How to Brighten the World This Holiday!

Terrorism, 

     bombings, Paris,

          illness, disease,

               poverty, homelessness,
                    abuse,

                          joblessness ...

     We're in quite a mess! So what can I do to brighten the world this holiday season? 

. . . not just to people you know but to needy people you don't know.

In October and November I witnessed the miracle of a group of women, giving generously and, in fact, with abandon. Those of us who watched the beauty of giving each week by these ladies stood breathless with the joy of it. And that was the result of giving . . . JOY, JOY, JOY!

The Tuesday night ladies' Bible study at Parker Hill Community Church decided to make the Keystone Rescue Mission in Scranton and Wilkes Barre its mission this fall. The Rescue Mission is located on Olive Street in Scranton and on Parkview Circle in Wilkes Barre. 

Both facilities provide a "Meal and a Message" nightly to needy and homeless people. They organize weekly clothing and food banks and emergency cold night shelters. The Wilkes Barre mission runs an addiction program also. The mission does all of this through charitable contributions.

Each week the ladies of the Bible study responded to the assigned giving themes: "Sock-tober,"

The ladies filled the pantry of  the Keystone Rescue Mission
in November.

"Meat Me for Dinner" (canned meat and vegetables), "Cold Night Pick-me-up" (canned soup or stew), "Smell Me Night" (deodorant, toothpaste,  tooth brushes), "Hot Drink Fixin's Night"  (cups, creamer, coffee, hot chocolate, sugar).

The result? Well, here's the final tally of what the ladies gave:

524 pairs of socks

248 tootbrushes

285 toothpaste

148 deodorant

50 soap/body wash

30 lotion

214 shampoo

67 conditioner

427 razors

282 combs

18 hairbrushes

94 hair ties

435 soups

272 canned meats

308 canned vegetables and fruits

58 coffee creamers

266 pounds of sugar

80 packets of hot chocolate

600 napkins

3.717 cups

94 assorted hygiene and food products

Astounding!

The staff at the Rescue Mission barely contained their happy dance! What's the result of a group of

women responding to a local need and giving generously? Many people will be blessed for months this winter with these supplies. 

Director of the Rescue Mission
John Gleason on the left with another
staff member and
the sock contribution.

Your group or family can do this too! 

Here's the link to the "needs" list for the Rescue Mission:  http://www.krmalliance.org/this-weeks-needs-list/   This is a Christmas gift worth giving. Take the kids on a field trip to the Rescue Mission with your Christmas contributions. JOY awaits.

A gem God showed me this morning from Isaiah 58:6-14 (NIV) assures us of joy: "... if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness ... then you will find your JOY in the LORD ..."

FIND JOY IN GIVING TO THE HUNGRY AND OPPRESSED THIS SEASON AND MAKE THE WORLD A LITTLE BRIGHTER. 

                          A JOY-FILLED HOLIDAY TO YOU!