America Recycles Day - November 15

On November 7, when daylight savings time ends, we get another 60 precious minutes added to our day.  An hour might be all we need to purge our closets and de-clutter the cabinets and drawers of outdated items.  Instead of tossing them in the trash, which will then head to the landfill, why not take the time to recycle them?

A little over a week from now is America Recycles Day (November 15).  And yes, there's a website specifically for this event.  Go to www.americarecyclesday.org.  Need to know What, When, Where & How to recycle your items?  On the above website, click on the link, Recycle in Your Community, type in the item in question and add your zip code and you will be provided a list of locations in your area accepting that specific item.  No excuses now!

Here's a list of potential items to get you started:

• Outdated cell phones, computer equipment, VCR, DVD/CD players, cameras
• Intact light bulbs
• Batteries (household and car)
• Cleaning supplies
• Pesticides and fertilizers
• Paint and supplies

Recycling everyday items is important as well.

When you recycle...10 cans per week / You Save enough energy for 30 hours of TV watching per week
When you recycle...4 Sunday papers per month / You Save 4 trees per year
When you recycle...15 plastic bottles per week / You Save enough fiber to make 156 t-shirts per year
When you recycle...1 glass bottle / You Save enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours, or power a computer for 30 minutes or a TV for 20 minutes
Source:  Family Circle Nov 2010

If you're not already recycling, now would be a great time to start.  If you're an avid recycler, kudos to you for your effort to save the planet.

If you run across items that are in good working order or in good shape, but you no longer have a use for them, please consider donating the items to a local charity.  In a future post, I'll provide a list of charities and the item they are accepting.

Together We Can Make A Difference!

Hollie

How to Build Community

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." Gandhi.

Wow, what a simple statement with so much potential.

I ran across a poster from an artist by the name of Karen Kerney that lists simple suggestions that can help restore our eroding sense of community.  Virtually everyone can do most items.

Text reads...

Turn off your TV
Leave your house
Know your neighbors
Look up when you are walking
Greet people
Plant flowers
Use your library
Play together
Buy from local merchants
Share what you have
Help a lost dog
Take children to the park
Garden together
Support neighborhood schools
Fix it even it you didn't break it
Have pot lucks
Honor elders
Pick up litter
Talk to the mail carrier
Start a tradition
Bake extra and share
Share your skills
Take back the night
Listen before you react in anger
Seek to understand
Learn from new and uncomfortable angles

Start with just a few items listed above and implement them into your life the next month or two and see what happens.  Together We Can Make A Difference!

Have a great weekend.

Hollie

Be Alert for Ways You Can Serve

The world needs your helping hands and willing heart.  Set your intention and make yourself available to God, and he will bring opportunities for service to you. 

Be attentive to what's going on around you and see where a helping hand might make a difference.  Look  for people who need your help.  Perhaps an overwhelmed friend or neighbor would appreciate a casserole.  Maybe you could lend a hand to a coworker overwhelmed by tight deadlines. 

Make service a way of life, and give freely of yourself.  Is someone you know facing difficulty?  Be someone who is willing to listen, and maybe give a hug or a smile.

Remember, USA Weekend magazine's nation-wide Make A Difference Day is soon approaching...next Saturday, October 23.   See last week's posting for ideas on ways you and your family can make a difference. 

Shelly, my sister-in-law, and Katie, my three-year old niece, and I are putting together chili, corn muffin, and brownie making kits.  Katie is decorating the recipe cards and together we will assemble the kits and deliver to our local food pantry. 

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  1John 3:18 (NKJV)

Make A Difference Day Is Almost Here (Oct 23)

On Saturday, October 23, millions of Americans will volunteer in their communities on USA WEEKEND's Make A Difference Day, the nation's largest day of doing service.

If you don't already volunteer in some way or form this event might be just the nudge you need to get started on the wonderful path of helping others.  The ideas are endless on ways to participate.

If you have small children, volunteer as a family.  If you have adult children, get together and volunteer as a family (see the theme here--wink, wink). Children love to get involved and to help others.  What a wonderful way to spend time as a family plus instill in young children the importance of helping others.  Who knows, this may become a family tradition, or better yet, a way of life. 

Put your thinking cap on and come up with ways you can make an impact.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Bag canned-good ingredients for chili, including the recipe, and deliver to a food pantry.
• Decorate small pumpkins and deliver to a senior center or nursing home.
• Make get-well cards and deliver to hospitalized children.
• Help older people (neighbors or church members) with home projects or fall yard duties.
• Call non-profit organizations and ask how you can help.
• Teachers - brainstorm with your students on ways the classroom can get involved.
• Ask your pastor about areas you can volunteer at church.
• Ask co-workers to join you in a community project.

For more information visit http://www.makeadifferenceday.com/.  If you have any additional ideas to share, please feel free to add them to this blog via comments.  Also, if you participate on the 23rd, I invite you to share your experience via this blog as well.

There's strength in numbers...Together We Can Make A Difference!

God bless,
Hollie

Be All You Can Be

I'm currently reading the book titled, Be All You Can Be, by John C. Maxwell.  I would like to share some insights I've gained so far (through chapter 3 out of 13)...can't wait to continue the book.

