OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Belarius

Girl Nastya, age 9

Her mother, a member of this church wrote: Actually, my daughter received 3 wonderful gifts this Christmas. First gift was an OCC shoebox full of brilliant toys, dolls, jewelry, school items, bright scarf and gloves. Nastya kissed every item, she slept with the dolls, she did fashion show. And couple of days later we have realized that Nastya got the Second gift – healing! She had kidney and bladder illness, had operation 2 years ago, and spent much time in hospitals… And suddenly, after so many positive emotions and prayers Nastya got healed! Nastya asked us – who got such a mighty spiritual power, it must be God? So the Third gift is Jesus in Nastya’s heart!

[Editor's Note: During this week of Thanksgiving I thought it would be nice to share some stories from kids and their families receiving shoe boxes from Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. My friend Stacey Wilson from SP OCC, who has written for this blog before, was kind enough to send them to me. Even though last week was the official collection week for the shoe boxes, the organization collects and delivers them all year long. I want to encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.]

Motives Count

By Pat

As I was doing a recent time of devotion, the scripture to which I was directed was Romans 12:1-8. I am very familiar with these passages, which encourage us to use the gifts God has given us, and remind is that each gift has a special value all its own. These verses have brought me comfort many times when I have felt that my talents and gifts do not compare well with the gifts others have, but what struck me this time was the heart with which we use our talents. "If it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give GENEROUSLY. If it is leadership, let him govern DILIGENTLY. If it is showing mercy, let him do it CHEERFULLY." (Romans 12:8)

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OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Costa Rica

In San Ramon Christian Community Church, there is a two-year-old boy called David Leal Jarquin. David is a special needs child whose doctor has recommended the use of soft, bright colored toys to stimulate his senses. But his parents haven‟t been able to afford these toys. They were truly surprised when they opened the shoe box for their son and found the kind of toys that the doctor had recommended.

[Editor's Note: During this week of Thanksgiving I thought it would be nice to share some stories from kids and their families receiving shoe boxes from Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. My friend Stacey Wilson from SP OCC, who has written for this blog before, was kind enough to send them to me. Even though last week was the official collection week for the shoe boxes, the organization collects and delivers them all year long. I want to encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.]

Praying Prayerfulness For Our Children

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." (Ephesians 6:18, NIV)

I sometimes find myself complaining loudly to my children that they complain too much.  At other times, I've noticed that I argue with them about how much they argue.  I know this is ineffective and even hypocritical, but it's amazing how easily I fall into the same old patterns again and again.  Why?  Because Satan loves to see me stumble and fall flat on my face, and so he keeps setting the same traps and I keep falling into them.

The call to prayer in Ephesians 6:18 comes in the context of a passage on spiritual warfare, which in emphasized here by the call to "be alert."  1 Peter 5:7-8 has a very similar and even more sobering call: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."  Again, we see a call to prayerfulness ("Cast all your anxiety on him") with a call to be alert because of the reality of spiritual warfare.

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Tasty Bites: My Favorite Fall Salad with Apple Cider Dressing

By Beth V

When I think of a great salad,  I am struck by the balance of  flavors…sweet, salty, tangy, crunchy, juicy. All at once the flavors combine into a delight for the senses. This is a great salad and it’s ingredients are simple…salad greens, red onion, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts and crumbled feta cheese. These ingredients are available any time of year and do not suffer from being out-of-season like those pink tomatoes you see at the grocery store through the cold-weather months.

Before preparing the rest of the salad, toast some walnuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Give these a stir every few minutes until they start to smell fragrant and then turn off the heat and set aside. Toasting the walnuts brings out a whole new dimension to their flavor. They are also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein.

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