My favorite gift as the gift giver

When I started my gift giving ministry I had a purpose of bringing back the ancient art of gift giving. Thinking of times in the past when folks did not have much money or distractions like television and all our technology, they had a deep understanding of gift giving. They gave of their time and created things!
We, in our jam packed schedules, have forgotten this art or let it become less valued in our society.
There still are a generation of largely woman who carry out the art of giving. These are the retired woman who once volunteered before in their busy schedules. Now that their responsibilies have lessened, they give much of their time to other causes. Many stay at home moms also give gifts that are handmade and service.
I know of such a woman in her early eighties. She is "slowing down" now, by cutting down in some of the volunteer committees she serves on. Notably she and a handful of ladies started a non-profit agency for mental health clients. Today besides the original ten bed apartment building they have eighteen "satellite" apartments that they manage.
She also continues to be involved with a MCC quilting club. The club makes thousands upon thousands of baby quilts each year to ship to countries in need like Russia.
Lillian came visiting me one day. She asked if I had a sewing machine and if I would like to have it! I was delighted and accepted it as my machine was broken. I then found a huge discount on a store of a quilting kit for a bed. Being a novice, little did I know how difficult the pattern I had chosen was. I asked for Lillian's help who accepted knowing what she was getting herself into.
For weeks I came to Lillian's house with my quilting supplies. We always went straight to work as we usually had an hour to an hour and a half to work. Being a former home-ec teacher Lillian was very precise. She showed me how to get my sewing lines straight, and my squares and triangles to be perfect. At the end of our session she would always give me "homework" to do.
I will never forget the finishing of my quilt for my queen size bed. Lillian had it "shown" at two of her committees. Lillian was truly a mentor in the spirit of giving.
For me, my favorite gift as a gift giver was a baby quilt that I sewed. My care box went to a single mom through the "crisis pregnancy center." I imagined the obstacles the mom had gone through with her pregnancy and had overcome. I gave many things to help with a new baby but the quilt was hand made. An expression of my heart through my hands. It also gave me fond memories of my teacher Lillian.
As a gift giver I enjoy giving the handmade gifts the most! This is something I plan to focus on more! My "brownies in a jar" are a close second.
Today I am making up some homemade squash soup from an incredible deal that I got. A non-profit agency has set up a food co-op for people on low income near my home. You can get many items at wholesale prices. I am buying three more butternut squashes there and some carrots. Then I am making up soups and will give a portion for my busy sister! A gift from my hands to her heart! The joy of giving!!

The power of prayer as you give on gift gat a time.

If in your life or as a ministry, you need to know that you will have spiritual opposition. These distractions are: pulling from your marriage, your children, and division among our churches in the world.
For me, that often came through my son. I would be working on a bunch of gift baskets and have them ready for delivery. Like clock work, Mathew would begin to act out add a lot of pain to my family. At other time he became sick. One time he had tenderness and pain in his liver. The doctor did not know the cause depite numerous tests.
It was during this time that I made a concentrated effort to pray for my son. I prayed that his heaiing would happen and it did. Before the doctors had come up with a diagnosis healing had occured. Mathew's healing had been a miracle to all of us us!!
Divisions in my family seemed so me much less, and the internal battle in my mind settled.
Prayer also seemed to be guiding force who I gave my gift packages to. My "secret santas" delivery persons, often found who they delivered to those who were in worse condition than they thought. Circumstances had worsened. God knew these situations and was reaching out through me to other people.
Prayer became the foundation of the ministry, which I needed to give my gift baskets, boxes, and other gifts. It was also needed to give gifts to people once a day for a year. These were just to randomly bless recipients!
So I never forget the power of prayer as you bulld your own gift giving practice. We often forget the power of prayer in the heavenlies. Today I will pray for you!!
God bless,
The gift giver!

Chicken from the Lord, my gift for giving!

