Near the end of this page is a great Christmas story I hope you'll enjoy, plus BB from Huntington, West Virginia shared this candy cane site.

If you're looking for a great company with customer service, check out www.clevergear.com I ordered a wall clock and didn't think it had been delivered, so I contacted them to let them know. They gave me the postal tracking number and offered to re-ship the item if the post office could not verify its delivery. Toni handled my situation gracefully, and I'm beyond happy to recommend them on account of her professional courtesy. (And, no, I don't have wish list there; however, your Lottie Moon offering will be doubly appreciated!)

The Gospel began making inroads this past year among 131 people groups that previously had little or no access to the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ... (Read the rest of the story. )

"The evidence is tangible. Why are the Mormons building temples in New York City, Dallas and Atlanta? It's because they're targeting Baptists who don't know what they believe," Clark said. (Read the rest of the story.)

Finally, if you need some relief from any stress you're feeling, try this delightful page (thanks, RH!)

Please feel free to recommend the 'Wednesday Weekly' to other like-minded intercessors in your circle of friends. Invite them either to send me an email at scoterry31684-subscribe@topica.com or to subscribe at our Wednesday Weekly website.

Matthew 24:14

* Be sure to sign up for the Wednesday Weekly.

+ You prayed with us for the final arrangements for the Christmas party on the 17th at the Lazarus Home for Girls as you joined us in praying also for the salvation of the girls and staff at the home... Shirin writes, "Please continue to pray for the final arrangements for the Christmas party on the 17th at the Lazarus Home for Girls. In this part of the world it is hard to make final plans in advance. Please continue to join us in praying for our time with the director discussing final plans for a Christ-centered Christmas party and for the party on Friday."

+ You prayed for a special Christmas party given for people who were not born into a Christian family and for people who wanted to know more about Jesus... Shirin continues, "Please pray for a special Christmas party given for people who were not born into a Christian family and for people who want to know more about Jesus. Join us on Thursday morning when we will have a special time of prayer for the attendees to accept Christ or grow in their faith. We will also be lifting up the speaker to present a clear gospel message to women not from a Christian background. The Christmas party will take place that same afternoon."

+ A co-worker and I met with a work crew who might have been able to help us with "the uttermost walls," and you prayed that we would communicate our needs clearly and that we would receive the help we needed to proceed... wow, did He hear your cry! We were able to communicate our needs clearly and we'll be receiving the help we need to proceed! Whoo-hoo! Thank you for praying so specifically!

+ I had a chance to "clear up some confusion" about an order of olive wood praying hands, so I needed an abundant amount of grace to see this through... oh, how smoothly things went! Thank you for making a difference in my life through your intercession.

<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< Plans continue to get the International Prayer Center of Jerusalem (IPCJ) on a "phase-by-phase" plan that will enable future donors to see progress. Today we're meeting with an architect who has blended some of our ideas and visions with his expertise. Join us in praying that we continue to hear and follow God's voice.

<>< In addition to the prayers Shirin has requested for this week's Christmas activities, I'm asking that you pray for Jasmine as she continues preparing for her "Away In A Manger" solo. Ask God to grant her His peace as she practices. She enjoyed eating miniature chocolate Santas this week, and I think that has helped alleviate her fear.

<>< Many of you have been praying over the IPCJ library computers, and some of you are even contributing parts! I've been "fine tuning" a couple of them this past week and, wow, is there more to be done! The best part is that they will become, uh, fool-proof (?). Pray with me to have clarity of thought and concentration as I focus on this task.

>< Pray for Slovenes.>

CALENDAR UPDATES

<If you're not receiving our bimonthly snail-mail newsletter, let us know so we can send it to you!><

8-9, Pray for Shirin and Jasmine as they work on home schooling material.

* "Thank you for your prayers. We are slowing down due to the holidays but are looking forward to gaining momentum in the new year."

10-11, Pray for a Christmas party for women and children who do not know Jesus.

* "Thank you for lifting up theses precious people. The party is this week, and I know God is preparing them to receive His message in His time."

12-14, Pray for the Women's Bible Study in the old city.

* "Your prayers made a difference in our last Bible Study as we doubled in attendance."

Two Babies in a Manger

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.

They relate the following story in their own words:
It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.

Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket.

A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger.

Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately--until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.

Then Misha started to ad-lib.
He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift.

I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, "If I keep you arm, will that be a good enough gift?" And Jesus told me, "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me." "So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him---for always."

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him-FOR ALWAYS. 

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.