A Step in the Write Direction

December 31, 2012

Update:

December 31! It can’t be! Where has this year gone? I remember when I was younger, my mother told me that the older you get, the faster time goes. But, you know, when you’re young, time goes slow as you wait for Christmas, the next birthday, graduation, marriage, etc. I’m ready for a new year, and have my goals written down. Do you? I tell those in my workshops that it’s better to shoot at a rabbit and miss it then to shoot at a skunk and hit it. Make your goals high enough so you’ll need God’s help to reach them!

Thought for Today:

“We sometimes miss the great opportunities of life because we get sidetracked. I
once heard the tale of a talented and gifted bloodhound in England that started
a hunt by chasing a full-grown male deer. During the chase a fox crossed his path,
so he began to chase the fox. A rabbit crossed his hunting path, so he began
to chase the rabbit. After chasing the rabbit for a while, a tiny field mouse crossed
his path, and he chased the mouse to the corner of a farmer's barn. The bloodhound
had begun the hunt chasing a prized male deer for his master and wound up barking
at a tiny mouse. It is a rare human being who can do three or four different things
at a time—moving in different directions.” (Eric S. Ritz, The Ritz Collection, www.Sermons.com)

Laugh for Today:

Turkey Poem (Can go for Christmas as well)
(Author Unknown)
I ate too much turkey, I ate too much corn,
I ate too much pudding and pie.
I'm stuffed up with muffins and much too much stuffin'
I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate.
But I wish I had known when to stop,
For I'm so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams
That my buttons are starting to pop!

I'm full of tomatoes and French fried potatoes
My stomach is swollen and sore,

But there's still some dessert so I guess it won't hurt if
I eat just a little bit more!

Prayer Request:

Some of you may know Reg Forder, director of American Christian Writers. If you’ve been to any of his conferences across the U.S., you’ve met Eleanore, who is the heart and soul of the conferences—taking registrations, handling the book table, etc. Just last week she was diagnosed with cervical cancer which has spread to other areas. Reg writes that “without a miracle, she’ll soon be graduating.” Please pray for this special couple. I’ve known them for 30 years (he took over the Arizona conference that I started and ran for 7 years), so this is sad news to me. If you’d like to email them or send them a card, addresses are below:

 Email: ACWriters@aol.com

Snail: American Christian Writers
PO Box 110390
Nashville, TN 37222

 My Last Advent Devotion

 Day 30

The Star Doesn’t Leave at Christmas

 Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?

For we have seen his star in the East

and have come to worship Him (Matthew 2:2).

For weeks we’ve shopped, brought home overflowing sacks of gifts, wrapped them, and hid them around our house. We decorated the house, and attended church and school programs and parties. Christmas carols have rung out in the malls, and salespeople smiled and wished customers “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.”

Now it’s over. Children and grandchildren have gone to their separate homes. We’ve taken trash bags to the Dumpster. Gifts are stacked on the table ready to be put away in drawers and closets, and receipts are dug out for those that have to be exchanged. In the stores, Christmas cards are replaced with Valentines, and salespeople don’t seem as friendly.

How I wish the spirit of Christmas could go on all year. Then I remember the children’s Christmas program at church every year which shows the shepherds and the three wise men making their way to the manger. And I remember that the Magi didn’t actually visit the Infant in the stable. Bible scholars have written that they may have come when Jesus was about two years old. But the star was still shining!

Lord, Christmas is over, but may Your spirit of love and giving continue in my heart all year.

A Step in the Write Direction

December 31, 2012

Update:

December 31! It can’t be! Where has this year gone? I remember when I was younger, my mother told me that the older you get, the faster time goes. But, you know, when you’re young, time goes slow as you wait for Christmas, the next birthday, graduation, marriage, etc. I’m ready for a new year, and have my goals written down. Do you? I tell those in my workshops that it’s better to shoot at a rabbit and miss it then to shoot at a skunk and hit it. Make your goals high enough so you’ll need God’s help to reach them!

