At Christmastime we are willing to give and serve those less fortunate. But those in need are not only in need in December but also January, February, March, and so on. I wish our financial struggles or emotional struggles came only during one month a year, but we know that isn't the case. God gives all year long, and this year Women's Bible Study wants to be His hands and feet to our community, our neighborhoods and beyond. We want to "gift" those in need for the next several months, reaching those who may need a hug, a cup of coffee or lunch for her family. We want God's name praised above all names not just at Christmastime but all year long.
Join us for an adventure with Jesus! I can't wait to see what He will do with our willing hearts for His sons and daughters.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
It was pretty cold outside and I pulled into the gas station with my husband. While he pumped the gas I watched from the passenger seat as an elderly gentleman slowly got out of his car to pump his gas. He was dressed in sweat pants and moved so slowly that it seemed like maybe he'd recently had surgery or maybe a stroke. When He finally got the nozzle put in the tank he got back in his car. I knew I needed to help but I didn't want him to think I thought he was not capable or something. So I prayed and asked God to allow us to make eye contact and then I would ask. Well, wouldn't you know, when he was ready to settle up, he started to open his door and we made eye contact. I mouthed, can I help you? He slowly nodded. I got out, got the nozzle put back and he cracked his window and slid some cash out. I took it and went inside to pay his total (I guess I could have paid for it..ugh). Anyway, I came back with some change, slid it through the cracked window and he mouthed thanks. I am armed with a card in my purse that says You've Been Gifted and all of a sudden I am looking, really looking, for ways to help people. Thank you!!
I gave away a card today!! It was actually very fun. My girlfriend and I went to the Starbucks drive-thru...her treat. She paid and then I asked the cashier if I could pay for the car behind me. She asked if I knew her, I said, nope, I just want to buy her a cup of coffee. I gave the cashier my cash and the You've Been Gifted card. The cashier looked at the card and said, now is she supposed to go and do something like this for someone else? I said sure she can, but today it is just for her...she has been gifted. The cashier was willing to go along with it, smiled and said this will be fun! My friend and I hustled out of the parking lot and around the corner. We were all giggles and wondered what the gal thought about her little gift. It was great fun!!
On a late Friday afternoon, myself and my 2 children went to return some equipment to a Comcast office. Now, my prior experience with Comcast has been on the fustrating side, so I imagined long lines and grumpy service.
I was pleasantly surprised when I was called to the middle customer service window and greeted by a woman who proudly displayed pictures of her children and family, a red rose and a cross. I commented on how I loved seeing her cross displayed and then I noticed that her name badge right next to the cross ....was my name too. A Godwink.
I left and the cheerful hearted woman remained in my thoughts. The next day our family served at Feed My Starving Children and I saw a brightly colored bracelet made by a woman in Uganda and purchased it to send to my Sister in Christ at Comcast. I have attached the "You've Been Gifted" card and thanked her for being a shining light of God's love.
Last Tuesday before Bible Study, my neighbor down the road called frantic, thinking she had forgotten to let one of her dogs back in the house before she left for work. She also called my other neighbor on the hill so he could come down and look for the dog, too. My daughter and I ran out and climbed in the car and drove down to find that the dog was safe in the house and all was well. But we did get a chance to talk to the neighbor on the hill. Like so many neighborhoods in the winter, we don't get to see our neighbors because of the cold and we are not outside as much.
Our neighbor goes to Haiti quite often through the church he belongs to. Last Sunday he was told that he and a group of other people were leaving Tuesday evening to go to Haiti. The orphanage and hospital that they go to was in pretty good shape and the children were fine, but the wall that surrounds the buildings keeping the children safe was damaged. After briefly catching up on the news, I told him I had to go to Bible Study, but we would be praying for him.
God kept nudging me to do more as I sat through Bible Study. After Bible Study, I cslled my husband and told him and he was as excited as I was to do something. Doing things for the Lord is exciting and fills us all with joy. I went to the bank and withdrew money. I slipped it in an inspirational card and took it to him. I gave it to him and explained it was a gift and he could use it as he needed. His eyes filled with tears and he gave me a big hug and said how blessed he and his wife and family in Christ are. God uses odd circumstances. If my neighbor down the road had not called thinking she left her dog out, we would not have seen our neighbor on the hill. I had to giggle...I couldn't have thought of that one.
I was at a bookstore coffee cafe when I noticed how hardworking the young woman barista was despite very few customers.She cleaned and straightened and appeared cheerful. It was a very quiet time of day and as I sat and read I felt nudged by you-know-Who To "gift" her. So I took a napkin,wrote"God bless you!" on it and included a monetary gift. It brightened both our days.
Post a Comment