I'm a pie gal. I consider pie one of the Lord's best gifts. I really like cake, but I love pie. I daydream about various flavors of pie, my history with that particular type, how it might taste, the texture, pie travel destinations, and on and on. I grew up learning from my mother to make pie that looks very similar to the above. Although hers would have meringue. I am sad that I've not kept up with my pie-making skills, which were exceptional for a kid, if I do say so myself. I love pie but am now somewhat a boring eater and avoid sugar and gluten. I am also a lazy cook. So I don't have it very often. Thus, I had to have a picture of this piece of coconut creme that I ate on National Pie Day. It was amazing. Speaking of gifts..... If you've read a few of my earlier posts you saw that I am also a fan of Faithbox. www.faithbox.com Sorry for repeating a topic, but I really think this is a great company that you need to know about. They put together great little gift boxes full of inspiration for the mind, body and spirit. They will ship them to you or someone that you think needs a lift. They are different each month so it's always a nice surprise. This month there's a book by best-selling author Jefferson Bethke, "It's Not What You Think" (Why Christianity Is About So Much More Than Going To Heaven When You Die). I'm eager to dive in!. Each Faithbox also includes a monthly devotional, "Everyday Faith". The October booklet is also by Jefferson Bethke and each day's reading is short but thought-provoking. A delicious-looking (and vegan, gluten and dairy free!) Chocolate Espresso Bean bar from a company named Kutoa is included. Tag line: "For every bar you buy we give a meal to a child in need." Then there's the yummy smelling candle packaged in a cute jar with a lid. Light the candle, make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, have a healthy snack, and curl up with a good book. What a great gift, for yourself or someone else that you love. Donate Responsibly Also in an earlier post I reminded readers of the importance of checking out organizations you are not familiar with before you get involved or donate funds. Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org, Give.org, www.give.org, and Charitywatch.org www.charitywatch.org are all good sources. You may find different types of information on each site so if you want the most complete picture of an organization look at a couple of watchdog sites. And then there's the Red Cross I found it very interesting and encouraging to hear a fairly critical report about the Red Cross on the national NPR network last week. http://www.npr.org/2014/10/29/359365276/on-superstorm-sandy-anniversary-red-cross-under-scrutiny One of those reporting was a representative from Charity Navigator. Frankly I wasn't at all surprised to hear the criticism.....they've been in trouble for years.....but I was pleased to hear the Red Cross publicly "called on the carpet", so to speak. This is a great example of being careful who you give to. Most people think the Red Cross is wonderful and provide everything people need when disaster strikes. I'm sure there are small local offices that do a fine job with providing supplies after a fire, etc. However the national organization has been soundly criticized for diverting assets to help their image during Superstorm Sandy, for one of many examples. So be careful with your funds. Just google the Red Cross. There are many organizations that are better managed and are better stewards of your donations than the Red Cross. Have a blessed week!
In my previous post I mentioned the current refugee crises and gave some ideas on helping. Unless you can volunteer for a relief agency, get on a plane, and travel to one of the countries being flooded with those fleeing you won't have a lot of choices in ways to help. But funds are desperately needed. This is a checkbook type pf help, for most of us. So if that's a passion for you, scroll down for some ideas. I checked and the links provided for donating do work.
I have never claimed to be a writer, although my blog class instructor told us when we finished our class that we were now "published authors". Therefore, when I hear something worth sharing that fits my mission here, I might borrow it and credit the author. There are millions of much better "authors" than I.
Today in church a traditional Indian folktale was told that translates to any language, religious belief or will resonate with nonbelievers. Online I found it had been retold by a British storyteller, Peter Chand, as well as in the version below, by author Mark Nepo.
Matthew 6 tells us not to worry about our life, what we will eat or drink, or what we will wear. The young man in this story seemed to have been taught this, as well the philosophy of paying it forward.
The Boy and the Drum (as told by Mark Nepo in "Finding Inner Courage")
There is an old Hindu story In it, there is a boy who wants a drum, but his mother can’t afford a drum, and so, sadly, she gives him a stick.
Though he doesn’t know what to do with it, he shuffles home and begins to play with the stick. Just then he encounters an old woman trying to light her woodstove. The boy freely gives her the stick.
She lights her fire, makes some bread, and in return she gives him half a loaf of bread. Walking on, the boy comes upon a potter’s wife whose child is crying from hunger. The boy freely gives her the bread.
In gratitude, she gives him a pot. Though he doesn’t know what to do with it, he carries it along the river, where he sees a washerman and his wife quarreling because the wife broke their one pot. The boy gives them the pot.
