Hope - Becca

Well, our first run with being a collection point for Operation Christmas Child is done. I have to admit, I've known of OCC shoebox gifts for a while, but it wasn't anything that I'd been largely involved in. But, as I got to see a lot of people coming to the station bearing everything from one box to over a hundred, it stirred up excitement for what the Lord is doing in the Samaritan's Purse ministry. When I was in the Philippines last year, we got to go to a place called New Carmen. It was an old city dump where people lived and had been cleaned up for the residents there. There are several children there, and not only were we able to bring gifts to them, but we later found out that they were also recipients of shoebox gifts a few months later. While we were setting out the toys and clothing, the children and parents gathered around, peeking through the windowless windows in anticipation of receiving the gifts. It was fun to see the kids get their gifts and I'm sure it was exciting for them to receive the shoeboxes, too.

Our OCC representative came out to the station last week and she shared stories about how the Lord has used the shoeboxes to touch children's lives overseas, and also how people have accepted the Lord in their lives through simply working at the distribution centers here in the states. It's always exciting and encouraging to hear how He works in so many different ways.

Just think, not long from now, there will be children all over the world who will be receiving the gifts that KGCR listeners and others had a hand in putting them together. I think it can be tough for many of us to really grasp the value that these gifts have to the children, as we get ready to celebrate a time of year that often involves an overloaded Christmas tree of presents in an already abundantly supplied home.

This year, I wonder, how many hearts will be touched with the knowing that someone, somewhere cares about them, even when it doesn't seem like anyone around them does? I wonder, how many hearts will be touched with the knowing that Someone deeply and tenderly cares, and these gifts are just a small representation of His lavish love and care.

If He cares so much for these children that He would prompt the heart of a man, a few people, to start something like OCC, if He cares so much for the sparrows, how much does He care about you, Beloved?

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21)

Thanksgiving to God!

Becca