Wood

Matthew 20:28 “… just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Christmas will soon be here! It is probably the most magical, heartwarming time of the year, when people send best wishes to their families, neighbors and friends, near and far. Households are filled with the lovely aroma of baked sweets, with turkey and all of its trimmings, lights adorn the streets and homes, and Christmas carols are playing at every department store. I love Christmastime.

It’s a time when I reflect on Christmases past, when I was young and too excited to go to bed on Christmas Eve. I eagerly listened for Santa Claus and his reindeers pitter-patter on our rooftop before I senselessly fell off to sleep, hoping that leaving cookies for the jolly ole’ guy would mean that I was good enough to make the ‘nice list’ that year!

When I had kids of my own, I enjoyed watching them open up their gifts, seeing how their faces glowed with excitement and wonder, spending endless hours playing with their new toys and games that they found under the Christnas tree.

Christmas hasn’t been like that for many years now; my kids have long since grown up, married and live in different provinces. With the

pandemic out of control in many areas of our world, this season has become much quieter for many families. But in a different way, it is still just as beautiful as ever. Rob and I will celebrate the birth of Jesus, the coming of our Lord and Savior by attending a church service on Christmas Eve, enjoying an eggnog or two around the Christmas tree while opening gifts on Christmas morning, and then chatting with our families living out of province during the

day. We will savor a delicious turkey and ham dinner with close relatives and friends, and probably finish off the evening with singing such favorites as “Silent Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” around the piano, reminiscing what it must have been like the night baby Jesus was born.

But do we really get past the manger? Do we contemplate who Jesus really is, other than an image of a helpless baby wrapped in swaddling clothes sleeping

peacefully in a manger? Who is this Jesus, who was miraculously conceived by a virgin girl through the Holy Spirit? This Christ Child, this Jesus, is the Son of God, the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), who "... did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45).

Two thousand years ago, a young woman named Mary from Nazareth, was visited by an angel named Gabriel. He told the Jewish woman that she would have a son named Jesus and that He would be the Son of God, who would save the people from their sins.

Because of an order from a Roman emperor stating that everyone had to return to their hometown to be counted in the census, Mary, being very pregnant, travelled with her betrothed husband, Joseph, to Bethlehem in Judea.

Upon arrival, there was nowhere for them to stay because the inns were full, but the innkeeper, seeing that Mary was due any moment, told them they could stay in his stable. It was there, that Mary’s firstborn child, the baby Jesus, the son of God, was born.

Luke 2:8-14 reads, “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the

December 2020

Bible Study...

Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Hebrews 9:26 tells us that Jesus came as a suffering servant, a sacrificial lamb, “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself,” and to inaugurate the kingdom rule of God. In Hebrews 9:28, we read that, “…To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but for salvation” and to consummate the kingdom in its fullness.

Jesus was born to die, so that we, being dead in our sins, might have life. He came to save the world by giving His life for it, by being raised from the dead after three days and now sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.

Jesus is described in Revelation 13:8 as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Why from the foundation of the world? Because an all-knowing God knew that man would fall for the serpent’s lie, causing sin to be passed on to all mankind, bringing death. So God intervened

Merry Christmas!

Matthew 20:28 before it ever happened. God gave us His Son, His gift of redemption…Jesus, who was born to die in my place and your place, for my sins and your sins, so that we could have eternal life.

The story of Christ's birth is one of humble beginnings, but the One would live a perfect life on earth, conquer death and, offer saving grace to all of humanity is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

When the Savior comes again, He will come in power and glory to claim the earth as His kingdom.

His Second Coming will mark the beginning of the Millennium.

Isaiah 2:2-3 reads, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

A government will be established in the latter days on this earth.

It will be based upon the law of God going forth from Jerusalem.

It will have as its Ruler the King of kings, Jesus Christ our Lord.

After Christ descends to the Mount of Olives in magnificent glory, the nations will be taught to obey their Creator. Psalm 72:11 states, “Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him.” In 1 Corinthians 6:23, Paul tells the Christian believers

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that if they overcome, they will rule over the nations: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”

Many of Jesus’ parables indicate that true Christians should be preparing to rule with Him over cities and nations on this earth.

