Christmas Greeting

"Bless you in the name of Jesus, whose birth we celebrate!" You've journeyed with us these decades of ministry, and together we've seen so many lives changed by Jesus! This Christmas we are celebrating the fruitfulness of our Vietnamese Christian friends. So many more new followers of Jesus now have lives of purpose and eternal hope. Jim & Kimberly in Chattanooga, TN  |  Tyler in Columbia, SC  |  Cameron in Austin, TX Prayer for this Christmas in V___ Lord God, we believe you are the only hope for this world you created. We believe Emmanuel is with us & Jesus saves. We pray for the church events all around this globe this coming week. We ask you to reveal your powerful presence and transforming glory. Even to those outside of church gatherings, we pray that you would reveal yourself. Draw them to repentance and new life in your light. Help those still in darkness see, hear and respond to your offer of meaningful and hopeful life! As we gather in our homes, or reach out across the miles, draw us nearer to our families and friends. Give us wisdom in how to love one another. Grow our capacity and vision to care for the broken-hearted or marginalized. Encourage our hearts to be confident that in all things, you are with us, and you alone save. ~ Amen. With gratitude for your partnership, Jim & Kimberly Creasman Jesus is the Word of God to us. When God spoke by sending his son, he told us: EMMANUEL - "God is with us" JESUS - "God is salvation" Thank you for joining us in bringing the light and love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who haven't heard..   "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (The Bible, New Testament. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10)

The Christmas Letter to 35 prisoners on a waiting list

They had signed up for someone to write to them...

I just got off the phone with the birthmother of my younger son. It was an open adoption when he was born in 1996, and we've stayed in touch. She's now in a half-way house and will be released back to where her family lives in mid-January. She seems in a good head space, and I was so happy to catch up.

I told her about discovering Stephen's Table. This is the group you met awhile back, and signed up to have someone write with you (which may not have happened yet). She affirmed that getting mail makes a difference. She affirmed that there are a lot of people who don't get any visitors or mail. 

 

Even before I got this "thumbs up" from her, I've really enjoyed writing with three guys this year. Last month I met with the Chattanooga Endeavors staff to learn more about their work. I heard that they are short on volunteers to write to those people who've requested it. In the new year, I want to help them find some more volunteers. But for this month, I wanted to stand in the gap and to send you something.

 

Since November, I've been thinking a lot about you, and others who are spending the holidays in prison. The Christmas songs tell about this being "the most wonderful time of the year," but it can also be a really tough time for many. With all the traditions and hype, it compounds sadness for those of us who are having a tough time. 

 

There have been a few years for me feeling blue during this season. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus and I'm a Christian ~ I have every reason to feel festive December! However, whether it was living overseas & away from extended family (for 17 years), or a rebellious season for one of my children (since 2009), or the death of a parent (2015, 2016, and 2019), there have been some sad holiday seasons for me. 

 

I've never been in prison, though. So, I can't really know what it is like for you. I wanted to write to you and tell you that you are not forgotten, and that someone is thinking about you! I'm sure I'm not the only one. I don't know you personally, but here are some things I know about you:

 

·       You are part of the human race, and valuablebecause you are uniquely and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

·       You are skilled. (You can read this, can't you? So many in the world today still can't read!)

·       You have the capacity to learn and take on more skills.

·       You are able to problem solve. 

·       You are creative. Yes. Everyone is creative...even if you've not realized it yet.

·       You have the capacity to choose to think positively when negative thoughts enter your mind. And then,

·       You can influence others for good.

 

So, there you have it. A short list of some of the powerful, valuable things about you!

Note 8/29/20 ~ This letter  got a bunch of responses. I wasn't expecting it, but now 13 are writing to me. 

Some of their letters are so touching, or sad, or earnest. 

I was hoping to spend my time recruiting more volunteers this year, 

but Covid has made that difficult! 

But it also has given me more extra time. 

Came across a sweet little slice of parenting. From 2018:

A selection from my letter to Tyler for Mothers Day 2018:

...the most touching thing that happened as your mom in recent years was your call to me the other week. 

You knew you’d hurt my feelings a couple weeks ago. 

You'd said that you didn’t want to date some nice girl from South Carolina a second time because, “She was a Southern-Belle version of you mom.”   

Weeks had gone by since this hurtful report on your dating life, and you pursued a private phone conversation with me. 

