Teaching About Giving

Nathan, 27, White House, US

I am an 8th grade teacher in a well-to-do area of north Nashville , TN. Many of my students are what you would say...SPOILED! However, it came time for the end of the semester and I was puzzled as to what I could do or my kids in appreciation for their hard work. Well, I am a teacher and the rumors are true...not a huge paycheck goes into my acount each month. The kids know teachers are not paid alot and they were surprised when I gave each one of them money! I attatched a TGR card to each $1 bill and gave them a huge candy bar each. My instructions were that they could not keep the dollar, but had to use it to brighten someone's day before Christmas. Onc they did that, then they could eat their reward, the chocolate. I hope and pray that each one discovers the true meaning behind the season and adopt a habit of giving instead of getting!

2008-12-22 06:50:54

a home for the holidays

nancy ezell, 37, hialeah, US

A home for the Holidays -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nancy Ezell, 37, Hialeah, US Hello, My name is Nancy Ezell. I attend the Cooper City Flamingo Road Church every Sunday. The last year has been very hard on me and my children, My husband has fought an increadible battle with drug addiction and for the last few years he has been in and out of our lives ( i have 4 children---Danny 14, Monique 9, Isaiah 2, and Jasmin 1). This past May my husband left again, driven by the demons that drug addiction have, and we have been struggling tremendously worse than ever. Physically and emotionally it has been a big drain on me to find myself alone with 4 children who depend on me and only me. The babies are the hardest because i work 6 days a week to try to make enough(it never is)and when i come home i do not have the energy it takes to deal with all that is required of me. My older children bear the burden of assisting me at times by helping me with the little ones and bless their hearts they help as much as any kids can. Well to make a long story short, i presently found myself financially defeated my car is approximately 6 months behind (mosy my money goes to baby sitting)and the landlord where i live asked me to move because she is in need of moving back into that home. When i advised my sister about what my cituation was my brother in-law called me and said not to worry that we would always have a home with them. They only have one extra room but he said we would do whatever it takes and that my older son could share a room with theirs. I am truly greatful to God for my brother in-law because although we are not his responsiblity he gave us the best gift ever "A home for the Holidays" and as long as we need until our circumstances get better. We all attend FRC in Cooper City and know that although we might not be able to shower the kids with material gifts, the gift of love and family unity is the greatest gift God has given us. 2008-12-16 01:32:56

2008-12-22 01:55:07

WHY STOP in 4 DAYS??

Lynn Goodrich, 38, Calabash, North Caro, US

When the Gift Revolution began at our Church in late November, I remember thinking, Why only 25 Days to Inspire the World? Okay, so I agree 25 Days to Inspire....How about the Challenge to Keep the Gift Revolution Going for the NEXT 365 Days? Every Day, even past Christmas, THROUGH UNTIL NEXT CHRISTMAS! Who's with me?! When this began, and I first posted the most tremendous gift we were presented as a family, there were only 7 pages of stories that night. There are OVER 49 pages now. What a difference an IDEA combined with Christian Brotherly Love can do!

2008-12-22 00:41:12

Giving just a little

Ashley Iodice, 18, Weston, US

We have encouraged our students in student ministry to give a "gift" of the gift revolution... as a college student, money is not an abundance of a resource.. but one thing I'm always scrambling for is money for tolls to FIU. So, as I drove through, I handed a very suprised cashier $20 and gave him 20 thegiftrevolution.com cards and i cant tell you how many fladhing lights and honks I recieved. If one person is brought through Christ then this entire series was worth it... God blesses as much as you give!

2008-12-21 23:48:58

amazing!

allie [[TiNk]], 18, coral springs, US

i was going threw the drive threw and the lady in front of me payed for my meal . and she left the card with the lady at the register. and at first i was like this is weird and was a little weirded out . but then i relized what it was an i wanted to give a gift too some one who really needed one.. i went to find a homeless person and gave them $20 and a warm jacket .and put the card inside.

2008-12-21 23:05:54

Giving is So much Better than

Nicola, 40, Parkland, US

Today, after church at FRC, it hit me that the 25 days to change the world were almost at an end, and despite the excitement and passion I felt for the Gift Revolution, I had not met my expectations... Time was running out for me to make a radical difference in the world in this season right before Christmas... So I set out on a mission to do SOMETHING today for the Gift Revolution! After roaming through some stores, I stopped at Chili's to pick up dinner for my husband and I. I was waiting for my takeout, when I felt nudged to go back and get a gift card... I knew exactly what I wanted to do with that gift card! You see, my neighborhood has a brand new Publix, that is the only store open in the shopping center its based in. It is NOT doing the kind of business they would like to do - its obvious! The store is almost always close to empty - the employees wait anxiously at their registers to check you out - the store has just cut their hours effective January 1st, which means that those employees know that come January, their work hours are reduced and they must be facing worry, anxiety and uncertainty! I bought the gift card and in the "To:" section I just wrote YOU :-). In the "From:" section, I wrote The Gift Revolution! I wrote in the website address and a note to just do something nice for someone else... I drove to my new Publix store and bought a bottle of wine and a Publix gift card. As the cashier handed me my change, I handed him the gift card, and just said "Happy Holidays"!!! His smile was so huge, I think it made my day more than it did his... I then drove to McDonald's (I decided that apple pie for my husband was another way to contribute to The Gift Revolution :-) ) and as I paid the cashier there, handed her the Publix gift card. She just looked stunned - like "What is this about?" But I had written the same message on her gift card - so hopefully, she gets what its about! :-) The simple truth that hit me - GIVING IS SOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER THAN RECEIVING... Thank You God!!!

