Merry Christmas from our household to yours!

We pray that you'll celebrate Christmas the way they did in the New Testament and receive an extra blessing this year!

Say, do you know why Santa Claus has three gardens?

+ <L A S T  W E E K><

+ You joined Scott in praying for those with whom he came in contact last week to be receptive to the Good News of the Season... I stood in line at the pharmacy last Saturday when the pharmacist caught my eye.

"Don't leave! I need to talk to you," he said with an eager tone. Once my turn came, our usual pleasant greetings were nowhere to be found. "I need an English Bible with big words," he said excitedly. "Can you get one for me?!" (Large print English Bibles are not on my shelf, I must say, but I do happen to have one in Arabic I'll be glad to give him.)

+ You prayed with Shirin and a coworker as they started a small English class in a refugee camp in the West Bank. They were hoping for opportunities to answer faith questions when they come up as well as being invited into homes of the students....Shirin writes, "Thank you for your prayers. After the English class the Director invited us for tea in her office. The Director asked us if we had our Christmas trees up and told us that Muslim families put up trees too. I was able to share with her that we put out a Nativity Set during Christmas and what the set meant to me. I also shared the symbolism of the tree and how it reflects different characteristics of God. The Director listened politely, but I am sure I told her more then she wanted to know."

+ Jasmine asked for prayer as she and her classmates rehearsed for the Christmas play... Jasmine says, "We did a great job. My teacher said we need to speak up, so please pray that we'll speak up."

<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< One of Scott's sisters-in-law will be visiting this week, so he's asking that she will give her life to Jesus while she's here!

<>< Join Shirin, Jasmine and some coworkers in prayer as they put on a Christmas party at the Lazarus Home for Girls. Pray that the girls will learn the true meaning of Christmas through the games, crafts and Christmas play that we have planned for them. We look forward to seeing God bring these precious girls into His Kingdom.

<>< Jasmine asks that you pray that she and her classmates will "speak up" during Saturday's Christmas play.

<* Pray for the Tajik of Afghanistan.><

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,

strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do

not show love to my family,

I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of

Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and

arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,

but do not show love to my family,

I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing

home and give all that I have to charity, but do not

show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and

crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday

parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not

focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated

Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way,

but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give

in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all

things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost,

golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas and lots of love to you and yours!

Arafat Day … A day to break the blindness

The 9th day of the month of Hajj marks a significant day for Muslims. The day is called the Day of Arafat, and we believe it is a day the Lord would have His people pray for the Muslim world!

At the end of December Muslims will be traveling to Saudi Arabia. In carrying out this journey they fulfill one of the five “pillars” of Islam. For Muslims, the pilgrimage is much more than something to be done. It is a sacred and revered journey. They believe that if they do not do this journey, they have less chance of getting into paradise.

On the first day of the hajj, pilgrims sweep out of Mecca toward Mina, a small uninhabited village east of the city. During the second day, the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims leave Mina for the plain of Arafat. The Prophet is reported to have asked Allah to pardon the sins of pilgrims who stood at Arafat. Thus, the hopeful pilgrims prepare to leave this plain joyfully, feeling reborn without sin and intending to turn over a new leaf.

The Day of Arafat is the only day when Muslims gather together at Arafat Mountain in an act of unity to pray and fast for their religion and to offer sacrifices as they remember that Abraham offered Ishmael, not Isaac.

In 2006 (Islamic year 1427) Arafat day will be Saturday 30th December.

Please pray with us on Arafat Day:

Please visit the 30-days.net website and read more background on this important day and pray with us:

Arafat Day - breaking the blindness

Encourage others to pray with us - pass this on. (The above comes especially from our brothers and sisters in the middle East.)

Ron and the 30-Days International Team