Mission Blessing…an opportunity for you to be the church this Christmas Season.
Mission Blessing…a time set aside where you use half of what you would normally give to the Church, for one weekend, to bless someone else.
Chances are, in these tough times we’re living in, you know someone in need. Maybe it’s a personal friend. A neighbor. A checker at your favorite Market. Odds are, there is someone within your reach you can touch through Mission Blessing.
TRF will be providing Mission Blessing Cards in the bulletin. These cards are designed with room for a personal note on the back. We encourage you to write a note to the person you are blessing to give it a personal touch.
Then, we would love for you to come back here and tell us your story. Whether you are the giver or the receiver, tell us all about it. How did God lead you in this Mission? Did you know right away who you would Bless? How did you feel, what did you think when you received your Mission Blessing Card with the Gift? Share your story in the comment section!
And please join us this Christmas Season at Table Rock Fellowship. We would love to have you with us as we celebrate together the Reason we are able to give!
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We decided to give a gift basket to our new neighbors. They are young and soon to be married. We put in it nuts, some moosemunch, chocolate covered fruit, mint chocolates, the movie A Christmas Carol, the book The Purpose of Christmas, hot cocoa with a mission blessing card and invite to Christmas services. They invited us in their home and it reminded me of when we were first married with just a few things around their house. I know they wouldn’t splurge on what we got them so we hope it will treat them.
Hi, My husband and I decided we would participate in operation blessing and within a week, we knew how we would do it. I was getting my hair done and my hairdresser was telling me that she wasn’t even going to get a tree this year, because she thought it would make it harder for her children whyen they didn’t get any presents. She is the sole income for their family and ends have not been meeting. I spoke to my husband and he agreed with me that buying gifts for their 3 girls was the perfect way to use the blessing. I took her shopping and out to lunch. It became so much more when I was able to encourage her with the testimony of my marriage and to pray for her and her husband and her family. I am going to continue to pray that God shows her the miracle of a marriage restoration. Thanks for being led by God and not money. I know many will be blessed this christmas season through this project.
We have been searching and praying for someone, or a group, to give to since we heard about Mission: Blessing. We are not regular attenders of TRF, since we have moved back to the area we are still in search of a “home church.” Still, we feel this is such a great cause and lesson, that we have been eager to participate.
We have decided to give our “blessing” to Lithia Springs, a residential resource facility for young women committed to Oregon Youth Authority. They currently have 13 girls at the home who all need “Christmas Cheer.” We will be making small gift baskets for them including socks, bubble gum, and coffee gift cards. We are only saddened that we cannot do more.
In speaking with the director, Janie Stewart, she expressed her gratitude since they “are not getting much in the way of “extras” this year due to the economy.”
If anyone else is still looking for ways to give, this is a great opportunity.
Lithia Springs for girls
Janie Stewart, Director
JStewart@lithia-springs.org
In participating with TRF in Mission:Blessing, we have been so blessed. It certainly would have been much easier to just write a check to the church to let them disperse it, but it would not have been as rewarding as we are now much more connected to our community and the needs in it.
For “mission blessing” this year, I had no clue what I was going to do with the money I was to give. Throughout the month, I prayed to God and asked him, “Father, I don’t know what to do, what do you want me to do? Help me to be a blessing as you have been a blessing to me.” For weeks, I still did not know what I was going to do, until Friday night.
As I was pulling up to the dry cleaners after work, a homeless woman from California came to my car and said she was hungry. I talked with her for awhile and agreed to meet her at a nearby restaurant. As I was in my car, I realized that this could be the “mission blessing” opportunity that the Lord had prepared for me. Unsure of what to do, I prayed “Lord, is this the time? Please, make it plain to me what I am to do.”
At the restaurant, we talked some more and got something to eat. Throughout this time with her, it was made clear to me that this was the time that God wanted me to act. She asked me for a clean pair of pants, so we went to a nearby store. I got her a pair of pants and a jacket to keep her warm, which was all very close to the amount I was to give for “mission blessing”. She thanked me again and we talked about her staying at the Medford Gospel Mission. Lord willing, she will decide to go there this week.
Afterwards, I thought about all that just happened and was simply amazed at what God had orchestrated. Never would I have imagined that the “mission blessing” opportunity would have come up to my car door. All praise be to our God for an opportunity to be a blessing!