It is this kind of government that will bring peace and joy far beyond what planet Earth has ever experienced. Let’s prepare ourselves right now for that coming kingdom. Surrender to the living Christ of the Bible, let Him genuinely live His life within you through the Holy Spirit and experience God’s magnificent plan for your life. It’s a beautiful thing to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas, but when we open our gifts this Christmas, think of the amazing gift that God has given us: Salvation through His Son. Let us also not forget that Jesus is so much more than a Babe in a manger … He is Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us;’ He is our Lord and Savior, and He will come again and sit upon the throne of David to restore all things and to establish the Kingdom of God forever! (Isaiah 9:7) “Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15)

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Recipes...

Merry Christmas!

December 2020

Christmas Dinner Menu

• Turkey • Ham • Mashed Potatoes • Scalloped Potatoes • Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes • Baked Cabbage •Green Bean Bake • Vegetable Supreme • Maple Glazed Carrots • Turnip Casserole • Cranberry-Onion Relish • Turkey Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes:

10 med. Potatoes, cut in chunks ½ pkg. Philadelphia Cream Cheese, cubed 2 tbsp Butter 2 tbsp fresh Thyme, chopped

1 cup Sour Cream ¼ cup Milk 1 pkg. (227 gram) sliced fresh Mushrooms

• Cook and drain potatoes • Add sour cream, cream cheese and milk • Mash; spoon into casserole dish • Melt butter in large skillet on med. high heat; add mushrooms • Cook approx. 5 min, stirring frequently • Top potatoes with mushrooms, sprinkle with Thyme • Keep warm in oven until ready to serve. Makes 12 servings (Can be prepared a day ahead; in that case, heat just before serving)

Scalloped Potatoes:

6 med. Potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 3 tbsp Flour ¼ tsp Pepper 1 small Onion, finely chopped

4 tbsp Butter 1 tsp Salt 2 ½ cups Milk

• Preheat oven to 325 deg.

• Heat 3 tbsp. butter in saucepan over low heat until melted • Blend in flour, salt and pepper • Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and bubbly • Gradually stir in milk, ½ cup at a time • Heat to boiling; boil and stir 1 minute • Arrange potatoes in greased 2-quart casserole in 3 layers, topping each layer with portion of chopped onion sauce • Dot the top with remaining 1 tbsp butter, broken into little pieces • Cover and bake until potatoes are tender, about 60-70 minutes • Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving. Serves 6

Recipes...

December 2020

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Dinner Menu

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes:

6 small Sweet Potatoes, cut into spears ½ cup Zesty Italian Dressing ¼ cup grated Parmesan Cheese 2 tbsp fresh Parsley, chopped •Preheat oven to 375 deg • Lightly grease baking sheet • Toss sweet potatoes with dressing • Roast 30 min., turn and cook an additional 30 min., sprinkling with cheese during the last 5 minutes • Sprinkle with parsley. Makes 8 servings

Baked Cabbage:

1 head green Cabbage 1 small white Onion, chopped ½ tsp Salt 1/8 tsp Cumin 1/8 cup Chicken stock

4 small red Tomatoes, diced ½ tsp Garlic Powder 1 tsp black Pepper 1/8 tsp Caraway Seed

• Preheat oven to 325 deg.

• Quarter cabbage; boil for 10 minutes • Drain and place in shallow baking dish • Combine remaining ingredients in small bowl ; pour over cabbage • Bake covered for 30 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed, turning halfway through cooking time • Serves 4

Green Bean Bake:

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup 1/4 cup Milk 1 tsp Onion Powder 1/8 tsp Pepper 1 tsp Soy Sauce 3 cups Green Beans 2 tbsp canned French’s French Fried Onions, crushed • In 1 ½ qt. casserole dish, mix all ingredients except French fried onions.

• Bake at 350 deg. for 25 minutes or until hot • Top with French fried onions; bake 5 more minutes or until onions are golden

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Merry Christmas!

Recipes...

