Tuesday, August 9, 2011

My Comfort Cross Review and Giveaway -- *2 WINNERS* -- CLOSED!

CLOSED!

His branches shall spread and His beauty shall be as the olive tree...
~~ Hosea 14:6 ~~

Recently, I was truly Blessed to discover the beautiful Comfort Cross. The Comfort Cross is carved by a Christian craftsman in Bethlehem from the wood of the Olive Tree.

The moment I removed the Cross from it's red-velvet bag, I loved it. It truly is a very comforting, warm feeling to hold this beautifully carved Olivewood Cross from the Holy Land of Israel.






It conjures up images of days long past... of Jesus walking with Mary and Joseph as a child... hold it in the palm of your hand and feel His presence.
As a Roman Catholic, I am accustomed to holding my Rosary Beads as I pray. So, holding this Cross in my hand came very naturally to me.





I keep the Comfort Cross in my handbag when I'm out and by my bedside at night. I like knowing that I can reach out and touch it and allow it's depth of meaning encompass me.

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles...

~~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ~~

What is the Mission of My Comfort Cross?

Our Mission is to help Christians in Bethlehem. Issa is a Christian living on the outskirts of Bethlehem and has been carving crosses and religious items his whole life to support his wife and three children. Twenty years ago my mother met Issa on a visit to Bethlehem and began importing his olive wood handicrafts. With the decline in Bethlehem tourism, Issa and other Christian Artisans are struggling. Our aim is to support them by providing a market for olive wood crosses direct to Christians in America.


Why, you may ask is My Comfort Cross carved exclusively from the wood of the Olive Tree?

The Olivewood Cross:

Comfort Crosses are individually carved from a single unique piece of beautifully grained olive wood pruned from the olive trees around Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus. Christians have been carving crosses like this for hundreds of years, originally for pilgrims and more recently tourists visiting the Holy Land. Each craftsman receives a fair price to support their family and Christian community. The Comfort Cross is designed to fit comfortably into the palm of your hand as an aid to prayer or meditation. Ideal as your spiritual companion for easing children's fears, comforting worries and stresses of adults and focusing the prayer of the sick and elderly.

The olive tree is probably the most significant plant mentioned in both the New and Old Testament. First mentioned in Genesis as the leaf brought by the dove to comfort Noah it was the tree Jesus prayer under before the last supper. The Olive tree also provided food, lamp oil, anointing oil and building material during ancient times.

And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off:

so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
Genesis 8:11




The olive tree is an evergreen which can grow for thousands of years. The tree admired by Hosea whose leaves have been a sign of abundance; glory and peace are still used to crown victors in the Olympic Games. The oil from the fruit used to anoint the sick. The olive trees of Jerusalem are pruned to remove the hard wood and open the tree so new growth can provide a bountiful cop of olives the next year. This hard and beautiful timber is used by local craftsmen for carving.

Each sale of a comfort cross helps a Christian in the Holy Land by providing a fair price for his work.


Comfort Crosses are smooth and easy to hold in your hand and take with you everywhere. The red velvet pouch protects your Comfort Cross from damage and makes a lovely gift package as well.


Comfort Crosses are an ideal gift – for cancer patients, graduation, Baptism, anyone in need of spiritual comfort.


I would highly recommend that people take the Comfort Cross to their church and propose it as a fundraiser or as member gifts for Baptisms, Confirmation, Christenings, Marriages, Vacation Bible School, Youth Groups, and more.
What better way to welcome someone into the Church than to give them a Cross from the Holy Land.

As a fundraiser, this is a wonderful item. The benefits are not only monetary, but deeply spiritual as well.

My Comfort Cross offers Special Pricing for purchases made through the website:

*1 cross is $8 ($5 plus $3 shipping)
*2 crosses are $12 ($9 plus $3 shipping)
*Mission Pack is 8 crosses at $40 ($32 plus $8 shipping)
*Fundraising and Church packs are still $3 per cross plus shipping.


The wonderful gentlemen of My Comfort Cross have offered to give two of my readers a Comfort Cross of their very own.
We are blessed, indeed, by their kind generosity.

