Magazine Mania

Magazines are everywhere; they’re at the gas station, grocery store, and library, as well as regular occurrences in our mailboxes. Many of us often flip through them to look at the pictures and read a few of the articles without giving it a second thought, but maybe we should think twice.

In preparation for this article, I recently flipped through a few teen magazines, and found some pretty vulgar things. Titles such as “How to hook the hottest guy in the room,” “The Pill,” and “Using Protection” fill the covers of these magazines. Inside the magazines are even worse! Girls are encouraged to take condoms with them on dates if they think intercourse might take place; almost every picture shows fashion as something that reveals most of our body; and gossip about celebrities is running rampant.

Some of you are probably nodding your heads in agreement, and others are probably shrugging your shoulders and thinking, “Who cares? It’s not that big a deal.” The thing is, it is a big deal! If you don’t think that looking at things like this affects you, stop and read The Heart of the Matter before finishing this article.

Now that we’ve read the article, and are considering the fact that maybe small things actually are “that bad,” what can we do about it? We love the fashion articles, the beauty tips, dating information, and advice columns, right? How can we give that up? The good news is that we don’t have to! We can continue to read the articles we like, but in a different way.

How to do it

Find good magazines! Pierce My Heart is expanding and changing to include the things we like in normal magazines, but from a godly perspective. There are other decent, godly magazines out there too (if you’ve found one, leave a comment about it below this article).

Lose the bad. This is the hard part. You have to make a conscious decision to rid your life of any and all trashy magazines, then follow through on that decision, so that you will only be filling your heart and mind with worthy thoughts, as we’re encouraged to do in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” In order to fully do this, we must get rid of fashion magazines that tell us to dress in revealing ways, magazines that gossip about celebrities, and magazines that encourage us to be sexually active with people we’re not married to. I don’t need to name the names – you know which magazines I’m talking about. If you’ve subscribed, un-subscribe, even if you lose money. If your mom buys them for you when she goes to the store, talk to her about it, and ask her to support you in your quest to become a purer person this year. If you’re going to a friend’s house that has inappropriate magazines you like to read, take other reading material instead, whether it’s a book, another magazine, or articles from this magazine that you print off.

Notice the difference. When you haven’t been reading those magazines for about a month, you’ll start to notice that you have a better self image (you’re no longer seeing airbrushed models), a purer mind (you’re no longer being encouraged to engage in sinful behaviors), and a cleaner heart.

Be renewed

Ask God to renew your heart this year, so that you will desire to be pure, inside and out. Make sure the choices you make with magazines affect your desire to be pure; rejoice in that pureness; and meditate on this verse: “The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing in the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8).

Davonne Parks

Not Cool Enough?

“I have a great boyfriend who treats me decently and is a believer in Christ, but he’s not the coolest guy around. Should I let my peers’ words influence how I feel about this guy?”
- Sarah

First, let me ask you a question. Why are your friends not supportive of your boyfriend? It sounds like he is a great guy, with good character. If the reason your friends are not supportive of him is because he is not “cool” or “popular” then your friends are not being constructive; rather, they’re being destructive to your spiritual character, and you should seek other influences. I’m not saying to lose your friends; just seek the advice from other godly people. It is important to remember that you should be dating someone in order for that to lead to marriage. Don’t spend your time dating “cool” guys just for the sake of dating “cool” guys. You should be seeking a relationship with someone who is a godly man.

Here is something to consider: If the only reason your friends don’t think you should date this guy is because he’s not cool enough, then no, don’t allow their words to influence how you feel about him, and beware of potential jealousy tainting others’ words. On the other hand, if your friends have other, legitimate concerns about his character, and sincerely have your best interest at heart, then think about what they say, because often when we’re in a relationship, it’s hard for us to see what is obvious to someone who’s not emotionally attached.

It’s important to know who is building you up and who is tearing you down, spiritually. You need to be discerning and honest with yourself. Does your boyfriend build you up and encourage you in your walk with God, or does he tear you down? Do your friends build you up and support you in making godly choices, or do they discourage you when your choices lean toward biblical principles? If your friends are gossiping about your boyfriend and saying things you know they shouldn’t, then they’re probably tearing you down, as well as him.