Today I stood in a long line at customer service of a grocery store. A friend was going to buy me some gift certificates for a past favor I had done for her. She had to rush off to the bathroom and asked if I could save a spot for her. I watched and moved forward with the crawling line-up, wondering if my friend would get back on time.
My friend was not back when I hit the top of the line. I ended up letting 3 more people in. I wasn't paying attention until I heard of an incredible deal by listening in to the person behind me explaining the great deal over her phone. This was for Canada, so I am not sure what it would be like in other countries. It was basically half price! For 4 kg. frozen, boneless, skinless, chicken breasts you could get a package for $17.57. There was a limit of two boxes. My friend returned and she bought me enough to buy 2 boxes by giving me $40 in gift certificates.
Now that may not seem very newsworthy, but I believe it was God's perfect timing and provision. If my friend hadn't left for the washroom and returned exactly when she did I would not have known about that sale. Also that my friend gave me $40 the exact amount I needed for two boxes was not just by chance. There was just under $4 to provide a tithe with or I might give chicken!
God had seen my need and my giving ministry. He does care about the intimate, details of my life. PTL!!
Thank you Jesus for the chicken. I am truly grateful and I gleefully obtained my rain-check! I then emailed local friends to tell them of this bargain!!
I invite some of you to come along me in the:"Change your world giving challenge, one gift at a time." You give one gift a day(or more) for one full year. See the write up in the previous day entry (Sept.23, 2011). Please join my site and if you are starting this and comment on it. For you a starting point may be for one week, not one year! Comment about any fears etc. that you may be going through!!
This time on earth is but a moment, our real reward lies in eternity. Be anonymous when you can!
God bless,
The gift giver



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Change your world, one gift at a time.

Everyone has a unique purpose in life which God has given to you. Besides mothering, God has been leading me on this journey of giving. Being the gift giver has changed my life as I have come out of suicidal thoughts to joy from giving gifts to others.
Sunday I visited a friend's church. The theme of the service was "Change your world." I realize each of us have unique ways in which we can change our world around us. God has us where we are for a reason.
It was then that I thought of a giving challenge. I already had been giving gift baskets, boxes and other gifts to people for over two years. But I asked God how I could really change the world around me.
The I looked at the "stuff" around me in my apartment. One gift at a time, I thought. What would my world look like if I gave something everyday for a year. I don't have a lot of money, but the gifts didn't have to be lavish.
I remembered when I was having a stressful day this year and a woman came up to me. She had a small bunch of daffodils. "Blessings," she said and she walked away even before I could look at her. That gesture made my day.
On Sunday I left some new nailpolish and lipgloss in my apartment building.
Yesterday I mailed my father's birthday gift. Today I am going to give a scented candle to someone in starbucks. The candle is in a tin. The top of the lid has Psalm 118.4 on it. "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." I have written this blog address out on the gift bag tag.
So Lord, may these gifts touch others and may you guide me to the ones whom need it the most. Thank you Lord for the heart surgery you will continue to do on me as I take this giving to a deeper level.
May I impact the world around me, one gift at a time, each day for a year. I wonder if this will continue to be my ministry.
For others who feel lead to give more please leave your comments and unique stories in the "comment" section. May you be truly blessed. I hope to change the world by bringing back the love of giving back again in our rushed society, one gift at a time!

Change your world, one gift at a time.

