News December 7, 2023
News from Good News Ministries:
- What are your dreams for Christmas?
- Advent Video Reflection: The Joy of Recognizing Jesus
- Plus great links to great content!
What are your dreams for Christmas?
This year, the approach of Christmas is, for many of us, filled with difficulties, challenges, and disappointments. Maybe you’re suffering from an illness and you don’t have the energy to do your normal preparations for Christmas. Maybe you have loved ones who have left the faith and even don’t want to join you for the holiday. Maybe the bad economy is making you fearful about spending money on presents and charitable giving.
For Ralph and me, our biggest challenge this Advent is to learn God’s blessings in the ailments that have been keeping us mostly home-bound. If it were not for Good News Ministries and the joy of serving countless people via the internet with the Good News of the Catholic Faith, I’d be retiring, feeling older than my 68 years, too tired to get off the couch. But knowing the calling that God still has on my life, I push ahead. I’ve spent several weeks in physical therapy (because scoliosis and an aging spine have been crippling my active lifestyle.) Now I’m graduating to a personal trainer at the gym to further improve my health.
One of the things that keeps me going is finding out what God is doing; for example, see this report from Stella in Nigeria:
“I am grateful to God for the life He has given me and the opportunity to be transformed spiritually and physically through Good News Ministries. I am joyful for being able to receive the awesome daily readings and reflections from GNM for more than 5 years now. I thank God for Terry’s crew whom God is using to reach out to people in this global hard time. Many have received succor from this ministry through the word of God and have changed lives to love God beyond measure. May God bless you all as I continually pray for your team and all who are subscribers to this ministry and for those who want to be part of this ministry.”
Something else that keeps me going is the encouragement that comes from supporters. I cannot run Good News Ministries alone — which is true now more than ever before. Supporters make sure we have a wonderful staff: Graciela (Assistant Director), Kathy (Donor Relations), Lily (Social Media Manager), and Tina (Accountant).
Sometimes God’s blessings don’t come through the miracles we pray for. Instead, God blesses us through people who understand us, cheer us on, and help us survive the difficulties of life. Joy doesn’t always come from what makes us happy. Instead, joy comes from a Savior who arrives in a surprising way, hidden in something as small as a baby.
Please give your support. Help us raise $40,000. Visit gnm.org/donate.
Advent Video Reflection:
The Joy of Recognizing Jesus
In your journey through Advent, examine: How much does the joy of Christ’s Spirit affect your daily life? The joy that comes from recognizing the presence of Jesus is God’s Christmas gift to us. It’s a joy that’s meant to last all year.
The verses of Luke 1:30-44 shows Elizabeth and her unborn son, John, reacting to the nearness of the unborn Christ. We know that Elizabeth immediately understood that Mary was pregnant with the Lord, because this Gospel passage says she was filled with the Holy Spirit. But how could the fetal John understand? How could he leap for joy while still in the womb? Watch this Advent video reflection to find out!
gnm-media.org/joy-recognizing-jesus
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.