Remember, Jesus was not a popular guy (Matthew 10:22), and many people gossiped about Him and spread rumors. He did not allow others’ opinions of Him or His beliefs hinder Him from what He was doing or change what He believed. Godly character can change the world. As important as popularity and fitting in may seem in our world, it is not nearly as significant or eternal as having godly character.

Adam Grimenstein

Too Shy

“How do you tell a guy that you like him if you’re shy?”

Everyone has a tendency to be shy in certain situations.  Some people handle this very well by overcoming shyness through assuring their confidence and boldness even when they don’t want to. Other people struggle with being shy, sometimes because of a lack of confidence, boldness, or determination. For myself, I have always struggled with shyness around larger crowds of people. When I’m in these situations, I have to remind myself that everyone perceives, or views, me according to the way I act and handle myself. I also have to remember that confidence ultimately should come from God and not of myself! Paul told the Corinthians “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God” (2 Cor. 3:4–5).

If you want to befriend someone who is intimidating to you, then have confidence in the way you present yourself, and this will be the way they will likely view you. Gaining confidence when you are shy is a very hard thing to do. Always remember that some of the flaws you think you have and see in yourself, other people don’t see. By working on overcoming your shyness, you learn to worry less about what other people think about you, which can cause you to be more outgoing and friendly and can hopefully lead others to Christ. When you start to focus less on how you think other people view you, and more on being a friendly, godly example to others, people will notice that (especially if they have the godly qualities you should be looking for in a friend).

God wants us to be confident. We should be confident in who we are and who God has made us to be. Paul urges us to not have confidence in our flesh—which is sinful and corrupt—but to place our confidence in God. Paul states this to the Phillipians: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).

I believe dating is preparation for marriage. You may already be praying for your future spouse. Therefore, God will provide the right guy for you, so be patient and do not worry. Try not to be flirtatious or give the guy the wrong messages. Instead, try allowing him to take the initiative. If he asks you out, then tell him you would like to go out together with several people and just hang out and enjoy the time together as friends. If he never asks you out or he doesn’t like the idea of not dating, then you’ve saved yourself the heartbreak of a relationship that was not meant to be, and you will have kept yourself pure in the process while waiting for the person who God wants you to be with.

Remember, God already knows who will make a good spouse for you and you may not even know him yet, so pray for him and trust God will bring you together with the right guy at the right time.

- Adam Grimenstein

Read vs. Study

Q. In the September issue, I keep reading about Bible study versus Bible reading. What’s the difference, and how can I go from reading my Bible to actually studying my Bible each day?
-Mandy

A. Bible reading and Bible studying are very similar terms. Some people may use them interchangeably. However, there is a difference.

Bible reading involves reading a couple of chapters or more each day. When you read your Bible, you usually read to refresh your memory, to find comfort, or as an effort to think on good things, as we are commanded in Philippians 4:8. In contrast, during a Bible study, you may spend an hour on just a couple of verses. The goal during study is to gain comprehension, not merely to refresh your memory. If you feel that you don’t understand a certain subject, you may choose to study it.

Usually, when reading your Bible, you read several verses or chapters in order. When you study, you read verses that correspond to the subject that you are studying. For example, if studying baptism, you might read from Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, or I Peter 3:21, instead of reading entirely from the same book and chapter. Studying may also involve memorizing verses and understanding concepts so that you can answer any questions that might arise from your friends and others (2 Tim. 2:15; I Peter 3:15).

It’s important to read your Bible daily, but if you have more time or are having difficulty understanding something, you should try to study. Bible reading may turn into study if you come across something you don’t understand, which happened to the eunuch in Acts 8. If you aren’t sure how to study, you could choose a topic and read about it from an appropriate commentary and look up the verses given so that you can better understand the topic.

Also, most Bibles have study aids in the back, and there are concordances that will help you find verses on most any subject. If you can’t think of a subject to study, just start reading your Bible and if you read something you don’t understand, study it. It’s okay to just read your Bible as long as you also spend some time studying what you read.

- Rachel Conley

Lost Loved Ones

Losing a loved one is always hard, but dealing with it during the holidays can be especially difficult. Since the holidays bring families together, many times that seems to be when someone is missed the most. Unfortunately, I have lost both of my grandfathers. Both were very strong, loving, Christian men.

