It's a new year. The old calendar has been removed and a new one has taken its place. For many, the crisp, clean, dated boxes of January communicate the freshness of a new beginning. But for others the thought of a new year can be overwhelming due to an illness, an unplanned pregnancy, a divorce, a financial disaster or the death of a loved one. These circumstances alone are painful, but to experience them without a personal relationship with Christ can be devastating.

Each person sitting in your group touches the lives of many people each week. Their sphere of influence may include co-workers, fellow students, teammates, neighbors or family members. Ask your group if they personally know of an individual or family enduring a particularly difficult situation. After selecting a person or family in need request that your group bring items such as candy, baked treats, packets of hot chocolate or small gifts to your next meeting. Take some time that meeting to write personal notes of encouragement, Scripture and/or written prayers. Surround the gifts with the notes in a large basket, then pray for the people and their situation. Determine when the basket will be delivered and by whom. If more than one situation was discussed, your group can make two smaller baskets at the same time or commit to blessing one individual or family each month in this manner. Make sure that your group follows this activity up with continued prayer and notes of encouragement to those enduring the difficult situation. When appropriate offer them an invitation to visit your group.

More ideas:

• Encourage your small group members to ask God one time in the coming week, "How can I show Your love to the next person that crosses my path?" and then do it. Take a few minutes during your next meeting to hear some of their stories.
  
  
• Ask each person to invite one person (family member, neighbor, co-worker) to lunch in the coming week. Emphasize that many people don't have someone in their life that would sacrifice their time to just be with them. Often the invitation alone is enough to help heal a wounded heart.
  
  
• Ask each person to bring a five-dollar bill to your next meeting. Urge each person to prayerfully and thoughtfully give that five-dollar bill away to someone in the coming week. Spend a few moments praying that God would guide them in their giving and that He would multiply the blessings of their five dollars. Don't forget to allow time for testimonies the next week.
  
  

Originally published online at SmallGroups.com, January 9, 2002.

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