Intentional Christmas
November 25th, 2011 by Kristi Stephens
Last night my mom and I ventured out into crazy town, aka: Black Friday shopping! We walked into Toys r Us at 11:15pm or so, and then walked back out about 15 minutes later. What I was looking for was gone, swept up by the throng of shoppers who were now waiting in an unbelievably long line which wound itself around the perimeter of the store and then snaked back and forth through all the isles at the far side of the building. We held our breath and dove through the sea of humanity – most of whom were dragging along incredibly large bags stuffed to the brim with plastic toys and trinkets – looking for a way out of the chaos!
Just for our own amusement we drove past Old Navy and Target on our way home, surveying the crowds and jam-packed parking lots with gratitude that we were headed home!
I was glad that my mother had humored me and visited crazy town with me. :) Sometimes I just enjoy seeing the lengths people will go to for a sale! It makes me laugh – and then it also makes me sad. An unbelievable amount of money will be spent in our country today – even as we talk about a weak economy and the “suffering” of the American people, we will spend vast amounts of cash on things with very little value.
If you’re looking for a way to make some of your Christmas spending do more than check a name off of your list, there are so many options available for creative gifting! Perhaps you might consider giving a charitable gift in honor of someone on your list, or even selecting a larger gift together as a family. After all, if all this fuss is really all about Jesus’ birthday…
- Give a goat, a blanket, a coat, or even help rescue a baby from the brink of starvation through World Help’s Gifts of Hope.
Image from Show Hope
Give a simple but life-changing gift like a mosquito net through Samaritan’s Purse Gift Catalog – view an interactive catalog here.
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Provide clean water or other life-changing gifts through Compassion International’s Gifts of Compassion catalog.
- Gospel for Asia has a wonderful Christmas Gift Catalog, as well – and please take a few minutes to watch this video! UNBELIEVABLE what 1% of what is spent on Christmas this year would do around the world…
Perhaps you still want to give a “real” gift to unwrap Christmas morning. You can still invest intentionally in gifts that literally change lives, and at the same time you can help spread awareness of these organizations to those on your list!
Fair trade “plus!” Purchasing with purpose!
- Women at Risk, International online store – gorgeous jewelry, scarves, and other great items! 90% of your purchase price supports the women and safe-houses who provided the item! {Their site got a facelift, just in time for shopping season!}
Image from the WAR "look book"
- Mercy House Kenya online store – you can learn more about this fabulous ministry here!
LOVE this tote!
- World Help Gifts of Hope merchandise
One of these will be under the tree for AG!
- Give Jewelry – one bracelet purchased feeds one Indonesian child for one week!
Image from GIVE jewelry
- Ten Thousand Villages – read about the history of this organization here.
Happy shopping, friends – let’s make it count!
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- Posted in Links and whatnot, Ministry, Shopping