When it comes to the holidays, though, my Grandpa Reaves seems to be the most influential. My Papaw Reaves was a minister, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a farmer. I really don’t think there was very much he couldn’t do. Papaw loved the holidays. He always loved it when we were all together, but at Christmas he seemed to be even more cheerful. I will never forget him coming in with the video camera to tape everything that happened. I remember the time he convinced all the grandkids that we saw Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer out his back door so we had to go to bed or Santa would not leave presents.

Papaw died of cancer in July of 1999. I was 16. I know every day that part of him is in me. My memories of him will live on through me and my son and hopefully for generations to come. I was very close to my grandparents. Growing up, my sister and I spent almost every summer at their house. We went on vacations with them, and to this day my Grandma is one of my biggest fans. I don’t know where I would be without her love and support. But when Papaw died, it seemed as though for a few days, nothing mattered.

At first it seemed so surreal. We lived rather far away and my mom had flown to Missouri to be with my grandparents because we knew Papaw was ill. Unfortunately, Papaw passed away before her plane landed. The next week was all slow motion. I remember packing to drive the long distance to Missouri. I know I was at the viewing and the funeral, but I could not tell you what was said, or who was there.

My sister and I stayed for a week with my grandma after everyone else had gone home. It was so weird being in the house without him there. Seeing the pain on my grandma’s face and walking through the yard where he used to garden just didn’t seem fair. He was only 65. There was so much I wanted him to see. I wanted him to see me get married and have a family. I wanted him to do for my children the things he had so wonderfully done for me.

As time passed, I slowly began to realize that all I had thought about was how much his death was affecting my life. What about my mom, who had just lost her father, or my grandma, who had lost her husband? Being a wife now, I can’t imagine the pain she was going through. I know when we stayed with her after he died, there must have been so many times when she just wanted to stay in bed and cry, but didn’t because we were there.

Some people are able to cope with a loss by talking about it. Find a friend, a parent, or even a school counselor if you feel you need to talk. Remember the good things about that person. Focus on how you can show others the same love that person showed you. Look through old pictures when you need to. Shortly after Papaw passed, my grandma gave me a picture of him on his tractor help me remember him.

When my paternal grandfather died in June of this year after an extended illness, a member of the family told me that she had already forgotten some of the things she loved about him––his smell, his laugh. That can happen. I know I have forgotten things about Papaw Reaves, but then I will pass someone who smells like him and I will remember his scent. Just remember that your memories don’t have to be forced. Little things that you loved about them may seem forgotten but sometimes something will happen, a gesture or smell, and you will think of that person.

One of the difficult parts for some is talking to people who have recently lost a loved one. What should you say? Remember that everyone is different. You don’t have to say anything. Sometimes just a card saying that you are thinking and praying for them means a lot. Perhaps if it is someone who is widowed, spend time with them.

Grieving is a process, but it is a different process for each of us. Some of us cry, some get angry, and some just want to be alone. While I can’t tell you how you should grieve, I can tell you that God will make your grieving easier. He alone can heal that pain and give you peace to accept His will. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

By Sarah J. Ancheta

The Secret: Part II

The purpose of this series on the fruit of the Spirit is to explain how God has given us many gifts with the intent of making our lives happy. God designed us with free will so that we might choose to love and obey Him (Genesis 1:27). He planned that we would choose to treat each other as we would have hopefully treated Christ while He was on earth. God presents us, through the Holy Spirit, nine specific gifts that affect every part of our lives (Gal.5:22–23). These gifts are meant to bring us comfort and hope by giving each of us a small glimpse of God’s grace and love. It is by understanding and applying these gifts to our lives that we will discover the path of happiness.

Recap

Last month I wrote about the first three elements of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, and peace. We talked about how these three gifts enhance and promote healthy and happy relationships. Love is stronger than anything on this earth. It is by love and grace that God sent His only son to save His sinful creation (John 3:16). Likewise, love is necessary in a dating or marriage relationship. Without love you will not be able to make it together. Next, we mentioned joy, which is a natural medicine of life. It brings laughter and fun into the relationship and helps you both enjoy your time together. The third and final piece of the fruit was peace. Peace means harmony and bliss. Both people in the relationship should strive to compromise and encourage calmness between one another. For a more in-depth overview of the first three gifts, take a look at last month’s article, The Secret.