You wanted to let me know that you truly think I’m pretty swell. What I heard on that call was basically when you get your career path gets settled, and you had some more bachelor life dating-just-for-fun out of your system, [and perhaps a little therapy for working out your emotional kinks from being raised by perfect parents] you’d really like to find a girl half as good as me.

Well done. I promptly went and hung your pictures back up on the walls.  

What a strange season this is where your life has had so many new experiences to fill us in on, while my reporting from the California home front, feels like a never-ending loop of the same kind of news.   

But this time of helping my folks won’t last forever. I don’t know anyone who is farther down life’s road who regrets spending too much time with their parents. And there really is a sweetness right now, while Grammy Sue still knows who I am and also thinks I’m pretty swell.  I wonder how much will change by Mother’s Day next year.

How much will change indeed. 

This past Mothers Day 2019 I was with Jim back in Asia celebrating with three pastors and their families. I was too busy with meetings and teaching to get my annual MOTHERS DAY letters written. 

Mom didn't know me anymore in 2019. And in about 3 months she would finally be in heaven.

A poem about El Dorado High's #72. What he'll be in 2072

My prayer and vision for John Ramirez' future:

Once John had hated studying. 

To sit through class, a bore. 

He’d train his body in the gym, 

But above the neck a chore! 

“I’m not a dumb jock!” 

He decided one day. 

“Just been week, lazy, and slow. “

“I’ll WILL myself this year to train 

My brain muscle to grow!”

So he worked his mind to get it lean; 

Fit and fighting tough. 

He knew for battles off the field, 

His BRAWN wouldn’t be enough. 

John’s long become a full-grown man. 

And he’s a champion at life. 

Admired by more than his fans; 

He’s respected by kids and wife! 

He’d still prefer a good clean sack. 

To hit the books still not as fun. 

Rather get out and make a hole 

Where another back can run! 

But, he hit those books though it was hell. 

He got his brain in shape. 

His future dream was NFL; 

But that’s not what made him great!

from Aunt Kimberly

8/31/2019

Quick Report from Vietnam

It's been so fun this trip to Vietnam this time! 

I've had training with the group that invited me back: Scripture Union (who creates curriculum for Sunday School and VBS). And then a group that Jim has been mentoring: Pastors from all over South Vietnam who are the ones responsible for promoting and raising up more Youth Ministry. Straight from the airport! In 3 days, I counted 25 ½ hours of training. Phew!

But the rest of the time is a more relaxed pace. With some now opportunities: 

I get to have a session with the staff of InterVarsity one day, and Cru the next. Turns out they use drama in their ministry (and admit they are not very good at it)! The word got out I can help them in being more confident and skilled in speaking and using creative ways to present our testimonies and the Gospel. 

The Lord is so generous. After this season of feeling a bit on the "sidelines" (for doing engaged ministry cross-culturally).

Since 2015 I've had a sweet season caring for parents in Los Angeles, and going so much deeper with the Lord exploring new ways to pray and experience his presence and power.

 

But this year, He's opening new doors for me (through Jim) with these influential leaders. They can use the skills I have and pass them on to the people they lead. All the while keeping up with those in Singapore who continue to "pass it on" without me around anymore. Such a blessed life to see things multiply!

Create the Future ~ Some Thoughts on Prophecy

Prayer is the way we "write the future” for the friends and family. 

Through prayer, we can see the spiritual potential in people and give voice to that in a way that can change their lives. God has intentionally put you in their lives, and this is one of the reasons!
There are many spiritual gifts listed in the Bible.  Most of them we all will practice regularly, even when it is not "our gift." 
As we mature in our faith, we grow in Faith, even though it may not be the Spiritual Gift of Exceptional Faith.  If we are growing in our faith, we all will increase in our practice of Charitable Giving, Sharing our Faith with others, Hospitality and others. 
The same is true for Prophecy.

"Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy....the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement and consolation."  - 1 Corinthians 14:1

Not everyone has a Prophetic Gift, or a supernatural gift of Discernment. But we can all still minister to others through prophecy. Confidence with this comes through our abiding  in Christ, expecting the Holy Spirit to fill us with power, and interceding for others. Ask the Lord for supernatural insight. He will prompt you to speak with boldness into the lives of others. If you've never done this, it may seem strange at first. But try it!

This kind of prophecy is not always an encouraging word. Sometimes the Lord will require us to rebuke someone in out lives. This is hard! But not as much when we realize that a rebuke comes from love for the other person. It is reminding that person, "This is not who you are."

It's not predicting the future, but creating it.

