Hey friend! Welcome to another edition of Make A Difference Mondays! It’s been a busy week with compiling my Guide to Gifts That Give Back and much more, so today I’m going to be sharing with you a post originally published here last year but just as relevant as ever, as this week is national collection week for Operation Shoebox! Hope you’ll read on, consider getting involved, and link up a post of your own if you’re a blogger 🙂
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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 17th-24th. We love the amazing 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.
Make A Difference Mondays is a weekly linkup designed to encourage and inspire us to live each day on purpose—making a meaningful difference in someone’s life in even the smallest of ways. There will be five women regularly co-hosting this link-up that will appear on all five of our blogs and we also have three wonderful co-hosts who will fill in as guest hosts on the occasional day that a regular co-host is not able to post. Read on to learn more about our vision, mission, and how to link up!
Mission
Our mission is to provide a consistent gathering place for like-minded women to build online connections, share inspiration, and provide mutual encouragement and accountability as we seek to live intentionally and make a difference in the lives of those around us.
Vision
Every Monday we will invite bloggers to link-up any blog posts that encourage women to live life on purpose. This could include testimonies or goals from your own life, small acts of kindness or service, creative tips or ideas for showing consideration to others — the possibilities are endless. Our objective is to use our God-given time and resources to His glory!
Are we friends on facebook yet? If not, what are you waiting for?
Hey there beautiful lady! Today I’m sharing a post that’s helping me make a difference in my small circle of influence… The “Blushing Bride Series.” It’s a series aimed at Christian women and girls – both married and unmarried – who want to learn about sexuality without having to consult the smut of this world. This is something that needs to be spread! God’s way is always best. <3
Your MADM always inspires me to long to be a change agent. And there are so many ways to make a difference. I love the vision you have and the passion to serve. You are a beautiful heart, Sybil!
Bless you!
Dawn
There ARE sooo many ways to make a difference and Dawn YOU are a change agent, I can promise you that. God has you right where He wants you, on mission for Him – every day. 🙂 Thanks so much for being a faithful encouragement and awesome member of this community xoxo
I love Make a Difference Mondays! What an awesome idea! So glad I came across your blog. We just did this with the high school small group I lead. They loved it! Such a great reminder for us and the next generation to focus on serving this time of year and not ourselves. Thank you for your beautiful blog!
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Hey there beautiful lady! Today I’m sharing a post that’s helping me make a difference in my small circle of influence… The “Blushing Bride Series.” It’s a series aimed at Christian women and girls – both married and unmarried – who want to learn about sexuality without having to consult the smut of this world. This is something that needs to be spread! God’s way is always best. <3
Sounds like you’re on to something! I’ll be reading soon!
Love this idea for giving back at the holidays. Sounds like something the kids can get involved with too!
Absolutely! Thanks for being here, Kathryn!
I LOVE Operation Christmas Child! Have a blessed week and thank you for the link party! 😀
Yay so glad you joined us! 🙂
Your MADM always inspires me to long to be a change agent. And there are so many ways to make a difference. I love the vision you have and the passion to serve. You are a beautiful heart, Sybil!
Bless you!
Dawn
There ARE sooo many ways to make a difference and Dawn YOU are a change agent, I can promise you that. God has you right where He wants you, on mission for Him – every day. 🙂 Thanks so much for being a faithful encouragement and awesome member of this community xoxo
I love Make a Difference Mondays! What an awesome idea! So glad I came across your blog. We just did this with the high school small group I lead. They loved it! Such a great reminder for us and the next generation to focus on serving this time of year and not ourselves. Thank you for your beautiful blog!
Yes! Thank you for your super encouraging comment, Sam!