Patience is a virtue

Now let us move on to this month’s addition. The next gift from the Holy Spirit is patience (Galatians 5:16–18). This particular gift can be difficult for some people to grasp and use in their daily lives. The definition of patience is “bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint.” Under certain circumstances this can be a very difficult gift to practice. For example, if someone is rude or just hard to be with it can be tough to be patient with them. In a dating relationship, you should not have to deal with a rude boyfriend, but sometimes you still have to discipline yourself to be patient with him.

If you are dating a boy who is not very experienced at expressing how he feels you will definitely have to work at being patient with him. Resist the temptation to get frustrated and angry, because sometimes they can’t tell you how they feel at the exact moment you want them to. Be careful, however, if he never wants to talk about his feelings, or is consistently avoiding any serious discussions. This is a character flaw that will only worsen after marriage. Sometimes, though, you may just have to be patient and give him time––time alone to think about it and figure out how to put his feelings into words. And when he is ready, he will explain to you what’s going on in his life. If you can do this, you will be practicing the gift of patience by giving him time to think and then listening to how he is feeling. Every now and then it may be hard to be patient and you will accidentally mess up. When this happens you should ask your boyfriend for forgiveness and ask God for forgiveness as well (James 5:15–16). Patience with yourself to grow and learn and patience with someone you love to grow and learn will make your lives and relationship much happier.

If you can’t say anything nice…

The fifth gift is kindness. Kindness can make or break almost every relationship in your life. If your friend was never kind to you, would you want to be her friend? If your boyfriend was mean to you would you want to continue dating him? Probably not. Kindness is a very important ingredient to a happy relationship. I know that two qualities I have always watched for in a boy were if he respects his elders and if he is kind to others. It is very important to me and obviously important to God, since He gave it to His Creation as a special gift.

When you are dating someone, you should always go out of your way to show them kindness and appreciation. You should never be cruel or mean to them when they don’t do exactly what you want. You should be understanding and show them kindness by accepting that they have a lot of commitments in their life and will sometimes not be able to give you all that you desire.

One example that comes to mind right now is a situation that I once had with my boyfriend. I was feeling hurt because he wanted to stay home instead of going to watch a play with me. I was really disappointed and sad, but I also knew that I was over-reacting. About twenty minutes after we got off the phone I realized how unkind I was being. He had spent every day after school at football and he had gone every night that week to our congregation’s gospel meeting; he had not had any time at home in awhile. He deserved a break and he deserved some kindness and understanding from me. So I called him back and apologized for being upset and told him I was glad he was choosing to take a night off. Even though I had made the mistake of over-reacting and not being kind, I quickly realized that that was not how God wanted me to treat someone I loved. That is just one of the everyday experiences my boyfriend and I have in our relationship using the gifts from God and the Holy Spirit.

Goodness is, as goodness does

The last piece of the fruit for this month is goodness. Goodness encompasses many different aspects. It means practicing purity and encouraging others to do the same. It means that you think of God’s will before even considering your own. Goodness can be a tough skill to conquer, and chances are it’s not something you will always be able to accomplish (Romans 3:23), but remember that God forgives us when we truly repent of our wrongs.

When you are in a relationship with someone and you are both striving to be good to each other and everyone around you, you will find that the gift of peace is much easier to acquire. If you are good to one another, you respect, honor, and take care of each other. This is something that makes us all much happier.

Some examples of what you can do in any relationship to show goodness are being reliable, trustworthy, enjoyable, and noble. One way you can demonstrate goodness in a dating situation is by always being reliable and trustworthy. Allow them to lean on you and confide in you by always keeping your word in a godly manner. When they are willing to tell you something that is personal, they are showing you that they trust you; don’t destroy that trust by telling others a secret. This is, of course, something that a genuine Christian boy should also do for you. He should be someone you can trust and rely on for all situations in life. Goodness toward others will make your life simpler and others treating you with goodness will assist in making your life a happy one.

Now you know!

