• Give This Christmas Community

    November 18, 2009 - Comments (20)

    So excited about the new community we just launched! You have to check it out. It’s inspired by new Christmas book that’s coming out this month, “101 Ways to Give This Christmas Away.” I want you to help me make a different kind of Christmas wish list this year. Join the community and post your idea of how we all can Give this Christmas. My goal is to get our list to 10,000. Think we can do it? My hope is that this community will help remind us all what Christmas is all about. It’s not about the things we receive. We won’t find true joy or fulfillment in a present wrapped underneath a tree. True joy is found when we give this Christmas away.

    Side note, when you sign up for the community, you’ll get an email from me. In that email you’ll be able to download a video with a free Christmas song I wrote… It’s called “The Free Christmas Song,” and I think it will make you laugh. You’ll also get your own starter kit, with some printable Christmas lists you can use at your own home.

    Check it out!!!

    -mw

    Matthew West POSTED BY:
    Matthew West

    • 20 comments

    1. 1. Marlene Kehrer commented:

      Thu 19/11/09, 6:04 am

      Hi, Ever since I went to Honduras on a short term mission trip I have tried to have more compassion for the “least of these”. The poverty and need there was more than I ever imagined, and to know that more of the world lives like that than not, made a significant impact on my life. Some of the things I have been part of are: working at the Boone, NC Samaritan’s Purse processing center for 3 years; leading the congregation where my husband preaches in the OCC shoebox campaigns; leading the OCC shoe campaign at the public school where I teach; I teach in a school with 75% of the kids on free/reduced lunch, but they quickly realize after watching the OCC videos that they are actually rich compared to many children in the world; challenging our own family to collect their change between t/giving and christmas and then putting it all together and choosing a gift from Samaritan’s Purse Christmas gift catalog; serving at a local shelter at t/giving and/or christmas; I know there is a lot more I could do, and it is always more of a blessing to me than to those I have served. Thanks for your part in getting the message out! May God bless you and your ministries.

    2. 2. Leslie Tudor commented:

      Thu 19/11/09, 7:48 am

      This year I was inspired by your song to give this Christmas away! So, the adults in our family have decided to give the money we were going to spend on each other to someone who really needs it in honor of Jesus. The thought of not having to shop for someone who already has everything, has really lifted a burden off our hearts and made Christmas more special already. We are looking forward to Christmas this year! Thank you so much for helping to bring Christmas back to what it needs to be!
      God Bless You and Merry Christmas,
      Leslie

    3. 3. Jennifer Eckert commented:

      Thu 19/11/09, 7:51 am

      It’s an awesome idea.

    4. 4. Angela Cartagena commented:

      Thu 19/11/09, 1:29 pm

      First off all… What is Christmas? we celebrate the biggest love gift ever, Our Father gave us His son, so, and I have been asking myself, why do we give presents to each other? It has already been given, but there is many people that don’t know it… so for me giving Christmas away is giving what we have received: LOVE… LOVE ONE ANOTHER LIKE HE HAS LOVED US FIRST… park your car like your beloved is parking next to you, open the door and hold it for the person that is coming out of love, stop all selfishness in your heart to give the way while you drive, smile, hug people, bless people, give a hug to everyone that will receive it, talk about Jesus without fear, remember that the one that fears has not been perfected in love… stop thinking about your dreams and listen to someone elses dreams, consider your kids dreams like possible, play more with your kids, don’t go to your bed angry with nobody, call that person even if it is too late to apologize and say how important it is for you… and… dont forget to celebrate JESUS BIRTHDAY… GIVE HIM what he asks for: your heart and love others… money and gifts will have an end, make treasures in heaven by giving love… I hope you didnt stop reading this… God loves you and wants you to live your life to the fullest… just invite Him in your heart if you havent… and if you have… remember: LOVE!!!!!!!! GIVE LOVE THIS CHRISTMAS…..

    5. 5. Harriet commented:

      Thu 19/11/09, 1:52 pm

      I love this idea! I will not shop at any store that refuses to acknowledge Christmas rather than winter holidays. Christ is the reason for the season after all! Last year I was in line at a local grocery store. I asked the cashier if the manager would come over and tell me Merry Christmas. He obliged. The cashier had been cuddling a Christmas teddy bear the whole time. As the manager and bagboy watched, I asked the cashier ( a young teenager) what the reason for the season was. Her face lit up as she responded “Jesus!”. I took the bear from her, had her ring it up, then paid and gave her the bear and receipt with a request that she tell everyone the reason for the season. Before I left the store she was sharing Jesus all over the place! I was extremely blessed!
      My feeling is this…if a store refuses to acknowledge Jesus as the reason for the season, they certainly wouldn’t want the money that He has entrusted to my care!

