small group, Darlene and TED videos

This is a picture of the gifts before they were opened, as you can see from the picture we are a laid back group!

 A few weeks ago I attended a MOPS meeting with my friends, LauraL and Jill VE.  They had a game/activity/ ice breaker that I loved.  I wanted to do it with my small group at church.  It is a great way to get to know each other better and that is how we can pray for each other more effectively and help each other in life.

I shared this with my small group when DarleneJ, one of our missionaries, was visiting our church.  She was very curious about what gifts folks would bring.  She said that she would bring Reeses Peanut Butter Cups!  Darlene, maybe we can play this the next time you are in town!

We had a great time.  We missed all those who couldn't join us!!

Here is the activity-each person brings something that tell us a little more about them.  We set a limit of $5.00.  The examples I gave from the MOPS meeting were someone brought a package of double stuff oreos, favorite brownie mix, candle, scarf, bookmark, tea cup and the list went on.  Numbers were put on the gifts and then we each drew a number.  You got the gift with your number.  As each person opened their gifts, the giver explained why he or she gave it.

Here are the gifts that our group brought.  Very, very clever folks and it was cool to see how God picked out certain gifts for certain people.  We exchanged guys with guys and girls with girls.  Top left from Carl to Craig- black notebook with a 5.00 bill and the info about the TED video (info and the video below), from Carolyn to Sonya- beautiful necklace ( Carolyn loves to make jewelry, it perfectly matched Sonya's outfit and looked just like something she would wear), from Julie to Mary Jean- beautiful bag and the fake faux bird (Julie loves to have fake faux animals around her house, she also said that they-the animals- move around her house, this somewhat freaked me out thinking that they move around her house but she clarified that SHE moves them around her house, whew, then Julie told us that her best friend growing up's father told Julie and best friend when they were spending the night at best friend's house, that all her dolls wake up at midnight so go to sleep! YIKES! Wonder if I would have stayed there?!?), me to Cheryl- The May Joy Dare by Ann Voskamp and some of my favorite lotions samples, Chris to Bob- a wonderful spatula with a manly handle, Mary Jean to Julie- a piece of burlap and a picture of her family ( MJ says that at Hobby Lobby, where she works,  they sell yards and yards of the brown burlap- she knew how much per day and it was a lot), Craig to Chris a flash light that lights up three ways, Sonya to Carolyn- Greek Seasoning (she and her husband were beyond thrilled, their favorite meat is lamb and were excited to try it), Bob to Carl- a slice of his favorite cake from a bakery in Birmingham, Sonya brought it back for him recently, and Cheryl to me- her favorite gum and she can only find it one store now, Walmart doesn't carry it anymore.  I have never seen it and I love gum!

What a great time we had.  There were more stories with the gifts but I can't remember them all.


Here is the link that Carl gave Craig.  It will inspire you.
How to buy happiness

Do you see needs?

...make a meal for someone, write a thank you or two or three to folks who do things that make your life better- from the garbage man to the piano player at church-the note just needs to say thanks and why you are thankful, make a booklist for a shut in, then get the books they like for them from the library,  pay for the person behind you in the drive through at Starbucks, babysitting, tithing, getting to Sunday School early and helping set up the chairs, take time to speak to folks you usually brush past, let someone get in front of you in the grocery line, make bookmarks for all your friends that read... 

 I could list here a million ways for us to give this Thanksgiving month and some would spur you on and we all need that.  But what we really need is Situational Awareness.  Our hearts and eyes need to be so in-tuned with what is going on around us that the needs of others are so apparent to us that we can't help but be aware of them.  When you are really in-tuned with the needs of others sometime that is a very heart heavy place to be.  I also believe that a need doesn't always mean a call, we need to be discerning, but it would be better to err on the side of giving too much than not enough.

Pray today that the eyes of your heart will be open to see all the needs around you and also for the wisdom to know which ones you are to meet.

Today is the half way point in this month.  I have seen several blogs that are participating in a 30 days of giving challenge, it's not too late for us to start.  Just do two a day!


...give someone who is late to church your hymnal so they don't have to take the time to look it up, let someone in front of you in traffic, smile at all those you see today, rake your neighbors leaves, pick up all the trash on your street, get the email address of a missionary and ask them what they did today and tell them about your life, do another family members chores for the day-without telling them...

Randomness

Do you want to give something to the folks in Alabama that have had their lives turned upside down by the tornado? This is one way. Baby shower for Tuscaloosa

Here is another way Riverwood Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa is a PCA church that was hit hard.

My friend Lilli Walker has a blog that is now on my blog roll. She is going to be in 11 countries in 11 months doing ministry. Check it out!

I read a wonderful book over the weekend. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova was so fascinating. I was hooked by the first few pages. Sarah has a traumatic brain injury but it is an uplifting book about it.

I have water today so it is a good day!