This month we have reviewed love, joy, and peace and have introduced patience, kindness, and goodness. I sincerely hope that after reading these articles each month that you are taking away the desire to develop God’s gifts and are creating a more content life for yourself. Always remember that the secret to a happy life is simple: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

I’m Dreaming of a Christmas Movie

This month, some of the staff is offering their own favorite Christmas movie review. So, choose one of these, or grab your own favorite, curl up with a blanket and cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy the spirit, or humor, of the season.

When I was a child, there was nothing better than the anticipation and time spent watching the line-up of Christmas classics during the weeks approaching Christmas: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and Charlie Brown’s Christmas. My favorite among them was probably Mickey’s Christmas Carol. But the one Christmas movie that I love to watch year after year now is Miracle on 34th Street––the 1947 version. While I love the nostalgic feelings that the animated movies create, Miracle on 34th Street reminds me of the sweetness and spirit of the Christmas season.

- Lisa Grimenstein

My Favorite Christmas movie is a toss up between It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story. I love to watch both every year with lots of family around. I think of the two, It’s a Wonderful Life is my favorite because it puts me in the mood for Christmastime. Davonne purchased both of these for me for Christmas last year on DVD, so we are  planning on continuing the tradition!

– Nathan Parks

I love Charlie Brown and Frosty the Snowman because they bring back fond memories of my childhood. My favorite Christmas movie, however, is the colorized 1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street, because it’s a sweet, timeless movie which shows that true joy is found in what we give to others, not what we take from them.

– Davonne Parks

There are several movies I like to watch during the Christmas season. They are White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, The Bells of St. Mary’s, Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version), but my absolute favorite is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Every year when my children were little, we would all watch Rudolph and many other Christmas cartoons. I truly cherish those memories.

––Carol Gartman

The True Meaning of Christmas

Many Christians are divided on how the Christmas holiday should be celebrated. Some people celebrate Christmas as Christ’s birth; some feel that it’s wrong to celebrate Christmas at all; and others are somewhere in between. Growing up, I can remember the topic arising and the argument being made that because Christmas is not substantiated biblically, we should reject it. I think many people assume they understand the meaning behind the holiday, without looking up its background for themselves.

Christmas History

I went to my well known (and respected) source, history.com, and was actually surprised at how little I knew about the roots of this holiday. While it is true that it has origins of Catholicism, it is based on many different beliefs that became meshed into one holiday. Over time, these beliefs and traditions have slowly changed, and the holiday no longer carries the same meaning as it once did.

Check this out: around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year. In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. The Bible does not mention the date of his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that His birth may have occurred in the spring, Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by AD 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia.

The pilgrims, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.

After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America’s new constitution. Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s peaked American interest in the holiday? The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.

What that Means Today

Christmas as a religious holiday by the Catholics was in response to a holiday already celebrated by the Romans. Some people look at this holiday as something negative that we are restricted from partaking in, and others look at Christmas as a time when we are supposed to celebrate Christ’s birth, but in reality, neither is the case.

We need to keep in mind that perhaps there’s a reason God didn’t put Jesus’ birth date in the Bible – the date doesn’t matter, because we are supposed to celebrate is His death, burial, and resurrection all the time. God’s word is perfect and complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17); it’s no coincidence that His birth only takes up four chapters of the Bible, but His life and death take up considerably more. That being said, however, it is natural for many of us to think more about Jesus’ birth around Christmas time because reminders surround us. Even though we don’t know exactly when Jesus was born, we should be grateful for His birth every day because if He wasn’t born, then He couldn’t have lived and died for us. We can also use this time of year to invite our friends to church since they may be more open than usual to learning about His love.

We all give our own traditions, beliefs, and principles to everything we do. I have seen those who choose to celebrate the holiday by calling it something other than Christmas. To that, I quote Shakespeare, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Changing the name does not change the way you celebrate it. Be proud that you are taking that day to spend with your family. To appreciate everything God has given you and to glorify Him. It may not be Christ’s birthday. It may be just a day that some man with an idea set aside for family. Either way, celebrate it by spending time with your family and friends. Thank God that we have the resources to make it through the winter. Celebrate that winter has just begun (the first day of winter is usually either the 21^st or 22^nd of December). Give a gift. Find someone you know who does not know about Christ and share His love with them. I have to tell you, one year I gave my best friend a Bible for Christmas. Although it was not expensive, she was so happy to have it. I really think it is the best gift I could have given her––and I know that He is the best gift she could ever receive.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