• Joy is the by-product of doing what's right.
• To be all I can be, I need to help others be all they can be!
• Don't be a dreamer, but a person with a dream.

Regarding Success:

• Worldly Success - the power to acquire whatever one demands of life without violating the rights of others (Self Demands of Life).
• Christian Success - enter into area of action, give yourself to the cause which will better mankind and last for eternity (Life Demands of Self).  Contribute to the betterment of others.

Be all you can be.  "The only person who can stop you from becoming what God intends you to become is you!", John C. Maxwell.

Final note:  Surrender everything to Jesus Christ.  Surrendering doesn't show weakness, it brings power.
Give God first:

• First part of the day
• First part of the week
• First portion of your income
• First part consideration in every decision
• First place in all  your life

God bless,
Hollie

Align Your Actions With Your Values

Make generosity a part of every day.  Use the following inspirations to better align your actions with your values, get more spiritually grounded and deepen your relationships with the people around you.

Think Outside Yourself - Many of us would give more than we do if we didn't feel so boxed in to certain roles.  These self-images (mother, teacher, business executive) can limit our view of what we can contribute. True service isn't about what we have to offer by who we are; it's about being available, willing  and open to whatever the need may be.

Be Happy For Someone Else - Share joy or true happiness for someone else's good fortune.  Celebrate in a friend's news and you may find that good fortune and energy rubbing off on you.

Give What You Need - At first this doesn't make sense.  If you need something, how can you possible have it to give away?  Therein lies the whole point--the magic behind giving.  Rather than viewing yourself in need of things from others, see yourself as the giver of those things and you may be surprised as to what happens.  Think about what you'd like more of in your life.  More friends?  Make it a point to be there for someone in need.  More laughter?  Share a joke or funny story--and you'll be laughing too.

Use the News - when listening to the doom-and-gloom of the nightly news do you wonder, "What can I do -- and what difference would it make anyway?".  But our response is a choice that's under our control.  Start seeing the news differently.  Watch with a different perspective, using the information as a guide to where help is most needed and then act on it.

Reach Beyond Your Circle - Chances are, you give most to the people closes to you.  While this might be where giving starts, it shouldn't end there.  We need to strike a balance between giving to those we know and those we don't.  By widening your scope, you send a message that the rest of the world matters.

Pass the Torch - Showing generosity toward others goes beyond just being nice; it means empowering them with a sense of value.  When you teach someone a new skill or technique, praise his/her contributions.  Who in your world could benefit from your attention and time?

Give All Day, Everywhere - Try making a special effort to give attention and kindness to all the people you interact with, whether you know them or not.  Notice how it changes your experience, your mood, and the way people respond to you.   

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Rescue, Raise & Rebuild - Watoto Ministry (Uganda, Africa)

This is long post I know, but please bear with me and read to the end...

Approximately 47.5 million orphans live in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1/4 whom have lost parents to Aids...2.5 million of those children live in Uganda.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE in the lives of those children in Uganda is the Watoto Ministry.  This ministry is designed to not only help meet the needs of orphaned children and widows in Uganda, but transform their lives.  The Watoto Model is the construction of children's villages, which provides a home-like environment where children are housed, clothed, fed, educated and spiritually discipled with the intention to train and equip them as future leaders.  The goal is to provide holistic, residential care for every child so that each one will become a responsible Christian and a productive citizen of Uganda and Africa. Please visit http://www.watoto.com/ to learn more about this wonderful  ministry.  Click the Projects tab and The Watoto Model link for specifics re the villages.

 I would also like to introduce you to Charity Gray.  A dear friend of mine and a true sister in Christ.  Charity traveled to the Watoto village last summer on a mission trip where the team completed a four-room schoolhouse for orphan children in 3-1/2 days. She knew before she left that she would some day return; she just wasn't sure in what capacity.  The trip left a lasting impression. Charity firmly believes the Lord is calling her into missions with the African nation, and the Lord has provided what she believes is "the opportunity of a lifetime." She has been offered a position  through Watoto Ministries as a personal assistant to the Facilities Management Department.  She will travel from village to village, interacting with Watoto moms and children while doing discipleship work and leading each household to taking on the role of a home owner.  Another key element will be dealing with social issues involving the moms and children, utilizing the experience she gained while working for Greene County Social Services (Springfield, MO).

I tell you all this to allow you an opportunity to be a part of this incredible journey of faith and MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  If you would like to assist in this ministry, there are several ways you can become involved...PRAY...GIVE...FOLLOW. 

PRAY...for the children of Uganda, the Watoto Ministry, and wisdom and discernment for Charity
GIVE...partner financially providing funds upfront in order for Charity to leave for Uganda or support during her 3 year commitment*
FOLLOW...visit Charity's blog www.myjourneywiththefather.blogspot.com.

Please prayerfully consider how the Lord may be leading you to assist in this life-changing endeavor.

*For accountability and tax purposes, financial gifts will go through Selmore Baptist Church (Charity's church home) and Selmore will then send you a tax letter.

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 NIV).