Prayer is the way we recognize potential in others.
When you think back over your life; have there been some people who spoke positively to you and how they envisioned your future? Who did this and how has that made a difference for you?

Stay Faithful & Choose Joy - February eNews

"God has brought you to train us, give us tips and courage and passion to start..." The message came unexpectedly. And at a time when I needed it. If you know me (Kimberly) at all, you know that my favorite thing to do IN THE WORLD is to teach how to use drama in outreach/ministry. All you have to do is get me talking on the subject of Applied Theatre. I'll get animated. I will consciously try to gauge my discourse until just before your eyes start to glaze over. My tribe is tiny. I'll admit; it's a niche market. For more than 4 years now, I've had a season in a different role. But, I've often thought about two truly great days for me in September 2014. It was just before we said our goodbyes in Singapore & Malaysia and began waiting on the Lord for our next assignment. I tagged along again with Jim and his mentoring groups in V____. One pastor was so excited to hear that I had a theater background. "We are using drama in our church plant, and we don't have ANY training! We don't know what we are doing, but we love it! Can you help us?" This pastor had also started a growing network of Sunday School leaders. She was training them and helping them create curriculum. So train them I did! And those two days in September 2014, I taught V___ Sunday School leaders how to use drama in ministry. As we debriefed at the end of that training, people were so moved they were crying. CRYING! "I had no idea that we could make Bible lessons be so relevant, fun, and memorable!" Two days. And I'm still riding on the joy it gave me to be "in-the-zone" to do my drama thing. Since then, my one year "sabbatical," became a new normal. Jim got back to work.  I now joke that "Jim has the longest commute of anyone you know."  We've figured out how he can continue his investment in those spiritual leaders in Asia. He goes four times a year for a few weeks. Being here in the US, it's easier to recruit other specialists to go with him to train specific areas. Both of us have been able to stay nearby for our parents in Southern Califonia. For me, I have had a unique mid-career privilege. These four years feel like an extended spiritual retreat. Hyper-active do-er, I've grown to love solitude and silence with the Lord. With tons of "margin" to be available to people, I've loved the surprising and sometimes miraculous ways the Holy Spirit has lead. But occassionally I'm wistful. Will I ever get back to doing my drama thing? A few months ago, I was having one of those "wistful moments,"  [translation: pity party]. Out of the blue, I received a message from the pastor who trains other church leaders for Children's Ministry. These are her words. "...God has brought you to train us, give us tips and courage and passion to start this few years back and now we are seeing a great ministry. We have impacted hundreds of teachers each year through our materials and touched thousands of kids.  Like last summer, we trained 300 teachers and saw 4,000 kids going thru our curriculum. And we started so little. God is so good beyond our understanding.This year we are teaching the Samaritan woman’s story, using your drama skills. And we miss you!  Please come back and teach us because we can commit to apply those skills to the maximum for the Kingdom! Kingdom-gain!" This should encourage you too. Wherever you are, and however you are feeling about your current situation, stay faithful. Keep seeking to be near and know God. Choose joy. Serve him by doing what is needed for the season you are in. Don't worry about the world's definition of success and significance. It's a short life and eternal life will be completely fulfilling and joyfull 100% of the time! From time to time, no matter what the season, he offers amazing opportunities that feel like heaven on earth! Jim heads back to V__ this Sunday, February 24th On this trip, I'll be joining him! While there, I'll meet with that V__ pastor's team, coach them on a drama they have prepared for VBS teacher training. And we'll plan more drama training for later this year. With my mom now in a board and care home near my dad, she remains on hospice. But death does not feel as imminent. The burdens of care are now in a team of professional hands and I feel less anxious for their health and safety. Join us in prayer for... What we do Build spiritual leaders and strengthen churches  Individually mentor leaders for spiritual growth Facilitate small groups for character growth Train large groups for ministry growth Travel (February 25 & March 9). It gets tougher as we get older. It's a 15 hour time difference. And oh, those shared germs on long flights. LORD, we pray that you will help us rest well on the overnight flight, and strengthen our bodies to adjust quickly. Guard our health to serve your Saints in Vietnam without jet lag or getting sick! Retreat with pastors March 5-7 While Jim's away mentoring this group, Kimberly plans to take that time to make a quick visit to Singapore (a 2 hour flight). Thank you LORD for the favor you have given us with the people we have loved for so long. Thank you for the opportunity to encourage these Asian leaders. Bear fruit for your kingdom because of our time face to face with them. Drama skills for Children's Ministry On March 1st & 2nd, VBS leaders will be in training with our pastor friend and her team. LORD, give me supernatural cross-cultural sensitivity & understanding. Inspire the team as we plan another drama-in-education/ministry workshop. Forming Teams for future trips There are many needs as the church in V__ grows up, and multiplies. Thank you LORD for the many gifted American leaders who are considering going to V__ with Jim. Guide them all about timing, funding, content and effective delivery in sharing their knowledge and wisdom. Bridge the cultures and bring our Vietnamese brothers and sisters the insight and knowledge they need. As always, we are grateful for you. Jim & Kimberly NOVO = "Make New" If you get any news directly from CRM, you've already heard that we have a new name. If you are a donor, we've got a new link: https://staff.novo.org/Creasman The old methods still work too. Recurring gifts will transfer automatically. Here's a video explaining our novo name.

