I Am Rich!

By Pat

It's funny how, as a Christian, my perception of the word "riches" is very different than the world's perception. As we observe the society surrounding us, we see the desire for bigger homes, better jobs, faster cars, cooler technological toys, and greater beauty. It's easy to become caught up in the quest for the acquirement of these worldly possessions, and to compare ourselves to others, but I have become much more interested in attaining riches of another kind.

My car is over ten years old...but it runs! My house is clean and it has a roof on top. I am content with that! We struggle at times to get all the bills paid, but still try to always think of and do for those who have less. It's not what you GET that makes you rich...it's what you GIVE. I like that! I am rich!

I want to be more generous in kind words and deeds, in unconditional love and acceptance. I want to offer a simple meal to a friend in need, an extra blanket to someone living in the streets. I want to have a heart filled with quick forgiveness, thus being rich in grace, for I have had grace richly and generously given to me by my Lord. I want to be quick to smile and I want to laugh easily so that I am rich in good humor. I want my trust in God to deepen daily and my faith to grow stronger, and I want to share that faith with others. I want the world to see that I am very rich indeed...in all the ways that really matter to God, so that it is clear that riches are the things in the heart. The things that really make a difference. The things that last. If I die with not a penny to spare, I will still die a rich woman, and I am so very thankful.

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Child's Play

By Sarah (Living Between the Lines)

This Christmas, I got—um, shall we say, drafted—to assist with a children’s Christmas program. This particular church only has about 15 children and they’re all below the age of six. A single, childless lady in her twenties volunteered to direct the program and found a play that was age-appropriate for these children. And she has spent the last several weeks herding cats attempting to direct this play. She got all of the parents to agree to help direct traffic to the stage, and on the stage. And she recruited another young childless friend of hers to help with the sets and costumes. And then, because nobody else would, she began learning lines so that she could also—in addition to directing—be the narrator of the play.

This woman was quite possibly the bravest—or most naïve—woman I have ever met.

Because I don’t regularly attend this church, I missed all of this pre-program fun. I missed the practices and the costume-making and the set-building. I just knew I needed to be there at 10:00 on that Sunday morning, to assist. By 10:03, I was ready to jump ship!

When I walked into the dressing room at 10:00, there were 15 children and at least as many adults. The oldest boy—wearing his costume—was standing on one side of the room bellowing, “WEE! WEE! WEE! WEE! WEE! WEE! WEE! WEE! WEE!” When I finally left the room twenty-five minutes later, he still hadn’t stopped. Both of his parents had been in the room and neither said anything to him.

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OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Mexico

By Ginny (MAD21)

"Mexico: "Gaby was a girl that lived by the church but would never assist our events because her family was part of the sect "Death Worshipers." When we started TGJ, she was allowed to come. At the beginning, she would stand up for her beliefs and say that the "holiest was taking care of her" and that "even though she didn't have meat and bones, she was good." During the classes she learned that Jesus was the one that love and cares for us. She told us that, during the nights, she was afraid to sleep because a dark person would appear at her and wanted to take her away. She would cry and ask her mother to turn on the light. Her teacher told her to remember what she had learned in the TGJ lessons: that God is powerful to care for us and protect us from all danger because her precious blood covers us. She started to pray and trust in Jesus that now is in her heart. The fear and the dark person disappeared from her life."

This post completes our Not Just a Shoe Box series. If you haven't already packed some shoe boxes for OCC, it's never too late. OCC accepts them all year long. Please take the time to bless a child.

 These are letters from some of the kids who received shoe boxes from Operation Christmas Child. My friend Stacey Wilson from OCC was kind enough to send them to me. This is the official shoe box collection week, however, OCC collects and delivers them all year long. I  encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.

OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Equador

By Ginny (MAD21)

Ecuador: "My name is Luisa and I am nine years old. I am happy to be part of the children club The Greatest Journey where I learned about the creation, Jesus' birth and that He is the only one that can give me salvation. I decided to accept Him in my heart. My parents aren't Christians but I know that someday God will touch their hearts like He did with me. My favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. Now that we are with God, we are a new creation. God doesn't remember our old life style but He gave us a new life."

This post is part of our Not Just a Shoe Box series. Come back again tomorrow to see one more letter from  a child who was impacted by OCC Shoe Boxes, and The Greatest Journey discipleship program.

 These are letters from some of the kids who received shoe boxes from Operation Christmas Child. My friend Stacey Wilson from OCC was kind enough to send them to me. This is the official shoe box collection week, however, OCC collects and delivers them all year long. I  encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.

OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Equador

By Ginny (MAD21)

Ecuador: "My name is Luis Miguel, and I have been great studying material from the Great Adventure. I am the oldest of four brothers, and my father left us four years ago. Since then my life changed completely: I felt very sad, didn't talk to anyone and I had to start working to help my mom and help my brothers study. One day while I worked, I was invited to be part of the kids club, so I decided to attend every Friday afternoon. I listened during Lesson 4 about how Jesus died on the cross because He loves me. I made the decision to accept Him into my heart and I knew that God cares for me as a father. And although my father abandoned me God will never leave me. My teacher became my best friend and I'm always listening to his teachings. Lesson 12 motivated me to talk to my mom and my brothers about what God was doing in my life, because that is what a true disciple does. So I went home and told my mom and invited her to attend the church. That day we all went together, and are learning more and more and more as my mother accepted Jesus into her heart. I'm still working to help my family, but I do not feel alone because I know God is my father and never left me. And although I know nothing of my earthly father, I am praying for someone to talk to him about Jesus."

This post is part of our Not Just a Shoe Box series. Come back again tomorrow to see another letter from a child who was impacted by OCC Shoe Boxes, and The Greatest Journey discipleship program.

 These are letters from some of the kids who received shoe boxes from Operation Christmas Child. My friend Stacey Wilson from OCC was kind enough to send them to me. This is the official shoe box collection week, however, OCC collects and delivers them all year long. I  encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.