Published by: Michelle Howell

Date: 2009-12-12 07:15:05

http://befreshbesimple.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/advent-conspiracy/

Published by: Stephen

Date: 2009-12-10 13:44:01

The company my wife works for under the leadership of the owner decided that the 5 employees would be allotted $3000 each to give away as a blessing. Each person was to take a couple of weeks to pray about who or what and then get back together to discuss why. Here is a list of what they decided: Registration for a Marriage Conference for a struggling couple, sponsoring a family with specific financial needs,a gift to help an after school program that services children with needs such as clothes, backpacks, and food, a small remodel for a non-profit assisting with crisis pregnancy cases, financial assistance for a ministry of a local church that shares the gospel, provides financial assistance, and meets material needs of those in need here in Fay, a financial gift to family in the loss of their daughter, a weekend get away for that same family, financial gift to a non-profit ministry in need, and a financial gift to an amazing family who minister out of their home for the glory of God

Published by: Stephanie Maass

Date: 2009-12-08 08:57:33

Our family wanted to share with you about an amazing gift that you can give this season. This is a great gift ON SALE right now. You do not have to shop. It comes with a money back guarantee that it will be the BEST gift ever by those who receive it. It never wears out. Check out the link below and order it today before the sale is over! 5 kids, big hearts to give generously, in the Name of LOVE. Check out their video to see what we are doing at our home this Christmas! http://www.cobblestoneproject.org/Stories/tabid/227/EntryId/245/Our-Step-Christmas-Challenge.aspx

Published by: Linda Gill

Date: 2009-12-05 18:55:40

My husband and I are just two ... no children. Before our sisters and we decided to quit exchanging gifts, we donated to Habitat for Humanity in each of their names. This year we are using the monies we might otherwise have spent to give food to our local food bank. There are barrels at our local grocer and at the nursing home where Mom lives. Each time I shop for us, I pick up a bag or two worth of needed items and drop them in the barrels. Last year, we ate dinner with Mom at the nursing home and found a man who was alone and had him join us in our 'private' dining room. He was delighted to have been invited to share dinner. I have quit sending Christmas cards, sending a note before Thanksgiving-giving thanks, or one at Easter celebrating the Risen LORD, or one mid-year to catch up with friends who hear from us once a year. These ways are so much more encouraging to my heart. I don't feel caught in a rat-race.

Published by: Aimee Davis Clevenger

Date: 2009-12-04 11:33:15

I really wanted to suspend Christmas gift giving and instead give to charity but that didn't fly so well with the family. Instead, I reduced the amount we spent and gave donations to Amazima Ministries International and the annual Lottie Moon Missions fund, sort of a Merry Christmas to the world gift. Amazima (http://www.amazima.org) is an amazing organization dedicated to the care of Ugandan children. I say care because it really is that broad - physical, emotional, and spiritual care. Would love for anyone who reads this to read the blog (http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com) and consider giving a donation to this worthwhile ministry. Truth be told, we were all orphans before being adopted into the family of God. Some of us were just more fortunate than others to not be earthly orphans, too.

