Today, I have a gift I want to give you. I’s a gift EVERY WOMAN NEEDS! And it’s tucked inside this short video. I recorded it last week for a friend’s Christmas give-away, but after I finished it, I just knew God wanted me to give it to you too! So, instead of reading about it, please click the arrow below so I can tell you about it.
I’ve got a question and a give-away for you, but first here are some things I want to share::
Printable Christmas Prayer
For those hopping over from my P31 devotion today, welcome! That story I share in the video is the year that led to the writing of my Christmas prayer. If you’d like to receive a FREE printable version of it, please enter your email in the box below and click signup.You’ll receive an email within 24 hours that include links to download the prayer as a printable 4×6, 5×7 or 8×10 you can frame for yourself and give as gifts.
Confident Heart Online Study
I also want to invite you to join me and women from all over who will gather here beginning January 16th to read through my book, A Confident Heart. We’ll walk through each chapter together and discover how we can overcome self-doubts and strong or even subtle insecurity by learning how to to live in THE security of God’s promises! I’m so excited about all God’s laying on my heart for our study, and I’d love for you to be part of this special community where we’ll share encouragement, prayers and stories of all that God is doing in and through us!
To join us, enter your info and click Sign Up..
To find out more details about online study, click here.
Enter Today’s Give-away
How you are going to give yourself grace this Christmas? I’ll share my answer in the comments below. You can share yours and any other thoughts you have about video message or the topic of my devotion and you’ll be entered to win this gift pak just in time for Christmas:
- Copies of my book (for you & two friends)
- 3 Sets of Confident Heart conference calls (optional)
- $10 Starbucks gift card
- Godiva Chocolate Bar
Click below this post where it says “Share Your Thoughts” and do just that. Then be sure to share this post with friends (see those tell-a-friend buttons? They make it really easy). If you do, leave another comment and tell me. You’ll be entered twice! {Update: Congratulations Angel Miller (your were selected in our prayerful yet random drawing for a winner. We’ll email you details! Thank you all for entering. Be sure to sign up for email updates in the sidebar so you don’t any future give-aways!)
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I give myself grace by telling myself that next year will be better so whatever happens this year. I look forward to better things to come in next year.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us all this morning. I was sitting down to write out Christmas cards today and now I have decided to give myself Grace by letting it go. Thank you for the gentle reminder today of what this holiday season is really about…God’s Grace…God bless you and your family!!
Too many people get caught up in gifts and festivities and forget the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus’ sacrifice of His life that mankind can live set apart and free from sin and its affects. I no longer give gifts during this season, but give throughout the year. We get so caught up in doing that we forget to rest our bodies and spend time with God. My gift to myself and God is taking the taking time to rest my body, mind and spirit and seek to be more closely united with my Daddy, Father God.
I am giving myself grace this year by taking an extra week off homeschooling my kids so we can just enjoy each other without stress and schoolwork!!
I just shared this on fb; I pray it is an encouragement to anyone who views it!
My husband and I have been married four years, and we don’t have any children yet. I want to develop this mindset of grace and the true meaning of Christmas now, so that we can raise our children in a home that truly celebrates Christ. Thank you for this reminder of what Christmas is all about and for giving us tangible ways to seek His grace this holiday season!
I’m giving myself Grace by taking the time to enjoy the season, the decorations, the joy of every step of the holiday process. Never did it before…it takes time but well worth it!!
I’m giving myself and my family grace this year by not stressing about bringing homemade stuff to functions. I’m bringing a store bought food item to a party this week, because I wanted to fellowship with friends and not stress about baking! God bless you all and may your burden be light!
Give
Relax
Align with God’s plan
Concentrate on and celebrate the birth of Christ
Enjoy time with family and friends
My heart is overflowing with thanks for His unspeakable gifts to me this Christmas. Your devotional was the timely reminder I needed to realign my soul as I look forward to what He will accomplish through my weaknesses & inability to meet other’s expectations of Christmas. I am far to sick to be & do all I wish I could–& this season is the one where expectations are magnified & even idolized. May His provision be my sufficient grace I so need. Thanks for the attitude check.
