Are you tired of giving useless gifts? I detest giving useless gifts. You know...those that you buy just for the sake of it. Ones that you simply HAD to buy because you couldn't think of anything else, and it seemed ‘alright'. Do the recipients really ever need those gifts? Perhaps you'd argue that it's the thought that counts—and sure it's lovely to be remembered—but if you'd prefer not to give a useless gift, here's a suggestion…

If you live in Australia, and buying and receiving gifts at Christmas time is an imperative part of your tradition, I know of some really, really useful gifts that you can give…or that you can ask your friends & family to give you. Give a goat. Yes, that’s right, a goat. In fact, it seems to be the 'in' thing this year.

Here’s how it works: you donate what it would cost to purchase a goat. Then the people working to serve the poor can help a struggling family living in a rural area buy what they need, be it a goat or a chicken for that matter...they will be provided with whatever suits their situation / climate / skills set / diet. In return, you get a gift card to give to the friend or family member for whom you gave the goat! Essentially, you've given the gift of helping someone survive. Yes, I said 'survive'. Without the goat, chicken, or whatever means of survival, that family may have no other way to break out of their poverty cycle. Your donation will help them receive something that will empower them to earn a living. That's the impact that Gifts of Compassion could ultimately have...to help people break out of their poverty cycle.

None of us have a choice about what family we're born into, but we all have the choice to help others break free from their circumstances.

So how about it?

GIVE A GOAT

OR CHOOSE FROM A SELECTION OF OTHER USEFUL GIFTS:

I've been so slack on Xanga and for this I apologise. You might've noticed that facebook & twitter's been favoured over blogs in my world. But nothing beats a blog update, eh!

So what have I been up to?

Over the past 11 months I've been settling into my new role @ work; learning a lot about strongholds & being set free from them; moving out of the sharehouse with my friend from high school into a more private space of our own; had my car broken into & then stolen the week after; building closer relationships with friends & church family in Newie; walking closer with God; turning 29 (*gasps*); and being disciplined & stretched (spiritually, emotionally, etc.) through a number of things etc... But nothing beats the fact that I'm going to be Aunty Irene in August 2009!

I loooooooooooove babies!! They make me go gu-gu gah-gah all over the place! You only have to bring a baby within an earshot & in no time I'd be joining in for a cuddle. (No, I'm not ready to have one of my own baby yet but I won't deny my mothering instincts!!!) God has blessed my immediate family with a bundle of joy! Yay to God! I'm reminded to count my blessings and bring thanksgiving & praises before Him. Thank You, Father of all GOOD gifts!

So what have YOU been up to?

What fantastic fun, I get to write blog posts for work!  I love it, love it, love it!   

Here's a follow-up blog post to the previous one that got published on Compassion's Blog on Poverty.  Have a read: http://blog.compassion.com/love-in-action

Other than that, I've been travelling to Sydney heaps for work training, and rehearsing for the Cinderella musical etc.  Life is full.  Argh, I need to make myself sleep more! 

Btw, has anyone else read the book on Boundaries by Dr. Cloud & Dr. Townsend?  (I highly recommend it!)  If so, do you get internal cringes as you read it?  Like, ooh that's me ... and that's me too ...!  And, look, there's my life story right there!  *Shakes head*  God has much work to do in me ...! 

There is always Hope.