FInding The Right Gift God's Way

The right gift to a person is a real joy.  The present we give can be inspired. It is really fun to know that God can help us in the little things of life like picking out a specific gift for someone. I don't think God wants us to have a grumpy face when we go shop.  "God loves a cheerful giver whose heart is in his giving."

Steps to finding the right present.
Step (1) - easy to forget but important.
PRAY FOR INSPIRATION.
I do believe that God can inspire us.  Be specific: Suggested prayer. "Dear God, please help me find just the right present for x"

Step (2)
WAIT.

Step (3)
GO SHOPPING WITH AN ATTITUDE OF EXPECTANCY.

There will be a AH HA moment when you find the right gift.  The gift will fit the person. The gift will make you smile because you will know it is right before you give it.

Remember, God is the ultimate giver who has given us all things for us to enjoy. Don't you think He would like to be part of the party?

God Works In Mysterious Ways

As you know I have been promoting the giving of cars to Project Lost Sheep via Cars 4 Causes.

I have mentioned this need to people and more importantly have prayed and asked others to pray. God does work in mysterious ways. 

 This week I got a flat tire and took it to my normal station to get it fixed. "Should take about an hour the mechanic said."
"Fine," I said and went off to have a Mexican lunch and do a little window shopping.
When I got back there was my tire on the ground. The tire was covered in white foam.

"Four mechanics have looked at your tire and not been able to find a leek". The mechanic said.

It was recommended that I get a new tire and since this is an honest station that I had work done before on my very old car, I got a ride home and waited.

In my purse I had a flyer about Cars 4 Causes with our non-profit card. When I went back to get my car with new tire I thought. Why not here?

I got out my flyer and gave it to the manager and he smiled. "I get requests to get rid of cars all the time." "Right now I have 3 cars."

I left with a very light heart. God certainly is going to get some cars to us. "By the way what was wrong with my tire," I asked.

A frown crossed his face. "I took your tire apart. It was shredded rubber inside."

I have never in all my years of driving heard of such a thing. Apparently, it was one in a million or was it God? Time will tell.

Sick Little Richie RIch

People who are wealthy can be strong in their affluence or they can be sick.

Sick rich people have the attitude. It's mine: I earned it and will do everything I can to pile up more for my company and self.

The rich in our society can learn to be rich in good deeds. Some venture capitalists here in Silicon Valley have learn the joy of giving back to non-profits and needy. It is a great feeling.

It is my firm conviction that is good and "more blessed for the rich to give than to receive".

What does rich in good deeds mean? The companies and individuals that "have it all" in California and elsewhere need to form foundations of charitable benefit. They need to make informed choices and they need to encourage an attitude of "giving back" to their top partners and workers.

A company CEO that sees the needs of the community around him or her is a company that is truly connected to the compassion of God.

As a non-profit founder I can say to those who are sick with "too much" sickness. There is a cure: Give lots of it away and put smiles on the faces of the children, the disadvantaged, the elderly. Follow your heart but get out there and look around. There are very hungry people in America. There are plenty of opportunities to get well for you. All you have to do is invest yourself and your company in some good works.
 
{You will find joy and satisfaction as you see purpose beyond the corporate walls.}

Camp

Anticipation is a wonderful thing. We may look forward to a lunch with a friend or a big vacation.
We look forward towards Friday.

Right now those of us are anticipating the largest camp ever in Redwood City with visitors from other cities to see how it is done.

I like that tingly feeling that something good is just around the corner. I can see the children and hear the laughter and smiles once they adjust to camp. They will be happy with the food and well fed. They will learn and be cared for by so many adults and teen helpers.

For those children who have been to camp in the past they will be asking. When is camp?

Children anticipate almost everything. They live in an attitude of expectation. Small things can please them very much. A wiggly caterpillar, a new pet, a set of crayons.

Let's become more like children in anticipating all the good things God has in store for us this summer. What pleases God is when we adults wash off the same old same old attitude.

Come to camp. Renew your anticipation!

Giving From The Heart

We know when we have given that right gift to someone because the gift fits the person. But, we receive a gift of feeling good about the time and energy spent on getting the gift, wrapping it and sending it.