Reflections & Resolutions 2019

Here's a link to a pdf of these prompts. I've been doing them for years. So good to look back during this "week in between" and ask the Lord what he wants to do for next year.

LOOKING BACK

This year Iearned to..

I grew most in…A Scripture verse, passage or book that was important to me was…

One of my best adventures was…

I saw/knew God was doing something when…

A real gift from God was…

Something I really enjoyed doing more of was…

I was really brave when…

My thoughts/prayers often turned to...

A Scripture passage that meant a lot to me was…

I’m still trying to learn what God wants to teach me through this hard experience...But I think perhaps, it’s:

The best book I read last year is… (What did you like about it?)

The best word of advice or encouragement I can remember:

One of the happiest memories I’d like to freeze in my mind…

Something I’m looking forward to in this new year…

LOOKING AHEAD

Brainstorming Resolutions I like to use post it notes in a journal with pages labeled for each one of these topics. This way, if I don't end up doing them, I can just pull them off later and throw them away!

Spiritual (Incl Character/Attitudes)

Important Relationships (incl Marriage/Familly/Spiritual Community)

Intellectual (incl. Professional/Leadership)

Health/Physical

Service/Intentional Community Outreach

Financial

NOTE:  In at least one area, push yourself to write something that would be adventurousor mean that you take risks.

Phrase these as “do-able” not just “wishes” that are out of your control, but something you can do to grow or improve. Breaking it down into small steps you need to take to accomplish it, you can't DO a project, but you can do the steps toward accomplishing it!

ie. Personal Development: 

"learn to make toast.

This challenging reality Is better than fear or fantasy.

This was my song for 2018. The first week of January, the name "Sarah Groves" came to mind. I said, “Alexa, shuffle songs by Sarah Groves.” She played this. It was perfect gift from God to start the new year.

Do you have a theme song for the past year? Or motto, or verse?

"This Cup", Sarah Groves

How many hours have I spent
Watching this shining tv
Living adventure in proxy
In another person's dream
How many miles have I traveled
Looking at far away lights
Listening for trains in the distance
In some brilliant other life?

This cup, this cup
I wanna drink it up
To be right here in the middle of it
Right here, right here
This challenging reality
Is better than fear or fantasy

So take up what we've been given
Welcome the edge of our days
Hemmed in by sunrise and sunset
By our youth and by our age
Thank God for our dependence
Here's to our chasm of need
And how it binds us together
In faith and vulnerability

This cup, this cup
I wanna drink it up
To be right here in the middle of it
Right here, right here
This challenging reality
Is better than fear or fantasy

What if my whole world falls apart?
What if my life could be different?
What if I sat right here and took you in
Without the fear and loved you whole
Without the flight and didn't try to pass

This cup, this cup
I wanna drink it up
To be right here in the middle of it
Right here, right here
This beautiful reality
Is better than fear or fantasy
Is better than fear or fantasy
Is better than fear or fantasy

Karin Mitchell. One of my heroes.

It all started when twins were due in 1968.
The Family Lunches after Church.
Vacations.
Babysitting jobs.
Camping @ Doheny Beach.
Biola.
Boyfriends.
Bridesmaids.
Being “cross-town rivals.”
Bearing and bringing children In.

Injuries. Illnesses. Intense issues.

Our lives went in different Circles,
Communities, and then
Countries.

But. If there could be Reconnecting for
A moment.
An Hour.
A day.
Always picking up as if we
Never left off.

More losses have come
...And more Love.
But Mostly Hope:
There is a finish line.
And it’s ALL Gonna be good
On the other side.

From the Bible.
Book of Lamentations:

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:21-33‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://ift.tt/2zkei7d