Thought for Today:

“We sometimes miss the great opportunities of life because we get sidetracked. I
once heard the tale of a talented and gifted bloodhound in England that started
a hunt by chasing a full-grown male deer. During the chase a fox crossed his path,
so he began to chase the fox. A rabbit crossed his hunting path, so he began
to chase the rabbit. After chasing the rabbit for a while, a tiny field mouse crossed
his path, and he chased the mouse to the corner of a farmer's barn. The bloodhound
had begun the hunt chasing a prized male deer for his master and wound up barking
at a tiny mouse. It is a rare human being who can do three or four different things
at a time—moving in different directions.” (Eric S. Ritz, The Ritz Collection, www.Sermons.com)

Laugh for Today:

Turkey Poem (Can go for Christmas as well)
(Author Unknown)
I ate too much turkey, I ate too much corn,
I ate too much pudding and pie.
I'm stuffed up with muffins and much too much stuffin'
I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate.
But I wish I had known when to stop,
For I'm so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams
That my buttons are starting to pop!

I'm full of tomatoes and French fried potatoes
My stomach is swollen and sore,

But there's still some dessert so I guess it won't hurt if
I eat just a little bit more!

Prayer Request:

Some of you may know Reg Forder, director of American Christian Writers. If you’ve been to any of his conferences across the U.S., you’ve met Eleanore, who is the heart and soul of the conferences—taking registrations, handling the book table, etc. Just last week she was diagnosed with cervical cancer which has spread to other areas. Reg writes that “without a miracle, she’ll soon be graduating.” Please pray for this special couple. I’ve known them for 30 years (he took over the Arizona conference that I started and ran for 7 years), so this is sad news to me. If you’d like to email them or send them a card, addresses are below:

Email: ACWriters@aol.com

Snail: American Christian Writers
PO Box 110390
Nashville, TN 37222

My Last Advent Devotion

Day 30

The Star Doesn’t Leave at Christmas

Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?

For we have seen his star in the East

and have come to worship Him (Matthew 2:2).

For weeks we’ve shopped, brought home overflowing sacks of gifts, wrapped them, and hid them around our house. We decorated the house, and attended church and school programs and parties. Christmas carols have rung out in the malls, and salespeople smiled and wished customers “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.”

Now it’s over. Children and grandchildren have gone to their separate homes. We’ve taken trash bags to the Dumpster. Gifts are stacked on the table ready to be put away in drawers and closets, and receipts are dug out for those that have to be exchanged. In the stores, Christmas cards are replaced with Valentines, and salespeople don’t seem as friendly.

How I wish the spirit of Christmas could go on all year. Then I remember the children’s Christmas program at church every year which shows the shepherds and the three wise men making their way to the manger. And I remember that the Magi didn’t actually visit the Infant in the stable. Bible scholars have written that they may have come when Jesus was about two years old. But the star was still shining!

Lord, Christmas is over, but may Your spirit of love and giving continue in my heart all year.

A Happy New Year to you all!

Donna Goodrich

www.thewritersfriend.net
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

A Step in the Write Direction--December 24

A Step in the Write Direction

December 24, 2012

Update:

I know you’re all busy getting ready for tomorrow. Me—I’m finishing up a 192-page editing job. One more gift to buy and wrap (will probably try Target rather than tackling Wal-Mart), then clean house. Our son and daughter who live here in town will be here. We’ll have our main meal at noon as our daughter has to work later (she works in a hospital which doesn’t take holidays!). We miss our other daughter and family especially at Christmas. It was a year December 1 since they moved to Oklahoma where our son-in-law took a new church.

Have you jotted down any goals for the New Year? Our writers group just looked at the ones we wrote for last year, and I’m happy to say I met most of them—four new books came out in 2012. Still have a bunch of manuscripts finished that I need to market. That’s my weakness! I have 2 gift books, 5 devotionals, and 5 calendars that are looking for a home. Maybe this will be the year!

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. If you’re experiencing a loss, I pray God will give you comfort and peace as you go into 2013. As our pastor said yesterday, Christ came into a dark world, but the Light overcame the darkness.

Thought for the Day:

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” (Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, 1990)

Laugh for the Day:

So the world was supposed to end last week? That's sad. I never found out who let the dogs out, the way to get to Sesame Street, why Dora doesn't just use Google maps, why we don't ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery," why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed, why "abbreviated" is such a long word, why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor yet dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons, why they sterilize the needle for lethal injections, and why do you have to "put your two cents in" but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? Why did Joanie love Chachi? Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane? Does “The Alphabet Song” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” have the same tune? Why did you just try to sing those two previous songs? And just what is Victoria's secret?

