The Aroma Is In The Air
From: Sam & Debbie Wood, FAMILY FORTRESS MINISTRIES
SUGGESTED READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 2:14-16
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 2 Corinthians 2:15
Christmas is a time when our spirits are lifted not only through the exchange of gifts but also through the wonderful aromas from scrumptious goodies being baked in the kitchen. The smell of sugar cookies, pumpkin chiffon pie, apple cake, gingerbread, brownies and a lot of other great holiday treats permeate the entire house. This aroma reaches out to every one of us and says "taste me!" After sampling these goodies you can't help but tell others how good they are and also give hugs and kisses to the cook for her labor of love.
The apostle Paul reminds the church at Corinth of the many difficulties experienced during his time of ministry (2 Corinthians 2:1-13). In verse fourteen he transitions from the depressing to the positive and offers thanks to God! Even though he is experiencing difficult times, he can still triumph in Christ. He pictures this victory in Christ by using the imagery of a triumphant Roman processional. In the processional, sweet smelling incense would be offered up to the Roman gods for their victory. The observer who caught this aroma in the air knew immediately what it indicated. Similarly, Paul is stating that when difficulties and depressing times arise, believers can spread the sweet aroma of victory in Jesus Christ to everyone in their presence. The aroma of Christ silently but powerfully compels the lost to taste Christ and see that He is good! Tasting Christ will fill and empower the soul with the bread of life that only God can give. What better Christmas present could be given than the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ flowing from every believer who celebrates His birth!
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Christmas Humor
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Proud of my Country
From: June Arrington Wood, Trenton, GA
This time of year always seems to bring out the best in us. Our joy of giving to others and being thankful for what we have. One of our precious eleven grandchildren recently submitted an essay at his school that he sent to me to read. I try to get them all to let me see how smart they are and a few of them send me articles once in a while. Simon lives in Roanoke, VA and is twelve years old. I was impressed with this essay because we don't hear many young people speaking proudly of our country today. I hope you enjoy it this month in place of my article. God bless!
Proud of my Country
By Simon Wood
Even if you were new to America, you could look around and see the hardships the people of this country have overcome together. We never take any sacrifices for granted, whether it is a man sacrificing his life in a war, or a simple farmer giving food and shelter to a man who has nothing. We are a mixture of many different nationalities, and if one of us gets hurt, we all do. I am proud of my country.
Primarily, we have gone from twelve colonies to fifty states in a matter of years. We are only able to have done this thanks to the wonderful and intelligent leaders America manages to produce, such as George Washington. He started as a boy and slowly earned and proved himself with many responsibilities. He became the commander of the Continental Army when it fought against immeasurable odds. He became our very first president and sent the country on its way, just as a loving parent raises a child and when the time comes, sends her out into the world. For this he was dubbed "The Father of our Country."
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Glass of Milk
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said ... "Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Many years later that same young woman became critically ill.
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Preparation! Important? Webster's dictionary defines preparation as, "The condition of being prepared; readiness…prepared for a special purpose."
For over 11 years we have been using two words to describe steps towards this readiness: "Trained and Equipped."
We have employed these two words when gathering National pastors and leaders in a three day conference. It's purpose? Preparation!
Preparing the National pastor to return to his local church with a "readiness" to prepare his congregation to become lay evangelists who present the Gospel. For many of those who hear; it will be their very first time to hear of our wonderful SAVIOR!
This embodies the WITNESS Project, the international division of David Wood Ministries. In these 11 years, by "training" and "equipping" some 36,500 National Pastors and leaders, in excess of 2 million lay evangelists are active in over 52 countries, provinces and states.
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One Snowy
Christmas Eve
By S. Omar Barkers
Twas the night before Christmas and out on the ranch
The pond was froze over and so was the branch.
The snow was piled up belly-deep to a mule;
The kids were all home on vacation from school,
And happier young folks you never did see,
Just all sprawled around a-watching TV.
Then suddenly some time around eight o'clock
There came a surprise that gave them a shock:
The power went off, the TV went dead!
