There’s something about the end of the year and Christmas that stirs up stories in my heart.
Stories that make me laugh.
Stories that make me grateful.
Stories that make me shake my head in disbelief. {i.e. head-on collisions with monkey bars}
Today, in my Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today devotion, I told the story of my melt-down Christmas several years ago. It wasn’t my best day, but God intersected that story and used my hard place to show me more of His heart and His perspective. He redeemed that day and it completely changed the way the story ended. {If you’d like to enter the giveaway and download the Christmas Prayer, I’ll share how at the end of this post.}
Do you ever think about your story and wonder what it would be like without Jesus?
Today, I’ve invited my very good friend, Melissa Taylor, director of P31 Online Bible Studies, to join me as we share a story God’s been writing for a while – in our lives and the lives of countless other. And, because you’re here today with us, I have a feeling you are part of this story too!
I wish I could sit with you over coffee and hear your story today.
I would love for us to talk about how “we” can link our ARMS, our HEARTS and our PRAYERS together and ask God to do something immeasurably more through us. Will you seek Him with us for prayer and provision as we raise money needed in our ministry to keep bringing Jesus’ hope, truth and love to women and families around the world.
It’s a big number [$300,000]. An intimidating number. But it’s not too big for God.Will you be part of God’s story with us today?Every amount MAKES A DIFFERENCE: $5, $10, $25, $50, $500
Every gift MATTERS.
If you feel called to give, I’d love to be able to thank you.
Click “share your thoughts” and let me know in a comment under this post.
Also, just this week a Foundation offered a MATCHING GIFT!!
You can find out more at these links below:
Give a One-Time Gift
Become a Monthly-Partner
My Gift to YOU: Download my Christmas Prayer to print or share.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20
Christ-Centered Christmas GIVEAWAY worth OVER $35!
Whether you give or not – I’d love to hear from you today!
Is there a way God has used Proverbs 31 Ministries to impact your life and shape your story?
Each of you who leave a comments or story under today’s post will be entered into my Christ-Centered Christmas GIVEAWAY worth over $35! It includes a copy of my NEW Confident Heart Devotional book, A new P31 Women’s Devotional Bible, and Laura Story’s new CD – “The God Of Every Story.”
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So moved by your devotional today! I needed to remember the truth about Christmas-the love our Father has for us! So thankful for y’all
Merry Christmas!
Stacy Fortenberry
Well, I’m totally stressed out here on the 12th day of December. Your devotion today was so refreshing and I’m going to make a point each day from now until Christmas day to make room for Jesus. I’m attending a small group at my church in which we are studying Adam Hamilton’s “The Journey”. It has helped remind me of the struggles Mary and Joseph encountered from the time she learned that she had become pregnant through their journey to Bethlehem. Blessings to each and every one of you during this Season of joy and peace.
Thank you providing email devotionals that speak to my heart. It seems that more times than not, the devotional topic is what is resonating in my soul. We have come through an emotional year with my Dad’s health–praise be to God, he is doing better!!–but every morning, my Mom and I would call each other and say, “did you read P31 yet? Can you believe it?” It was a soothing balm to our weary souls during very troubled moments. We know so many friends going through extremely difficult situations right now and both Mom and I forward your devotionals on to bring a bit of hope to them.
Thank you for being His hands and feet in this ministry. May you be blessed during this Christmas season!
Christine
I receive the Proverbs 31 daily devotional to my email and I look forward each day to what God has to teach me through the message. Thank you for your honesty and authenticity in sharing your journey with Christ. It brings me hope each day!
I love P31. You have become my friends & family. I start my day with you, a cup of coffe & Jesus. I’ve been involved with the last 2 studies (When Women Say Yes To God & A Confident Heart). They made my relationship with God so much more personal, deeper, more intimate, real. I am forever grateful for that. But, I’ve also become friends with my FB group. They are such awesome women of God, they’re my sisters in Christ. I can’t imagine not being involved in P31 OBS ever again, it’s a lifeline for me. Words just can’t tell you how much I appreciate all you do for me, for all of us. I’m already a monthly partner, I pray for all of you daily & one day I will be part of the ministry in some capacity sitting way over here in Washington =D
God bless you all! And, thank you for listening when God called you.
Dear Renee (and all Proverbs 31 ministry writers),
I have been receiving your Encouragement for Today articles for many years and I find it very difficult to put into words exactly how they’ve helped me grow in my spiritual life.
To each and every one of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing so much of yourselves with us and for your support and encouragement along the way – even at 61, I’m still learning, still growing and sharing so much of what I’ve learned from you with those I’m in contact with on a daily basis.
May our gracious and loving God continue to bless you as you minister to others through the media and may He grow your ministry far and wide.
With love in Him, Margy Southern – South Africa.
It’s really nice to read this uplifting stories at a time of year when it feels like Facebook is filled with people frantic posting about buying holiday outfits and what toys to get for their kids, etc. I just need to get my mind refocused on Jesus this time of year and not all that mess.