Hello there
This year, like every year for the last five, I refused to give myself to the craziness of the season. This is something we have done to ourselves, not anybody else. I refuse to give in running around for a present, to worry about what to make for dinner, to send cards, anything like that. But to make sure I call those I love and tell them so. To let them know I love them and appreciate them every day, not just Christmas. And also very important, that I try to help someone every day of my life, not just at Christmas.
Sara
I am giving myself grace today by reminding myself that it isn’t about the gifts, decorations, baked goodies, and all the other stuff on my to-do list! In fact, it doesn’t matter if that stuff doesn’t get done in the grand scheme of things (though it may result in a few unhappy people).
This is about Jesus coming into the world to re-unite mankind with God. If I really remember that… who cares if I get the 6 batches of brownies & 3 pies made in time. Sometimes that is hard to remember, amidst the rush & chaos of things, but… really, it’s all about Jesus, plain and simple.
Thank you for reminding me about God’s Grace. This year is especially hard on my family and having God with me and knowing that his grace is for me is wonderful. I keep telling myself…Be still and know that I am God. We often get caught up in the extra small stuff to realize what is really important in our lives. God is first and then my family. I am so blessed to have my needs met by a wonderful God who provides living water and the bread of life.
I loved the message from the video. I really needed this to remind me that it isn’t all about the amount of money you spend but the quality time spent with family cause we are not promised another day with them.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!! Thanks for sharing your heart 🙂
How do we enter to win this wonderful giveaway? I am sharing todays post with my friends!
Shared your message on Facebook!!
This Christmas will be my first Christmas without my mom. My mom passed away in Februrary and this year I have looked at Christmas in a different light. Everything has seemed to just come together. Shopping for gifts has been extremely easy this year. God has made my list for me and laid everything out in front of me. Last week, I thought wow I only lack four gifts being through, everything is wrapped and under the tree. I haven’t been stressed one time. Then Sunday morning during the worship service our preacher said something that made be realize why things have been so different, He said put Christ first and buying presents second. If you are more worried about the gifts and not thinking about Christ it is a struggle, but let Christ take control and everything will come together (not exactly the way he said it, but close). I realized that in previous years I have not been as close to God I should have been, but since mom’s death – I have found myself much closer to God and spending more time in prayer. My life’s focus has change so much during the past year.
I am giving myself grace this year by letting go of all those “have to”s and focusing on the one important thing this season: my relationship with my King and Creator. I love all the trappings of the season and was heartbroken when circumstances in my life dictated that I wouldn’t be able to afford any of them this year. However, He reminded me that the most important thing is not the things, it is the relationship. I am finishing up this season with a joyous heart because my Savior is walking alongside of me.
Wow, God knows what we need when we need it! I am a full time children’s pastor, and the mother of three little boys, ages 7, 5, and 10 months. It is never a problem for me to give grace to other’s when life is crazy and they need it! But I have a very hard time giving grace to myself–I always want to give 100% to my husband, children and church and I struggle when I can’t do it! Even as I write this, I know it will be hard for me to give myself grace, but I’m going to try! I will not feel bad if the Children’s church Christmas program and party do not go off perfectly! I will not carry guilt because we are not hosing a Christmas party at our house this year! It will be ok if the tree topper sits beside the tree instead of on this year (That’s the husband’s job!) 🙂 Even though my little guys say that our house has no Christmas Spirit because we have no lights on the outside, I will be happy with just my wreath! They can do the lights when the get older! I will take time to get in the Word and prayer, I will crawl around on the floor with my baby, I will play board games with my fellas, while laundry piles up and the dust balls roll by—-and NOT FEEL GUILTY!!! I accept Grace to embrace what;s really important this year!
Thanks SO much. I needed to hear that today. Resting in His promises and giving myself much grace so I can truly, thoroughly, enjoy my family and celebrating Christ’s birth.