My Christmas message to you!

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of sharing the thoughts below with the ladies in Valdosta Georgia. What a beautiful evening we shared together celebrating the coming of our Savior into this world. Thank you ladies for your love and fellowship and especially for your listening ears. I was so blessed by you!
Allow me to share this Christmas thought with you:
"I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people" the angel in Luke 2 exclaimed! And, my friend, listen to the news the angel brings: "For there is born unto you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Though these are the most familiar words in the Christmas story - seen on billboards and Christmas cards - I would like to ask you this? Have you received them as YOUR words? Have you received Jesus as your Savior? Not just to save you from the eternal consequences of your sins, but to save you to live your life to the fullest extent in the day to day. In Luke 4, Jesus says that He has come to heal the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom to the captives, recover the sight of the blind, and set at liberty those who are oppressed." Would that be you? If so, why not open up your heart and receive your Savior today! Appropriate the good tidings of great joy for yourself for unto YOU this day a Savior is born!
Merry Christmas to you, my friend!
love, margaret

AUTHOR'S RECEPTION AND NATIONAL WOMEN'S FORUM

Dear Friends,
What a joy to revisit the other LifeWay authors and to be a part of the author's reception, which served as an opening for the National Women's Forum in Nashville. Nearly 900 women from all over the U.S. and other countries converged to share what God is doing among them, personally and corporately among their women. I know of no other training offered anywhere that offers women the height and depth and breadth that the women's forum does. Many women came alone and most in small groups from churches everywhere. I got to see some old friends and make tons of new ones. It is so easy to do that when the Spirit unites us as women in the body of Christ. Please plan to join us next year for this happening!
You will be blessed from your head to your toes and will leave with a renewed heart!
love, margaret

MY EXPECTATIONS MET!

This past weekend, it was my privilege to participate in a ladies conference in Lubbock, Texas. Priscilla Shirer was the keynote speaker and my heart was challenged, confronted, and cleansed through the Biblical teaching I heard.
It was my joy to teach on "Heart Friends" with my co author and friend, Shirley Moses, and on "Pursuing Holiness", a lifelong passion of my heart.
The blessings came from the hearts of the women I met and had the opportunity to speak with and pray over.
I am generally flying back to Alabama on Sat. afternoons, but this time, I had to stay over on Sat. night affording me the opportunity to go to dinner with some special new friends from the church. Thank you for the food and fellowship.
This week I covet your prayers. God is doing a work in my heart cutting away some dead flesh and it is proving to be a painful process. The plea to "Create in me a clean heart" often invites the knife to be applied to it. Painfully but never without purpose does our Lord perform His work!
Thanks for sharing these moments with me!
love, margaret

A HUGE TIME IN TEXAS!

Ross and I returned last Sunday to Houston for our 3 months checkup and Ross received a great report - nothing new or suspicious was detected concerning his squamos cell (head and neck) cancer. We have been blessed with miracle upon miracle as we have fought this 7 year illness. Through 4 radiation treatments, 4 surgeries, and 2 chemo treatments, Ross has continued to work. Thank you God for this continual healing and thank you, too, for every prayer uttered on our behalf.
Ross flew home on Wednesday as I was flying on to Dallas, to drive to Lufkin, Texas for a weekend conference. God truly blessed the 300 women who gathered to praise Him and experience His presence. What a joyous time we had doing just that!
They tell me "things are always bigger in Texas. Maybe that's why I always manage to have such a huge time there! So huge in fact, that I am returning to the state again this weekend!
And I'm expecting another huge time!

Sweet Carolina

Ross and I were privileged to have a few days on our own. We stopped in and visited the grandchildren (we visited their parents, too) before heading to the hills. What a great time we had just spending time together roaming through the hills of North Carolina.
I was speaking at the Sweet Fragrance Women's Conference in Hendersonville, North Carolina. And what a sweet spirit was there! God really blessed and we experienced His presence and power throughout the weekend. Thanks for allowing me to be a small part of His work!
love, margaret

Farmville Friends!