Published by: A Simple Country Girl -

Date: 2009-12-02 10:18:28

If someone doesn't know Jesus, how can they understand what He is, unless they understand what it is just to be loved? My heart is so heavy lately. And it is because of something He is doing. Have you ever prayed a prayer something like this? Lord, give me the eyes to see as if I am looking through Your eyes. Give me the heart too feel as if it is Your heart breaking. Give me the guidance to do as You would. So, have you? And what happened? For me, God wiped the gunk so I could see. He broke my heart so I could feel. And He urged me to give. Give my money. My time. And my gifts. In fact, He is standing right here next to me as I cry and bleed and give. Holidays. Holidays. Holidays. People are busying chatting up the holidays. And that is good, I am not saying otherwise. But (oh yes, that lovely word interjection that serves a purpose to snap your head another direction) isn’t there more? More than the perfectly planned out family feast with matching plates and coordinating linen napkins? Isn’t there more?! More than shopping sprees with the throngs as baubles and pretty things call your name? Isn’t there more?! More than clinging tight to what you have and what you know and what you think is expected of you. Isn’t there more?! I am asking you. I hope you ask God. If you do dare to ask, be ready to listen. And be willing to act. Here is some more that God opened my eyes to see… 147 Million Orphans. Yep, that is a big, big number. Way too big. Two amazing women are making a difference. An impact. They are doing more. In their own homes, their walls burst with God’s children and His love. 147 Million of God’s children have no mommy and no daddy. That number, that fact, drives them to do some more. These gals don’t just read the stories and wipe at some tears. No, they adopt orphans. They bring parentless children home and love ‘em up in a way that makes God smile. 147millionorphans.com Amazima. It is a most lovely word, is it not? It means The Truth. A gal named Katie from Tennessee, barely beyond her teenage years, who has a giant-sized heart and an even bigger love for the Lord’s calling on her life, started this ministry in Uganda, Africa. Despite her young age, over a dozen girls now call her “mamma.” Visit her ministry site and her blog. Let me warn you though, don’t do it to feel good. Only do it if you want to see through God’s eyes. Do it if you want to feel something that wakes you in the middle of the night and presses upon you throughout the day. Amazima.org Kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com Even though I am A Simple Country Girl living in rural Smalltown, America, I do have eyes that see. A heart that breaks. And a God-given ability to do. To give. What about you? Maybe it is the family next door that doesn’t know Jesus. Or the little schoolhouse down the road that daily gives socks to cold, bare-footed children. Or the homeless veteran huddled on the sidewalk trying to hide from his wounds. Or a family trying to adopt an abandoned child, an orphan. Or the wrinkled, cranky lady at the old folks home who gets no visitors, not ever. Or the tummy growling next to you in the church pew. It is time you pray that prayer. Because isn’t there more? More that you… Can do. Should do. Ought to do. Must do. Are commanded to do. While God was scraping my gunk and breaking my heart for Him, I heard these words in a song… “Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead” (Albertine – Brooke Fraser) Hello. Did that pull your heart strings? Just a little bit? Or a whole lot? Those statements yanked my heart and tossed it all over the place. It has been thumped and bumped to the point of bleeding. This year as folks crowd malls and clickety-click at online stores with their annual Christmas shopping frenzy, my family has chosen to do different. To be different. To give different. Instead of buying gifts for family and friends, we will donate to ministries like 147 Million Orphans and Amazima. We will give socks to the schoolhouse. And food to the hungry. After all, we have so much already. We have one another, food, shelter, medical care. But most important, we have Jesus. And His love. If someone doesn't know Jesus, how can they understand what He is, unless they understand what it is just to be loved? I do know my God-given heart bleeds for a reason. His reason. Basically, we must show love in order to share Jesus. Won't you join my family (and my Father) -- as we love up all of His children? Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ~ Matthew 25:45

Published by: Katie Barbarossa

Date: 2009-11-18 08:05:22

One of the gifts I still treasure most to this day was a simple Thank You note scribbled on the back of a lined piece of notebook paper. All it says:" Thanks so much for the tree, we had no money to buy one, my kids are thrilled". I received that note stuck to my screen door many years ago. In those days money was tight and I found a way to get a cheap christmas tree: go to the tree lot on Christmas Eve and they basically give them away.. So, once again, I drove to the tree lot expecting a small, probably dried out christmas tree.. The man was in a hurry to get rid of his leftovers and offered me 2 for free. Dilemma; my car was compact, I could do 1, but 2? Sure, why not.. he helped me with one in the trunk, one ON the trunk, and off I drove. Now I had 2 trees.. only room for 1 in the house. Idea: put one by the curb with a sign:Free Tree, Take Only If You Need It. I went off to the movies (Out of Africa), and when I came home the tree was gone but I still have that note..

Published by: Seth Haines

Date: 2009-11-08 09:38:40

Last year, my wife and I purposed to create Christmas presents for each other. We then purposed to donate what we would have spent on each other to a little village in Africa (see www.kujilana.org). As my present for her, I began collecting letters from other mothers to mothers. They shared their mothering stories, and offered words of advice and encouragement. Over the course of the season, I collected over 600 letters to present to my wife. I spent relatively little money binding the project and presented it to my wife on Christmas day. It was our best Christmas ever. Making relational gifts for each other, and donating the difference to others in need has truly changed us. I hope you'll do something similar this year and share your story with us! What are your ideas?

Published by: Christmas Change

Date: 2009-11-08 08:55:20

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