We would love to hear any ideas you and your family have for keeping the focus on Jesus during what is (for many) the busiest time of the year! The calendar for November and December can fill up fast with special times and extra demands, and even the best intentions to make this season all about the birth of the Savior are met with challenges.

If you have any ideas or tips from past experience that have helped you and your family keep and celebrate the One who is the reason for the season, please leave them in the comments below.

We look forward to hearing from you and if you would like to receive our free Ready for Christmas resource, click here and enter the coupon code READY.

Spending some quiet time with the Lord can be the most important part of your day. This is a time for intimate fellowship with Lord through reading His Word, worship, and prayer.

If you don’t already have a consistent daily time with the Lord, would you pray about being diligent and deliberate in setting aside a time each day for the purpose of meeting with Him in His Word?

Here are three tips to help you focus and get the most out of your daily reading:

READ the passage and pray that you will hear what God wants to tell you. Don’t be afraid to go back over the section a few times for understanding (see Psalm 119:18, a great prayer verse before you begin reading).

REFLECT on what you’ve read, and pray for understanding. God might be using that day’s scripture to remind you of a truth, teach you something new, or reveal fresh insight (see Psalm 119:27).

RESPOND to what you have learned by putting it into action. Consider how you can apply what God has shown you during your day and look for ways to do it. Pray for eyes to see those opportunities and the resolve to follow through (see Psalm 119:59–60).

A special Harvest Partner version of “Through the New Testament in a Year” is available for you to download by clicking here.

Our ministry would love to hear from you about how the Lord ministers to you in your quiet time with Him. Please share with us!

Looking Up,

Harvest Partner Ministries

“You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed. . . .”
—Luke 10:41–42 NKJV

Practical Strategies for a Simpler Christmas

• Being together is what counts, not the perfection of your surroundings. (Jesus’ birth did not depend on fancy decorations, cleanliness of the house, or gourmet goodies.)
• Don’t cram in too many organized activities. (The ability to relax and be comfortable lend to happy times together.)
• Unrealistic expectations of making crafts and holiday baking can rob you of the enjoyment of the Christmas celebration. (Quiet times can offer more opportunity for remembering the reason for the season.)
• Try shortening your Christmas card list by sending cards to the people you do not see regularly. (Think about sending cards to half your list on Valentine’s Day or Easter and reversing the list the next year).
• Begin each day in prayer by offering the day back to the One who gave us the greatest gift. (Having and keeping the right perspective of whose day it is can alter our attitudes and conduct.)

We don’t have to let the busyness of the season rule our hearts. We can be less like Martha and more like Mary, who relaxed in the Lord’s presence. Ultimately, only one thing is essential to our Christmas celebration: Jesus!

You may have heard that Harvest Riverside experienced a temporary campus closure this morning (September 11, 2013) following the arrest of a man on its campus last night. We want to make sure that we keep our Harvest Partners informed about what’s going on.

According to an AP report, “The FBI says a security screener at Los AngelesInternationalAirport has been arrested after quitting his job and making threats that led officials to clear terminals at the airport Tuesday.”

At this time it is unknown why the arrested man was on the Harvest campus. Authorities closed the campus to conduct a thorough search of the grounds as part of their investigation.

This closure interrupted school, office, and cafe/bookstore schedules during the morning only, but the campus has now been cleared as secure.

Wednesday and Sunday service times are not affected and  students can report back to school tomorrow.

This incident is just another reminder of our nation’s need for revival and the importance of making the gospel known through efforts such as Harvest America. Please join us in praying for our country and praising Him for the protection of our Harvest family during this incident.

Thanks for standing with us as a Harvest Partner,
Harvest Ministries

Here’s a photo from my recent trip to the East Coast for National Day of Prayer. Pray for our president and our nation!

Hey Harvest Partners…
Harvest is celebrating 40 years of ministry this year!

Greg is reviewing a new photo book that will be part of the festivities in March.
The deadline is next Friday, so we are working hard.
We can’t wait to show you.

Hey Partners,

Wanted you to be the first to know that plans are just beginning to be formed for our next visit to Israel in 2014. Here are the dates:

Pre-extension to Rome, Italy (optional) April 25–29
Israel Tour April 28–May 10
Extension to Jordan (optional) May 10–14

So get started on your “Holy Land Savings Fund” now, because I want you to join me in this unforgettable experience.

When I get more details, I’ll keep you informed.

Greg