This year, we are actually observing Advent. We are reading an Advent devotional each night. It is called the Jesse Tree Journey written by Ann Voskamp of A Holy Experience. The best part of it, in my opinion, is that each day's devotional ends with unwrapping more of His love in the world --- a call to action. Each member of our family is asked to do or give a simple thing each day --- a gift --- that demonstrates unwrapping more of God's love in the lives of people around us.
Today we are to create something with a gentle heart of love that would be good (a letter, a treat, a surprise) for someone. Hmmmm... what should I do? I wonder what my kids will do?
Speaking of Advent... here's a great video from the website Advent Conspiracy. It's a great reminder to our family on how we should celebrate Christ's birth.
My morning started with a great devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries on giving the gift of hope this Christmas. What a way to start off December! :-)
Here are some of the ways our family will be giving the gift of hope this year...
~ We kicked off the Christmas celebrations by packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes!Our family is very much looking forward to Christmas! There is just something very special about this most wonderful time of the year --- I think that's why He is known as the Miracle of Christmas!
~ We will be delivering Christmas presents to 30 under privileged children who live in the Jane/Finch neighbourhoods. We are doing this with an organization called UrbanPromise.
~ We will be packing an AIDs Care Kit. This is an initiative of the church our family is considering calling home. The goal is to have 1200 of these kits sent over to Africa this year.
~ We will be doing two Out of the Cold dinners for the homeless, one next Saturday and another one in January. We do this with our extended family every year... it's an eye-opening experience for our kids!
Here I am. Lord, send me!
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