The 12 Days of Christmas & Lil Light O’Mine Giveaway
Five years ago I had a little idea. What if for 12 days in December I let 12 of my fellow ministry partners at Proverbs 31 take over my blog. We could get to know them and what they do at Proverbs. But best of all?
We could make it all Christmas-y with a holiday recipe, decorating or gift idea, or a way to make memories with your loved ones.
Oh, and offer a great giveaway each day? Ta-da! The annual 12 Days of Christmas was born.
This year’s series starts Monday December 3rd and runs until the 14th, although you will have time to comment on all of the posts until Sunday night the 16th.
There will be one giveaway each day and a grand prize for someone who comments on all 12 days!!
Be sure to come back and join us.
Or, better yet, sign up for to get my posts delivered automatically to your in-box by clicking on the envelope icon in the top sidebar. I CAN’T WAIT!!
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Well, it is not the 12 days of Christmas yet, but I do have a festive treat for you today!
First of all, the LET. IT. GO. blog tour continues over at two friends’ sites: Alina Joy and Courtney . And click here for the dozens of others on the tour. You could win the book or a Kindle Fire!
And secondly, while my friend Courtney is featuring me on her site, I am featuring her here!
I met Courtney last year at our Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference.
She is a way cool chick…
With a way cool website ( I LOVE the look and feel of it!)……..
and she sells these way cool ABC scripture cards for kids. (Pssst….stay tuned. She is giving away a set valued at $25!!)
But what I love most about her site at this time of year is her Light ‘Em Up series of ideas.
This series includes several cool printables with awesome ideas for your family to reach out during the holidays.
I could try to describe it to you, but I want you to see it for yourself so click here.
I love her Light “Em Up ideas so much because our family has learned over the years to be very intentional in doing for others (often anonymously) at the holidays.
Some of the things we like to do are take hot cocoa around to the Salvation Army bell ringers in town, scrap windshields in the mall parking lot on a snowy day or bake cookies for the police of fire station.
One year, we organized an anonymous 12 Days of Christmas for a recently divorced dad whose wife left him (and his 5 kids). Each morning when they awoke, a new basket of goodies was awaiting them on their porch full of food, gift cards, board games, dvds, Christmas decorations (they had none). It was the most wonderful thing I’ve ever organized!!!
So, as promised, here are Courtney’s cool ABC scripture cards.
Leave a comment with a clever idea you have done (or one you’d like to do this year) and one winner will be chosen at random to recive a set of ABC Scripture cards!
Don’t forget to come back for the 12 Days of Christmas on Monday!
These abc cards are way cool.
Each winter after a heavy snow we make sure thaw neighbor’s drive is plowed. Then my hubby heads down the street, plowing drives as he goes…
He has a blast and doesn’t ask for anything in return.
Every year, we go Christmas caroling as an extended family along with any friends who want to join us. Also, during the Christmas season, I read to the family after supper from a book of short Christmas stories. Even after reading them for so many years, the kids get excited when they hear certain stories & I usually tear up on the same stories–they’re so good!
The cards are beautiful. God gives us so many talents to use for him.
From church this morning, to the few minutes I’ve been on the computer, I have seen the word intentional three times. Ok, time to get intentional. Going to ask God what he wants me to do with the talents he’s given me to give to others.
This is tremendous–I’m so moved by these ideas. I’ve struggled with how to help show my kids that Christmas is not stuff–thank you for pointing me to so many doable things that are completely within the realm of everyday life.
There’s a cashier at our grocery store who is always always so kind to my boys and me. Many times I’ve felt prompted by the Lord to tell her so, but now I feel like I have the permission to let myself do it.
The ABC scripture cards are beautiful. We go caroling to the elderly who are unable to get out with a group from our church. Thanks for the link to ideas of ways to reach out.
Our church did something neat this year where every small group decorated a tree in the lobby with things they are thankful for. One thing I did at home this year is made an advent calendar that has a different scripture to read everyday following up until Christmas. I looked up many different calendar ideas that I liked but wanted something more meaningful for each day.