2008-12-21 21:12:19

Surprise at Wendy's

Lisa J., 46, Gallatin, US

Today I was going thru the drive-thru at Wendy's restaurant, getting lunch for my husband and myself. I noticed the car in front of me was spending extra time at the drive thru. I was tired and in a hurry and hoping the person would hurry up. When I drove up to the drive thru window, the girl working at the window told me that the person in the car in front of me had paid for my lunch, and they left me one of your cards. I cannot tell you how touched I was by this act of kindness and how much it helped my day. My mother has been very sick, has just gotten out of the hospital - and may have to go back in. She has a combination of illnesses, and I am the only family member who is able to help with her care. It has been very hard to deal with and very sad during this holiday season. Your act of kindness was truly a bright mark in my day - thank you for helping make my day a little nicer. I will certainly try to repay this favor soon to someone else. Thanks, Lisa

2008-12-21 20:38:28

The gift of word

PatthePoet, 61, N. Myrtle Beach, US

I was invited to a Christmas party, I was told straight up it was a biker bar. So everyone I was introduced to I told my story, See we dont realize how many stories are being hidden, but never have so one to tell it too. This is the gift God gave to me my big mouth. and the fact Im not afraid to tell it all, about the 31 yrs. of addiction and how it might seem like its overbut if we listen and heed gods whispers, we find so such, yes ordinary people become so amazing when they do what God ask us to do. thank you

2008-12-21 20:20:26

Nursing Home Christmas Shop

stampingirl22, 37, Jamestown, KY, US

Last year our pastor's wife suggested this idea...our church members donated items for Christmas gifts. One afternoon, we set up a Christmas Shop at our local Nursing Home. The residents were able to shop for the families - everything was free of charge to them - they picked out the items - we wrapped them and they were so excited to have gifts to give when it was time for their Christmas party. We continued this outreach again this year - it was simply awesome to give them an opportunity to give to their families. What's great though, is we shared this idea with an online community of Women's ministries - a lady from Pleasant Hill, MO - suggested it to their church and along with 2 other churches, did the same thing in their community and are now in the process of planning the same for another nursing home in a neighboring community. God's love is amazing and when he gives us these simply opportunities to share - its even more amazing how quickly His love spreads.

2008-12-21 18:37:41

Starbucks' My Treat

Karen Meno, 34, Pembroke Pines, US

I had been holding on to 4 Gift Revolution Cards... and had not really done anything with them.. so i thought.. there are 4 days left, so i better get started..i'm committing to 1 per day..so today my daughter and i after the service went to starbucks and bought coffee for the couple in line behind us.. they were surprised and grateful... and the best part is that we felt GREAT and can't wait to give out the next 3... What an amazing feeling to give to others.. it's like anything getting started with anything new is the hardest part.. now we are 'on a roll'... Merry Christmas!

2008-12-21 16:55:44

update

Pati Mac, 50, Morganton nc, US

newest ones: paid for the guy behind me at McDonalds and a card - boy was he confused. Went to Foodlion yesterday and put 5 bucks and a card under the lid of baby formula, Here they keep it behind the counter- no wonder I couldn't find it on the shelves. Keep it rollin Merry Christmas

2008-12-21 16:27:44

Taxi Drivers

Augusto Vasquez, 48, Lima, PE

Los taxista en peru no tienen seguro medico ni cobran un sueldo extra por Navidad como los empleados de una empresa, asi que tome un taxi como es habitual porque soy limitado fisico y conversando comparti con el el Gift Revolution, se emociono mucho y tal vez el comparta tambien con alguien que necesite sus servicios.

2008-12-21 16:26:23

Gift bags

anonymous, 34, Scottsville, US

My family filled these little gift bags with candies, lotion and perfume, a candy cane with a gift revolution card, and a little card with a scripture on it and we found random people through Sam's club and the mall and gave them one. They were all blessed and gave us huge smiles! It was so fun.

2008-12-21 16:15:58

Secret Food Drop

anonymous, 34, Scottsville, US

During prayer last week I got a clear message from God to take a turkey out of my freezer that I bought and get some other groceries together and take them to a specific home. I knew this was to be anonymous, so the trick was to do it without them finding out who did it and for the food to not spoil. So, my husband and I went and got the rest of the groceries and we snuck all the food onto the front porch (giggling the whole time because we were so excited!) and then my husband knocked really hard on the door and we hid in the trees and watched them come out and get the food and read the note we left them that said "Jesus loves you and your children" The children were excited and helped carry everything in. It was great! We were laughing and having a great time doing it. It's great to know that the family will have some really good food to eat and that they know that Jesus cares for them! It was so fun because we had to sneak around and find a place to hide our vehicle and carry tons of food to the porch and not get caught! The most fun was watching the family!

2008-12-21 16:13:03

NEW CAR!!!!

shana, 16, north myrtle beach, US

Two days ago i recieved a 94 camaro. My moms friend and her husband was at my house, and she told me to go to her car to get something she needed off the seat. so i said okay. When i got to the car there was a red gift bag and a red bow on the steering wheel. I told her that there was a present. She said yeah its yours. i asked can i open it. she said yeah. i opened it up and found a set of car keys with a gift revolution card!!!!! Words can not explain the excitment i had to find the keys to my first car. I told her that the car was amazing but what was even more amazing is knowing that someone cares about me that much!! Wow this was such a amazing surprise! what a great christmas!

2008-12-21 15:48:37

The Greatest Gift for Mom & Da

Don & Cathy, 52, Ava, US

Our 23 Year old daughter, Laura called a couple days ago to tell us a story of a homeless lady she ran into. The womans husband had died 8 months earlier and left her with about 4 months of reserve, she had been on the street for 4 months. She worked at a hotel were she could work of part of the rent, but was still $20.00 dollars short of the rest. My daughter lives in California, but it was still getting relatively cold where they were at. She went to the store bought her hat, gloves, socks and some treats and wrapped them for her. Laura said the only embaracing part was she bought the lady cashews, not thinking that she didn't have any teeth. The woman was gracious and told Laura she would give the nuts to a friend. By the end of her story we were both crying. Then Laura said by the way the money I spent on her was for your and mom's Christmas present, I hope thats OK. I'm so proud that she knows what the true priority of Chrismas is. P.S. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST GIFTS WE'VE EVER HAD.

2008-12-21 15:20:36

Mc Donalds Drive Thru

Michael Gonzalez, 47, Pembroke Pines, US

As I went thru a Mcdonalds Drive-thru a paid for breakfast for the person behind me and I gave the change to cashier and gave then both a card. The lady in the car behind me flashed her lights at me and honked her horn and told me thank you very much and she will definitely go to The Gift Revolution website.I think she and the cashier were very surprised.

2008-12-21 11:53:51

What You Can Do Without Money

Laurie O'Brien, 49, Davie, US

I am unemployed right now so I don't have money to give to other people but I do have time. So I baked cookies for a man who just lost his wife and the nurses that took care of my roommates mother before she passed on. I decorated and gave a christmas tree to someone who did not have one. Cut my roommates step father after lose his wife. He wanted to pay me but I told him about the gift revolution and told him to pass it on. I will continue to keep the gift revolution going!

2008-12-21 11:50:25

Revolution from a Miami Hearld

LS, 53, cooper city, US

Last Sunday I was reading the local section in The Miami Hearld and came across a story about a local boy that has stage 4 melanoma. The families insurance had run out. They had set up a website for donations to help with medical expences..etc..At first I was going to go to the website and make the donation..But then I got that nudge..This would be a great "revolution" opportunity..The article mentioned where the mom worked..So, last Tuesday I went by my bank..Got cash {didn't want anyting to say who gave it}..Put the cash in an envelope, along with several Gift Revolution cards..Walked in to the salon and asked the receptionist if the woman was there that day, receptionist says yes..I ask her to please give her the envelope and to just tell her Merry Christmas..I watched while she walks to where the woman was working..Before she hands her the envelope I left and went into Expo to hide out for a few..Just in case she came out looking to see who left the envelope..I just hope that brightened her day a little..And that people do care and that God hears and answers prayers..Go Revolution!!!!

2008-12-21 10:28:27

God's Master Plan for your Lif

Suzanne, 46, Cooper City, US

The day began busy like all other days making breakfast, lunches, feeding the dog & cat, ironning clothes, drop daughter at school, stresses in my job, stop at the store, what will I cook for dinner, whose Christmas present did I forget, was my daughters soccer game/Christmas program tonight, I need to stop for gas. My girlfriend calls and as I'm pumping the gas I notice a woman trying to get my attention. I pretend not to see her thinking maybe she needs money and her card declined for use. I'm still on the phone and I get another glimse of her still waiting to speak with me and then the words of Pastor Troy rang in my head like the late bell when I was in highschool about The Gift Revolution! So I said to my girlfriend hold on & said to the woman do you need something. She said maam a woman was killed in Texas there was explosion she was on the phone & pumpping gas and I needed you to know that. Wow! Talk about being humbled to my feet. I please wait and went to my car and gave her The Gift Revolution card with a bracelet and she said thank you I will always think of you when I wear it. I said know you were God's messenger tonight he has alot a work for me and many lives to still touch before I go home one day. Think of how God spoke to your heart and you listened and you saved my life today or in the future. Thank you and we hugged and went our seperate ways. Thank you God for Pastor Troy & Steph Suzanne Wagner

2008-12-21 10:17:51