Christmas Blessings from Women of PASSIONS International Ministries!

We have a special gift for you this year!  We are absolutely thrilled to announce the beginning of a new ministry venture. 

For quite some time we have wanted to provide something that will bring you the best opportunities for encouragement, inspiration and spiritual enrichment all wrapped up in one!

On the 15^th of every month a new issue of “Journey” will be made public!  With contributing authors (perhaps you have something to share in a future issue) and inspirational material from our Senior Editor, Jeanice McDade, you’re guaranteed to be blessed!

Here is a brief overview of our first issue.  If you like, however, simply go to Journey~Women of PASSIONS Ezine and check it out yourself!  You will need to create an account and log in each time you visit.  Subscriptions are free but for marketing purposes we need to track our readers.

And, speaking of marketing, if you have a business or ministry you’d like to advertise on this site, be sure to let us know.  We need you!  Simply check out the Advertising section on the website!

We pray this Christmas season will be a wonderful time of reflection on the gift of Grace and Mercy born to us all wrapped up in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger over 2000 years ago.  We have much to celebrate in the advent of our Lord, the Word made flesh sent to dwell among us, bringing Redemption and Salvation through His own precious, pure, and holy shed blood.

Have a blessed Christmas!  We’re grateful for your love and prayerful support.  We send our greetings in the Name of the Reason for the Season … JESUS, the Son of the Living God!

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

Passionately serving Him,

Jan Ross, President

Women of PASSIONS International Ministries

P. O. Box 36

Grove City, OH  43123

Inside “Journey”

Welcome to our first issue of "Journey"!  Be sure to bookmark this page and return often.  We pray you will be blessed, encouraged, and inspired to pursue a closer relationship with Christ, the "Reason for the Season"!

We decided to do something special for our first issue that would be an extra blessing to each of our readers.  We asked writers from FaithWriters.com to submit stories for our feature story.  The stories were submitted to volunteer judges and they chose Chosen  by Terri Tiffany.  We pray you will enjoy this inspirational story with its setting in a modern-day dilemna.  It proves once again that God speaks to us through personal challenges!

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season”, a common phrase heard and seen around this time of the year. Take a moment to consider just what that phrase means to us this Christmas season.  Jeanice McDade shares her heart and you're SURE to hear her passion in her 'voice' as she contemplates the Reason for the Christmas season--Jesus!   

There is a special song--a modern classic-- that has gained acceptance by both secular and religious recording artists.  "Mary Did You Know" by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greened poses some questions that makes one think about the Child born in a stable so long ago.  Jan Ross wrote an article considering just what Mary did know ... Mary, What DID You Know?  We're sure you will be challenged to consider Mary's approach to all that happened.

Mark E. Hardgrove, M.Div., shares his study on Mary.  If you will take the time to read it, you will find a great deal of insight into the custom and culture of the day.  The article probes into the lives of Mary and Joseph to give the reader a greater understanding of what it meant to Mary to be chosen as the mother of Israel's long-anticipated Messiah.

A most appropriate devotional article for this season was submitted by David Miller entitled Angels Witness of God's Human Birth.  David takes us through Hebrews 1 and Luke 2 as we take a look at the Christmas story from the angels' point of view.

But what's a Christmas without a special gift?  Carolyn Drebert shares a personal testimony of God's grace through a special gift He brought into her family in her story, Christmas Blessings.  We're sure you will enjoy this true story!

Because most of our readers are women (sorry, men!), we are featuring a section entitled, "Women in Ministry".  Amanda Coffel wrote an article about Amy Carmichael.  What a blessing this dedicated woman was as she gave of herself so freely to minister to those most desperately in need.  Amanda is one of our teen writers--we look forward to more articles from this talented young lady!

Well, that's just a quick summary of what's inside Journey this month--and, there so much more!  With a word from Kenya and an introduction to India, teen devotional, a child's "recipe" for Christmas ornament ... so much to read!  And, you're bound to laugh at our Family Fitness Corner as we contemplate our dreams of a "Wide Christmas"! 

Please use the links in the margin on the December 2006 page to access the articles, stories, testimonies, devotionals, and studies.  We pray you will be blessed, encouraged, strengthened, and challenged through our first issue of "Journey"!

If you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see in future issues, please be sure to write and let us know.  Use the Feedback form to submit your comments and suggestions--we need to hear from you!  We are committed to do whatever we can to make "Journey" a source of great spiritual enrichment for you!

We pray that this new ministry outreach of Women of PASSIONS International Ministries will become an important influence in your life.  With solid Bible teaching and inspirational articles, we believe that your life will be challenged and encouraged and enriched with the power of the Word of God as He becomes alive in your heart.

God's richest blessings,

Jeanice McDade
Senior Editor, Journey

PS: Please feel free to forward this letter to your friends and family members!