Christmas is Here?

It's funny how Christmas seems to arrive earlier and earlier each year.  On my way to work today I heard Jingle Bells on a radio commercial.  Really?  Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet!  Then when I was walking into the church, I saw it.  There was snow on the ground.  Not a lot, but it was there on the grass.  In the first half of November.  I guess Christmas really is coming.

Have you started Christmas shopping yet?  No?  Good!  I'd like to give you some ideas while your Christmas budget is still flexible.  Without further ado, here are some wonderful Christmas gift ideas!

• Parasite Be Gone!          $4.00  
• Garden Seeds                $10.00             
• ABC's                           $25.00

Sorry if I failed to mention that these gifts aren't really great ideas for your loved ones this Christmas.  These are gifts for people around the world who are in desperate need of life's basic necessities.  It's hard to imagine their circumstances for those of us dealing with First World Problems like running out of space on our iPods and complaining the heater in our house is either a tad too cold or a tad too hot.  But for just 4 bucks, you can give a kid meds that will wipe out intestinal bugs in his system so that he doesn't go malnourished.  For 10 dollars, you can give a family in Africa seeds so that they can plant a garden and be fed for months to come.  For $25, you can help an impoverished mother become literate so she can provide for her family.


If you can afford to give more than that, take a look at these other options.

• Emergency Shelter                        $50.00
• Year-long Care for a Baby            $55.00  
• Clean Water for a Family              $79.00

And if you happen to be financially blessed right now, here are some pricier options that can make a huge difference.  You may want to consider getting a group of friends to chip in with you for one of these options.  Think of how cheap these things would be if we split them ten ways.  Maybe bring it up with your co-workers, neighbors, classmates, or Bible Study group and make it a team project.

• Medical Care During Labor          $150.00
• Livestock for a Family                  $280.00
• Sponsor a Child                           $38.00/month or $456.00/year
• Lifesaving Surgery for a Child       $5,000.00

Please consider giving a gift through Compassion International this year.  Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate the greatest gift ever given by generously giving to our friends and loved ones.  Please consider how you can generously give to those who are truly in need.  Some of these gifts are chump change for us.  You can probably give $4.00 and not even notice it's gone.  Some of these gifts though will take real sacrifice and partnership.  Ask the Lord to lay it on your heart what you can do to be generous this Christmas season.  You won't regret it.  Plan now, while your budget is still flexible!

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” --  Acts 20:35