You see, the world just has to keep going. I have too many questions....and do you really think I am this witty? I actually copied this off Facebook! (Source unknown!)

Writing Hint:

I’m in the process of editing a manuscript that is very well-written; however, the author uses a variety of font styles and sizes throughout, words in all caps and boldface, a lot of italics, and sometimes red type. Unfortunately, when an editor sees this manuscript, his first thought may be of all the work he’ll have to do IF the committee does accept the book. (As I was working on this manuscript again this morning, it dawned on me: The author’s words are strong enough; she doesn’t need the caps, bold, and often-used italics for emphasis. On the contrary, all the different fonts distract the reader from the meaning the author is trying to put across.)

Make it as easy for the editor as possible! Omit words in all caps, don’t use bold, and use italics sparingly. Let the editor see your story or message, not your cleverness in using all the fonts you can think of. One editor said, “You write; we’ll typeset!”

Advent Devotion

Day 21

The Light of the World

I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall

not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12).

It was not how I planned to spend Christmas Day. Locking the door of my car in the darkened hospital parking lot, I made my way toward the entrance. For the past five days I had gone to my husband’s room at 8:30 a.m., left for an hour or two in the afternoon, and returned around 5 or 6:00 p.m. Now he faced surgery the next day.

At the entrance, I stood for a moment, enjoying the decorations on the hospital lawn. Lights everywhere—on the trees, on wire-formed deer, on wooden wagons full of gifts. Lights spelling out Christmas greetings. “He really is the reason for the season. He is the Light of the world,” I realized anew.

Entering the hospital, I thanked God that His Son came into the world for just such a situation as I was going through.

· He came to give assurance—in my dark moments, when the doctor told me that my husband was “high risk” and might not pull through the surgery.

· He came to give comfort—in my fear when the surgery had to be postponed because of unexpected heart problems.

· He came to give joy—in the waiting room when the surgeon said everything came out okay.

Lord, thank You for sending Your Son to bring light to my world. May I walk in that Light during this Christmas season, as well as the rest of the year.

Donna Clark Goodrich

www.thewritersfriend.net
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Book for Christian Writers"

 

(If you want to receive this blog automatically in your email box, write me at: dgood648@aol.com

 

 

 

A Step in the Write Direction--December 17, 2012

A Step in the Write Direction

December 17, 2012

Update:

A friend just emailed and asked if I could post a guest blog today. Good thing! It reminded me I hadn’t sent out MY blog! So I had to get busy. Finished a difficult 243-page proofing job I did, and enjoyed get-togethers with writer friends, along with our children’s program at church. Saturday I finished the Christmas cards that I enclose personal letters in, and sent off the boxes to our daughter and family in Oklahoma. (If any of you want to read our Christmas letter, email me at: dgood648@aol.com.) Praying you all have a good week and don’t get too frazzled!

Thought for the Day

A preacher tells of the time when a woman, her arms filled with Christmas presents, came out of a department store and bumped right into him. All of her parcels dropped on the sidewalk. As he bent down to help her pick them up, she said, "Oh, I hate Christmas. It turns everything upside down." And so it does. Christmas turns the world topsy-turvy because it is centered in a baby, and babies change everything! The Christ child is no exception. This child will change the world!” (Source unknown.)
Laugh for Today:

Reporter interviewing a 104-year-old woman: “And what do you think is the best thing
about being 104?” She simply replied, “No peer pressure.”

Guest Post

Shelly Hitz

Trusting God When Bad Things Happen

My heart continues to be heavy for all those grieving today across our country. I don’t believe it was a coincidence that I published a book this past week called, “Trusting God When Bad Things Happen.” And even before the tragedy in Connecticut, I felt led to offer it free on Smashwords this month.

When bad things happen, what is your reaction? Do you trust God even when you don't understand?

There was a dark season in my life when it literally felt like an earthquake had occurred. Everything in my life seemed to be falling apart...my family, my finances, our church. And I asked God the simple question, "Why?" This book is the result of my own search for answers. In the end, God gave me illustrations that I will share with you and brought healing to my heart and my distorted view of Him. I was able to trust Him again, even though my circumstances had not changed.

I pray that God uses this short eBook to deeply impact you as well. I have included questions for reflection for you to go through individually or as a group.

