Happy Christmas friends... we shall dance for you!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Fair Warning

I have this plan for my holiday shopping this year. I want to only buy presents that also benefit charities. I thought it would be fairly easy because there are already quite a few charities that I support that "sell" some very cool items. However, just because I find something cool, doesn't mean that everyone will. It has taken quite a bit of time, but I'm happy to share a few with you, in case you are in the same place I am... wanting to show love to friends and family with gifts "a small token of my affection", but realizing that we already have so much, and wanting to benefit those that have not...

World Vision Gift Catalogue is pretty fanatastic but I also always want to give a little extra to the person... well here are the sites I found that let a person give twice in one fell swoop.

Invisible Children - is working primarily in Uganda working alongside to children to provide them with education and a hope for the future. Check 'em out, a worthwhile charity with some very cool duds.

Ten Thousand Villages is committed to selling fair trade items and have all sorts of interesting and unusual items and food stuffs from around the world.

Watoto - you may remember them because of the Watoto Childrens choir that came to Cold Lake last spring. They are an organization specifically reaching out to Orphans and widows. It's worth checking out there story, and this link to their web store, which features very cool t-shirts, hand crafted jewelry, and instruments etc...

Tearfund - an organization based out of the UK has something similar to world visions gift catalogue called living gifts, they also have a large "tearcrafts" site which sells quality ethical products. "Now here’s a novel and sensible way to give a gift to a friend or family member, and at the same time express our love and concern for someone in the developing world. A Tearfund Living Gift voucher really could result in changing someone’s life for the better. It’s a great idea and I wholeheartedly recommend it!" - Sir Cliff Richard.

That should get you started if you are interested...

Let's make a difference, shall we ! :D

Wisdom

I've been reading in Proverbs lately and these verses have compelled me to hold my tongue and let God move in some frustrating and hurtful circumstances.... so I am posting them here to keep them fresh.
Proverbs 22
3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it

Proverbs 20
3 It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

Proverbs 19
2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way

Proverbs 18
2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

13 He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

17 The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.

Proverbs 17
7 Arrogant [eloquent] lips are unsuited to a fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! (Makes me feel secure in the knowledge that God can vindicate me)
27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue