Days 22 and 23

Day 22: Created Women

Their mission: Created Women is a ministry in Tampa that focuses on women who are caught in prostitution or other sex industry and offers them a way out of the industry and a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. I urge you to watch the introductory video to their website. It really explains their vision way better than I think I could.

What you can do: Created has a many-sided approach to giving women an identity in Christ and a relationship with their community. It offers part-time work at several "micro-businesses," and there is a year-long residency program at a home for personal restoration called "The Sanctuary." $500 a month pays for one woman's residency. You can give either a one-time amount or make a monthly commitment.

Day 23: Final Day

Well, today is Christmas Eve, and I'm going to call this project complete. I feel good about the coverage I've given to the non-profits I mentioned, although I know there are many more that I would have liked to profile. I have just one last statement to make before I go put on reindeer antlers and make faces at the Baby.

Please make giving a part of your life. Don't just give because it's Christmas and you feel bad when you hear about hurricane victims or the homeless or the starving or the slaves or the oppressed while you eat turkey and open presents in a warm house. These people are hurting year-round. However bad things are for you, there's someone who has it worse.

If none of these programs spoke to you, find something that does. If you become the sort of person who gives of himself or herself, you will like yourself more. That's just the way it works. You could be the nicest person in the world with a robust self-esteem, but you will still feel better just for giving. Give your stuff, buy stuff to give, give your money. You know, that green stuff people kill for. Think of everything you earn in terms of what you will give away. Your life and our country would be better for it.

Christians: this is not an option. Give to what you care about, give to what God calls you to give, give what you can, give more than you "can." Change you life to be able to give more. This is our calling, and we can meet it with a cheerful heart!

I will probably not be back on until after the New Year, so a very merry Christmas and happy holidays, and I will see you next year!