So maybe you are like me and you see and hear of so much you’d like to do and be involved with. But along with everyday needs and obligations, it can be hard to keep it all straight sometimes… let alone prioritize what stays and what goes.
But one thing I want here to stay in my life is giving. Why? Because giving is ultimately life-giving; it changes my life and the lives of those who can participate in it with me, and even more amazing… it changes the lives of still yet other people we can’t even fully anticipate. Giving is an exercise in giving back control to God — of our finances, our time, and even our thoughts.
One activity my family and I have enjoyed getting involved in around this time of year is Operation Christmas Child.
Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ.
This year, national collection week is November 18th-25th. Some years that we’ve participated, we’ve gotten an earlier start than others. But that’s okay – there is grace AND there is a new tool for easy-peasy donating for techies, last minute-ers like me and everyone in between:
Pack a shoebox online!
I love that there is also an option to follow your box!
Find out where in the world your shoebox gifts are going by making your $7 per box donation online. You will receive a shoebox label with a special barcode that enables us to track each shoebox. You will receive an e-mail with the destination of your gift, along with information about Operation Christmas Child in that country.
If your boxes go to more than one country, you will receive more than one e-mail. Your specific barcode is connected to your e-mail address, so it’s important to use the same label on each of your boxes. Especially when going through this process with kiddos in tow, this option seems much too extra-awesome to pass up.
Just another happy bonus option: This year OCC plans to send over 500,000 shoebox gifts to children in the Philippines. Visit the Samaritan’s Purse website to learn how you can donate to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan: OCC boxes are going to Typhoon Survivors
See what you think and come back and let us know how this experience blesses you:
How to give to Operation Christmas Child.
Matthew 25 31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