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/263666 100% Off Coupon Code: HB95F; Expires: January 1, 2013. This book is also available for $0.99 on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ALLQW5A Please feel free to share this book and coupon code with anyone you think could benefit from the topic.

Writer’s Hint:

Two writer friends received a contract from a publisher with the requirement that they purchase 2500 copies of the book over a period of time, and they asked me what they should do. The first is a widow who has already self-published the book and has copies piled up in her garage. I urged her to really pray about this before committing herself to that large a purchase. The second writer (who hasn’t asked my advice yet!) is a speaker who travels around teaching classes, and this book would be used in the classes. Because she could buy these books at a large discount (cost plus $2) and sell them at retail, she would be making a profit and it might pay her to go this route. So, as my mother used to say, “What’s good for the goose isn’t necessarily good for the gander.”

Day 10 (from my Advent book)

Running for Help

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened

That it cannot save

Nor His ear heavy,

That it cannot hear (Isaiah 59:1).

It was the day before Christmas and our eight-month-old daughter, Janet, had a temperature of 104 and a croupy cough. This was just another of the series of events that had plagued her since birth. “Colic,” the pediatrician pronounced at our newborn’s piercing screams. “She should outgrow it in three months.” Four months later he said it could be a six-month colic.

Her crying had no pattern. Sometimes she would wake up screaming. Other times she would be playing, and without warning, she would break into a scream. Then she began losing weight, and at seven months, a specialist diagnosed her with a kidney infection. She also had symptoms of cystic fibrosis. “She might not live till kindergarten,” our doctor told us somberly.

Now this crisis. Our regular doctor was getting married that night so we took Janet to a friend’s pediatrician. It was noon when I walked into the office.

“I’m sorry,” the nurse said. “We’re closed.”

“Please,” I pleaded. “I know my baby has pneumonia. Her temperature’s 104.”

Her voice grew louder. “I said we’re closed!”

Just then I saw the doctor in the hallway. Bursting through the door I ran up to him. “I know you’re already closed and it’s the day before Christmas, but please, can’t you look at my baby. She’s so sick.”

He reached out his hands, took our baby, and held his stethoscope to her chest. “Call the hospital and reserve a bed,” he instructed the nurse. Then he told me, “She has pneumonia.” So instead of celebrating at home with her brother, our little girl spent her first Christmas in the hospital in an oxygen tent. I was so glad I ignored the nurse and insisted that the doctor see her. (P.S. This daughter is now married to a minister and has two girls of her own!)

Do you have a need this Christmas? Whether it’s physical, financial, or spiritual, God’s Son came to this earth to meet that need—and to bring life. Don’t let anyone stand in your way. Run to Him today and tell Him, “I need help.”

Jesus, thank You that Your hands—those same hands that were nailed to the cross—now reach out to me in my time of need.

www.thewritersfriend.net
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

A Step in the Write Direction--December 10, 2012

A Step in the Write Direction

December 10, 2012

Thought for the Day:

WARNING: ADVENT VIRUS. Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. (Anonymous via email)

Laugh for the Day:

A single man berated the mothers in his neighborhood for being so hard on their children. "You need to love them," he'd tell them. Then he put in a new driveway and, before the cement was dry, one of the neighbor boys walked through it. The man yelled at him.

"I thought you loved kids," a mother said.

"I love them in the abstract," the man replied, "but not in the concrete."

Writing Hint:

About 20 years ago, shortly after returning home from a writers’ conference, I received a tearful call from a writer. “I just got a rejection letter from Guideposts,” she moaned. I shared with her that one of the classes I had taken at the conference was taught by the Guideposts editor. At that time, he said, they received around 200 submissions A WEEK, and of that, they used only 8 (and this was over 20 years ago).

It seems every writer wants the honor of being published in Guideposts. But here’s a word of advice: While they pay well and have a worldwide circulation, remember that they buy All Rights, which means you can’t sell it anyplace else without their permission. You might do better in the long run to sell First Rights to another periodical, then—after it’s published—send out Reprint Rights to as many other periodicals/Sunday school take-home papers, etc., as you like. You may end up making more and having a larger readership than being published in Guideposts. (More on what rights to sell in A Step in the Write Direction.)