Merry Christmas!
Sarah Ancheta

Angels Among Us

How many gifts do you think you’ll receive this Christmas? A dozen? Two dozen? More? Although receiving gifts is not what this season should be about, it is sad to think about the many children who will not get to experience the innocent, pure joy of finding gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. I’m sure that most of us have never had to wake up to a room void of gifts on this most memorable of mornings. We often don’t even have to worry about not getting that most coveted gift we’ve been thinking about for months—it’s usually there, waiting for us. But do we ever pause to think about the quiet disappointment that fills so many houses every Christmas? Not the disappointment of not finding that treasured gift among the other twenty, but of not even expecting a single gift at all.

Now is your chance to help a child get to experience the joy of Christmas morning that so many of us have always taken for granted. I’m sure many of you have seen Angel Trees placed in stores and schools in your area. These trees lend a wonderful opportunity to meet this childhood desire of someone who would otherwise not experience it. The process is fairly easy, but the unseen rewards are priceless.

Begin by locating a place that offers an Angel Tree. You can often find these at banks, grocery stores, and schools. These trees are decorated with paper angels, which have information about a specific child on the back. The information will include the age and gender of the child, so select an angel you feel you would be prepared to shop for. Ask someone in charge of the tree when the gifts should be returned, how they should be packaged (most prefer them to be left unwrapped), and where they should be returned (usually back to the same location). And then . . . let the fun begin! Designate an amount of money that you want to spend on this child (2 Corinthians 9:7). You may choose to do this as a family project, with a friend, or you may allot some of your income to this project. Remember that you will be the primary gift giver for this child, so consider that when you’re out shopping. Most angels will have a short list of “want” and “need” items for the child, along with sizes for clothing and shoes. In the past, I’ve tried to evenly apportion my attention and money to both the fun “want” items and the important “need” items for the angel I’ve chosen.

When you are finished shopping, package the items however the sponsor wishes, and, most importantly, return them with your angel paper back to the appropriate location on time. If you toss or lose the angel paper in the process of shopping, there will be no way for the sponsor to locate which child you’ve shopped for (although they do often write down your name and the angel’s ID number when you select it).

And now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the thoughts of a less fortunate child getting to experience the joy of discovering unexpected and thoughtful gifts on such a memorable morning—and a parent who can delight in his or her child’s simple happiness, provided by a giving stranger.

Lisa Grimenstein

‘Tis the Season to Be Giving…

The holidays are a time when many of us are with our families. I know that some of us have lost people who we’re very close to, often making this time of year a season of mixed feelings. There are also some families who are unable to, or aren’t interested in, volunteering time or money to those in need. If that is the case in your home, ask friends to join you in one or more of these activities, or join a friend’s family as they volunteer to share their blessings, because this time of year is a perfect time to round up your family or friends and give. This year, choose to contribute money or time to help others have a memorable season, which in turn is giving back to God (Matthew 25:35-45).

Here are some ways you can give this holiday season:

• Look around the house and find unused and outgrown coats in good condition. Donate them to a winter coat drive in your area.

• Select an angel off an angel tree at a local school or grocery store. Choose to offer some of the money that would be spent on your Christmas presents to buy presents for a less fortunate child.

• Spend a day with your family or friends preparing a meal for someone in the community. Then deliver it together.

• Bake cookies and take them to several people (shut-ins, single or working mothers, etc.).

• Put together Christmas boxes for children sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse.

• Make Christmas cards to send to serving soldiers in the Middle East. Also send them a box of goodies (homemade cookies, razors, and other items they may need). Look online to find a list of approved and needed items to send.

• Baby-sit for a busy mother so that she can do some shopping, cleaning, or relaxing. (Don’t let her pay you remember, you are giving your time.)

• As a family, shovel driveways and sidewalks in your neighborhood after a big snow.

There are many ways to give this season. Does your family already have “giving” traditions? If not, be creative and come up with additional ideas that suit your family. Be the one in your family to initiate giving! Encourage them to remember all the things they are blessed with. And when you give, whether it’s of your time, money, or talents, remember to give with a cheerful heart.

By Lisa Grimenstein

How does your family like to give? Feel free to leave a comment stating your own giving ideas.

Next Page »