It’s not a new idea. In fact, our heavenly Father has always encouraged his people to “pay it forward.” We don’t pay him back—we never could begin to do that! Instead, we give others what we have received from our Savior, trusting his generous heart will keep the blessings flowing into our lives. 

I thought about all this as I heard two CTA Customer Service Representatives tell the story of a CTA customer who has purchased, not one Bouquet of Blessings devotion book, but more than 100! This customer didn’t intend to give them to a large group—or even to several small ones. Instead, she touched one heart at a time, sending copies to others she wanted to bless.

Isn’t that what our Lord asks of us? Forgiven and accepted in Jesus, we nod in glad agreement when the psalmist says:  “Forget not all his benefits!”

 Our wonderful CTA customer gladly received God’s blessings and then became a blessing herself in the lives of those God brought across her path.

 Pay it forward today! And then look forward in great anticipation to the expressions of love that will continue on into eternally.

2010 Thanks be to God Pocket Calendar

But wait! What about the month? What about a Happy Thanksgiving month?! 

I’ve always enjoyed sharing Thanksgiving Day at church and with my family. But this year, I’ve decided to observe a personal thanksgiving month. I want to take some time and effort to say thanks to people who have been a such blessing to me—and to my family, and in my ministry.

Personal notes of thanks have all but been replaced by quick e-mails or even text messages. But these don’t always say thanks in a personal enough way.

CTA has some great items that will help me let people know how thankful I am for their service, their heart for my ministry, and their friendship. Maybe you’ll find them helpful, too:

• I can use the Thank You for Serving with a Heart Like Jesus note card set to write and send personal notes to six people—and for only 99 cents while the cards are on sale!
• The Thanks Be to God Pocket Calendar can be a year-long thank-you to those who bless me in special ways.
• So can the Thanks Be to God Magnet .

This year, put the thanks in giving by giving and sending thanks!

• Those volunteers at your church do so much. You want to remember them at Christmas with a meaningful gift. But what!?
• You work with a great group of professionals on your church staff. You want to share your respect and affection for them this Christmas. But how?!
• The teachers and Sunday school teachers, janitors, and teacher aides make an enormous impact on the families and young people of your church, parish school, and community. You want to encourage them all with Jesus’ love. But the budget won’t cooperate. So now what?!

Scenarios just like these led CTA to create and trademark the very first Ornaments of Faith® in 2002. Since then, they’ve become a year by year favorite of CTA customers. Are you among our fans yet?

Here’s what CTA co-founder, Steve Darr, says about these popular products:

The purpose of the Ornament of Faith® products is to provide unique and attractive ornaments to encourage the faith of believers and to plant the seeds of faith in pre-Christians.  We do this by combining traditional Christmas and biblical symbols designed in interesting and engaging ways and packaged attractively with a simple poem and corresponding Scripture. 

All these elements work together to share the truth about Christmas and the good news of Christ’s coming.  Ornaments of Faith® products include children’s ornaments, unique ornament Christmas cards, as well as a line of quality pewter –finished ornaments manufactured in the U.S.A.    

 It seems so natural now that a company like CTA would offer Christian Christmas ornaments, but seven years ago, it was unheard of—especially at a price under $4.00 per ornament. What set off the spark  that brought this idea into reality?     

Steve says:

We started very modestly with the Ornaments of Faith® line by producing a couple of unique designs in various types of materials.  We found that customers really seemed to appreciate the pewter-finish ornaments the most, and thus we have responded to that feedback by providing even more unique and purposeful designs that that could use to encourage the faith. 

Many customer have started collecting these ornaments and purchase them annually to give each Christmas. Our customers really seem to appreciate the value and the purposeful designs of the Ornaments of Faith® that our product development team creates each year.

Looking for a unique and meaningful gift for all those colleagues who mean so much to you and add so much to your ministry? Take a look at this year’s Ornaments of Faith® collection. You won’t be disappointed!

View a video about this year’s Ornaments of Faith®.

View a video about how one pastor has built a tradition around Ornaments of Faith®.

As you walk or run today, think about the Scripture below. Ask yourself the questions. Talk with Jesus about your answers. Enjoy your time with your Savior!

 Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. (Hebrews 12:1–2 NIV)

† What motivated me to get out of bed this morning?

† How is my service today a reflection of the mission my Savior has given me?

† How happy am I with my answers to these questions?

† What do I want to say to Jesus about this?

 Thanks, Lord, for the path you’ve marked out for me and for saving me, making my service possible. Keep me moving forward in your love, step by step. Show me today . . .

2009 Servant Heart Pastor of the Year winner Rev. Donald Ruth

“Our pastor is a humble-spirited kingdom builder,” reads the nomination from his congregation. He “reaches out to all races, ages, and socio-economic groups. He is about meeting needs, regardless of the cost. This awesome man of God is the very essence of love and untiringly gives so much to so many.”

In addition to serving at St. John’s, Pastor Ruth founded St. John Bible Institute in 2002. He also recently began an educational summer camp for young children aimed at reaching out and enhancing the lives of local youth. Pastor Ruth’s ministry spans racial, social, and international boundaries. 

As the grand prize winner for this award, Rev. Ruth receives an all-expense-paid trip to a seminar of his choice at the Billy Graham Training Center—The Cove—in Ashville, N.C. In partnership with The Cove, CTA sponsors the annual Servant Heart Pastor of the Year award in recognition of October as Pastor Appreciation Month.

