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!)
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WOW Renee! This is great- caused me to pause for a moment and ask if I am giving myself any grace this Christmas season. My children are ages 1, 5, and 7, and I work 25 hours a week outside the home and still want to “do it all” and maintain a Christ-centered home and Christmas. I feel like I’m so overwhelmed this year with the balancing act- reading the responses from these ladies helps to gain some perspective. I think I need to give myself grace with the expectations I set for myself. I’m eager to read your book A Confident Heart. Thank you for the ministry you offer. Merry Christmas!
Grace that it doesn’t have to be perfect…the cards can wait…the crafts can be a bit messy, the floor can be a bit dirty…just spend time basking in the glow of Jesus with my boysies and let His grace flow over my family.
this time of year has become tough for me in the past few years…. I am overwhelmed with the commercialism of Christmas and being everything to everyone thanks to the reminder of giving myself GRACE !!
I am giving myself Grace this season by not sending Christmas cards and by not allowing stress to take over. I am taking each day as it comes, and seeking the Lord first. A beautiful birth mom is giving me the best Christmas gift I could ask for – a baby girl! She is due January 13th! and I can’t wait!
Thank you, Lord, you are so good and faithful.
I am giving myself grace this Christmas by not expecting perfection. And I am not beating myself up when things do not get done. This is truly helping me to enjoy the Holiday more, and remember the true meaning of Christmas. Christ birth..
I am giving myself grace this Christmas by giving myself “Me and Jesus” time, instead of worrying if the house is clean/decorated/etc. When I am stressed or upset, I tend to clean and tidy things up. Not anymore. I will run to my Savior like I am supposed too, soak in His goodness, and let His love de-stress me instead.
I am giving my self grace in that I am also not sending Christmas cards either. My husband and children put up the tree and decorated it while I was at class last night. The stockings will be hung with care in the knowledge that rest will soon be here. I am giving myself a gift this year. I will not be motivated or moved by guilt anymore. If I can I will, if I can’t, I can’t. Guilt has stolen so much of His peace from me. Peace like a river and no guilt over the boulders which causes the water to spray and part. I did not put the boulders there and I will feel and accept no guilt or condemnation for what was, what is beyond my control, and what h not happened yet. Peace be with you this sewon of joy.
My hope and my future revolve around grace, with mercy trailing close behind. So glad I can’t out run them!
Your book is on my Christmas list!!!!!!! PLEASE enter me in the drawing!!! I would love to win your book!!! Thanks for your heart for HIM and others!! Merry Christmas!!!
Thank you so so much for this reminder! I’m currently in a season of trial and it can feel all the more overwhelming amidst all of the other stressors the season of Christmas can bring. So thankful for the reminder to come to my sweet Savior, because He is the only One who can give rest to the weary!
A merry and blessed Christmas to you Renee!
My gift is physical, emotional and spiritual fitness. My plan is to exercise, rest, read, study, vist, relax, enjoy, work, play, laugh, pray, cry, forgive, share, and love.
I have been there too. Where the crazy over rules the Reason we celebrate. I have toned down and relaxed all the way around. We do not over do our schedule with holiday parties, we pick the ones that will mean the most to us. We don’t go crazy shopping for gifts (I hate shopping). I make as many gifts as I can doing the things I love to do:) We remember Christ in every preparation that we do, from decorating to celebrating to just feeling the love!
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My Grace this year is coming in the form that I am going easy on myself about having to accomplish all the Christmas traditions, baking, cooking, cards, decorating and not stressing about gift giving. Instead I really want to focus on the reason for the season and instilling positive values in my children. I need super amounts of Grace this year and am soo grateful for Gods Amazing Grace.
Thank you for the message. We try to keep things simple at Christmas to help keep the real reason for Christmas in our minds and hearts. (I like your ABC book in the background … one of our kid’s favorites!)
I am giving myself grace by focusing more on my kids and teaching them the true reason for the season. Instead of getting frustrated with how they slow me down and don’t do things exactly how I would like, I am trying to involve them more so that they can experience the joy of giving.
Grace is a person and I am so confident that grace will be added to my being as I focus on walking in the spirit, turning to Him in all things, big or small. The gift of Jesus is my only need. I have sent your prayer poem to many on my e-mail list as I feel it will impact their lives as it has mine. Your writings have inspired me to enjoy the Lord daily as I begin my day with the Word and let Him have His way in all I do and say.
I’m giving myself grace this year by focusing on Jesus and his birth. I am no trying to do everything myself this year. I am letting my kids help out more. We are planning on spending more quality time playing games and just enjoying each other’s company.
Our only child was married in September. She and her husband were intentional about the focus being on God. They were successful. It was a blessed day that brought our Father much glory. Besides spending April through September on wedding details, we had many of our loved ones going through tough times. At one point I was feeling so overwhelmed that I cried out to God for wisdom in which needs were priority and how to help. He gave me the strength to do what needed to be done AND the grace to let go of things I felt needed to be done. Among other things, He reminded me that being available to people is more important than a clean house. Well, it is mid-December. Life is still crazy busy. Many of my loved ones are still going through tough stuff. I’m giving grace this Christmas by encouraging them to focus on Christ instead of traditions. I’m receiving grace this Christmas by reevaluating and simplifying. Sunday my husband and I went with our daughter and her hubby to get Christmas trees. We enjoyed our time together and took pictures of them decorating their first tree. As for our tree…this year we didn’t hang any ornaments on it. We just hung the lights. It looks beautiful. Lord willing, there will be other Christmases to bring out all the ornaments. If not, oh well. Christmas is about celebrating Christ’s birth not getting so caught up in details that I have no time or energy left to rejoice over the light of the world.