A Season of Serving

It's that time of year again. It seems that as soon as Halloween is here, we turn back our clocks, and the holiday season is here and done. The tornado sucks us up and tosses us around, our heads spinning until finally it spits us out sometime into the next year. We are exhausted and glad it's over. What a sad thought of how easily we get caught up in the busy season of Christmas and forget the true meaning. With Christmas a month before Little Bean's expected arrival, it's important that I chose how I spend my energy this year. Instead of marathon shopping, making dozens of homemade crafts, and rushing to every holiday party, I'm going to focus my time on the things that count. The things of eternal value.

" Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

My friend and I co-lead a girl's life group. We meet each week to hang out, pray, discuss our bible study, and eat yummy food. We just finished the "Unglued" study by Lysa TerKeurst. (highly recommend) and have decided for our next journey together we are going to do a Season of Serving. 

We knew that with our busy schedules and various things going on, starting up a new book to study would be too much. 

So each month in November, December, and January we have choosen to do 2 service projects together. One community service, and one within our group. We came up with some fun ideas and I wanted to share a few of them in hopes that it sparks you to think about how a small act of service could be a great way for your family to bless others during the upcoming fall and winter months.

-Donating to your local food pantry
- Serving in the soup kitchen
-One of my friends is having us over for a pie making lesson with her secret recipe
-Adopting a family to buy Christmas for or selecting gifts for an Angel Tree
-Rake your neighbor's leaves
-Christmas cookie/candy making to share at your workplace, family events, or with neighbors
-Sending a heartfelt note or card in the mail
-At home DIY spa party
-Buying for another table during a dinner out
-Helping an elderly relative or friend do their Christmas (or grocery) shopping
-Take the pressure off gift giving and choose a movie date or coffee date with a friend instead.
-Donate to winter coat drives

Be sure to add your own ideas in the comment section.

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” 
― Mother Teresa