What Do You Want For Christmas?

 
If this story doesn’t get you in the spirit of Christmas, nothing will.

On Monday November 28, I was thrilled to receive the weekly newsletter for St Luke’s School from Robin Schools stating “OPERATION COMPASSION BEGINS!!”

The newletter went on to say, “Operation Compassion was born of the revisioning process for St. Luke’s. It is an outreach to orphan and foster children locally and will ultimately extend to orphans in foreign countries. We are very pleased to announce the launch of such a wonderful program with our initial effort. Between now and Christmas Break (December 16th), we will be collecting the following unwrapped items for 40 local foster children (20 boys and 20 girls): gift cards, movie ticket gift cards, shampoo/conditioner, soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste, and make up for the girls. There will be a box outside the gym labeled “Operation Compassion” for the grooming items. There will be another box in the school office for gift cards. These are such basic needs for some of our local children, so please make every effort to give generously. Thank you in advance for your support as we reach out to the children of our community!”

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)

Shortly before I went into St. Luke’s School to teach my Religion class on the first day of December (Thursday), I was prompted to share my message “What is in your hand” with the students. During that class, I showed the two videos with Liz Danielsen and Pastor Rick Warren. I then challenged the 8th and 9th grade students to take a lead role in making this Christmas really special for these 40 local orphans.

On Friday evening (Dec 2), I went to the Culpeper United Methodist Church to hear Immersed (Lee Catherine Clayton and Cammie Shelatz) perform “The Spirit of Christmas!” Wow! What a blessing. Even though I arrived right at 7 pm (start time), I managed to get a seat right up at the front where I could easily videotape part of their performance.

As I was leaving the church building after the performance, I was prompted to make a donation and take 3 CDs of “The Spirit of Christmas” – one for Jula and me, one for my parents, and one for my wife’s mother.

Then as I was walking to my car, the Holy Spirit prompted me to go back and ask for 40 more CDs to give as gifts to the 40 orphan children. What better gift to give these children and their foster families than the love and truth of Jesus Christ – what Christmas is really all about.

Today, I’d like to share the video that I shot of Lee Catherine and Cammie singing “What Do You Want For Christmas?”, the ninth song on their CD “The Spirit of Christmas.”

What Do You Want For Christmas?

 
What can you bring to your King this year?

Blessings to ask your King what to bring Him this year!

P.S. If you’d like to make a donation of any kind ($1, $5, $10, $20, or more) to bless these 40 orphans, please contact St. Luke’s School.

P.S.S. Yesterday the women’s soccer team at Messiah College won their third national championship in the past 4 years. The other year they placed second. Congratulations to Olivia, my niece who is graduating from Messiah College in May 2012 and who played on those champion soccer teams.

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