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The holidays, with Thanksgiving in particular, are a natural time to reflect on how thankful you are for how much you have been given. How could God use you this holiday season?
Intentional Blessing
What would it look like to intentionally bless someone else with your time, talent or treasure (money) during the Thanksgiving season?
It could be as simple as paying for the coffee for the person behind you in the drive thru at Starbucks, going over to the home of a retired person in your neighborhood who you know would just love to chat, volunteering to babysit for a new mom so she can get a few hours for herself, helping someone fix a car when they can't do it themselves, or giving away some other skill or talent you might possess, such as free music or art lessons.
What have you been given that you can give away?
Culturally Engaged
We talk about being Culturally Engaged with your neighbors, by doing such things as passing out the best candy on Halloween and being intentional about getting to know those you live near. What if you took the idea of being Culturally Engaged and went one step further, standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves?
In a big way or small way, you can make a difference in people’s lives. For instance, have you heard of AB 1266? Nope, it’s not a drug. It’s a bill, as in something that will soon be added to the Education Code and put into California law. You could sign the petition and be a voice for the children. Have questions about what all this means? Check out the FAQ.
Signing this petition does not guarantee the bill will go into effect. It merely gives voters the right to vote on the issue. Whether you choose to sign it or not, part of being Culturally Engaged is having awareness of the issues that are out there.
Inclusive Community
For many people, the holidays are a time to gather with friends and family to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. But for others, it can be a time that reminds them of how alone they are or of the loss of relationships they have experienced.
Consider what it would be like for you and your family to invite one of those people into your family gatherings. It might be an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner or another one of your celebrations. It could be a widow who lives in your neighborhood, an international student or a poor college student who can’t afford to go home.
Who can you offer Inclusive Community to in your life?
If you have other ideas for being an Intentional Blessing, Culturally Engaged or Inclusive Community, we would love to have you share them with us. Email scott@thewellcommunity.org with your ideas. Interested in learning more about The Anatomy of a Disciple? Opt-in to the special pre-release, coming at the end of 2013.