Tis the Season to GIVE! (Give back, that is.)

• < Previous Event
• Next Event >

Comment

Comment by Rachael Ceffaratti on December 15, 2009 at 8:52am

WHEN WE BLESS OTHERS, GOD TAKES CARE OF OUR NEEDS.
God promises that if we will concentrate on blessing others, he'll take care of our needs. There's almost nothing that God won't do for the person who really wants to help other people. In fact, God guarantees this blessing. In Luke 18, Jesus says, "I guarantee this. Anyone who gives up anything for the kingdom of God will certainly receive many times more in this life and will receive eternal life in the next world to come." When you care about helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems. And that's a real blessing, for he's much better at handling your difficulties than you are.

OUR BLESSINGS TO OTHERS WILL COME BACK ON US.
The more you bless other people, the more you help others, the more God blesses your life. Luke 6:38 tells us, "Give your life away and you'll find your life given back. But not merely given back. Given back with bonus and blessing." You cannot out give God. The more you try to bless other people in the world around you, the more God says, "I'm going to pour blessings out on you. We'll play a little game here. Let's see who will win. Let's see who can give the most. The more you bless others the more I'm going to bless you in return."

THE MORE WE'RE BLESSED BY GOD, THE MORE HE EXPECTS US TO HELP OTHERS.
Jesus said it this way in Luke 12 "Much is required from those to whom much is given. For their responsibility is greater." Based on the blessings of your life, what would you say God expects from you?

Comment by Dianne L. Anderson on December 13, 2009 at 6:05pm

Shortly after Casey's death, Joel and I began the process of endowing scholarship funds at CU and Fordham as well as establishing an annual scholarship to be awarded to a college bound high school senior at Springfield High School. We have also established the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation, through which we will be providing funding to multiple other causes that Casey supported (see CaseyFeldmanFoundation.org). I annually give a multitude of gifts to a large number of animal, wildlife and environmental groups. This year I will up the ante a bit and will also make the donations in Casey's name. I will put some extra money in the Salvation Army's buckets and be a bit more generous in my tips to those providing services - my mailman, hairdresser, waiter/waitress at a restaurant, etc. I will decorate with pink instead of the traditional red and green and will pray for love and peace for all mankind. Thanks to all of you for sharing with us what you will be doing this year.

Comment by Ericha Grace on December 10, 2009 at 6:42pm

I know I already commented on this, but I wanted to add something. Another way that I am making this holiday season different is that I am taking a fraction of my Christmas money (my parents told me a budget that they will spend on me) and I am donating it to Operation Starvation. A man is on a hunger strike to raise money for starving kids. If you would like to see the progress of the donations and read his blog, here is the link. Donate if you wish! http://operationstarvation.tumblr.com/

Comment by Marcy Seminoff on December 6, 2009 at 12:14am

Thank you all for your courage and faith, your wonderful suggestions help me so much. I have been feeling really lost this week - each holiday season Casey was the only girl I had to buy for- It was fun to find a way to connect with her. When she was younger there were horse books as gifts, and many many pink items in the years to follow. I feel the grief sharply and have your examples of turning that pain and emptiness in a direction for good. I will think about a "gift" of some kind- service etc. that will honor Casey's values and interests and enable me to connect with her again this year. Actually, every year.

Comment by Kayleigh Taylor on December 5, 2009 at 11:23pm

This Christmas, I am going to take Janine's advice and give everyone I love a little list of things that I like about them. I am also training to run the Vancouver Marathon, and will be fundraising for the next five months for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am going to ask that in lieu of gifts, my friends and family make a donation to my fundraiser.

Happy Holidays!

Comment by Meaghan Dillon on December 5, 2009 at 8:41pm

This year I picked up a "gift angel" and I am buying Christmas presents for a 12 yr old girl from the Abraham House foundation. She asked for a winter coat and a watch, so I got her a purple and pink watch and coat. I am also donating to organizations such as Girls Write Now (a mentoring program for troubled girls who want to write) and the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, all the while thinking of Casey.

Nancy, my mom and I rescued two goldens from the Long Island Golden Retriever Rescue in April as well! Both were runaways from a puppy mill, we think they are mother and daughter. They were abused and very skiddish at first, but are much better now, and we love them so much. So excited to have them for their first "real" Christmas. I think I will donated to the organization that we got them from too, great idea!

Comment by Nancy on December 5, 2009 at 8:13pm

I will be donating to the SPCA, Humane Society, and GRRI of NJ (golden retriever rescue). I got my rescue, Belle, from GRRI in April - that's her over there looking at you! She was a Puppymill mother who was going to be killed as she was unable to produce more puppies. She was all of 2 when she was rescued from living in a wooden box in a barn. She had never been loved, or walked, or touched. I will raise public awareness about Puppymills and pet stores. I will write to congressmen, assemblmen and senators to stop the cruel treatment of dogs in these mills that are nothing more than torture chambers. I will ask people to choose adoption and show them how they'll get back love ten-fold when they adopt from a shelter or rescue group.
Hold open a door at 7-11, let someone slip in front of you in a line, pay the guy's toll whose behind you on the Parkway - ah, what a feeling!
Happy Holidays everyone.

Comment by Rachael Ceffaratti on December 5, 2009 at 3:57pm

My daughter and I will be giving to charities this year and to families who are less fortunate. Chistmas is about Jesus - let's keep that our first focus.

Comment by Ericha Grace on December 5, 2009 at 3:57pm

Around Christmas I always have a tendency to just get excited about the decorations, the occasional snow, and just the whole feel about it. This year, I'm going to focus on the people around me and giving. With all the festivities of the holidays, it is easy to forget about appreciating the people around us. Also, I want to focus on helping people who will not be able to enjoy the holidays as much as others. My school does this thing called the Turkey Fund where we give food or donate money that helps out families in this area. So far I have donated some money and always put my change from lunch into the cans that are collecting money for the fund. Since reading the other comments and seeing Brooke's link for www.theanimalrescuesite.com, I'm going to be clicking it every day.
This is definitely a different holiday season.

Comment by Aunt Janice on December 5, 2009 at 3:42pm

My friend and I always exchange Christmas presents, but this year Susan suggested that we make a contribution to an animal shelter in Cape May County through the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation. I love this idea and jumped on it right away. The animals will have an extra little gift this Christmas. Every year our family selects the names of two children from the Christmas tree at Boscov's. We purchase one of the gifts suggested on the child's name card and return it to Customer Service where it is wrapped and decorated. We will continue to do this.
Every time I exit my grocery store I have been dropping a dollar into the Salvation Army bucket. I find that with Casey on my mind and in my heart, giving takes on an even brighter light than before.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page