Love Gives is an attack on selfishness and a creative avenue to generosity. This year we are going to be "giving" together in various, creative ways. To start things off, here's what we did.
Love Gives Project #1: Centerpoint recently handed out sealed envelopes containing $50's, $20's, and $10's to our church - Why? To give away of course! The rules were simple: they couldn't use it on themselves, they had to be creative, and they had to share the story of who they gave it to. So, here are some of those stories. If your life was impacted through this or if you have made a difference in another way, share it here. Love Gives!
Project #2: Restore a relationship. Something that is far more valuable than money is your time and presence in someones life. Take a moment and make a phone call, write a letter or email and begin to restore a relationship that is broken for some reason. What if God shows you the same amount of grace and forgiveness that you show others?
Project #3 Love a neighbor. Churches, relief organizations, and government relief sends money and people all over the world to help those in need, but what about your neighbor right next door? To help your neighbor next door you probably need to know them. Here are some ideas on how to love your neighbor. 1) Invite them over for a cookout, in fact you could do a potluck and invite all your neighbors 2) Make them some food or take them something that might help their day 3) Leave a gift card on the door (addressed from you, so they're not weirded out) 4) Help them with yard work
Project #4: Love an enemy. Jesus said that even wicked people know how to love people who love them, but a sign of the Divine living in you is that you love people who don't love you. You don't love your enemies just for the sake of Jesus' reputation, you love them, because it is the nature of God to love...first. Ideas: befriend an enemy on facebook, encourage them with a compliment, invite them to a special occasion. Whatever you do, take the first step in breaking down a relational barrier.
Project #5 Love an orphan or widow. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. -James 1:27
Ideas 1. Contact your church about the needs of widows of your own church
2. Visit a nursing home with some home baked goods
3. Offer to give a single mom a day out and you watch their kids
4. Call a local shelter (Lighthouse Shelter in Annapolis, YWCA, Sarahs House) and see if there are any specific needs.