As a single mom of 2, there is barely enough to cover our own needs. And I was feeling disappointment for the little money I did have to use and the little difference I expected it would make in the life of another. Then as I took time to consider how to do the greatest good with the small amount, God put it in my heart to multiply my blessing through my children. I realized that if I could teach my children that in serving others, we were serving God, I could make a difference x2!
They each have a container with their “Share with God” money. I added my amount to theirs and we went shopping. As we drove to the store we talked about Toys for Tots, the Food Bank and HUGS (hats, underwear, gloves and socks) programs. One picked toys. The other decided on food reporting, “If you were hungry it wouldn’t matter if someone bought you a toy or not. You’d still be hungry.” As insightful as that was, the thrill of buying a toy won out. They walked around the store, considered what another child would enjoy, and proudly carried their purchases to the check out.
The line moved a little slower as a result of our counting out dollar bills and quarters to pay for their gifts. But the blessings being learned and demonstrated at that moment by these two children were not to be rushed. And yet, because of Mission Blessing, it is actually I, their Mom, who feels the most blessed of all.
Today was my families turn to be blessed by operation blessing. Yesterday my husband listed our car, to sell, so we could pay the mortgage, which is already late. Today we received $1000.00 through operation blessing. We have felt invisible to God, but have been trying to walk in faith, in spite of our circumstances. Today God clearly showed us that he does see us and our concerns are his…I have always known that in my head, but today it is a revelation truth in my heart. Thank You Jesus!
We were given money for operation blessing and at the time I felt it might be a mistake. The same day I saw a family that was stranded and felt compelled to help. We used some of the money to help that family.
Then our heater wasn’t working for a couple days and we kept hoping it was a glitch. We needed a new thermostat. In total the gift still ended up slightly above what we needed. So God provided even before we knew it.
It was meant to be. the first Sunday Pastor Tom mentioned this wonderful idea, we had gone to the market after church. just getting a few items went in the few items line. In front was an elderly man with beautiful blue eyes. he was buying just necessities, he opened his change purse dumped all the change and gave a rolled up amount of bills to the checker. as she counted for him,she ask what he wanted to put back. it was meant to be because i immediately started for my wallet and Cliff bumped me with a $10. bill. we asked what was needed? it was like $5.14 more, cant remember. we gave to the checker. As she gathered his changed he turned and looked at me and cliff with a lost look. he then asked. do you want my change? oh no we said keep it and Merry Christmas. Cliff bagged his groceries and he slowly walked away. we decided then to give our balance to making gifts for the pantry. Gathered Food,made Hats,scarfs and blankets.
we hit the craft store on a sale day. another meant to be and got twice as much as we planned. yes cliff made hats on the nifty knitter too. We hope some people are nice and warm out there this season.
Rose
When the Church first mentioned the Mission Blessing I was excited, but didn’t have a plan. This past year has been especially challenging as I am going through a divorce. The first of the year I lost my job and was unemployeed for 5 months, after searching for a job I found one, but with a significant deduction in pay. Then the unthinkable, my soon to be ex lost his job. Suddenly we went from two high paying jobs with a large mortgage to a very uncertain future. Through this all in my heart I was comforted as I know God will provide. I am employed and my ex is now employeed. We no longer have the income we once had, but still have the house payment. To add to the uncertainty, the job he was able to find is 5 hours away so the divorce is not the only thing that is pulling this family apart. That being said, we are still fortunate and very blessed. We have a little money in the bank for working through this hard time. I might not know what tomorrow will bring for me and my family, but I know in my heart that there is need now, today. It was on my heart strongly to see a need and fill the need. I know that what will come down the road will be provided for. I don’t know what shape or form that will come in, but I am prepared with open eyes and open heart. It was truly an honor to reach out to someone in the community and help.
Through my divorce I have been participating in the divorce care program at TRF. It was in this program that I met a woman with three kids with no support what so ever. She is doing all she can to raise them right and give them everything they could need. That is a big job for two parents but a single Mom and one salary with no support is working against the tide. Seeing her my thought was how God was so good to me, in my divorce as disappointed as I am at the loss, my ex is supporting both me and our children. My heart was moved to help. I don’t have the answers to my uncertain future, but I trust in God’s plan. It is my hope that the mission blessing I gave blessed the family even half as much as it blessed me.