      Keep Christ in Christmas and refuse to shop at holiday stores!

    6. 6. Jeisel =] commented:

      Thu 19/11/09, 4:12 pm

      I think that was a great idea… we are going little by little, but I think we will reach the thousands =]…. God bless!! :-)

    7. 7. Kevin Meridth commented:

      Fri 20/11/09, 8:45 am

      Thank you reach thousands with the gospel, I am giving away Christmas with Matthew West cds

    8. 8. Donna commented:

      Fri 20/11/09, 8:50 am

      Heard you on KLOVE this a.m. I loved the song with you & Amy Grant – the movement has begun! You definitely inspired me and I will be sharing your “Give This Christmas Away” idea with my grandkids and letting them help decide how we can share the gift of Jesus this year. Kids can be so creative. I will try to share some of the ideas we follow thru action on. Also, can’t wait to pick up your book… loved the “Dirty Angel” story!

      Thank you for having the heart, hands and voice of Jesus! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    9. 9. Will Cowell commented:

      Fri 20/11/09, 9:07 am

      Our family recently saw you Mathew in concert at RayTown Baptist Church Missouri. We were absolutely moved with the motions message and were further encouraged by the “Giving Christmas Away” movement. We immediately went and filled Samaritans Purse Shoe Boxes for children and are praying for a giving heart to support missions work. Thanks for the God blessings of “Giving Christmas Away” from Dorrey, Madison and Will Cowell.

    10. 10. Lynn commented:

      Fri 20/11/09, 9:40 am

      I had just registered and posted a little story of this family I know. It is called the giving family. hopefully you can all read it and check it out it is a sad and heart breaking story. This family is a perfect example of giving Christmas Away this year. I hope they get the miracle they are looking for they deserve it as a family. Lets bring them the miracle from God and let their hearts have a burden lifted off of them. This would be a miracle this year. This is a Christian family that needs the help.

    11. 11. Marlene commented:

      Sat 21/11/09, 10:53 am

      I am the Fellowship of Christian Athlete Sponsor for a small community in New Mexico. For the past two years we have sponsored an “Acts of Random Kindness” night. We ask each member to bring $5 with them and meet for a time of devotion on giving and being servants. We then split the teens into groups of 4-5 and head out into the community. They are asked to pool their money and spend it someone they don’t know. Many of the groups pray together and write a note of encouragement and/or scripture for their receipient. Some of the groups in the past have paid for someone’s gas, a meal at a restuarant, found a family they felt like were in need and paid for their purchase of items at Wal-Mart, etc. It is fun to do this anonymously and watch from a far. It has been a great witness for the community seeing teens spend a Friday evening giving, but it has also been life changing for the youth involved. What a great way to spend a Christmas eveing.

    12. 12. Rachael commented:

      Tue 24/11/09, 8:33 pm

      Just want to let you know I linked your album, “Something to Say” on my blog tonight. http://mypoorhusband.blogspot.com/2009/11/worship-that-goes-deeper-continuation.html

    13. 13. Sabina commented:

      Thu 26/11/09, 4:05 pm

      I’ve been playing the song most days since a friend sent it to me. And I cry with gratitude almost every time because Jesus puts ideas in my head about how our family can “give Christmas away”. Thank you for helping me adopt an attitude I should have at all times. Maybe I should play it throughout the year!

      A few years ago my husband and I decided to take the money we would have spent on each other to instead bless someone in need. Amen to Leslie Tudor’s comments (above mine) regarding the immediate gift we receive when we don’t have to shop for someone who already has too much. Now our kids are getting involved in deciding how to spend the money each year. It’s SO much fun.

      Additionally, this year we are choosing to bless someone in a special way at least once a week for each of the six weeks leading up to Christmas.

      I hope the song and the movement catch on and spread like a Holy wildfire.

