I am really blessed to be a part of such a giving and loving church family. In our little town, we are a fairly large church. But it isn’t the size that’s the key, it the heart of the saints and the spirit of our leadership.
This the second year that we are called to Give Away Christmas.
This past Sunday our church did not take an offering. Every member of the congregation was encouraged to find a family in need and give their tithes and offerings to them. If we didn’t know someone to give to, there were names in our church office that we could get to send money to. They did this so that we each could individually bless someone without having a hardship to us.
So, my question to you is: are you taking the opportunity to Give Away Christmas to someone? To bless someone else as God has blessed you? Pray and perhaps the Lord will lead your family in a very particular way. May His message of love and hope flood over your gifts to others this year and may His gospel go forth in Truth and deliverance!
Linking to any number of these lovely blogs.
Images courtesy of Naypong/freedigitalphotos.net
I really like that idea! We were introduced a few years ago to the idea of taking the amount of money you’d normally spend on Christmas gifts for one another within your family and making a single donation to an organization like Samaritan’s Purse.
What a blessing to be a part of a fellowship like that 🙂
Thank you!
Another great idea, Lisha! Thanks for sharing that challenge.
Wow! That was very thoughtful. Thanks a lot for sharing and hosting us again Kate, do have a super blessed day!
Love
So glad you could stop by and share again, Ugochi!
Wow…what a giving church you have! What a blessing to your community! I am blown away by this outpouring of generosity! Not too many churches would sacrifice in this way. You will be blessed, you ARE blessed! ♥
Oh yes, I completely agree, I am blessed!!
Kate,
I just read in John Piper’s advent devotional about why giving is worship. He used the magi as examples: why were they giving to God? Because he needed something? Nope. Because He’d be impressed by their riches? Nope. They gave (and we are called to give) because in giving away something we need and could use, to him who needs nothing, we are saying to him, “This desire to have more of you I demonstrate by giving up things, in the hope of enjoying you more than I do things.By giving to you what you do not need, and what I might enjoy, I am saying more earnestly and more authentically, ‘You are my treasure, not these things.'” Powerful stuff, and your post added the AMEN to it.
Wow, Lori, great thoughts. I’m so glad you shared them with all of us here! Excellent.
What a wonderful – and Biblical – idea! : )
Thanks so much, Anna!!