What did you get for Christmas last year?

Disclaimer: Please don't think this post means that you should not buy your kids toys or get your husband anything nice for Christmas. Or put stuff in your stockings. I'm not anti-gift. :) I just started thinking about what $15 could really buy and turns out that you can actually pay for school tuition and/or supplies to teach a child to read and write for that amount. It was eye-opening for me and I thought I would share it.
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So I don't really remember what I got for Christmas last year? Do you? I remember that Isabel got a little table with chairs and her pink Dora crocs and some other stuff. I'm not really sure what I gave Brian now that I think about it. What if somebody gave you food to help you survive? or clean water to drink? What if you learned a new trade that kept your family from starving? What if you received a pair of shoes or clean clothes? What if you learned to read and write? What if you were able to feed your hungry baby? What if you were rescued from slavery or abuse?

I imagine we'd remember those things. Well, God is speaking to my heart about all of the people in need and how I have plenty. A lot of times we feel helpless. Like when your mom used to say, "well there are starving children in africa! you better eat your vegetables!" I don't think God wants us to feel helpless. I think he wants to empower us to speak up for those less fortunate and to actually do something to help them!

Brian and I received a really special gift this year. A gift was given in our honor to rescue a child from bondage and abuse. That gift has really encouraged me to give gifts that matter too. I think God provides ministries like Samaritan's Purse and International Justice Mission, Caroline's Promise, Campus Crusade for Christ, and a slew of others to remind us that we can help. We are part of God's plan to give people hope!
After all Jesus came to be a light to guide the nations, open the eyes of the blind, free the captives from prison, and release the oppressed. (Isaiah 42:6-7 & Luke 4:18-19)

Check out these cool gift catalogs: https://giving.samaritanspurse.org/c-7-gift-catalog.aspx?skinid=1
http://www.ijm.org/holidaygiftcatalog
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/catalog/shop.php