As we reflect on and say goodbye to 2010, I hope you have had a blessed year.
For me, it has been a great year. Many great things happened while there were also a few difficult moments (which I hope to catch up and share on the blog soon). I am thankful for the great things and am learning to give thanks to God during difficult times. It is not easy, but those are times that I have found myself being drawn closer to Him, and times that I have to look beyond myself to seek His purpose and glory.
As we welcome the new year and ponder our new year's resolutions, I hope we will all be seeking Him more diligently through great times and difficult times. There is always a reason to hope because He holds tomorrow.
So long, 2010. Hello, 2011!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!
It has been a long while. There is much to update, but first -
Merry Christmas!
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." - Luke 2:11
Merry Christmas!
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." - Luke 2:11
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Shoebox Time!
Operation Christmas Child is going at full force!
In July, I attended a banquet and was challenged to double the number of boxes packed from last year, so more children will receive shoebox gifts and hear the Good News. Last year, we had about 140 boxes; to double it, it would be about 280. This was not about numbers, because every shoebox gift is precious. Yet, it was about stepping out in faith, and trusting God and His provisions, since packing these many boxes was something I absolutely could not do on my own. And along the way, I had the help of friends at church who came on board with promoting OCC with much enthusiasm.
Now we have a booth at church and people are very responsive! Various Sunday School classes, Bible study classes and other groups are participating, and donations have been coming in! Even when I went to a couple of Target stores this afternoon to ask about empty shoebox donations, I got great responses and took home a few dozen boxes.
Packing a shoebox is easy - find an empty shoebox (wrapping it with Christmas wrapping paper is optional), decide whether to fill it for a boy or girl (and what age range), and fill it with age-appropriate toys, hygiene items, school supplies and hard candy. If you can, enclose a $7 donation to help cover shipping costs too. It is a fun and easy project both adults and children would enjoy. Children can also do a coloring page and tell the recipients about themselves, and/or write a letter!
OCC has offices not only in the US, but also Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand - and Hong Kong! So if you are in those areas, please visit their website and look for the icons towards the bottom.
Will you pack a shoebox?
In July, I attended a banquet and was challenged to double the number of boxes packed from last year, so more children will receive shoebox gifts and hear the Good News. Last year, we had about 140 boxes; to double it, it would be about 280. This was not about numbers, because every shoebox gift is precious. Yet, it was about stepping out in faith, and trusting God and His provisions, since packing these many boxes was something I absolutely could not do on my own. And along the way, I had the help of friends at church who came on board with promoting OCC with much enthusiasm.
Now we have a booth at church and people are very responsive! Various Sunday School classes, Bible study classes and other groups are participating, and donations have been coming in! Even when I went to a couple of Target stores this afternoon to ask about empty shoebox donations, I got great responses and took home a few dozen boxes.
Packing a shoebox is easy - find an empty shoebox (wrapping it with Christmas wrapping paper is optional), decide whether to fill it for a boy or girl (and what age range), and fill it with age-appropriate toys, hygiene items, school supplies and hard candy. If you can, enclose a $7 donation to help cover shipping costs too. It is a fun and easy project both adults and children would enjoy. Children can also do a coloring page and tell the recipients about themselves, and/or write a letter!
OCC has offices not only in the US, but also Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand - and Hong Kong! So if you are in those areas, please visit their website and look for the icons towards the bottom.
Will you pack a shoebox?
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