Kids and Christmas

My Mom always did the oddest thing every time we went to the stores in our hometown.

She would go to the back of the store and give somebody $10 and they would write that down on a slip of paper.  Clueless about layaways at age 7, I just knew that $10 could have gotten me a lot of basketball cards and Gobstoppers at Fred’s Department Store.

Looking back, that’s how my mom got us such awesome gifts on Christmas – and I give thanks for God’s abundance of blessings, for family, and for His provision throughout my life.

In the last week, we’ve seen a half dozen families that are struggling due to extreme financial and/or health situations, that they are having to seek food assistance for their family.

and with Christmas just a few weeks away, the reality of not being able to provide gifts for their children has to be disheartening.

Gary and Crystal have 6 children, and Gary has always worked hard to provide for them.  Crystal’s disability income for her health problems just can’t cover everything when Gary’s work dried up recently.

How awesome is it that the Augustine Foundation is reaching out to bring joy to their children to celebrate the greatest gift of all – Christ’s birth.  and that area agencies and churches are joining in offering food, Thanksgiving lunches, doing gift drives, Kid’s Christmas and angel trees, coat drives, and offering Christmas celebrations to share their blessings with those in need.

This Christmas, make a difference in a family and a kid’s life by sharing joy and providing for the less fortunate.

With such intense financial problems all over – there are opportunities everywhere to help…

http://www.centraltolife.com/ministries/missions-outreach/local-outreach/

We have our Community Meals Christmas party coming up and we would love to have volunteers and Santa’s help us.

Most churches and charitable organizations have something like our Good S.A.M. program, which has Christmas families and kids and their Wish List’s available to make it easy to share love and joy with those in need this Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journey of Thanksgiving to Christmas

Even though the poor are considered blessed, the young and helpless are precious in God’s kingdom, and one day the sick and oppressed will be healed and comforted – how can we be thankful in the midst of those situations?

Our Community Meals Bible study has been looking at that ? as we take these holidays and seek to make them a time of giving God thanks for our lives, and grasping the height and depth of God’s love for us in the birth of Christ.

We are thankful to God for life itself, and the opportunity to live those lives with faith, hope, and love.

Lou was given up as a baby by her destitute parents at the doorstep of a Christian orphanage in the Phillipines and rescued by nuns – gave thanks that God is always with us and protects us.

She sees reason to be thankful – even though coming to America a few years ago has been a struggle (she spent all her money and lost everything to return for a visit to her country, and has developed health problems) – because God came into this world and is with us every moment.

We are thankful to God for her being a part of our lives and for her willingness to always help out serving others in need.

Otis, who lived outdoors in Pine Bluff for 12 years – knows he is blessed even though not long after becoming Christian he and his grandson both almost died from illnesses which have proven to be life and heart changing. Without the cancer and all the hospital and recovery misery – Otis believes he wouldn’t have realized how many people cared for him and were praying for him, and he wouldn’t have been as prepared for the heart surgery his young grandson went through.

He sees reasons to be thankful that God healed him, gave him a job, a  safe place to live, and brought his family back to him.

We are thankful for Otis’ testimony of what God can do to give us hope and a future.

Jo has had serious health issues, but still works with her husband to stay independant from assistance – is experiencing the terror and uncertainty of a sick child – her young grandchild, Josie had a recent seizure and still has unexplained problems.
Jo is thankful for every day that she can love her grandchildren, and praises God for saving Josie.

We are thankful that Jo has been so faithful in the Bible study and in serving others – and give God the glory for the work He is doing in their family.

Thankful in spite of, or maybe more so because of, difficult circumstances – pray that we can take each day in thanksgiving and that we can encounter these holidays the God who gave Himself for us, and who is with us no matter what.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thess 5:18