It is a sad thing when giving to charity turns into a one time "something you have to do" to reduce taxes. That is not the heart of giving. The heart is giving a heart felt gift. It may be something that helps you as well but that is not the center of the gift.

Recently Project Lost Sheep received a gift in check from a car given to us via Cars for Causes (800-766-2273).

Yes the person who gave the car really wanted to help us. I can only say that that gift will move us along to feed more kids at camp than ever before. The person got a tax deduction from Cars for Causes, also a non-profit.

The purposes of Cars 4 Causes is "a non-profit organization desgined to simplify the process of fundraising for charities and organziations through contributions, and sale of automobiles, boats, trucks, RV's etc." Do you havve a car you are no longer using? Do you have a neighbor that might want to give to help more children get to camp?

The perfect gift may be to be used to encourage someone to action in clearing their property of that vehicle. It is really, "more blesssed to give than to receive."

Let's use what we aren't using to help children get what they need. We are in the blessing business with you.

Mad Hatter Tea Party

On a warm spring afternoon in Atherton, we gathered together to get a preview of the eight Touchdown Camp.

Patty Cardona, president of Project Lost Sheep, brought children who had attended camp last year. Each child reported on a different aspect of camp. One little girl performed a dance.

Darlene Stethem, Bible teacher, gave a preview of the lessons and music for this camp. Dates: July 16-20 at Verbo Church in Redwood City.



Catherine Parlanti, treasurer, asked that we be alert to getting community support from local businesses.

We appreciate your interest and support to make a real difference in the lives of these children. Enjoy a camper who danced for us. Enjoy the picture-movie from the tea party recently held as a benefit for our eight Touchdown Camp coming this summer. (July 16-20)

Mother's Day

I suppose the most important gift a mother can give her children is not all the things she is busy doing for them but something of herself.

My mother was a teacher and she was serious about her teaching and also about her country. She would write letters to her congressman if she felt something should be changed.

We would hear her typing away on the old manual typewriter back in the bedroom. My mother was a tough woman. She put herself through high school working as a clerk in a law office. She then put herself through college and got her master's degree in education.

This was no small feat and she had a passion for education. She thought anyone could improve and yet she saw the needs of children around her and was concerned for "latch key" kids.

All of these seeds didn't, of course, mature in me until I was much older but I was prepared by my mother for the call to children when it came to me.

Her passion for education affected all of us. We all got college educations and teaching credentials although not all of us three sisters worked as teachers.

I don't know how she did all that she did. She did not cut corners. She taught, she shopped, she cooked, she cleaned and she and my Dad worked hard to be good parents and then grandparents.

She didn't have a lot but she had plenty inside. She had faith and she took us to church every Sunday and yes she taught Sunday school. Teaching and education were bedrock to her as were her faith. She gave much to her children, her students, and her community

In memory of my mother: Myrtle Sutherlin

Prioritizing Correctly

Lots of people tell me that they would like to volunteer... someday. When they retire or when the children are older or when they have more time.  We all work in a priority universe. What we do with our time tells us our priority. If we spend all our time making money and non of our time on things that we say are important to us then we may be able to fool ourselves but not those around us, nor God who sees it all.

On the other hand, there are people who "go over the top" out of balance on doing good things to the detriment of their families.

Ray Steadman, beloved former pastor and author, of Peninsula Bible Church once related the story of a woman who came to him saying her marriage was "on the rocks". When the pastor inquired what she was doing with her time the woman piously said that she was teaching 10 Bible classes a week: days and nights.

Pastor Ray told her to "quit her Bible studies" and save her marriage. Being available to God does not mean that we are crazy and neglect the people in our own family.

Jesus was available to the crowds and helped many of those in his path but he also had his guys, the disciples. He had the best mother and He never forgot her needs even when He was dying on the cross. He turned her car over to John.

{ BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER, Jesus said.
 And from that time Mary was taken
into John's home. }

When we love God we will spend time with Him: we will pray and read the Bible not because we have to but because we want to. We will be available to serve people and help them because we are ready and full.

The Lord has the answers to our craziness. Do we trust Him enough to give him our hearts and our time?

When we are in the center of God's will He give us joy. This joy can never be bought with our own efforts nor money. Joy is a fruit of God's Spirit: Joy is a lasting paycheck!