Advent Devotion (from my book Preparing Your Heart for Christmas, available on Amazon for $4.95)

Day 7

Asking Amiss

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss

(James 4:3).

Five months after our wedding date, Uncle Sam wrote my husband and said, “I want you,” and he left for Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. I joined him in May after his basic training, and now we were getting ready for Christmas. This would be our last Christmas with just the two of us, and we were both excited over the expected addition to our family in February.

With the doctor’s permission, we took a trip in early December to Gary’s hometown in Kansas to visit his mother. While there we did some shopping and stopped at a drugstore where I saw irons and toasters on sale.

“Oh, honey, we need both of these,” I said to Gary. Hearing those words, his mother immediately picked up a toaster and headed for the cashier.

I protested, but she said, “I’d rather get you something I know you need than something you won’t use.”

“I used to come in here and beg for a gun and holster and you’d say no,” Gary said to his mother. “Donna says she wants a toaster, and you pick it up. ’Tain’t fair.”

“Well,” his mother laughed, “I think a toaster is more important than a gun and holster, don’t you?” Gary agreed, and then he ended up also buying the iron.

How many things have you asked God for and you didn’t receive them? At the time did you wonder why He didn’t give them to you? And later on, in retrospect, did you finally understand the reason?

Perhaps you’re asking for something special this Christmas season. God may answer with “yes,” “no,” or perhaps “wait awhile.” If you don’t receive something you want, you can be assured that what He ends up giving you is far better than what you asked for.

Lord, You know my future, and as I enter into this time of celebrating Your Son’s birth, let me be careful in what I ask for, and be thankful for what You give me.

Donna

www.thewritersfriend.net
"A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers"

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

A Step in the Write Direction--December 3, 2012

A Step in the Write Direction

December 10, 2012

Update:

I’m trying to figure out where January to November went, and how it is December already! December 1 marked our oldest granddaughter’s 25^th birthday; don’t know how she keeps getting older when I don’t! Wish she had been here so we could celebrate it with her, but they’re doing the Lord’s work in Oklahoma. She had a neat present the Sunday before when she received her local minister’s license. She’s getting a double major in college in ministry and music.

Last week also brought me a neat present: my newly-published Advent book Preparing Your Heart for Christmas. I hope you who downloaded it from Amazon when it was free are enjoying it; it’s now for sale on Amazon for $4.95. Should be receiving the Grandmother, Mother and Me anthology any day now, and I’m already receiving submissions for the Grandfather, Father and Me anthology.

Thought for Today:

When you’re in a difficult place, realize that the Lord either placed you there, or allowed you to be there for reasons known only to Him. The same God who led you there will lead you out” (Pastor Ira Brown).

Laugh for Today:

A visitor knocking on a college dormitory door asked, "May I come in? This is the room I had when I attended here." He was invited in. "Same old room. Same old furniture. Same old view from the window. Same old closet." He opened the closet door and there stood a girl.

"That's my sister," stammered the student.

"Oh yes," said the visitor, "same old story."

Encouragement:

For the next few weeks I’m sharing some of the devotionals from my Advent book. Hope you enjoy them. Today’s devotional is followed by some Christmas gift ideas, and then by a guest blog by Nancy Dobbins.

Day 6

Exchanging the Good for the Better

If you then, being evil, know how to give good

gifts to your children, how much more will your

Father who is in heaven give good things to

them who ask Him! (Matthew 7:11).

“Can you come to dinner Sunday?” a friend asked me one day. “I think if my son met a Christian girl he will come to church.” I accepted, and a week later I met her son Harold. He went to church with us that night and a few days later called and asked me out.

That began a courtship that lasted several months, during which time Harold accepted the Lord. A while later, he left for the Army. I went with his parents to visit him over Thanksgiving weekend and we continued our relationship through letters and phone calls.

When he came home for Christmas, he gave me a watch. Wanting to know just where I stood, I asked him, “Is this a friendship gift or something more?”

“A friendship gift,” he replied. I was disappointed that our courtship was over, but appreciated his honesty. And I was thankful that through our brief relationship, Harold found the Lord. God also used me during that time to help bring about reconciliation between his mother and his grandmother.

