Give with Faith! Special "Card of the Week" Drawing on Wednesday...leave a comment to qualify!

Hi Everyone~

Was your weekend full of shopping?  Christmas parties?  Church programs?
Did you spend your weekend out with friends?  Or standing in long lines at the mall? 

Today was one of your days to write the post...if you wanted to share about Christmas in your life.  If you have time to share about Christmas in your life, or Family Traditions, or tell us about your first Christmas being married, or what Christmas was like in another country, or during war, we would love to hear about it!  You still have time to write...you could do it in honor of someone, or in memory of someone...or to thank someone.  Or, I think writing about it with the purpose of sharing it here...is a good reason.  I believe that when people read your story...it will inspire them.  Don't worry, no heavy pressure.  Just write from your heart, and it will!

You can all mail me your writing. It could be just a paragraph...or pages!  TraciStarkweather@gmail.com  I'd love to share your post on Monday...please have it to me by Sunday 4:00pm.  (Send it by December 30th, and I will post your special thoughts in a special post.)

Instead of hearing from one of you today...I thought with all of the present giving going on, we would all benefit from reading one of Dr. Jack Graham's columns.  I thank the Crosswalk Organization for allowing me to reprint Dr. Graham's column here on the He IS Able blog.

Give With Faith!                                                          September 9, 2010

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...."--Matthew 6:19-20

"Most of us have read the story in Scripture about the widow who gave all she had of this world's goods to the temple treasury.

Now be honest, have you ever wondered how she could do something like that... give her last coins to the Kingdom? I'll tell you how.

She could give her all because she looked beyond her earthly existence, as meager as it was, and saw a city of gold! Her treasure wasn't in this world, but the next. Jesus put it this way, " Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...."

The way you use your money absolutely reveals whether your hope is in the here and now, in earthly possessions, or in heaven. In this life, your money either works for the Kingdom of God or it controls you.

Determine to use your money to serve God's purposes now. Put it to work to win the lost, to send missionaries where they're needed, to build the Church, and to feed the poor.

Give with faith to the priorities of heaven and trust God to meet your needs!"

What a wonderful column!  Isn't this pertinent for Christmas?  There are so many people in our own areas that would love a warm coat or blanket...or a soup kitchen that could use some help...NOT JUST ON CHRISTMAS. 

There are people around the world, including the United States, that could benefit with books to read, or school supplies, or clean water to drink.  All of those things can be given by visiting the Hunger Site...or one of the other Sites that are nested with that site.  Visit The Hunger Site, and click on the rectangle on the screen.  That alone will give people food,or whatever that Site specializes in. 

If you shop in their amazing stores you will see things like the most beautiful jewelry, interesting art and clothing from nations around the world, your purchases help the artists make a living...and it also donates to the Site that you chose as in the: Literacy Site, Breast Cancer Site, Rain Forest Site, Children's Health and Animal Rescue Site. 

And, talk about taking care of each other... there is a special section called "Gifts that Give More" you can buy "Plant a Garden of Health in Rwanda" for $15, "Supply Clean Water" to a village for $28, or "Liberate Girls from Indentured Servitude for $50"! 

Now, wouldn't it be wonderful to give a gift that really gives?  And, your friend or family member receives  a certificate saying that he/she has provided____.  Wouldn't it be a great project for your children to raise the money over the next year?  Or make it a family project.  Each of the sites has different "gifts" you can give also.

Look at what you have spent $50 on this year for gifts.  Imagine freeing a young slave child for the same amount?  Amazing.  I love these sites, and I have personally used them to purchase gifts like jewelry, clothing for myself, books for my family...and we have given different gifts like the ones above.  I click on each of these sites once a day.  Every day that I can get up and to the computer. I tell you this not to boast, but to let you know that I have had wonderful experiences with these Sites.

 I challenge you to just click on the Site...no name or address or money asked for...each day for the rest of the year.  Please let me know if you are willing to accept this free challenge...that can save lives!  It really does!

I pray that you are all enjoying this time that leads up to Christmas.  And, I pray that you all are learning more and more about Jesus and Yourself, and the relationship the two of you can have together.  Be blessed.

He IS Able,
Traci S.

p.s.  Special "Card of the Week" Drawing on Wednesday!  Please leave a comment before Tuesday evening at 8pm to qualify!