This giveaway is open to the USA only, please.

***NOTICE: You *MUST* leave your email address in the body of your comment or make your email address visible in your profile. If I cannot contact you -- you can't win!***

Please leave a separate comment for EACH entry!

MANDATORY ENTRIES:

1. Please visit My Comfort Cross and tell me something you learned. Also, tell me how you comfort others when they are in need or to whom you might give a Comfort Cross.

2. Please *LIKE* My Comfort Cross on Facebook -- Post on their wall and tell them Terri at Gathering My Roses sent you! (Leave a comment on this post with your Facebook name and a link to your post on FB)

Additional Entries:

1. Please follow Gathering My Roses on Google Friend Connect. (On sidebar)

2. Please follow @GeorgiaMist on Twitter

3. Tweet this and leave a comment on this post with your Twitter name and link to your Tweet:
@GeorgiaMist Win a Comfort Cross from Gathering My Roses (ARV: $8)- 2 WINNERS-Ends 8/20/11 http://bit.ly/qIU46j

That's all! Easy entries!

Giveaway will be open from Tuesday, August 9th until 11:59 p.m on Saturday, August 20th. Winners to be announced on Sunday, August 21st.

DISCLOSURE:
I received a Comfort Cross for the purpose of revew. I was under no obligation to review this item. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with this item.

55 comments:

Sharon Crescent said...

what a beautiful testament to our Father.

Sharon Crescent
sales@crescentcolours.com

Thanks Terri!

kimstitch3 said...

How beautiful. I have a dear friend in my life,that I would love to give this to.She has been my rock during my hard times in life and she now is hurting. That is so neat how it is carved out of an olive tree, love the idea . I may be ordering some of these now that I am aware of them. Gorgeous crosses,Kimberly
The Lord is definitely taking care of this man, what a testimony.


Kimbermart@comcast.net

katscorner said...

I learned it was the leaf brought to Noah and is in the old and new testament I try to give comfort to others by sharing my trials of having MS for over 20 years and raising 6 children alone

Anonymous said...

Handsome crosses.

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=232605813443349&id=150973518273246

maddiegilliland AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I learned that the Olive Tree can grow for a thousand years. kgkiml at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I liked Comfort Crosses on facebook, Kelly Bowling Kimmell, here's the link to my comment
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=232654983438432&id=150973518273246

Michele said...

I learned that the wood that is carved is the hardwood that is pruned each year
A hug is how I comfort my loved ones
rlawrence110 at yahoo dot com

Michele said...

I follow My Comfort Cross on Facebook and commented
Michele Caldwell Lawrence
rlawrence110 at yahoo dot com

Michele said...

I follow you on Twitter
@rlawrence110
rlawrence110 at yahoo dot com

Michele said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/rlawrence110/status/101502291726708736
rlawrence110 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I like that it is genuine olive wood from Bethlehem.
When a loved one is in need of comfort, first I listen to them if they need to talk. Then, I give hugs.

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I learned that olivewood is in both the Old and New Testaments. I would give one to my niece who lost her mother to cancer.

kygirl said...

I learned that the olive tree can grow for thousands of years.

I try to comfort my friends and family when they need me just by being there for them
stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net

kygirl said...

I liked my comfort cross on fb as charline stanley and told them you sent me
stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net

kygirl said...

follow gfc as charline
stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Emmy Coffee said...

*Mandatory Entry*

1. I learned that you can use these for church fundraisers.
I would like to give a comfort cross to my Brother.

2. I *LIKE* My Comfort Cross on Facebook -- And Posted on their wall that Gathering My Roses sent me:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=235960403107890&id=150973518273246

Emmy Coffee said...

I'm a google friend.

Karen said...

I learned that the Olive Tree can grow for a thousand years.

Karen Gonyea
ktgonyea at gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Churches can sell Comfort Cross for fundraising.
I'd give one to my SIL who is a cancer survivor but still has residual health problems.
jenswps at yahoo . com

Anonymous said...

I like on FB (Jennifer B C)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Comfort-Cross/150973518273246?sk=wall#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=236503839720213&id=150973518273246

jenswps at yahoo . com

Kim Reid said...