    14. 14. Angela Cartagena commented:

      Sat 28/11/09, 11:54 am

      …and… ever since I wrote my ideas here, I’ve been giving more way to motorists on the road, and I feel so happy when I surprise them and they thank me… I just say: Happy Birthday Jesus… I really want Him to have a wonderful Birthday… seeing His fruits in us, seeing that we show that He lives in our lives and that what He taught us is still alive in us…

    15. 15. Melissa commented:

      Sat 28/11/09, 2:21 pm

      I had been thinking of helping a needy family again this year, I just wanted to do something more. I work in an elementary school where I see alot of needs every
      day. I have a little girl in my class that just touched my heart and knowing her situation I knew I had to do something for this family. Both my boys are grown,
      so I talked with my family about it. We decided that we would not exchange gifts among ourselves this year. All of our gift buying would go to this family. I still wasn’t sure I was making the right decision. I didn’t want my boys to agree to this just to please me. I told God I just wanted to make the right decision. On the way home from school that afternoon was the first time I heard this song. “Give This Christmas Away.” I knew then it was absolutely the right thing for my family to do this year.

    16. 16. Cathy Westholt commented:

      Mon 30/11/09, 10:39 pm

      What a blessing! I was at your concert in St. Louis when you introduced the song and your book to us. I decided to tell family members that I do not want them shopping for gifts, but to donate to organizations who will help those in need.

      A couple of weeks ago the focus of the sermon was on target with giving Christmas away. At the end of the message, the assistant pastor read some of the lyrics of the song. As the service closed, she played the song.

      Our senior pastor’s birthday was just before Thanksgiving. His sermons lately have closely touched on the messages of the songs on the “Something to Say” CD. I already had a copy of that CD when you came to St. Louis, but bought the bundle of three CD’s that contained it. I knew God wanted me to give it to someone. I gave it to him. He is a man who does not want to go through the motions, and encourages us to live the life and not go through the motions either.

      Driving along I thought another way we can give Christmas away is by being kinder drivers…. let people in traffic, yield in parking lots, wave others in with a big smile….that does not happen that often.

      Blessings!

    17. 17. Bliss Magill commented:

      Thu 3/12/09, 12:44 pm

      I decided last year on January first to try to make it through all of 2009 without buying anything I didn’t need. “Need,” has been redefined. I realize the only thing I need is Jesus. I have not purchased clothing, shoes, toys, books….the list goes on. The only things I have purchased are consumable products. For those of you with a lot of financial resources, I challenge you to live without and save that money to help people in need.

      I really want my family to attend a Matthew West concert in Indianapolis, IN this Friday. I am unable to buy the tickets (“not buying anything”.) I have asked if I could volunteer my time in exchange for attendance. No word yet on that request.

      We can all give a little time. Your time could be given to parents in the form of free babysitting. Teachers at any school always accept help. Walk through a nursing home and smile at people. I could go on and on, volunteer anywhere!!!!

      Also, I am unable to give large monetary gifts. For this reason, I give items we no longer need. I found a shelter in my area that is for homeless couples, single parents and families. We also plan to volunteer our time there on weekends serving meals and helping with craft nights for the children. We also plan to help wrap presents for various charities that collect them. Again, all it takes is time. You don’t have to have a lot of money to help out and LOVE others.

    18. 18. Carolynn commented:

      Mon 7/12/09, 11:01 am

      Came to see you Friday night in Indy, had a great time, God bless you in your ministry as He has blessed me and so many others!

    19. 19. Bliss Magill commented:

      Thu 10/12/09, 4:01 pm

      I was given the gift of 4 tickets to the Indy show and it was a tremendous blessing. The show was fabulous. Thank you to Chris from Prodigal Son Productions for the tickets. You truly gave Christmas away and helped my family experience great Joy!

    20. 20. Angela commented:

      Thu 10/12/09, 9:12 pm

      if you are close to flemington, and you want to give during Christmas, here is an idea, two days ago a house burned down, no one was injured, just a hamster and a bird died, the house is own by a mom and her two children, a 9 year old girl, and a 6 year old boy… only two weeks for christmas, and they lost it all!!!!

      here is the link to the news… today I drove by, and it is just devastating…

      http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2009/12/house_burning_in_raritan_towns.html

      I guess they need from clothes to… everything…

      the address is 7 Hawk Drive, Ringoes NJ… maybe you can help… just an idea!!!

      God bless you all

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