God has created us with a "with it" need. For Him first and secondly for the people within His body.
Well, I got my needs met as I gathered with my friends in Farmville Baptist Church Monday evening. God met with us and we met with one another. It is a privilege and a joy to be a part of the family of God and meet relatives at these reunions!
Thanks Bill Cannon for inviting me to meet your flock!
Last week, I had the honor of serving my little twins a hearty dose of love and lots of sustenance. Both Maggie and William are edible! Jackson and I played and laughed and shared hugs and kisses. Now that's "the good life."
My daughter in law is an amazing mommy! I am so proud of her and her mothering skills.
It makes me so thankful that I began praying for the mates of my 2 sons when they were in elementary school. God truly honored those prayers - my 2 daughter in laws are gifts from God to my sons and to this family!
Thanks for listening.
love, margaret

Blessings Upon Blessings

It was my absolute privilege to serve some precious people in Las Vegas, Nevada the weekend after my twins were born. What a receptive group of women we found in Nevada. When women are anxious to grasp all that God has for them; He is so faithful to show up! Thank you, sweet friends, for the privilege of watching God speak to you and seeing you respond!
God was gracious to allow me to arrive shortly after their birth, make the trip to Vegas that weekend, hop off the plane in Atlanta on the return trip for my week at home with brother Jackson, Maggie, and William. Oh yea, their mom and dad were there, also. What a blessing to be a part of such a precious homecoming. Mom came home on Friday and the babies came home on Sunday just in time to greet Mimi! The babies are fine! Everyone is adjusting but don't we spend a lifetime doing just that!
This weekend was a time away with the ladies of my home church. My daughter in law was the vessel God used to provide us with a perfectly coordinated bus trip to Nashville to be a part of Deeper Still. Our women loved it! Repeatedly I heard, "That was my very favorite conference ever." Thank you Lifeway, Priscilla, Beth and Kay Arthur for your vision for such a conference!
Blessings upon blessings! I do pray that describes your life right now. Our God is gracious, loving, and able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can ever ask or imagine. Are you in need of a blessing today? Just ask for it my friend!
love, margaret

MAJOR PRAISE REPORT:
Maggie Grace and William Ross made their debut Monday at 5:40 via c-section. William Ross weighed in at 5 lbs. 12 oz. and little Maggie at 4 lbs. 15 oz. Both babies are doing well at this time. William Ross has dark curly hair and Maggie is fair with blond hair. (I think that means she looks like me but I may be jumping to conclusions here). Brother Jackson does not have a clue about his siblings yet since children are not allowed in the NICU and pictures alone would not suffice him. I should have pictures soon so that I can do some major flashing! Thank you for every prayer that you said for these little ones! Ross and I arrived just minutes after the babies were born and are spending the night at Brandon and Christy's tonight with Jackson.
Today I personally took the babies temperature, changed a diaper and held each one before heading back to Alabama. What an awesome privilege.
love, margaret

Fun-Filled Days

Thank you ladies of Holmes Creek Baptist Church for welcoming me into the midst of you. What a beautiful sight to see the fellowship room filled with the love and joy of Jesus. You did fill it! I had such a blast sharing God's Word with you and worshipping with Michele Holloway as well. We do have such a great time being together, even if we did get lost on the return trip on Friday evening!
Thank you for responding to the Lord and thank you for listening as "ones being taught". Not by me, but by the Holy Spirit through me! You shared about how your lives were changed. That's Him!
I am already missing you, Heather, and my other "new best friends."
The twins are keeping us guessing, but for now, it seems that they will probably arrive on Monday or Tuesday of next week. I surely am glad that God knows their birthday and that He had it planned from the start! I am praying that He will favor me by allowing me to be there!
I will be in Columbus this Sat. speaking and will leave for Las Vegas (honestly to teach) the next Friday.
Days in Christ are so not boring! They are rich with meaning and purpose and joy!
I am reading a great book that has lit my fire further and answered a question or two for me - "Holy Discontent" by Bill Hybels.
Looking for a Bible study with your name already written on the inside flap? I have found one - "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter.
Guard your hearts, friend, by filling it with the good things of Jesus!
love, margaret

What a blessing was mine to share God's Word with the women at Woodlawn Methodist Church in Panama City Beach, Florida this past weekend. Thanks for the privilege to get to know you and learn to love you. I always feel that I leave a bit of my heart in places where I feel the love of God shed abroad through the women who attend such a conference. Though I can not remember your names, let me assure you that your faces will stay before me in the days ahead and I will be faithful to pray for you as God brings you to my mind.
love, margaret

Great news!

