At FRC this weekend....

604 people were rescued from eternity in Hell.

604 people laid their sins at the feet of Jesus and walked away with Him in their lives.

604 people now have a mansion being prepared for them in Heaven.

604 people would tell you that IT MATTERS....IT MATTERS that you look beyond your busy schedule and see the lost and hurting people around you. IT MATTERS that you seize every opportunity to bring those lost friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to Jesus....IT MATTERS that you push beyond how you feel and just do what you were called to do....IT MATTERS that Christ-followers take their God-given job seriously...We have a world to reach....And this weekend at FRC, 604 people would tell you that IT MATTERS.


You can click here to watch Pastor Troy's "Eternity Matters" teaching from Sunday.

Promised Tips

A few tips for those of you who may feel like money is too tight to be a part of The Gift Revolution:

1. Cut down on the "little" luxuries you may take for granted. Better to grab a Starbucks or Jamba Juice half as often, but be able to bless someone else with one when we do.

2. Remember...money is not the only way to bless. What would you ask for if someone said they wanted to bless you? Would it be money? OK maybe, but not always. If you are in the same boat as me, it might be something like free childcare, a clean car or house, Christmas decorations put up outside, a cooked meal, an encouraging word to keep going even when aliens have invaded your kids, a compliment (for example, "You look great...even though you have spit up on your shoulder, toilet paper hanging from your boot, and roots as black as Cuban coffee. Tell me, Holly, how do you do it all?")

Here's an example: On Thanksgiving, one of our friends held Annie for us and his kids entertained our boys while Chris and I ate, and I really think it was the first meal in a very long time that I have (1) eaten without a kid on my lap (2) actually tasted. It was a huge blessing. To bless someone does not have to include money.

One more: A friend text me today that she was sending me a high five...no money involved, but it made me smile right in the middle of cleaning up spilled spaghettios.

3. Cheat and skip a few things this year so you can be a part of this Revolution.

One thing we are skipping is Christmas cards. Chris and I decided we would rather put Gift Revolution cards in people's hands with a small blessing than one with a picture of our family on it. Small thing, but a way for us to cut back.

Where can you cheat this year so you can bless someone else?

4. Trust God. Make a choice to believe the truth...that your Father owns it all, and can He lavish you tomorrow with a million bucks if He decides to. He wants us to bless others in His Name. He will fund you with the resources you need to make His Name great. Believe that...and pray for strength to walk in that belief even when you don't feel it....or when it looks like there is too much month and too little money. Our employers, our investments, our savings are not the sources of our income...they are just a tunnel by which God provides for us. He has lots of tunnels...don't get hung up on which ones He is going to use to provide for you. Just trust...and leave that to Him to figure out...He can handle it.

5. Finally, remember that you cannot out-give God. For Chris and I, when money gets tight, and we seem to come up empty handed (no pun intended :) with ideas on how to make immediate extra income, we do the only thing we know to do based on this verse....We increase our giving. Invest more in the eternal, and sit back and watch God work in your present. His word will prove true.

Don't let anything stop you from joining the Revolution with us!

Let me know of any ideas/tips you may have.

Join the Revolution!

Our family has had a blast being a part of The Gift Revolution. We are so excited for this opportunity to participate in something so fresh and life changing. What a great time to just focus on others...I for one am glad to get my mind off politics, the crashing economy, our financial pressures and instead focus on giving to others, changing the way people think, and inspiring the world.

Here are a few of the things that Chris and I have been able to do so far (nothing to creative...yet):
(We always leave TGR card so hopefully they will check out the website there we know they will be pointed to Jesus.)

• left extra tips for waitresses
• paid for a haircut and tip for someone
• bought someone's coffee
• helped a friend in need who needed childcare
• helped a church member pay the difference she was short on her bills this month
• ran in 2 races on TGR team and had the boys pass out candy canes and say "Merry Christmas" to those at the race.
• gave breakfast to the early birds on Black Friday as they were waiting in line at Target and Best Buy (we were up at 3am...I cannot believe people get up that early to shop!!) We had so much fun. Everyone was shocked that we were feeding them for free. To top it all off, one of the guys in our group had the idea that once the store opened we should go back and clean up the trash everyone left behind as they stood in line waiting for hours. The managers were so thankful and surprised...It was great. Except, for the fact that I stuck my hand in someone's half eaten bowl of soup..I'm not just talking about my fingers either...it was a full covering of the entire hand. Disgusting. Every time I think about it, I wash my hands again or grab some sanitizer. I have gone through 2 bottles of hand sanitizer since then and still feel gross. :)

I want to encourage you all to check out the website and jump on board with us if you haven't already. I promise you will be blessed immensely and you will enjoy this Christmas season more than ever before. We ARE going to change the world, and we don't want anyone to miss out!!

Tomorrow (hopefully), I am going to post a few suggestions for those of you who feel like money is too tight to join us or who are stressing because you want to be a part, but feel like you have nothing to give.

Until then, remember what Paul said and be encouraged:

1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own.

2 Corinthians 8:1-3

A Good Work....In Progress

At church tonight a dear friend of mine shared with me that she really "blew it" today as a mom. Boy, can I relate to that. I hate that feeling. As she was sharing her mothering struggles with me, this picture came to mind (I saw this when I was in Nebraska and loved it):




What a comfort it is to know that even when we've "blown it" our God is not giving up on us. He will finish in us what He started....a good work! Just some days are worse than others aren't they? Some days I feel like that "good work in me" is under so much construction that I should wear a sign on my back that states: WARNING: Hard Hats Required. :)

Be encouraged today that God never gives up on you....and you shouldn't give up on you either...you are a good work in progress.

Making Your Vote Count

My Pastor preached the best message (I think I am supposed to call it a "teaching", but that always seems weird to me, because Pastor Troy is an amazing preacher and it just sounds funny to say he preached the best teaching--isn't that an oxymoron? OR am I just a moron for this reasoning? Chris says that is not an oxymoron that teaching and preaching are not close enough to opposites to be an oxymoron...Does that mean he is calling me a moron?:) Regardless, I am going to stick with my reasoning that is seems weird to say he "preached a teaching" and message it is for me--unless Steph, you happen to read this and tell me otherwise :).

Anyways, sorry for the rambling. Pastor Troy just preached an amazing message about politics: What place the government has in our lives as Christians and what we should look for in our leaders as we make our decision about who to vote for. You can check it out here. You really should make time to listen. Let me know what you think.

I am so grateful that I have a pastor who has the courage to approach the controversial topics that are affecting our society and the integrity to put personal agenda aside and point us straight to the Bible and what God says.