Operation Christmas Child

Today, as I dropped the kids off at AWANA, I also dropped off their shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  This program is really cool to participate in as a family.  The general premise is that you take an old shoe box and fill it with things for a child and it gets shipped across the world and delivered to a child who otherwise would not get a present this Christmas.  The items that go in the box are a combination of necessities and luxuries. 

We participate in this program each year for several reasons. The first reason is to try to instill in our children that it is better to give than receive.  In a world were we are constantly bombarded by advertisements that tell us we need something new, it is great to give to someone else. The second reason is that we can do this as a family. Every member can take part in one way or another.  The third reason is that along with these shoe boxes, children are being told about Jesus and more importantly are being shown the love of Jesus.  We pray for those children that will get our boxes and we also track where the boxes go and also pray for that county. 

If you have never done this before please consider getting involved. Go to this link, http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/ and read more about it and see how you can get involved.

Where does the time go?

It is hard to believe it has been nearly a month since our last post! These past few weeks have been busy to say the least.  We have celebrated birthdays for 3 or our family members (Esther, Gary and Tyler) which has consumed much of our time.  But in the midst of the business of life the Lord is working.  We have received feedback from many of those we sent support letters too!  We are so blessed to have so many people praying for us! We have heard from so many people encouraging us and letting us know they were praying. This has been such a blessing to us. It seems every time the Devil tried to get us down we received an encouraging note or phone call.  The Lord is using these encouraging correspondances to lift us up and let us know He is in control and through God all things are possible.

We have been reminded so many times through devotions, sermons, worship music and many other ways this past month that God has a plan for our lives.  More importantly that he is in control of it all and will provide what we need to fulfill His plan.  I was reminded of a quote I heard a while back that is so true.  God does not call the equipped, He equips those that he calls.  It is so easy to lose sight of this fact, We live in a world where we are judged and valued by what we can do, or our abilities.  What is so cool about being a Christian is that we are not judged by what we did, are doing or will do. Rather we are judged by an almighty God by what Jesus Christ did for us!  And as Pastor Dan would say, "If that does  not light your fire, your wood is wet."  So over the next few weeks as we prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas, remember that Jesus Christ died for you and wants nothing more than for you to get to know Him better and to follow His will for your life.

Faithfully serving Him,
Bush Family (Gary)