Ross returned to Houston this week for his 3-month checkup. After several tests and 3 doctor visits, he heard the great news we were praying for - "everything looks fine - I see no reason to be concerned."
Thank you for praying and believing with us for his continued healing.
I spoke to a most precious group of ladies at Paxton Baptist Church this evening- they were appreciative and hungry for the Word! We enjoyed a spiritual feast!
The babies are still thriving and growing inside their mommy's tummy. We are thankful for that "staying power" God is providing for them.
I hope you are enjoying these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer with family and friends!
love, margaret

AWESOME CALIFORNIA TRIP

What a joy to be in Sacramento California this past weekend teaching my book Heart Friends, Holiness, and Digging Deeper into God's Word! Thank you ladies for being so eager to learn and soak up the truths of God. Your desire to grow and go on with God was so apparent and that is fuels my passion to teach His Word. Thank you too for allowing God to "anoint your ears to hear" and interpret even through this Southern accent. I left a piece of my heart in Sacramento!
I came home with many God stories in my heart. I will feast on them in the days and months ahead.
The twins are still intact in Christy's womb - I will travel to Atlanta next week for a couple of days. I will be able to accompany her to a doctor's appointment and view those babies for myself. I hope I can contain myself when I actually view William Ross and Margaret Grace!
Thank you for your continued prayers for these babies, their brother Jackson, Mommy and Daddy.
love, margaret

I thank God for every remembrance I have of women who God has placed in my life. I am amazed to receive emails from you saying that God has just placed me on your heart to pray for me. Prayer is truly the greatest gift we can offer for one another.
Many of you ask me how you can pray.
My son and daughter in law are expecting twins - a boy and a girl, William Ross and Margaret Grace (Maggie). Now isn't that special! Christy is confined to total bedrest until the twins are born. She is 25 weeks at this time. Jackson, the 2 1/2 year brother is not understanding this. Thank you for praying for safe delivery, Jackson's peace, and Brandon's strength to juggle his obligations.
I will be traveling to Sacramento California this weekend to teach. Please pray for safe and on time travel.
My ladies class has begun a study on "Telling Your Story." If you are interested in pursuing such a project within a small group of your own and you would like information, please feel free to email me.
Thank you for sharing these moments with me. I pray that God will lavishly pour out His blessings upon your life today!
love, margaret

What an exciting time in the Lord I have enjoyed over the last two weeks!
How blessed I was to be in Cincinnati Ohio meeting with the women at Friendship Baptist Church sharing with them "Extreme Makeover: Heart Edition". Thank you ladies for the flowers, the new friendships I made, the convertible ride to the church, and especially for opening your hearts to the Lord and responding as you did. What a blessing to see the altar full of women doing business with the maker of our "new hearts". I will remember you fondly in my mind and in my prayers.
Last week held new and different adventures for me - in Nashville, doing a live webcast and an online training course on Heart Friends. Doing the things we have never done before surely stretches us, but no matter how far He stretches us, we do not come undone, and amazingly we need the repeated exercise of stretching over and over. It is the way we grow up without growing old. Sometimes I feel like a toy my boys had growing up called "Stretch Armstrong". He could be stretched across the room, but never too far. God knows our stretching needs and just how far we can go. He is always orchestrating opportunities for stretching and growing!

Dear Friends,
What fun this is going to be for me.
Many of you have inquired about the health of my hubby, Ross. We returned from a 6-week stay in Houston on Feb. 14. He returned to work the day after returning home (as an accountant - his clients were waiting at the door). He has finished another tax season and doing well.
Thanks to Sagemont Baptist Church for your prayers and ministry to us when we were in Houston for return evaluations. The treatment is deemed successful at this time.
I was blessed to lead a retreat at the beach for the ladies of my own home church this past weekend, serving under the direction of our WM leader, Tonya Norris (who happens to be my precious daughter in law). That, in itself, was an honor. God so richly blessed and I do not believe a single lady left without a "changed heart."
I continue to covet your prayers and thank you for them immensely.
loving you,
margaret

Testing One

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