Everyone has a unique purpose in life which God has given to you. Besides mothering, God has been leading me on this journey of giving. Being the gift giver has changed my life as I have come out of suicidal thoughts to joy from giving gifts to others.
Sunday I visited a church service of a friend. The theme of the service was "Change your world." I realize each of us have unique ways in which we can change our world around us. God has us where we are for a reason.
It was then that I thought of a giving challenge. I already have been giving for over two years baskets, boxes and other gifts to people. But I asked God how could I really change the world around me.
Then I looked at the "stuff" around me in my apartment. One gift at a time, I thought. What would my world look like if I gave something every day for a year. I don't have a lot of money, but the gifts don't have to be lavish. I remembered when I was having a stressful day this year and a woman came up to me. She had a small bunch of daffodils. "Blessings." she said and she walked away even before I could have a good look at her. That gesture made my day.
On Sunday I left some nailpolish and lipgloss that I had not been using in my apartment building. It was gone one hour later. Yesterday I mailed off my dad's birthday present. Today I am going to give a scented candle to someone in starbucks. The candle is in a tin. The top of the lid has Psalm 118.4 on it. "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." I have written this blog address out on the gift bag tag.
So Lord, may these gifts touch others and may you guide me to the ones whom need it the most. Thank you Lord for the heart surgery you will continue to do on me as I take giving to a deeper level.
May I impact the world around me, one gift at a time, each day for a year. I wonder if this will continue to be my ministry!! For others who feel lead to give more please leave your comments and unique stories in the "comment" section or email me for my book (giftgiversboxshowschristslove@gmail.com). May you be truly blessed!!
I hope to change the world by bringing the love of giving back again in our rushed society, one gift at a time!

Canadians rejoice as 3 year old Keinan Herbert is returned to his shome trou the power of prayer, polices actions, search parties and the a

As the world was grieving Sept 11th ten years ago, Canadians were also rejoicing the safe return of Kienan Herbert Sept. 10th, 2011. The three year old boy had been abducted four days ago from his home.
Police were notified immediently, search and rescue parties began, and an amber alert was issued. The whole county became aware of Kienan's abduction. Posters were made and newscasts showed Kienan's appearance, and the suspect's appearance and car.
Many of us across the country began to pray. We prayed fervently, and with great empathy.
Finaally the father of Kienan made an emotional appeal to the offender. He said this was his chance to walk away. Kienan was still non- verbal and the police wouldn't be there.
Then a miracle occured. Later that night Kienan was returned to his home!! His parents staying at the neighbors were given an anonymous phone call and Keinan was sitting on the couch in the living room. A police officer specializing in these crimes said it was the first time in 24 years he had seen an ending like this! This indeed was a mirale!!
One could only imagine the graditude and joy of this family who had been through this horrendous event!!
Later a press conferance was called and a very emotional father of Keinan. He even thanked the offender for returning his son.
But prayers need not to stop here, as there is much healing to be done. "May God use this experience to give hope to other parents of missing children, or give other parents the oportunity to grieve their own missing children, and may He continue to heal and restore everything this horrific trauma still stolen from all of them. God loves justice, and in the end, He WILL get the final word!" (Debbie Fortnum)
So keep Kienan and all affected by this trauma (especially his parents) up in your prayers continually. Also echo these prayers for families and friends of those going through chidhood abductions. Always remember God has the FINAL WORD!!

Christ will give you the strength you need.

Today as I sit at my keyboard as each key touches the pad and comes back to me, the thought come to m my mind. Do i have what it takes! I am learning all the features of blogging and the technology that comes along with that. The instruction has been fun but often foreign to me. Looking at others and their sites they are graphically more appealing. I like my content and writing style though! This is still at the heart of a blog.. My blog centers around giving and I am hoping I will inspire others to give. It has a bit of a unique niche. It specifically describes how giving along with self care has helped my very serious struggles with depression. Though I never know it my depression will return,If it does I know I will see someone in worse circumstances than me. The seed to giving will be planted. I will have the chance to bring forth flowers in a person's life which will bloom in a different season. My blog, though brings me to the main project in my life I am working on It is my book. . My book will be called "The Gift Givers Box". The box at the side of my blog "About Me" describes the book..It is a new and exciting process and I am having to narrow my niches to appeal to the right market place. When ever I am having a really bad day I remind myself of the bible verse : "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13 NKJV. This verse helps me when the panic starts to head in. When self imposed deadlines are not met. When old pain resurfaces. May this be a verse you can really claim! God sees your pain and wants to help. Christ took all of your sins, past, present and future and paid the price. He was crucified and rose again! He will help bear your problems if you only open your heart and ask. God is a big God!! Just ask!! Blessings, The gift giver .