Before You Put Away Those Christmas Decorations...2 easy projects and what to do with your Christmas cards!

I received the sweetest email in my inbox today that I just have to share with you. It was written in response to my JOY: A Year in Review post and the ribbon was made as a result of our 25 Names of Jesus series. It was just the encouragement I needed!

Hi Erin!

I just wanted to send you a note and say I love receiving your emails every day!  Keep up the good work.  I know it can get hard at times but just know you are making a difference in so many peoples' lives!  I also wanted to attach a picture of the "Names of God" ribbon that you inspired me to make!  I bought the ribbon and then used a sharpie to write the names. My favorite is "Living Water" because our family has a ministry called Neverthirst where clean and living water is provided to slum areas in India and Africa through the local church.  I made it after my tree was up so I didn't use it this year but can't wait for it to be wrapped around my tree next year!

Happy New Year!  Praying that God will provide the people and resources you need to keep up your fantastic ministry!  

I thought some of you might want to go ahead and make this beautiful ribbon for next year, before you put your Christmas decorations away --- a friend of mine had a great idea for finding Christmas ribbon on clearance to use. And be sure to check out Neverthirst to see how you can get involved in this fantastic ministry!

Also, don't throw away those beautiful Christmas cards that you received this year!

Amanda from The McLife shared a fantastic idea with us last January for our {Hope for the Home} series, that I absolutely love and plan to do again this year. You can read about it here.

Basically, she suggests keeping your cards out all year long, in some sort of container in a visible spot in your home and each day/week/month during the year, pull out one card and pray for that family. Isn't that fabulous? To make it even easier, you can make your cards into a cute, little book!

                                                                     Source: allendesigns.typepad.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I could never bring myself to throw out all of those nice cards we got in the mail after having them out for just a few weeks during the holidays and now I have a use for them the entire year through, until I receive new ones next year!

My plan is to pray for one family each week during the year when we sit down together at the dinner table each night. When I run out of cards, I will start over. I am also going to try to let that family know that we are praying for them! It will be a great way to teach the boys the importance of prayer.

Happy New Year, friends!

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.