Thanksgiving! We're LOVING Fall!

 

Thanksgiving cards went in the mail last Friday. Nope. Not to you; but to 70 people I may never meet: People serving time in prison who call Chattanooga home. When the blank Thankgiving cards arrived in the mail, I prayed that the Lord would provide at least 15 names signed on each card. For a prisoner to see a BUNCH of names, it would be a powerful visual that they are not forgotten. I thought that 15 names was a big ask, seeing as we're all still pretty isolated. Turns out 15 names wasn't too much to ask of God. In the last couple of weeks about 20 people signed them! My hairdresser did, while my color was processing. Yes. I cover the grey. Fifteen girls who live in an addiction recovery home run by our church signed. Below is a photo of a few who don't mind having their photo taken. There's more... There were some Covenant College girls who wanted to spread the stack of cards on a table in the dining hall one night last week. They'd planned to invite friends to come sign at dinnertime. Then, a bad Covid case quarantined all of the on campus students for the rest of the term! Only 4 roomates signed them. But that's okay! Two women invited me to their Bible Study groups. A high school girl who was fundraising door to door for her band stayed a few extra minutes to sign. Some of these people wrote verses or words of encouragement. They also learned more about caring for the prisoner. At the bottom of this email is a sampling of recent letters that came for me from Tennessee state prisons. So much hope! What are you most thankful for this week? Cameron called me last week to ask for Grandma's Orange Candied Yams recipe. it. He baked it for his "Friends Giving" last night. My mom hated those yams. But she faithfully made a huge batch every year because we all LOVE them! Every year in Asia we had guests or open house for Thanksgiving. Those orange candied yams always went fast. The stuffing, however, was the favorite among our Singaporean and Chinese friends! We're thankful for our first GORGEOUS fall, and for our supportive friends! Kimberly & Jim Creasman P.S. I put an update on the family below for those who missed our last eNews. A letter from William "It is inspiring to me, to see people like you..doing so much to reassure men and women behind the wall are certain that someone out there cares about us and we are not forgotten. That there is hope. Hope for reform. Hope of a brighter tomorrow. Hope of love and hope to laugh again." --Arthur D Arthur writes that he is reading his new Insider Bible free from Prison Fellowship, he's memorizing some verses in Colossians with me, and has his kids signed up for gifts from Angel Tree this year. from Michael from Kenneth If you missed our Family News last month: In September Tyler flew Cameron out to Columbia, South Carolina for a long weekend. We joined them for two of the days. This was thefirst time we'd been all together since my mom's memorial last September. Expect a happy Christmas card photo in your mail next month (if you don't get one, it means we don't have a correct address for you!). Jim is loving his trees, his dogs, American football, investing, giving, mentoring calls, and retirement! Kimberly is getting more connected with other NOVO ministries she can partner with. She's also learning the staff admin requirements that Jim did all these years (Bless you and Thank you JIM for the years you let me be FREE of that!). We both LOVE having a house! Tyler is investigating graduate schools in the US and abroad. The Army has him until Spring next year. After grad school he wants to work internationally for a government agency or an NGO. Also, Tyler has fallen in lovewith a nurse in Sydney, Australia. Sweet Keara Chan is a Singaporean/American gal who attended the same Christian High School as our boys. We all see that the Lord's hand is in their relationship. Even Cameron, who can't believe his big brother is so smitten! We don't know WHEN they'll have the chance to be physically together (thank God for news of a COVID vaccine!), but their courtship, so far, has been sweet. Lord we pray for Tyler and Keara. What are your plans for them? We pray you will to bring your justice and hope to the nations throught these third culture young adults. After layoffs in Austin, TX, Cameron found work with California Pizza Kitchen in Cedar Park, TX. He's a a positive and encouraging young man finding his way in the world.  We're looking at making a trip with Tyler and the dogs to see Cameron the week before Christmas. Happy, happy momma! And Thanksgiving in Atlanta with brother and family...