Before I mislead you too much, let me explain. Last Sunday, after attending church, I went to Busch Stadium where I work as an usher for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. That particular day, I worked The Giveaway. The first 25,000 fans received an Adam Wainwright (Cardinal pitcher) bobble head. A give-away at the stadium draws extra people. Fans come early to make sure they’re part of the first 25,000 (or whatever the number is that day). They’re excited about getting a free gift that reminds them of their team, a player, or the special memory of attending a major league baseball game. And yes, some collect them simply to sell for a profit.

The bottom line is that most people love giveaways – at the ballpark and at church. When I served as a pastor I loved to give worshipers take-home gifts. They were sometimes remembrances of the message or series and Jesus Christ, the focus of the message. The gift often provided ideas for prayer, outreach, Bible Study, or personal growth. Most times it served as a faith encourager.

Over the years I’ve gone into people’s homes to find some of those give-ways still there. Sometimes they’ve been there for years and years, serving as an encouragement or faith aid.

Most CTA – Christian Tools of Affirmation – products and gifts are used in churches, schools, and personal ministries as giveaways. Ushers might hand them out at the door as people come out of church. Teachers give CTA products to students. Leaders give them to . Children’s ministry and youth leaders give them out. Pastors and other leaders use them in children’s messages. People give CTA gifts to neighbors and even people they have never met. Leaders have giveaways for their staff and volunteers to encourage them in their faith and service. Retreat leaders use CTA products as remembrance giveaways. The list could go on and on.

People love giveaways. People love receiving a gift that encourages them in their faith. People love giveaways that point them to the love of their Savior, Jesus Christ. And ministry leaders and others love CTA gifts of faith, gifts of encouragement for God’s people.

Gifts you see in CTA’s catalog, online/website, or maybe in stores can impact lives and faith for days, years, or for eternity!

Mark 10:45 [Jesus said,] “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 13:14-15 [Jesus said,] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Servant volunteers. I don’t know if that title will catch on in churches, schools, and other ministries, but I like it. More importantly, I appreciate what they do and hope their churches and schools honor them in unique ways. CTA’s new Serving in His Steps line of gifts will help do just that – honor ambassadors for Christ, his volunteer servants (as well as those paid for their service)!

In addition, today’s economy forces me to be as organized as possible when I make purchases. This often means planning ahead, and taking the time to shop around for the best deals for my money.

For both these reasons, I was glad to see the latest copy of my CTA catalog in my mailbox this week. I found many things already on sale, including teacher gifts, Halloween items, small gifts to have on hands for birthdays, and even some Christmas items!

It pays to be organized and to plan ahead!

Serving in His Steps Devotion book

Here’s a sample devotion from Serving in His Steps, CTA’s newest gift book designed to express appreciation to volunteers and staff  in your church. Pastors, children’s ministers, youth workers, deacons boards, elders, women’s/men’s ministry leaders–whoever you want to encourage or thank for stepping up to serve–will, I hope, find these devotions encouraging! Visit the CTA website for more on the Serving in His Steps devotion book.

[Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet.

John 13:4-5

He had to kneel. There’s no other way to wash someone’s feet. Bending over won’t do at all. So Jesus knelt. It was a step down. A giant step down, when we consider the rainbow encircled throne from which he had descended three short decades earlier. God became man. The Creator took on skin and hair and blood vessels. Embryo to fetus to newborn lying in his peasant mother’s lap, snuggling against the cold.

A step down. It was that alright, and more-much more! A thousand years earlier, King David had written about the steps our Lord would take to love us: You stoop down to make me great. (Psalm 18:35)

Just think of that! Jesus stoops so we can stand, unashamed and filled with joy, in his presence forever. The gentle Jesus, crucified and risen in love for each one of us personally, has by his death made us great. We have incredible value in God’s eyes, not because of what we have done or can do, but because of what Christ did for us.

What an amazing difference it would make if we could begin to grasp even a small bit of that truth! We would no longer agonize in guilt over sins long since forgiven. We would no longer need to toot our own horn or defend our own record. We would no longer wonder if we’ve done enough or if our best service has been good enough.

Jesus stooped down, stepped down from heaven itself into our reality. Now, he takes our hand to lift us up. What grace! Truly amazing grace!

Want to read more or find out how to order copies for those servant-leaders in your church? Click here!

Most of them would do what they do, even if no one ever stopped to thank them. Still, when we recognize that each of our volunteers comes to us as a gift from God, when we see that our Lord chooses to work through people and to answer our prayers through people, how can we not want to honor him by honoring them?

CTA’s new appreciation theme, Serving in His Steps,  includes a variety of products you can afford to give those who serve–even in your organization’s largest programs! There’s something for everyone here from daily devotions to pocket planners/calendars to a pedometer! And all at affordable price points.

Besides all that, you can download a whole set of free materials and use them to create a unified theme on that day you set aside for recognition and thanksgiving. You’ll find a Ministry Message that can be used as a sermon or devotion, bulletin cover art, newsletter copy you can adapt to advertise your event, an invitation postcard, and a poster that could double as a placemat if you decide to offer snacks or even a brunch!

Christ-centered. Firmly rooted in Scripture. Beautiful art. Thoughtful helps for busy leaders. CTA has done much of the planning for you. All you need do is take the last few steps to create an event that will energize your volunteers for months to come!

Go to www.ctainc.com and type “Serving in His Steps” into the search engine to find everything you need to get started!