OUR CHURCH DOES GOODIE BAGS FOR SHUT INS. I HAVE MADE PINECONE WREATHS AND CHRISTMAS NECKLACES AND BRACLETS. HAVE BLESSED DAY
I am making cookie dough for the neighborhood working moms so they can enjoy homemade cookies with out all the mess.
In the past, I have given a gift of honey (my dad is a beekeeper) and a biscuit mix to a few of my neighbors with an invite to our Chistmas Eve services.
Toilietries for the local homeless shelter along with items such as shirts, coats, and hats to keep others warm.
The christmas shoebox for operation christmas (samaritans purse). Thank you for all the thoughts shared — I feel inspired!
This was a really great post! I am getting a lot of ideas! I wouldn’t say clever, but I like to bring festive baked goods into work.
Every year we bake cookies and cinnamon candy. We had it out to neighbors and friends. I am interested in the other ideas. I’m going to read the Light em up ideas and try some of them this year. Thank you!
We look for opportunities year round but our women’s ministry always targets the prison ministry and gets the approved toliletries for the men at a local prison.We had our event last night and will be able to provide something for at least 1000 men! Praise God. Love the scripture cards!
Good morn…
This isn’t for Christmas but the kids & I make birthday books. On the cover I have a beautiful poem about celebrating ones life & scripture. Also, on the cover we place a photo of the birthday gal or guy (I have alot of pictures of people I love). On the inside we write a note, then the next two pages are pictures the children color. Very personal, and easy. Love doing this!! Merry Christmas!
-Colleen G.
During the month of December we visit nursing homes and shut-ins, and we take our very young children with us. They may not sing in tune or at all, but their antics and youthful innocence bring an extra smile to the elderly residents.
What wonderful ideas! I am inspired!
Last year I decided to do something I’d often thought about–pay for the person behind me at the drive through. There was only one person in the rather beat up car so I thought the total would be maybe $5-6. Imagine my surprise when it was more than $25! I could have paid for just part of it, but felt the push to “give until it hurt” and so I did. I think about that lady much more than I would have had it just been a few dollars; hopefully the gesture made a difference in her life. And yes, I’ll do it again this year. :-)
I love those scripture cards. Not just for kids! Love how you displayed them. Creative ideas are to use the cards to spell out a name and make it into wall art. Another idea is to include them with gifts or cards using one of the initials the person has. Cool scripture alphabet cards – love them! You could also draw one a night at dinner and read them and use them as catalyst for that night’s prayer (before dinner or later at bedtime).
For the past three years we have been doing Operation Christmas Child.
Now that my girls are getting a little bigger, I want to start doing more as a family. We just moved this past summer, away from all our family, so this year is the first holidays where we won’t get home. It makes me think about those that are alone during the holidays. I was thinking about contacting my church to see who is alone or homebound for Christmas and having our family go to visit them.
I would also like to go serve at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.
I love all the wonderful ideas of sharing in this season of CHRISTmas! I plan to share with my family and start some traditions!!
For the past three Christmas seasons, my kiddos and I go visit elderly residents at a local nursing home. It really helps my kids to remember how important family is when they see the men and women, grandmas and grandpas that don’t have family come and visit them. We always leave knowing that we made someone’s day a little brighter.
I’d just like to tackle more items on my pinterest boards! Most of all I’d love to set up a space and homeschool?!!
I come from a small church in rural area. We see families that need help. Instead of trying to get the church to do something for them. I have decided I will cook a big meal close to Christmas and invite a few of the families over for a nice big hot meal. Why wait for the church to do something. I can do greater…..
I saw an idea at a little crafter’s /shabby chic/ cowgirl shop we have in Cottonwood,CA. It was a little muffin tin with those short little candles in the holes where the muffins go. We are expecting heavy winds and rains with possible power outage this weekend, so I got out my muffins tins and a handful of those little candles with the marbles from the old fish bowl and made Table Center Piece in case the power goes off. Meanwhile, they set on my sideboard looking like I made some shiny little marble muffins.
Easy, fun and I just hope I don’t have to use them this weekend.
We take our youth group kids to a large store and buy gifts for all the kids at a local children’s home. It is one of our kids favorite things to do each year! :)