“O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for You.  Be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.”  ~Isaiah 33:2

For the last seven years, Families Building Faith and the Murphy household have joined forces to bring Easter baskets to children and adults in need.  It started out with a small hope of meeting the needs of our local food bank, but in God’s plan, it has become so much more.

We have been blessed by God’s great provision through the support of our wonderful community, and the many others, to be able to take baskets throughout the metro-Detroit area…all the way north to Flint, west to Brighton and Howell, and all sorts of parts of Detroit.  I am always humbled deeply for it is truly by God’s provision…we have very limited funds that we put towards Easter baskets and candy, and somehow He stretches even that!  The rest shows up on our doorstep by hearts moved by God…

For the last two years, we have been eclipsing 2,000 items going out each Easter.  Our goal is to make beautiful baskets and when we can no longer achieve that standard, we move to the next phase…making Easter bags and tying them to stuffed animals.  From there, we continue down until we reach bags of candy tied to Beanie babies that go out to the homeless and those in nursing homes.  On average, we send out over 1,500 baskets for children and about 300-400 for adults.  The rest of the numbers are our odds and ends.  Again, I must give God the glory and the credit for I have no real grasp on how we are able to achieve it.

For many years, God has blessed with help and volunteers outside of FBF’s membership.  We are visited, supported and work side by side with families who want to serve the Lord, those who want to do good, small church groups, preschools, Girl Scout troops, Boy Scout troops, businesses, seniors and so on.  It is an incredible the diversity of talents, energy and steadfastness that God brings to this project.  I have been in awe to accidentally catch, a much-to-young-at-heart woman, whose body had aged with time, climbing onto my front porch to drop off two beautiful tea cups.  She had broken both hips years before and was afraid of steps.  Determined to be a part, she got down on her knees and climbed up my two porch steps to place what she had, and no longer was using, at our doorstep.

There are so many stories of people moved from miles away, from houses down the street, who have wanted to be a part of helping a child or an adult feel special.  There are equally as many stories of parents, single adults, and children touched by the grace of the faithful.  I hope to share some of those stories here…over the next couple of months.  But this, right now, is a way for me to share what God does for those whose hearts are so in need of His love…click on the blue line to watch the video below and consider joining us this 2012 in being His hands and feet!

Families Building Faith’s Easter Basket Collection Video…enjoy!

“Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.  The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quiet and assurance forever.  My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting placings, though hail comes down on the forest, and the city is brought low in humiliation.

Blessed are you who sow besides all waters, who send out freely from the feet of the ox and the donkey.”  ~Isaiah 32:16-20