A BIG THANK YOU to everyone that contributed to THE JACKET PROJECT with me. God bless you all, you are truely showing compassion to those who need it. This really made my day to see all those jackets for people being blessed by complete strangers! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS A GREAT READ!!!!!!!
“For where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV)
It was 38 degrees when I woke the day after Thanksgiving. Yet, willing to brave chilly temps and frenzied crowds in search of crazy deals, I headed out shopping.
As I walked the aisles past slick gadgets, plush robes, and animated toys, one thought kept coming to my mind: The gifts we long for—the ones we ask for, save for, shop for, and wrap up in shiny paper with bows—will disappoint, eventually. They will age, wear, scratch, stain, fade or break. They may even get lost or stolen. Not long after the shiny newness wears off, the realization sets in that these objects don’t provide the lasting happiness we’d hoped they would.
Am I a Christmas scrooge? Not at all! Beneath my tree sits several lovely gifts I look forward to giving my family. And I’m hoping one will appear there for me before Christmas Eve. But this thought, this realistic view of the contents of those packages, helps me keep the material aspects of this holiday in perspective — eternal perspective.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercial fervor that is Christmas. It’s easy to think we must show our love through bought gifts. But often a warm hug and some relaxed hospitality, time spent together on a hobby, or a letter detailing your appreciation would mean so much more than another coffee mug or gift basket. And for those of us facing hard financial times this year, that’s welcome news.
If I could give you one fantastic gift today, I’d take your hand and cause us both to travel back in time some 33 years after the birth of Christ. We’d sit together on the hillside and listen to Jesus teach the Sermon on the Mount. We would hear our Savior say , “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV).
Perhaps hearing it from the Savior’s lips would help us believe that it’s important what we treasure. It’s important where our heart is. And to remember that the objects we ask for, give, and receive are temporary, just like the pleasure they bring.
God, however, gives gifts that are eternal. They never age, fade, deteriorate or fail to delight. He gave the gift of love with a baby in a manger. He gave the gift of truth through the teaching of Rabbi Jesus. And He gave the gift of eternal life in the form of the crucified and risen Christ. God gives the best gifts!
I found a few good deals at the mall that early Friday morning, but no thing like the deal I found at a little church almost two decades ago when I met this risen Lord and exchanged my sins for His grace.
In the days of the Bible, times of great joy were frequently accompanied by the giving of gifts (e.g. Nehemiah 8:10; Esther 9:22; Revelation 11:10). This ancient custom, practiced in all nations throughout history, finds its greatest expression today at Christmas. As we participate in gift-giving this year, let’s follow God’s lead and look for ways to also share love, truth and the path to eternal life with those we care about. Perhaps we can help another to find the greatest gift of all, or to treasure it rightly.
Taken from Rachel Olsen
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Hemet Homeless woman dies from cold A homeless woman was found dead in a field Tuesday morning, and police said they believe she died from exposure to the cold the night before. A boy walking to school at 8:45 a.m. saw the woman’s body in a field southwest of Cawston and Menlo avenues, according to a Hemet police report. The boy ran to school and told the principal, who called police. Police said the 49-year-old woman, who was known to camp in the area, was wearing light clothing and was unprotected from rain and near-freezing temperatures. Authorities have not released her identity pending notification of next of kin.
THE JACKET PROJECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAVE LIVES THIS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!
It’s that Special Time of Year
That’s full of Season’s Greetings
Where Joy and Peace are deeply wished
At social calls and meetings
Where catalogs and store cashiers
Proclaim that sec’lar phrase
That means so little and says much less:
“Happy Holidays!”
‘Tis a great shame they don’t profess
Christmas by its true name.
They won’t be getting my business;
I won’t play that PC game.
So try and patronize the stores
Who recognize the worth
Of keeping Christ in Christmas,
That we celebrate His birth.
And when the mailman gives to you
A heavy cat’log cache
Keep the “Merry Christmas!” ones
And dump the others in the trash!
Share your shopping experiences/read others’ STANDFORCHRISTMAS.COM
I have come to hate the holidays. Its become so commercialized now. All about gifts and not about the TRUE meaning of Christmas…..JESUS. It’s become so hectic with family gatherings, schedules clashing, people worried about money they don’t have to spend on the “perfect” gift, wish lists, cards, Christmas lights, stockings, that fruitcake that no one wants….Where is the celebration of Christ in all this?
