A Season of Giving

A few months back I received a phone call from a volunteer at Hope Pregnancy Center in Willmar to consider donating a service at their Celebration of Life banquet.

I was excited and honored to help out....but I was unsure of what I could do for a donation. After much consideration, I decided to offer a Christmas Centerpiece how-to class. This all sounded fabulous in my head until the day grew closer and I grew more and more nervous.... I am NOT a teacher! After the banquet, I was called by a friend who had the highest bid. We scheduled a day and figured out the details. To my surprise, that same day another woman, with a giving heart, called me....she was incredibly disappointed she did not get the bid. She asked me to consider teaching another class if she would match the donation given to HOPE. Without hesitation, I agreed!

After our phone conversation I sat down as my eyes welled up with tears and I was covered in goosebumps. I think it just hit me.....how simple it was to donate a few hours of my time and some floral supplies and watch God multiply it. I feel incredibly honored to have helped raise $1,000 for the ministry of HOPE......I am so thankful God brought people to the banquet not only to donate, but to open their checkbooks and their hearts while supporting this incredible cause!

This is a costly time of year! It's expensive to heat our homes, buy groceries, provide for our families, and buy Christmas gifts.....it's this time every year when we get mail and phone calls asking us to donate to a hundred different organizations. We pack our calendars plump full with activities, parties, concerts, coffee dates...running here, there and everywhere! We are so incredibly busy, we often forget what Christmas is all about!

  • Luke 2:1-20

    In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told

Jesus gave to the poor and needy....He healed the sick and brokenhearted. He helped the orphans and the widows.......and He has called us to do the same! 

There are probably thousands of organizations who would love to have you donate.... I encourage you to research some options and see where Jesus calls you to help. (World Vision....Compassion International....HOPE pregnancy center....Urban Homeworks.....literally THOUSANDS!) Maybe you are in a position where it's difficult to give of your finances....trust me, giving your time is just as valuable! Volunteer at church, visit people in the hospital or nursing home...take a friend in need out for coffee. Nothing compares to the Joy you will be filled with when you have a giving heart!

Well....this was the week we had our classes....it was a blast! I was so blessed by all these amazing women! We shared coffee, snacks...and lot's of laughs!

The finished arrangements...they turned out great!

The finished arrangements...they turned out great!

We held class number 2 on Saturday morning...it was so much fun to catch up with these beautiful women. 

We held class number 2 on Saturday morning...it was so much fun to catch up with these beautiful women. 

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Snack time! Coffee...hot apple cider and fresh baked almond joy biscotti...YUM!

Snack time! Coffee...hot apple cider and fresh baked almond joy biscotti...YUM!

Fabulous job ladies! I had so much fun with you!

Fabulous job ladies! I had so much fun with you!

A Season of Giving