It is almost National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child!

Drop of locations in your area: FIND MY DROP-OFF LOCATION

May these shoebox stories from years past, to make your heart smile! 

Your gift-filled shoeboxes are tangible expressions of God’s love for children around the world suffering from poverty, natural disasters, war, disease and famine. These children, many of whom have never received a gift before, learn they are loved and not forgotten. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories around the world. Since 2009, more than 14.9 million children who have received a shoebox gift have participated in The Greatest Journey - our 12 lesson discipleship program where they learn what it means to follow Jesus and share their faith with friends and family.

If you need a little motivation as to what and why to put certain things in your shoebox, check out my video from back in 2016! YOU CANNOT PUT TOOTHPASTE OR CANDY THIS YEAR! 

In 2018, Operation Christmas Child, the world's largest Christmas Project of its kind, hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 11 million children in more than 100 countries! Pack yours today or build one online: Build-a-box-online-for$25

Click here for: SHOEBOX PACKING TIPS

Climb out of that tree and accept freedom!

Climb out of that tree and accept freedom!

When we think of freedom, we often think about doing what we want without hindrance, our free country in the USA, the end of slavery, our rights...What would you like to be free from? Bills, taxes, homework, housework...we all have things we wish we could be free from...I would choose to never have to dust again!!!  However, our greatest need is to be free from is the debt of sin we cannot pay. The good news is, someone has paid that debt for us! True freedom comes from following Jesus. Only Jesus can deliver us from the bondage of sin. In John 19 we are taught of a tax collector named Zacchaeus. He was dishonest.  He was disliked. He over-collected to make himself rich.  He was chasing financial stability and fortune.  We often chase after things in this life too...money, fame, good grades, cool toys or fancy cars, friends, or followers, likes on social media - while all these may not be bad, the most important thing we should be chasing after is following Christ.  We should have a desire to follow Him, first.  Zacchaeus had a choice to make while he was sitting in the tree watching Jesus pass by. When Jesus called his name, he could respond and come down to a life more abundant, or he could just keep sitting there watching in the tree top, being a spectator.  Do we just want to watch Jesus from a distance or get down and jump into action? Jesus knew when He was in Jericho that day that He had an appointed time at that specific tree to meet Zacchaeus. He knew Zacchaeus was a sinful.  He knew Zacchaeus was a dishonest tax collector.  He purposed for that very tree to grow in that spot many years prior to Zacchaeus needing to climb it to see Him.  He knows our past.  He knows our present.  He knows our future, too. He knows our sins.  Has he placed a "tree" in our life for us to climb to see Him.  Are we sitting in the treetop watching Him pass us by?  Is Jesus standing at the base of your tree calling your name, asking for you to come down so He can come to your house today? 

We must choose to come down from our tree and follow Jesus. It’s our choice and no one can make it for us. Will we choose to follow Him daily and have an abundant life? As we read in John 19:1-10,  Zacchaeus climbed down, he invited Jesus in, he changed, he chose to follow Jesus. Will we do the same each day? Is He seeking you today?  Choose life more abundant!  

Go ahead and climb out of your tree today!

"For the son of man came to seek and save the lost" John 19:10

True freedom comes from following Jesus Christ!