I’ve been praying that God will soften me. I am often quick to react to something my husband says, asks, or does, even when he is doing so in the nicest way possible. Reading and praying with Proverbs 31 has been teaching me to have patience and a Christ-like love for my husband. Thank you for helping my marriage become extraordinary.
THE PROVERB’S 31 BLOGS, DEVOTIONS, AND BIBLE STUDIES HAVE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH AND INCREASED MY FAITH. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is my 3rd bible study with P31 Ministries. I have subscribed to several blogs and have been so encouraged. Your ministry has helped me through the loss of my daughter Oct 2011. I will be giving a gift to your ministry.
So many of the devotions have spoke to my heart. Definitely have helped my faith deepen and give me courage to be bold in my faith. All for His glory!! Today’s was what I needed as I always feel lonely at this time of year due to family living 10 hours away and I needed that reminder of unwrapping the most important gift Jesus!!
I have been receiving your Proverbs 31 daily devotions for a few years now. Proverbs 31 has helped me get through some very difficult times in my life and get a closer walk with Christ! I am so thankful for you ladies. Reading your personal real life struggles and how you get through them has helped me get through some of my struggles in life. They have also helped me to see everyone struggles, I am not alone, even though some look as though they go through life with ease. Thank you! Bless all of you!
Thank you. I have often passed along devotionals from P31 that encouraged my heart….I am especially thankful that you all share about real life struggles….it makes the journey of life a bit easier knowing that we all walk together toward Jesus…
God bless you…
With prayers of blessing
Your sister
What an amazing devotional today…..and love the Christmas prayer! I am like you…..where everything must be perfect. This spoke straight to my anxious heart. Thank you!!
hi renee, I have been reading the posts for a long time now. I really enjoy them, it is so uplifting and comforting to read other women’s stories and inspirations. makes one realize none of us are alone in the things that occur in our lives, our reactions, emotions, spirits. I have taken to reading the bible every morning [ most days ], and I can definitely say that I usually find God speaking directly to me a lot of the time. the other day, my knees were hurting so bad [ arthritis and injuries ] that I prayed to God, ”please God, I am freaking out, there is so much to do to prepare for the day of Your Son’s birth. how will I manage with this pain. I am years behind in clutter control due to deaths, surgeries, etc.. I cannot get all this done with no help in time ! ” well, well………..I got up, my knees stopped hurting and my anxiety was quelled. it is a joy and a wonder when God performs these tangible miracles for me. I am joyous, then also I think, how can You be so good to me, so many need You even when they are not even aware of it. anyway, have a merry Christmas. we , all of us, can have a ”happy holiday” on George Washington’s birthday or valentine’s day. di
Thanks!
Thank you for your devotional in my email every week day 🙂 It is such an encouraging part of my day!! Blessings to you and all the staff of Proverbs 31. May God continue to bless your ministry!!
This blog and today’s devotional really touched my heart. The first decoration I dig out each year is a little plastic nativity that my mom always had on the bookshelf when I was growing up. A couple of the figures on it have been glued back more than once, but it is still precious to me – because it represents what Christmas is supposed to be about: God’s gift to us.
I was getting so ashamed of how materialistic Christmas has become that I determined to focus my family on Jesus. Each year I wrote a simple play for the grandchildren to perform centering on Him. I had everyone write down a good act they had done and place it in a gift box for Jesus. Each year-they all brought something to give to the needy-shoes, clothes,blankets. We sang happy birthday to Jesus and then we opened our gifts! This year I made a shirt to wear while out and about:the front reads”message on back may offend”–the back reads “Merry Christmas” Christians need to become bolder in these immoral times-the joy of the Lord is our strength. God ,make your people bold.
My story……August of 2009 I was going through a separation which ultimately ended in divorce after being married only 4 years. A friend of mine sent me a devotion from Proverbs 31 ministries which she felt was a Word from God for me. I was so moved how the devotions helped me daily so I signed up to receive them in my email and made it my daily devotions that I would read after or along with my regular Bible reading during quiet times.
I was also in a place where the Lord had spoke to me several times in the year to leave my job, I being the stubborn child I am would not listen and one day I read a devotion about listening to the whisper of the Lord (I’m not sure of the exact title) so I left my job after much prayer and consideration trusting God to take care of me and my children being a single mom…..yet again. For three months those devotions encouraged me and helped me like a close friend does in person. It was like each woman that was writing that day was holding my hand while Christ was holding my other hand walking me through the day and telling me it was going to be ok. I found a job took a 10, 000 a year pay cut which is big for a single mother with 4 girls and one of them entering college. It was the third best decision I made in my life, after accepting Christ and quitting the previous job. I work where I am happy and the atmosphere is a joyous one and I am off when my children are off.
I am not at a point in my life financially where I can give back but when I am I will be pouring into this ministry with more than just prayers. Thank you so much for your daily encouragement and for your obedience…..all of the ladies that contribute to the devotions and your blogs. may the Lord continue to richly bless you!