December 2020

Christmas Dinner Menu

Vegetable Supreme:

2 cups fresh Broccoli florets and stems 2 Eggs 1 med. Onion, finely chopped 1 cup sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated 1 box seasoned Croutons, crushed

2 cups fresh Cauliflower florets ½ cup Mayonnaise 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup ½ cup Butter, melted

• Preheat oven to 350 deg • Cook vegetables separately in salted boiling water for 5 minutes; drain thoroughly • Distribute evenly in lightly buttered 11 x 7 dish • Beat eggs; combine with mayonnaise, onion, mushroom soup and ½ cup grated cheese • Pour evenly over vegetables • Sprinkle remaining cheese over top and gently level with back of spoon • Pour melted butter over entire top of casserole • Sprinkle crushed croutons over melted butter • Bake for 40 minutes. Serves 12 (Can be prepared a day ahead; in that case, bake just before serving)

Maple Glazed Baby Carrots:

2 pkg. (340g each) baby Carrots ¼ cup Maple Syrup ½ cup Pecan pieces, toasted

¼ cup calorie-wise Catalina Dressing 1 tbsp Butter

• Cook carrots in water 12-14 minutes or until tender; drain and set aside • Mix dressing and syrup in saucepan; cook on med. heat until bubbly, stirring occasionally • Add carrots; cook until glaze is thickened to desired consistency, stirring frequently • Add butter; stir until melted • Stir in pecans • Makes 10 servings

Turnip Casserole:

1 large Turnip 2 Apples Dash Cinnamon

1 tbsp Butter ¼ cup Brown Sugar

• Cook turnip; mash • Add butter; mash • Peel and dice apples; toss with brown sugar and cinnamon • Arrange in layers in greased casserole dish

For Topping, combine: 1/3 cup Flour

1/3 cup Brown Sugar

• Spread on top of turnip • Bake at 350 deg. for 1 hour

2 tbsp Butter

Recipes...

December 2020

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Dinner Menu

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Cranberry-Onion Relish: 1 tbsp Butter 1 tsp minced Garlic ½ tsp Ginger ¼ tsp ground Nutmeg ½ cup Orange Juice 2 tsp grated Orange Zest

1 cup Onions, diced 1/3 cup packed Brown Sugar ¼ tsp ground Cinnamon 3 ½ cups (340 g bag) frozen whole Cranberries 1/3 cup raisins

• Melt butter in 10” non-stick skillet over med. heat • Add onions and garlic; cook and stir until tender (5 min.)

• Add brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, cooking and stirring until brown sugar melts • Stir in cranberries, orange juice, raisins and orange zest; bring to a boil • Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered for 5 minutes until cranberries begin to pop open • Remove from heat; cover and cool in refrigerator completely before serving

Turkey Stuffing:

4 cups stale Breadcrumbs ¼ cup Butter 1/2 cup chopped Celery 1 tsp Sage ¼ tsp Savory ¼ tsp Pepper

2 tsp Parsley ¾ cup Onion, chopped ¼ tsp Fennel ¼ tsp Salt ¼ tsp Marjoram 1/8 tsp Thyme

• In large frying pan, sauté all ingredients except breadcrumbs and parsley for 10 minutes • Add breadcrumbs and parsley, toss • Set aside until cool; stuff in turkey

Luke 2:13-14

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

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Merry Christmas!

In the News...

December 2020

A Christmas Star

Happening for the first time in almost 800 years

T

his world today has changed so much over the years; it has pulled further and further away every year from the Christmas season; secularism is more front and centre than anything else. You can't say 'Merry Christmas' now, although I do, but it's offensive now to some and some stores won't even let their employees say it. It's all about the Holidays; they try to teach us that it's about presents and getting together, food and goodies. All that is great, mind you; it's nice to get together with the family for Christmas, although it's not happening too much this year for obvious reasons, but the real reason for the season is Jesus Christ,.

This year is special and I'm not talking about Covid-19 either; I'm talking about the 'Christmas Star' being made up of two planets in our solar system.

On December 21st, Jupiter and Saturn come together, although they're actually separated by over 400 million miles of each other.

They're expected to appear closer to each other in the night sky than they have in almost 800 years. If you look up at the right time of night, whether by telescope or with the eye the two planets will seem to touch or even form one large, bright star in the sky.

This display is an unusual effect

of their orbits. Jupiter takes less than 12 years to go around the sun and Saturn takes more than 29

years to also go around the sun.

These planets will appear to meet around every 20 years, in what the astronomers call the "great conjunction." This had occurred May of 2000, although because of its position at that time, it was lost in the glare of the sun.

You will have to look back to March 4, 1226, to see the planets align this close and be visible in the night sky.

There is also another Christmas connection with this, and it is beyond a coincidence of timing.