In return, they give him a coat. Since the boy isn’t cold, he carries the coat until he comes to a bridge, where a man is shivering. Riding to town on a horse, the man was attacked and robbed of everything but his horse. The boy freely gives him the coat.
Humbled, the man gives him his horse. Not knowing how to ride, the boy walks the horse into the town, where he meets a wedding party with musicians. The bridegroom and his family are all sitting under a tree with long faces. According to custom, the bridegroom is to enter the procession on a horse, which hasn’t shown up. The boy freely gives him the horse.
Relieved, the bridegroom asks what he can do for the boy. Seeing the drummer surrounded by all his drums, the boy asks for the smallest drum, which the musician gladly gives him.
I really liked the movie "Pay It Forward", mainly because of the catch-phrase that resulted. Sometimes what we do for others is a pay-it-forward type of act, but we don't think of it that way, or mention to the recipient of the gift of time or treasure that they should also pay it forward. Wouldn't it be a better world if we trusted, as in Matthew 6, shared our gifts, and in turn, asked that they pay the goodness forward to someone else in need?
I don't know about you, but I really think that the Syrian refugee tragedy is a little more important than what Caitlyn Jenner is up to. Just a little.
Is your church or community involved? Are they offering suggestions on ways to help? I had been thinking about writing on the topic and this article came across Facebook. It has great resources and is better than what I would have written. However I will probably be writing more in the future on this. Because it's not anywhere near being over.
Buyer beware - I can vouch for several of these suggested organizations, but don't know them all. Do your own research.
Please pray for these people.
This article is by Christopher Dawson and was published Sept. 4, 2015.
(CNN) More than 2 million Syrians have fled their country, according to the United Nations refugee agency. With nowhere to go and often with just the clothes on their backs, many end up in refugee camps that are both overcrowded and overwhelmed. Many organizations are offering supplies, shelter and medical care for the people displaced by the crisis and you can help.
Doctors Without Borders is providing direct medical aid in six hospitals and four health centers inside Syria. They are also sending medical supplies, equipment and support to the medical networks throughout Syria that they cannot access themselves. They accept donations online, and you can earmark your gift for Syria by calling 1-888-392-0392.
World Vision is helping in Lebanon with projects to give refugees access to clean water and sanitation. They are also in Jordan, providing basic emergency supplies, water, sanitation, and education for refugees. In Syria, they are delivering water and health services. You can support them with an online donation or by calling 1-800-562-4453.
CARE is operating four refugee centers in Jordan, and is helping refugees there with cash assistance for rent and food. In Lebanon they are helping refugees get access to clean water. They are also working inside Syria, providing emergency supplies for families, psychosocial support for children and emergency medical equipment and support for women. You can support their efforts with anonline donation or by donating by phone at 1-800-521-CARE.
Catholic Relief Services is providing aid throughout the region. This includes urgent medical assistance, education and trauma counseling for children, and household supplies including soap and water purifiers. You can donate online where you can specify “Syria relief” in the special request form. You can also donate by phone at 1-877-435-7277.
Concern Worldwide is working to meet the water, sanitation and hygiene needs for refugees in Lebanon and for many still in Syria. You can donate online or call them at 1-800-59-CONCERN.
In August, the World Food Programme provided food to more than 2 million people inside Syria. They have also fed more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey. Their hope is to provide food assistance to 6 and a half million Syrians by the end of the year. You can help them achieve this goal with an online donation.
Islamic Relief USA is providing food parcels, housing essentials and medical supplies for those displaced inside Syria and the refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. To help these efforts, select “Syrian Humanitarian Aid” as the designation on the donation page.
International Medical Corps is providing health care and psychosocial services for Syrian refugees with static and mobile clinics at refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. They are also offering medical support to the hospitals and medical facilities in these countries handling refugee care. You can support their work, by donating online or by calling 310-826-7800.
Syrian refugees take orders from a Greek police officer as they wait to cross the border from Greece to Macedonia, in the border town of Idomeni , northern Greece, Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. Greece has been overwhelmed by more than 160,000 refugees and migrants so far this year. The vast majority arrive in Lesbos. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)
Syria crisis creates two million refugees01:07
International Orthodox Christian Charities is helping families inside Syria and the refugees that are now living in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Armenia. They are providing emergency aid, including critical food aid, personal hygiene supplies and medicine. They are also offering pre-natal and post-natal care for infants and infant nutrition programs. You can help by donating online to their International Emergency Response Fund, or by calling 1-877-803-IOCC. You can also assemblepersonal hygiene kits for the displaced families.
