Giving Away My Treasures

I had some family and guests visit from Nova Scotia for my 40th birthday party last weekend. While they were here I gave them their Christmas presents to take home with them but I also somehow managed to find something special of my own for each of them to have now as a treasured gift. I was questioning why it is that I get so much joy out of giving away things that I love and that mean so much to me. And I realized it is exactly because they mean so much to me that I want to give them to those I care about. I want to share the joy that I get out of them with others and when I do it magnifies the meaning exponentially for both of us. Then as I was waking up one morning, thinking about the Lord and the start of the Christmas season, I realized - God felt the same way that first Christmas when he gave us his Son. He gets so much joy from his relationship with Jesus; and his Son means more to him than anything. That is why he chose to give his Son Jesus to us. He wants us to share in his joy and have the meaning of that Father - Son relationship be magnified through the sharing of it.

Book Review: The Angel of Bastogne

The Angel of Bastogne is the story of Chicago newspaper reporter Ben Raines. Ben was cynical, bitter and disillusioned with God and life in general. He particularly disliked Christmas time but he was assigned to write the annual front page holiday story for the paper. While struggling to decide what to write about, he visited his father, Willy, in the nursing home. Willy shared with Ben the Christmas he was fighting in the Battle of Bastogne, France in World War II. The Germans had surrounded Bastogne and there was no relief in sight. When all seemed lost, Willy was joined in his foxhole by an unnaturally calm Lieutenant who told him where the weapons-fire was coming from and how to get there. He told him his men would not make it unless somebody got the enemy. When asked if he was being ordered to go, the Lieutenant said no – it was up to him. Knowing it was a suicide mission, Willy put down his rifle, followed the Lieutenant's directions and took out that enemy crew with a grenade, saving the lives of his squad. Willy told Ben he never heard of or saw that Lieutenant again – he knew it had been an angel. Although embarrassed by his father's belief in angels, Ben decided to write this story, cynically hoping to debunk it. His research took him cross-country to interview the other 5 veterans who were with Willy and witnessed this so-called angel. Ben's fact finding journey became his spiritual journey. This is such a delightful read of hope, transformation and the power of prayer. It reminded me of how God has provided each of us with unique gifts and talents and how we utilize those gifts through our decisions and actions. I can guarantee that once you finish this story, you will think of at least one person you'd like to pass it on to, or someone you’d like to give it to as a special Christmas gift.

Beth Moore is coming to Toronto!

Contact Laurie LeFave for more details:
905-898-1089

Jingle Bell Blitz

Marmalade Concert

Thank you for coming out to the Marmalade Concert on May 9th! We hope that you enjoyed this amazing vocal group, and that you took advantage of this opportunity to invite your friends out as well. It was a wonderful evening of listening, clapping, bopping and singing along to some well known songs that were performed with unique style, excellence, energy, and enthusiasm. Because of your support in buying tickets for this event, we were able to raise $1500 that will go to the Alliance Women’s National Project for this year: So Little...So Much! These funds will help the compassionate efforts of Alliance missionaries who are showing the love of Christ while fighting against the ravages of Aids and Poverty in Africa.