This Christmas, Make a Real Difference.
The festive season is upon us – a time of thanksgiving and celebrating all that the Lord has done for us. However, Christmas is not always a joyous occasion for everyone. For some, it is a time of mourning lost loved ones or a season of loneliness and desperation. For others, it could be a time of financial woes and a battle to make ends meet.
Whatever the challenges faced this season, if we each attempted to lighten the load of someone else in need, we may see the ripple effect of goodness and grace extended to our fellow human beings. One small act of kindness could make a world of difference to someone who really needs it.
So, What’s the Play Call?
Here we share some practical ways you can be a blessing and make a difference in someone’s life this Christmas season:
1. Invite a stranger into your home.
Some people simply require a home-cooked meal and the presence of a family around them to feel loved and accepted during the holidays. Identify those individuals who could use some Christmas cheer and be sure to extend an invitation to them to celebrate Christmas with your family this year.
There are many people who spend Christmas all alone – with no friends or family to share the day with. The widower at church who recently lost his wife. The neighbor three doors down who lives all alone. The shop assistant who does not have any family in town.
Recognize those who are often overlooked and share the love of Christ with them over the season.
2. Spend time with the less fortunate.
Arrange snacks or simple gift packs and deliver this to your nearest children’s home, homeless shelter, or retirement village. Perhaps they may allow you to arrange a Christmas party for the children or provide some form of entertainment for the elderly. Time spent with those less privileged may be an eye-opener as to the many blessings we often take for granted.
Contact these organizations in your area and find out about their physical needs and how you can best be of service. You could also partner with a charitable organization and provide meals, gifts and more to help the needy in your community.
3. Create food parcels with your leftovers.
Let’s face it. Many of us have the tendency to prepare an overabundance of food during our lavish Christmas celebrations. Avoid waste this year and create parcels of food with your Christmas leftovers.
You could also create a new family tradition and share your leftovers with others. The day after Christmas, get up early, pack up your leftovers and drive around your area to deliver plates of food to those living on the streets or those in need.
4. Declutter and donate.
The festive season is the perfect time to declutter your home and wardrobe. Before the new year arrives, be sure to pack up any clothing and household items that you no longer need or want. Pack these in a box earmarked for donations and be sure to give these items to charity. Your unused items could be an answer to prayer for those in need, and your gift may give back to you in the form of a tax deduction.
3. Clothe yourself in grace.
During the holiday season, the shops and roads may be busier. Lines may be long, and people may tend to be on edge as they complete their Christmas shopping and holiday to-do lists. Make a conscious effort to clothe yourself in grace this season and be courteous as you go about your holiday shopping.
Allow others to go ahead of you in traffic or in long shopping lines. Be kind and compliment those working extended hours in retail this season. If you can afford it, tip the waitress a little something extra for her effort. Kindness and love are never wasted.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,” (Colossians 3:12).
So Teammates, as you celebrate the season, remember to put Jesus above all else and share the love of Christ with everyone you encounter.
How many times have you needed an answer from God as you try to walk by faith?
Pumpkin, the quirky looking winter squash we all love to carve during fall, also happens to boast some impressive nutritional benefits. 
Recently, my pastor taught the leaders saying, “You can desire to do a good thing, but it may not be a God thing”. Too many of us bite off more than we can chew and end up tired and burnt out.
Cleavers! Have you ever spoken these words in your head? I’m sure we all have, right? Discontent in marriage happens. But let’s face it – our spouses aren’t walking in “perfection” – and neither are we! Big or small, there are things we wish our husbands or wives would just “get”. No long, drawn-out explanations. No 300-page spouse handbook. No constant reminders. Just natural compliance without us saying a word.
Wherever there’s 
First, check your motivation. Where there is a chasm between us and our spouse, our mutual goal must be to mend that void and diligently seek restoration. Here is where the beautiful work of marriage kicks in. Our first step is a sincere desire to heal the discontent and fix what’s broken or awkward. With the goal of healing and resolution in hand, a few strategies we can use include:
Is He a Good Investment, Sis?
Oftentimes, we meet a guy and we jump on the phone. “Girl, he said he could see us getting married and having kids!” “Dang, we look good together.” And for those of us who have unwisely jumped into the fire before marriage – “But the sex was so good.”
Part of our mission as advocates for a unified and victorious Team Jesus is to keep us in the knowledge of the opposing team’s strategies and devices. We, like Paul, stand against Team ignorance, wherein the enemy could get an advantage over us – if we let him (2 Corinthians 2:11).
I learned a lesson that day, that being grateful is a continuous decision. I learned that if I make gratitude a priority, there will always be something at the forefront of my mind. 
About ten years ago, I learned that I was a Christian introvert. For years, I found comfort and peace in solitude, gravitated to smaller crowds with a preference to small circles of friends versus big crowds of associates. After decades of stereotypes, I realized that I was not shy, antisocial, snooty, or moody. While that was a great resolve after years of being misunderstood, I had to learn what exactly an introvert was. How could I successfully live my life for God and still 
One of my greatest fears was that my introverted persona would influence my ability to carry out my work for the Kingdom of God. You see, as passionate as I have been about strengthening my spiritual walk with God, I had a difficult time understanding how that could happen if I remained in my shell, refusing to share the pearls that God had gifted me. 
PSA: Introverts fit in and serve God the same way that extroverts do! 