Astronomers which is dating back to the 17th century, concluded that the 'Star of Bethlehem,' which guided the wise men from Babylon area to Jesus Christ in the Bible, was like the one that is set to appear later this month.

The only difference is that one involved different plants, namely, Jupiter and Venus.

Saturn and Jupiter began becoming close to each other

during the summer of this year, but this display will finally become clearest this mid December.

You can look for the planets in the southwest during the hour after sunset. And on December 21st, the two large planets will look just a tenth of a degree apart; it's only the thickness of a dime which is being held at arm's length. This means that the two planets and their moons will be visible in the same field of view when we are using binoculars or a small telescope. You will also notice that Saturn will appear as close to Jupiter as some of the moons of Jupiter.

After December 21st, the two planets, Saturn and Jupiter, will start to move apart again.

So don't miss this spectacular event, because there won't be another one until 2080.

How exciting is this really when you think about it, we are about to see a 'Christmas Star,' the closest thing in our lifetime to what the shepherds saw and to what guided the wise men from Babylon to Bethlehem to see Jesus! I know I'm excited about this event; I hope you are too!

Now let's pray for clear skies all over the world at the same time, so believers and non believers will see this, praying it will touch all hearts.

December 2020

Merry Christmas!

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins

Matthew 1:21

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Merry Christmas!

Merry

December 2020

Christmas!

Donna and I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

December 2020

Celebrations...

Merry Christmas!

November & December

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Happy Birthday!

November Mary Reid David Leach Julie MacDonald December

The Reason for the Season Jesus Christ Late - Donald Reid Lena Droujko Mike Touchette Brian Robb

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."

Jeremiah 1:5

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T

Merry Christmas!

Movie in Review...

December 2020

Miracle Maker “He taught a town to Believe”

his christian Christmas movie called, The Miracle Maker, is a strong and heartwarming movie. It's filled with faith, prayer and devotions to God; it's full of compassion and tenderness; a movie that is good for the whole family to watch.

A small town maned Woodhaven is in the need of miracles. Now, it's just about Christmas and there's not much money or jobs to be found. Many families are finding it hard to come up with money for rent and a greedy Mr. Booth doesn't help matters any. This makes it difficult for many parents to have a merry Christmas with their children.

This movie jumps to one

family, then to another, showing their struggles that they face every day.

Then there is a young man named Thomas, who is the town's preacher. He is in love with Mr. Booth's daughter, Lilly. Mr. Booth won't let Thomas near Lilly, after they had an accident together, that left her with a scar. Now Lilly is not allowed to leave the house. This leaves Lilly feeling trapped under her own roof, missing her mother who passed away. She is terrified Thomas wouldn't love her with the scar that she now has from the accident.

The accident wasn't preacher Thomas's fault; it was Lilly's, so now Lilly suffers in silence and keeps it inside her at home.

We now see that preacher Thomas's mother suffers with depression. She has a hard time getting out of bed because of a broken heart, as her husband had passed away. We switch to a hardworking couple named Elias and Jenny. They run the local store and are having a hard time making money to feed their family, never mind paying their rent.

Just after preacher Thomas inspired everyone in church with

an uplifting sermon all about miracles happening all around us, if we would only look for them, the town starts praying for a miracle. In town, a little boy, after he felt inspired by the sermon and seeing the pain in his families eyes, decides to write a letter praying that a miracle maker would come to the town. He sends his message off on a bird. The very next day, a telegraph arrived and said someone was coming. All the town's people became excited; they had their prayers heard. The next day, a poor stranger enters the town with a dog and a chicken with him, and he asks for a place to stay. The people of the town lose all hope because they couldn't believe that a poor man could help them with a miracle. Will the town see miracles?

Miracle Maker has an amazing message about the love of God for all of His people. This is a great faith movie for the whole family.

Starring: Kaléa Atkinson, Karen Baird, Jacob Buster, Dave Bresnahan, Emmy Firth, Adam Johnson, Sarah Kent, Brian Krause, Caitlin E.J. Meyer, Melanie Stone, Jake Stormoen, Abigail Scott, Maggie Scott.

Executive Producer: Marybeth Sprows, Cynthia Lagow, Chris Donahue, Ron Brough.

Runtime: 90 minutes.

Miracle Maker is available on Blue ray and DVD.

Merry Christmas!

Grace

December 2020

His

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Merry Christmas!

December 2020

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