News December 5, 2024
News from Good News Ministries:
- The Advent of Greater Trust
- This week’s recommended video: Bill Snyder, the future of GNM
- Plus great links to great content!
The Advent of Greater Trust
“All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord” (Romans 8:28). That’s been one of my most important, most necessary, most favorite scriptures throughout my adult life. And it’s sure been put to the test this year.
Now that we’re in a new liturgical year, it’s time for new beginnings and new growth. There’s no greater gift we can give to God than our trust when life is challenging. It rates higher than love, because although we can love God without fully trusting him, we cannot trust God without fully loving him.
Advent is a season of igniting our trust through faith and love. Picture an Advent wreath in a darkened area inside your soul — in the dark it’s very hard to see the trustworthiness of God. As the weeks go by, listen to the scriptures and let them light each candle, increasing the brightness. This will ignite greater trust in God and his very wise plans.
When our trust is great, it’s a lot easier to make sacrifices for the sake of love. Conversely, if we choose to make sacrifices before we have that trust, God steps in and increases our trust. Sacrifices fill us with the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. During Advent, sacrifices connect us more deeply to the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph who gave up everything to give birth to the Savior.
As we decorate, as we choose gifts, and as we bake (or buy) Christmas cookies, we give of ourselves for the sake of others. And when the giving is a sacrifice, we can count on all things working together for our good — but also for the good of others.
Our world programs us to protect ourselves from sacrificial giving. What are you doing this Advent to overcome that message?
In the new year, Good News Ministries will need more support so that new team member Bill Snyder can be trained to take on more and more administrative duties so that I, at age 70, can retire from it and focus on writing and podcasting. I’ve got more books in the queue and a miraculous prayer podcast series in the wings and no time to do anything about it.
So please keep this in mind and give generously to the Christmas fundraiser. This year we need to raise $55,000. Trust God’s spirit of generosity to work through you. Trust God to take good care of you after you make sacrificial giving a priority of your love for God.
Visit gnm.org/donate now to check on the progress bar and to participate in the mission of spreading God’s love and increasing your faith and the faith of others. Thank you!
Bill Snyder, the future of GNM
Meet Bill Snyder, the new Media Director and Administrative Assistant for Good News Ministries. He has moved off the Board of Directors so that he can become a member of the staff.
Strategically, Bill is part of succession planning. If anything happens to me, or when I retire from administrative work, Bill will be ready to keep Good News Ministries going.
In this video, he shares how and why he joined up with Good News Ministries and how important the support from donors is for the continuance of our mission. See gnm-media.org/meet-bill-snyder-new-media-director.
Write a comment to welcome him!
Good News Prayer Room:
Use our collection of Catholic prayers designed with your needs in mind. They will give you hope and a stronger connection to God’s love and support. What do you need prayers for today?
Visit gnm.org/prayers.
Post your prayer requests @ gnm.org/post-a-prayer.
Good News WordBytes:
WANT MORE FAITH and HOPE in TROUBLED TIMES? WE’RE HERE for YOU! Choose from a variety of topics on our website of Catholic Faith-building articles. What do you need today?
Visit wordbytes.org.
God bless you!
Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.
How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
Your servant in Christ,
Terry Modica, Executive Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org
Find this and past issues at gnm.org/newsletter. Please share what will minister to others.