I learned that The Comfort Cross is made from genuine olive wood in Bethlehem, the Holy Land and the Olive tree can grow for thousands of years. I would give this cross to a member of my family who is in need of comfort during this time.
Thanks,
kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

Kim Reid said...

I like My Comfort Cross on Facebook and left a comment:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Comfort-Cross/150973518273246#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=236793463024584&id=150973518273246

Thanks,
kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

Kim Reid said...

I am following Gathering My Roses on Google Friend Connect - Thanks!
kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

Chip said...

These are beautiful. I pray that the Christians who are in the Holy Land remain safe as they create such beautiful reminders of our Lord.

I try to reach out to others when I see them hurting. I lost my daughter and know the pain of losing a loved one. I have been involved in grief ministry for quite a few years.
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

Chip said...

'Like' My Comfort Cross on FB and left a message for them - Jill Lear https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=236831933020737&id=150973518273246
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

Chip said...

Follow you on Twitter @chipdip2010
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

Chip said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/chipdip2010/status/104632183544750081 @chipdip2010
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

would be great to give to someone that is hurting, a true comfort in knowing Jesus
blessings

kendraco22 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

follow @GeorgiaMist on Twitter
kendra22007
kendraco22 at yahoo dot com

SamYag said...

I learned that this is a "fair trade" company and pays their employees a proper wage. I think I'd give one to my grandmother who is very devout and would appreciate such a gift. I comfort people by listening to them in their times of need, and just being available.

Thanks!

Email: syaghooty@gmail.coms

Monique said...

I love that they are lovingly made in Bethlehem. I plan on using them with my daughters when praying and worrying.

Monique said...

posted on their facebook wall after liking them

Monique said...

GFC follower

Monique said...

follow georgia mist on twitter armsofasister

Monique said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/armsofasister/status/104887937967198209

Erin Cook said...

I learned that the wood is from the olive tree and I comfort others by giving them hugs and just being there for them
cookster77@aol.com

Erin Cook said...

I like comfort cross on facebook Erin Cook and told them you sent me
cookster77@aol.com

Unknown said...

I learned the crosses are made from an olive tree in Bethlehem. When I comfort someone, first I listen to them and then I give them a hug.

Unknown said...

I like My Comfort Cross on Facebook.

Katharina said...

I learned that carving Olive wood is labor intensive and much of it is done by hand.

I would give this beautiful cross to my daughter as a late birthday gift. She is 27 and always comforting others.

Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com

Katharina said...

I "like" My Comfort Cross on Facebook (Katharina Ess)
angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com

Tonic67 said...

I learned that Ideal as your spiritual companion for easing children's fears, comforting worries and stresses of adults and focusing the prayer of the sick and elderly.

kat said...

Just Beautiful! I learned that the Olive tree also provided food, lamp oil, anointing oil and building material during ancient times.
kat_emerick@yahoo.com

kat said...

*LIKE* My Comfort Cross on Facebook - told them Terri at Gathering My Roses sent me! (Kathy E.)

kat_emerick@yahoo.com

kat said...

already follow gfc
kat_emerick@yahoo.com

Pam said...

I learned olive trees can grow for a thousand years. I comfort others by sending them a card, flowers or a gift basket. garrettsambo@aol.com

carole said...

they are carved from a single piece of olive tree
my sister in law just lost her husband and I would love to give this to her

gram122@comcast.net

carole said...

gfc follower(gram122)

carole said...

follow Georgia mist on twitter (gram122

dianecally said...

I didn't know that this tree was the tree Jesus prayed under before the last supper.

My mother would have loved to have had one.

diane
dianecally@aol.com

Nancye said...

I learned that the Comfort Cross is made from the Olive Tree. I comfort people by listening to them and empathizing with their situation. I would love to have this for myself to help me on hard days.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I like My Comfort Cross on Facebook and I left a comment that you sent me.
FB ID: Nancye Epperson Davis

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

GFC Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow you on Twitter
@NancyeDavis

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/104998577151025152

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net