Traveling half way around the world I saw tucked away in the corner of a Sunday school classroom some familiar boxes. These boxes were small and many of you have participated in the incredible ministry of stuffing them full with goodies for children. Years ago when my adventures saw these shoe boxes in that small church in Ukraine I thought how amazing our God is and I was able to see the lives of those impacted by this ministry.
Years later Chelsea an I still stuff these shoeboxes ad send them out with love and prayer. This year we chose to take advantage of a program that Samaritan's Purse offers to those who join them. You can print out a label from their website that allows you to attach a barcode to your gift. With this barcode you can find out where in the world a child might receive your gift. Just a few days ago I relieved an email letting me know that a child has received our gift, and in all places, in Ukraine. It was such a blessing to see God use this gift in such a way and strategically place our box in a country that I am already specifically praying for. It is no coincidence that God has burdened me with the country of Ukraine an taken this small token of love and placed it there.
I wanted to share this story with all of you who pack shoeboxes to know that God makes a difference and uses these little gifts. I don't know specifically what child received our box but I know that God is good and His glory is beyond what we can imagine. He not only decided to use this gift to change the life of a child hit to bless us for giving. Let God use you, especially in the small things because serving Christ is the best thing you can do.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Free From Ourselves
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (1 Peter 2:16 ESV)
Grace is a beautiful thing and something undeserved. Being undeserved by nature it should be precious to its owner. Graciously our God stepped out of heaven to be born into this world and we often take that for granted. We hear the Christmas story year after year to the point can become numbly familiar. It is in this story we find the grace that has set us free. It is in this story we find our hope. Yet it is in this freedom we can find a deceiving twist that tells us we are free and we can do that which we choose. We are forgiven, Christ came down and we can go about our lives as we wish. How rotting this twist of truth really is. Satan wants us to think we are free to do our will when in reality we are free from his chains to do the will of God. We are no longer bound by the evil nature that once ruled who we were. Remember brothers and sisters that though we are free and forgiven we are servants of Christ. Our will should be His and our desires should be His desires.
I say we and pray that as you read you are included in this we. We are the redeemed and you can be too. If you find yourself reading this post, especially in the Christmas season, ask the Lord if he is your King who has come to set you free. Is He the King who gives you hope? I would be happy to talk to you more if you want to know about Christ and what He did by being born as a man of a virgin. Please let me know if you have questions.
Good night and God bless.
If I don't write again this week I wish you a Merry Christmas!
Grace is a beautiful thing and something undeserved. Being undeserved by nature it should be precious to its owner. Graciously our God stepped out of heaven to be born into this world and we often take that for granted. We hear the Christmas story year after year to the point can become numbly familiar. It is in this story we find the grace that has set us free. It is in this story we find our hope. Yet it is in this freedom we can find a deceiving twist that tells us we are free and we can do that which we choose. We are forgiven, Christ came down and we can go about our lives as we wish. How rotting this twist of truth really is. Satan wants us to think we are free to do our will when in reality we are free from his chains to do the will of God. We are no longer bound by the evil nature that once ruled who we were. Remember brothers and sisters that though we are free and forgiven we are servants of Christ. Our will should be His and our desires should be His desires.
I say we and pray that as you read you are included in this we. We are the redeemed and you can be too. If you find yourself reading this post, especially in the Christmas season, ask the Lord if he is your King who has come to set you free. Is He the King who gives you hope? I would be happy to talk to you more if you want to know about Christ and what He did by being born as a man of a virgin. Please let me know if you have questions.
Good night and God bless.
If I don't write again this week I wish you a Merry Christmas!
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