Peace and Unity

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6-7

It has been a week since the election. Afterwards, my friend Pat linked two blog posts regarding the results and I thought I would share them here, because in a time such as this, it is so easy to feel discouraged, uncertain, and divided. Beth Moore, well-known speaker and Bible teacher with the Living Proof Ministries, calls for prayers for our President-elect and his family, and for the unity of the Body of Christ. Great reminder indeed.

If you would like a more convicting message, read the post from Lysa TerKeust of the Proverbs 31 Ministries. It is time to leave our comfort zone and wholeheartedly follow Jesus and be His hands and feet like never before.

And we can choose to look up to Him who alone holds the future.

From Empty Shoeboxes to Christmas Blessings......

I stumbled upon Operation Christmas Child - the "shoebox project" - about five or six years ago. I remember packing toys, school supplies and basic hygiene items in the empty, ordinary shoeboxes that year. Knowing that the shoeboxes would go to children who might have never received a gift in their young lives, and who had never heard the Good News and the true meaning of Christmas, made this project very special to me. Since that year, I have been packing shoeboxes every November. Some years, I did it only with hubby; some years, I had friends who came alongside the project. This year, several Sunday School and Bible study classes, and the missions committee at my church are supporting the project, and my neighbors and a local shoe store have donated dozens of empty shoeboxes!

I would like to invite you to participate too. If you have empty shoeboxes that you no longer need, you can easily turn them into Christmas blessings to children around the world. All you have to do is to fill the shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. You could also include a picture of your family and a letter before dropping off the shoeboxes to the collection centers around the nation during National Collection Week, November 17-24. Through these shoebox gifts, children will not only receive presents, they will also get to hear the Gospel and learn about the love of Jesus Christ.

If you are interested in participating in Operation Christmas Child, you can find more information online and also by watching the video below. Packing shoeboxes is easy and a fun family project that young children can participate. You are also welcome to make a monetary donation online to help offset shipping costs if you prefer to do so. If you have shoeboxes or filler items you would like to donate, please let me know and I would of course be more than happy to pack the boxes!

Blessings!

Vote

I voted for the next President of the United States for the first time in my life on Friday. I remember four years ago, when I could not vote, I was anxious about the election. It was not a great feeling to be living in a nation that cherished liberty and sitting on the sideline at the same time. So when I applied for citizenship last year, I prayed that I would become a citizen before this year's election. God graciously answered my prayer and there I was on Friday, standing in line to particpate in this year's election.

I preferred not to wait, but since I could not make it to early voting until Friday, and after counsel with hubby, I waited in line. I then realized the wait time was perhaps the best time to pray for this election and the country, and so I did. A short thirty minutes later, I cast my vote.

I could not predict the results on Tuesday, but as I stepped out of the voting booth, I knew I had done my part as a citizen of this great nation. Voting is not a duty, or "one more thing to do," or even a right, but a privilege. Where I am from, we have never had the opportunity to vote for our head leaders, so the ability to vote cannot be taken for granted. If you have not voted, please do so on Tuesday. You have to go out of your way, and the line might be long, but your vote is going to decide the direction to which our nation is going.