International Rescue Committee is helping refugees inside Syria and in the bordering countries with medical and emergency supplies. In refugee camps they are providing water, sanitation and education services. They are also offering counseling, safety and support for women and girls at risk. You can help by donating online or by phone at 1-855-9RESCUE.
Life for Relief and Development is helping refugee families living in tent camps and temporary housing with food and home essentials including hygiene kits, bedding and kitchen utensils. They have created the Syrian Refugees Emergency Campaign where you can donate online.
Mercy-USA is supporting displaced children and families inside Syria with food baskets, infant formula and blankets. They are also providing daily fresh bread for more than 1,500 refugee families in Lebanon, and operate a mobile health clinic for those in need. To support their work, select “Syrian Humanitarian Relief” as your gift designation on their online donation form, or call 1-800-556-3729.
Mercy Corps is providing shelter, housing supplies and water for refugee camps. They are also focused on helping the children at these camps, with safe spaces, playgrounds, psychosocial support and storytelling workshops. You can support their efforts by donating online or by phone at 1-888-747-7440.
Shelterbox has provided tented shelters and other vital equipment, including kitchen sets, blankets, water purification systems and classroom supplies to more than 4,500 refugee families in Syria and the surrounding countries. In the coming months they plan to support another 5,000 families, and you can help them with an online donation or by texting SHELTER to 20222 to make a $10 donation.
Save the Children is helping the children in this crisis with temporary learning facilities, child friendly spaces and programs to help them cope with their trauma. They are also providing necessities like food, blankets and clothing to refugee families. You can support their Syria Children in Crisis fund bydonating online or by calling 1-800-728-3843.
The UNHCR is providing shelter, protection and assistance to refugees in Syria and around the world. You can help them provide tents, kitchens, stoves and sleeping mats by donating online or by calling 1-800-770-1100.
War Child UK is helping Syrian refugees in Lebanon, providing child friendly spaces and temporary schools. You can make a donation online to their Children of Syria appeal. You can also change the currency to dollars or euros on the payment page.
UNICEF is providing food, water, clothing and critical immunizations for children in Syria and the refugees in the bordering countries. They are also offering counseling for children and have launched a Back to Learning campaign for the region. You can help with an online donation or by calling 1-800-FOR-KIDS.
Do you have a love/hate relationship with Facebook like I do? Interesting things magically pop up from friends that you have not invited, tempting you to buy, buy, buy. I try to ignore them but one day I saw a great looking post from a group called faithbox. http://www.faithbox.com
To quote their site, "Faithbox is a monthly box of inspirational quotes and scripture, actions to enrich your Christian life, and curated products from companies with positive missions that we believe in." Each box includes "Inspirational Reflections" (small daily devotional reading or a faith-based book), "Random Acts of Kindness" (like a yummy cookie or a great looking watch) and "Socially-Responsible Products" (for example some delicious coffee from THX, pronounced "thanks", who donates 100% of their profits to non-profits around the world). Well this was right up my alley! It's all research for my blog, right?
I have received three boxes and have been delighted with each one. It's like a surprise gift I've given myself. They are all different and each month has a theme. August's box had a wonderful C.S. Lewis book called Mere Christianity, a devotional book based on what a gift time is, complete with scripture and thought-provoking questions, that yummy cookie from Alternative Baking Co. that I mentioned, along with the cool watch and some 'healthier" chewing gum. The box I received this week was sponsored by Joyce Meyer and had two of her books and a CD, and the THX coffee. Brew a cup and curl up with a great inspirational book!
There's a subscription plan; one box is $20 but if you subscribe for a one-year the cost drops to $17., or a 15% savings. It's packaged in a cool way, too; like a gift with just enough packing to get it to you safely. The outside quotes Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not grow weary in doing good" (love this), and the words ~ give, discover, grow ~ around the sides. Each box provides three meals to a child in a Christian orphanage. They have a partnership with Rice Bowls (a nonprofit dedicated to orphan care that partners with 54 children's homes and provides 100% of their food budget) and are now contributing over 10K meals every month. They impact children in Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ethiopa, Rwanda, South Africa, India and the Philippines. If you know someone going through a tough time and you want to pamper and inspire them, a faithboxwould be a great way to go. Know someone going through chemo for example? A three month subscription of a box filled with faith would sure be a blessing! And what a great gift for a friend. I've chatted online with Willie, the Founder and CEO, and he seems like a cool guy. I like that he was readily available to answer my questions Check them out.