Hutchmoot ~ Homebound 2020

 

My contribution to the #beeconspiracy #hutchmoothomebound #hutchmoot quilt. If you're an artist who follows Jesus, you need to connect to The Rabbit Room folks. Their Hutchmoot annual gathering was amazing even as a virtual event.

http://about.rabbitroom.com

Things to be Hopeful about ~ November Newsletter

 

Things to be Hopeful about When we follow Jesus, we have a solid foundation that is not dependent upon the affairs of men, or the times we find ourselves in. The "Most High" Rules no matter what happens on November 3rd. We've met so many neighbors since Kimberly put these lawn signs up! The mother of one kid, dressed as a pastor for Halloween, took his picture next to the sign! So funny! We love this article from John Piper about what the most repeated commands of God are. "Be happy" and "Do not fear" are at the top of the list.  Don't get derailed as we watch election returns! "Fix your eyes on Jesus."(Hebrews 12:2). A mantra for me (Kimberly) the last few months has been “confound evil intentions." Absentee ballot fraud, hi-jinks at voting locations, "fake news." None of this is a problem for the Lord Most High. In a prayer from the Bible, Daniel 2: "Wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seaons. He sets up kings and deposes them." The purpose of the Lord WILL stand. Our hope is in him and not in a temporal government system.  Regardless of the election outcome, we believe that it is in our local arena that we can be a force for good. We pray for you too, that you will locally have the most impact for the good news of the gospel, in Word, deed and power. Prayer for the Creasmans... Since 1997 our financial supporters have partnered with us because we were living in Asia. Since 2015, Jim has been traveling there 4 months a year until covid hit. What are we doing in Chattanooga now? We're figuring this out! And it looks like we still get to come alongside other leaders who are also figuring out next steps... For instance: Last week we had a happy reunion with friends from international partnerships for China. I mean, really, what are the chances that an amazing Mainland Ch___ leader (whom Jim has partnered with for more than a decade) would be stuck in Chattanooga? Because of covid travel restrictions back to Ch__, "Mark" received a work permit from a foundation in Chattanooga. It looks like he will stay put for a couple of years and partner with believers in the US who are part of the Chinese diaspora. His focus will be "inspiring generosity and guidance to Chinese Churches." Pray and Invest Global, Act Local We find that our hearts are steadfast for the Gospel: That all people will have the opportunity for salvation through Jesus. Their lives will improve and they'll have purpose through him. Our hearts are still mostly for the underresourced world beyond the USA. Even with this eternal focus, we are also drawn to the issues of better education opportunities for the economically disadvantaged, ministry to prisoners, and effective recovery from addiction and trauma. While our hearts are still for God's Kingdom growth and strength globally (especially for SE Asia), we seek God's direction for where to invest and build his Kingdom locally. In the last 2 weeks, we've met with staff from The MaClellan Foundation, The Generosity Trust, Tennessee Charter Schools, and a few local outreaches.  You've walked with us through thick and thin... Family News: In September Tyler flew Cameron out to Columbia, South Carolina for the weekend. We crashed their party for Sunday night through Tuesday when Cameron flew back to Austin. This was the first time in a year that we were all together. Expect a happy Christmas card photo! As a family we are separated, but in the Lord our hearts are close.  Tyler is investigating graduate schools in the US and abroad. Post grad school he mostly wants to work internationally for a government agency or an NGO. Lord we pray for Tyler and Keara's future together and what your plans for them are to bring your justice and hope to the nations. After layoffs in Austin, TX, Cameron found work with California Pizza Kitchen in Cedar Park, TX. As a young man finding his way in the world, he is gaining maturity and confidence. He is a positive and encouraging young man with many strengths. These recent years of "adulting" are bringing maturity and discipline. With so much gratitude and fondness for your friendship and partnership, Jim & Kimberly Creasman Bi-Partisan Prayer for the Elections: Lord Please grant... 1.  that ALL Christians would pray, and continue to pray, for our leaders, regardless of who is elected. 2. us to lead quiet, peaceable lives, 3. us a government that rewards the good and punishes the evil, 4. this nation a fair and uncontested election, 5. we would vote, and be given moral clarity in our choices when we cast our ballots, 6. that "We the People" would have a "more perfect union" by your grace and our obedience to you, 7. that your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. AMEN. We really would love to know: Where has God been guiding you to "be the change you wish to see in the world?"  Reply and let us know how he has led despite the challenges of this crazy COVID-19 year!   We CAN change our local communites. I love to hear how you are doing that in your circles of influence. Kimberly continues to dig into learning about Criminal Justice. She's devouring Outrageous Justice, the free ebook and a 6 week small group curriculum from Prison Fellowship. She's still writing for Chattanooga Endeavors, supporting prisoners in their hope for a successful "second chance." (Here's another inmate letter I have permission to share). Last month, Covenant College students joined Kimberly in signing encouraging Halloween cards to those serving time in prison who call Chattanooga home. Another 50 Thanksgiving cards have arrived and Kimberly's been invited to some groups to get them signed by neighbors of these prisoners who call Chattanooga home. October 29th at 11am...  This was the view from our backyard! Not even photoshopped!