The week after Harold returned to the Army base, a coworker knocked at my door and asked if I would type a term paper for a seminary student from her hometown. That was the night I met Gary Goodrich—the brown-eyed, brown-haired, soft-spoken guy who, three weeks later on Valentine’s Day, presented me with an engagement ring. And amazingly that was also the night Harold’s watch quit working.

One of my mother’s favorite sayings was, “God sometimes takes away the good to give us the better,” and that has been true in my life.

How about you? Have you lost something good out of your life this Christmas? Turn the situation over to the Lord and then sit back and wait for Him to give you something better.

Lord, I think of some Christmases when things were happening in my life I didn’t understand. But looking back, I see that Your hand was guiding me all along and You were in control. Thank You!

Looking for Christmas gifts: I have:

Celebrating Christmas with…Memories, Poetry and Good Food anthology—$20, $3 s&h

Grandmother, Mother and Me…Memories, Poetry and Good Food—anthology—$20, $3 s&h

Advent devotional book: Preparing Your Heart for Christmas—$4.95 on Amazon

For your writer friends: A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Book for Christian Writers”—$20, $3 s&h. Student edition—$15, $3 s&h

Also for writers: Motivational Moments—100 Devotionals for Writers and Speakers—$10, $3 s&h

For your gourmet friends: a Michigan Cookbook and an Ohio cookbook, $7 each, $2 s&h

For those who need encouragement: Healing in God's Time, story of Dave Clark, songwriter, who has 25 #1 songs including “Crucified with Christ,” ”Mercy Said No,” “Mercy Came Running." —$15, $2.50 s&h

For those who need help letting go of the past, The Freedom of Letting Go, $15, $2.50 s&h

See more information at: www.thewritersfriend.net

Guest Blog

A Brighter Future

Nancy Dobbins

It was Christmas. My husband was in prison. I cried a lot. I was constantly was thinking: How can I possibly forgive him? How can I ever live this down? How can I go on?”

That was twenty-three years ago. Last Sunday, tears filled my eyes as I fingered an Angel Tree ornament. I recalled how angry I’d felt 23 years earlier. Then I remembered all the people who had been the hands and feet of Jesus to me back then. They’d given me the courage to go on and truly forgive my husband.

As I stared at the Christmas tree filled with Project Angel Tree angels, I thought of the children who would accept the gifts. Would they feel angry and filled with shame like I had 23 years earlier? Would they take on the shame and guilt of their parent in prison? Would they think their friends hated them for what their mom or dad had done? Would they think, “I’ll just end up like my parent?”

As my eyes misted over, I thanked God for the bright future that my friends and family had instilled into me in the last 23 years. I scanned the gift wishes of the angels hanging on the tree and prayed, “Lord, help me choose one that will transform a child with Your love.”

My eyes danced when I found the gift wish, “Elmo or a musical toy.”

“Elmo! His laughter was so contagious six months earlier. I’d never played with him before then.”

So I bought Elmo along with a red gift bag. I smiled as I thought, “What better color to share the love of Jesus than the color of Jesus’ blood that bought our redemption?”

As I placed Elmo in the gift bag, I prayed, “Lord, let every peal of laughter from Elmo bring a bucket-load of God’s joy! Let the red fur of Elmo bring salvation to everyone who hears that contagious laughter!”

Laughter had healed Norman Cousins and in 1981 he wrote a book about it. But we have a much better gift than just the healing power of laughter. We have the ability to bring hope through restoration with Jesus. That’s what Project Angel Tree does. Mary Kay Beard started it in 1982. She was a former bank robber whose life was dramatically altered in prison by the gospel.

In the last 30 years, more than nine million children have been touched with this ministry. “Those millions of connections have laid the foundation for countless families [being] restored to one another and to their loving heavenly Father.”

Project Angel Tree is just one of many outreaches of Prison Fellowship Ministry. Other outreaches include a mentorship program and summer camp outreaches. Some churches, like Shiloh Christian Ministries in Sierra Vista, Arizona, also sponsor clothing giveaways, school backpack outreaches, Christmas parties, and monthly newsletter mailings.

Would you like to help a child find a brighter future? Project Angel Tree can help you do that. One way is to buy an angel tree gift. Another way is to ask your church to join Project Angel Tree. A third way is to donate to the program. Still a fourth way is to pray that God would bless everyone involved.

Would you like to join us in impacting shattered lives with the hope of the gospel?