My family started slowly going back to the heart of the season slowly, starting with gifts from “Jesus” instead of “Santa”…. this year, we’re not doing gifts (except the little ones), we’re focusing more on family togetherness. I hope that in the future years, we can, instead of focusing on ourselves and our wants, we can help those less fortunate than us and in that way, be thankful for what God has blessed us with.
Part of that, I am starting with the JACKET PROJECT through my church. It really feels good to give. I also started doing the DRIVE THRU DIFFERENCE every once in a while at Starbucks. It really gives you a warm feeling inside knowing that you are giving an unconditional gift to someone– that will mean much more to them than just a $3 coffee or a $50 jacket that you don’t even wear anymore.
Jesus came here to give us a gift. His life. He died for you and me. That was our gift from Him to ALL OF US. He did this unconditionally. Pay it forward.
~~~Almost here…I’ve only got TWO bags to go out…C’mon folks! One jacket could make ALL the difference to ONE person out there….Show your Christmas Spirit! It’s cold out, while we’re all warm and snuggled up by the fire and in central heat and cuddled in blankets, someone out there is shivering cold under a freeway overpass. One jacket…just ONE could make ALL the difference to that person. Help show someone that there IS kindness in this world…
I’m going to drop off all jackets this Saturday (Dec 12th)….I am in Anaheim at work all this week (at night) and Ontario during the daytime…LETS DO IT PEEPS!!!!!!!!!~~~
Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
www.climbTH.com , www.revivelounge.com , www.air1.com , www.sandalschurch.com
1 Venti Tazo Chai, Nonfat, No Water, No foam = FREE!
My first DRIVE THRU DIFFERENCE!
Let me tell you— it felt SO GOOD! I was hoping that in the Starbucks drive-thru it wouldn’t be some fancy BMW pulling in behind me….God listened– it was an older Jeep. So, I told the girl at the window that I wanted to pay for the order behind me— and to give her the slip of paper (see previous post)…. She smiled– said that FIVE other people have done that already today! WOW!
Pulling away, I couldn’t help but to wonder what impact that may have had on that person in the Jeep’s life. Wondering if my little gesture of kindness was something that they might pass on to someone else….putting a smile on their face and a warm feeling in their heart.
Try it. I dare you. It’s a GREAT feeling!
We’ve all had some difficult days lately, so do something to help someone else’s day go better. It’s simple: When you go to a drive-thru for your morning coffee, or out for a quick bite for lunch, treat the person behind you. That’s right. Just pay their bill and show a little kindness. You’ll impact someone’s day in ways much greater than coffee or take out.
To get started, download a DRIVE THROUGH DIFFERENCE NOTE (PDF). Print it out, even a few copies, and take it with you when you go about your day. Hand it to the cashier to give to the person in the car behind you. It’s a great little note to let them know you cared and it’s a perfect opportunity to introduce them to …..maybe, just maybe, introduce them to Christ.
What if December looked different this year? What does it truly mean to “Give This Christmas Away”? How do we do that?
I want this to be a home for ways in which we all plan to Give This Christmas Away. A place for people to share ideas and stories about giving. Get creative – put some thought in to it. It’s amazing how a simple act can mean the world to someone this Christmas!
Sign up, and write down one of your own simple and thoughtful ways to give this Christmas. Let’s start a giving movement in our community, and change the world with a spirit of Giving!
Acts 20:35
I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
It is time for the 2nd Annual JACKET PROJECT!
Sandals Church is teaming up with THRESH/HOLD CLIMBING GYM to collect and distribute jackets to people in need this holiday season. Please drop all jackets off at THRESH/HOLD located at 2111 Iowa Ave Unit A Riverside, CA ( near our new building) November 23rd-December 12. THRESH/HOLD is open MON – FRI: 10am-10pm, SAT: 10am-8pm & SUN: 12pm-7pm
**** Any jackets given to me to donate will be taken to the donation site on December 12th ****
Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
www.climbTH.com , www.revivelounge.com , www.air1.com , www.sandalschurch.com
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