When Grandpa came in from out in the shed
With an armload of wood, the house was all dark.
"Just what I expected," they heard him remark.
"Them REA wires must be down from the snow.
Seems sorter like times on the ranch long ago."
"I'll bring up some candles," said Mom."With their light
And the fireplace, I reckon we'll make out all right."
The teen-agers all seemed enveloped in gloom,
Then Grandpa came back from a trip to his room,
Uncased his old fiddle and started to play
that old Christmas song about bells on a sleigh.
Mom started to sing and the first thing they knew
Both Pop and the kids were all singing it, tool
They sang Christmas carols, they sang Holy Night,
their eyes all-a-shine in the ruddy firelight.
They played some charades Mom recalled from her youth,
And Pop read a passage from God's Book of Truth.
They stayed up till midnight, and would you believe
Those youngsters agreed 'twas a fine Christmas Eve!
Grandpa rose early, some time before dawn,
And when the kids awakened, the current was on.
"The REA sure got the line repaired quick,"
said Grandpa—and no one suspected his trick:
Last night, for the sake of some old-fashioned fun,
He had pulled the main switch—the ol' son-of-a-gun!
—From The Western Horseman
CLICK HERE to print these meetings
December 3rd 2011
21st Century Soul Winning Seminar
December 4th Sunday Only
December 5th Faith In
Action Presentation
Pastor Matt Nettesheim
Grace Baptist Temple
Chesapeake, VA
December 18, 2011
Sunday Only
John Hamilton
New Life Baptist Church
Columbia, SC
January 1, 2012
Israel in Prophecy
Marc Deloach
Albermarle Baptist church
Charlosttesville, VA
January 8, 2012
Local Church Crusade
Brian Tibbs
Charleston Independent Church
Charleston, IN
January 15, 2012
Sunday Only
Liberty Baptist Church
Chickamauga, GA
India Mission's Trip
January 16 - 25th, 2012
January 27, 2012
Sunday School Training
January 29th Sunday Only
Dr. Ken McCormick
Tri-City Baptist Temple
Galdston, OR
If you would like more information about
Dr. Wood coming to your church please
call our office at 706-657-6043
Ext. 15
The Tablecloth
The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.
They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 they were ahead of schedule and just about finished.
On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.
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From: Unknown Author
I had never been a golfer. I was asked to go by a customer about sixteen years ago. I was hesitant about going but he told me how much fun it was and convinced me to "give it a try." The course was close by and after nine holes, I was hooked. I scheduled two more games that week.
It was not long until I knew I was going to get seriously involved in this sport and it was then I decided to purchase better clubs. My brother-in-law told me, "If you enjoy the game this much, you should take some lessons before you get too many bad habits." That was good advice. I called a local pro and set up a schedule for some lessons. After I had been playing a few months, I went to Florida to a golf school for five days that consisted of three hours of classes, three hours on the range and two or more hours of lessons per day. It was a long week but these lessons helped my golf game tremendously and finally, I was able to break 90.
That is how it all started for me. I remember trying to break 90, then 80, then trying to shoot par, then; better than par. By the way, I am still working on the latter two.
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REPORT FROM PENNSYLVANIA
From: Pastor Cartwright
Hello, David! I wanted to let you know more about some of the miracles God did last night at the Crucifixion Service. 1. One man who came forward on the 2nd half of your invitation was from Haiti. He and his wife have been in our church about three years. She has a strong testimony for the Lord; he was from a strong Catholic background and would never raise his hand in the invitations that I would give that he knew for sure that he was going to heaven. Though he said he was saved, I think that he was still depending on his good works to get to heaven. Well, last night he came forward to receive this wonderful gift of salvation! Praise God! This is a mighty miracle of grace as he was always almost obstinate in his refusal to budge on his Catholic doctrines.
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It may be difficult to believe, but rather than drawing us closer to God, sometimes Christmas actually draws us away! 
Dear Prayer Partners: "Sing unto the LORD a new song and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. " 
