The candles lit and the stockings hung by the fire and we, a motley crew, bring our gifts to the Gift.
Such grander folks have gone before us.
Folks like the unspeakably gracious couple who offer to sponsor Richard, shyly introduced here... to give the wild gift of Hope to a real little boy with real dreams.
Another generous family who drops a line, asks if they too might sponsor through Compassion, a little boy from Honduras?
Such people. I brush back the happy tears.
And then you! Each of you who hung a symbol from my humble book The Glorious Coming, on a Jesse Tree in your home this year, you gave to the least of these. 100% of all proceeds of each sale of The Glorious Coming blessed the least of these through Samaritan's Purse this year. You gave over $2000....
The publisher of The Glorious Coming, Graham Family Ministries, has compiled a list of all you generously gave through the purchases of The Glorious Coming which can be found here....
Thank you. For journeying to Jesus this Christmas.... and out into the world with His Love.
Multitudes on a Monday, indeed... multitudes of gifts wrapped up and given to Him who has given us everything, not to keep, but as gifts to give back to Him --- when we give to the least of these.
Today, I give thanks for each of you... people living like this... giving from the multitude of blessings that He has given, onto the multitudes...
~~
Ann,
One entry [of yours] struck a chord with me. It was about your children’s gift to Jesus.
I have been trying to think of ways to include my baby’s memory in gift-giving with my four children. When I read your entry, I knew this was what I was seeking.
So after my husband and I narrowed down two organizations (Samaritan's Purse and Gospel for Asia), we told the children that they could look online to pick Christmas gifts for Rebekah. It was so precious and brought tears to my eyes. One of my favorite gifts they picked was a week’s worth of meals for a child.
So, even though we gave in our Rebekah’s name, we received so much more.
My children watched the videos included on each site and studied the importance each gift was to the communities. Even my precious 14 year old daughter teared up as she processed the magnitude of our abundance compared to others. Priceless.
We plan to do this again next year and in the years to come as we remember our baby’s death and a Baby’s birth.
Leaning on Him,
Karen Gottsponer
~~~
Dear Ann,
You shared with all of us how your family picks out gifts for Jesus from various Christian catalogs. We had the one from Gospel for Asia sitting on our table at the time that I read that post.
When I reached the page with the clean water for a village, my eyes filled with tears and in my mind, I heard the Lord say, "Take the money from your savings and buy clean water for a village'.
At dinner that night, as I told my husband about it, again my eyes filled with tears. I suggested that we not buy gifts for each other this year but instead adopt two children to sponsor and donate for the well.
His eyes filled with tears as he answered, "I think that's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard of."
So that's what we've done for Jesus, for His birthday this year and every time I think about it I get a little shiver of excitement like the way I felt about Christmas when I was a little girl living on a farm.
... This year, every time I think of our gifts for Jesus a joy fills my heart and I whisper to Him, "Happy Birthday, Lord." Thank you for helping us to once more experience real joy at Christmas.
I wish you and your Family the most blessed Christmas you've ever had, filled with joy and peace and love for our Savior.
Love and thanks,
Mary in PA
~~
My humble, heart-spilling thanks for the way each of you practically give thanks to the Giver of all good gifts... by passing the gifts on.
It is one of my greatest joys to partner with you!
Abundant, multitudes of blessings on each of you...
All's grace,
A very grateful Ann
Want to drink the joy elixir? Become a Joy Finder? Consider joining the Gratitude Community -- just jump in with your own counting!
How to begin your own 1000 Gift List ::: How Gratitude Can Change your Life
( Drop me a line if choose to begin giving intentional thanks and gather fresh joy and I will happily add either your name or a web link to the Gratitude Community I'm slowly getting caught up on meeting all you beautiful folks who have joined the Gratitude Community. Thank you for your kind grace and patience! I'm so looking forward to meeting you all soon!)
If you'd like to share your gathering of God in the moments... , (please, jump in!) consider adding the direct URL to your specific 1000 gift list post... If you join us, we humbly ask that you please help us find each other by sharing the community's graphic within your post
Photos: our Christmas giving here through Compassion
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