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!)
I’m giving myself grace this year by not working as much and enjoying time with my family and not feeling guilty about it. Also, by stepping up to try to make peace with the in-laws and accepting the fact that it is all that I can do and I am not responsible for the outcome. Prayer is all that I can do, and leaving it up to God, and acknowledging that I am only responsible for me and not other adults and their actions. My focus is going to be my family of four that lives inside my house, and those others who want to partake and bring us joy.
I am giving myself grace by limiting the recipes I am making for gifts. I am also cutting back on those I give to…which is super difficult for me as I am a giver. Being that I already have the book, I would give away all 3 copies to friends of mine. This is an awesome book and I am looking forward to doing the study…
I am giving myself grace this season by staying away form the malls, spending less time — and money — looking for the ‘perfect’ present. I am making a lot of my presents by hand this year!
Thanks for the giveaway…
I am going to give myself grace this Christmas by not buying so many presents. That is hard for me because I love buying “my girls” presents. When they were younger it was so much fun! But at 21 and 17, you can’t pick things out for them anymore – which takes all the fun out of it… This is really hard for me so if I think of it as “giving myself grace” maybe it will take some of the edge off it all!!
I would love to win this package. I participate with a couple small groups and would love to do A Confident Heart with at least one of them. As you know, I loved the study and wondered how you were managing to get in my head and in my life as much as you did… Thanks for writing this book!! It is definately life-changing!!
I’m giving myself grace this year by not baking Christmas goodies! Normally, I stress out and spend a full day making a mountain of candy, sampling it, and giving it away. It has been a tradition for years but I dont need the extra stress or pounds it causes! I also have made the decision not to race around the malls like a “mad woman” buying this and that. My focus is going to be on enjoying this month! The tree is up with only lights on it and (its really ok!!) and its beautiful! No stress!!
Great reminder to not stress over all the details that weigh us down at Christmas, but to slow down and enjoy focus on the birth of Christ and making memories!
I’m sharing this on FB – so many friends who, like us also need to step back, slow down and remember the reason we are even doing all this in the first place. For Him who has given us everything. The greatest gift ever, never to be topped, salvation.
Hi Thanks for the encourging word, this Christmas I am giving myself grace, by fellowshipping alone with God, my husband is working out of town, and this a great time for me to draw closer to the Savior, Christ Jesus.
God Bless You for all Proverbs 31 ministry ladies
Wow. Giving myself grace. I hadn’t thought of that and it is just what I need!
Thank you!
I simply need to give myself grace that I don’t meet perfection. Too often, I expect myself to get everything right and when I don’t, I beat myself up. I need to just turn to Jesus and realize I only need to be concerned with what He asks of me. I would love to win your Confident Heart book. While I’d love to participate in the study come January, I simply cannot justify buying another book for any reason at this point and time. Too bad I don’t have family members that ask me what I’d like for Christmas gifts either. It would be on my list. I look forward to reading it some day.
Sharing with all friends
I am intentionaly looking for God in my everyday things alowing myself the grace when i slip up .
i am giving this hoiliday over to him who is able to bring the true meaning of jesus and not alowing my expectations to get in the way of enjoying this time of year. i dont have to have it all together i may not make the best dinner ever but i am going to have peace and enjoy being together with famliy.
I’m giving my self grace this Christmas with the gifts God has already given me… Focusing on my little boy kaleb, and may go on a Christmas adventure camping in the snow… Reading gods word I front of the camp fire being alone with him it will be a Christmas to remember alright 🙂
I am also opting for a slower Christmas this year and focusing more on my kids. I have decided not to do any crazy mall maddening shopping trips. My tree is minimalistic. My husband and kids decorated the yard
Shared on Facebook
Shared on Facebook
I am giving grace this year by asking that my husband allow me to sponsor a child through Compassion International instead of putting something under the tree for me.
I still have decorating and baking to do, but twice this week I called two different friends and took a walk with them. Just 1 hour out of our day, but I feel so much more energy and spirit having spent that time with two wonderful women, especially when one shared a powerful story of God’s work in her life.
Renee,
Thank you so much for what you shared in your video on Grace. I participated in Karen’s giveaway last week. I listened to your video on Sunday. I can’t tell how much the Lord has used what you shared. First, it helped me to truly appreciate our gift of Jesus. I pictured myself unwrapping Him as I would a present. Reflecting on that…unwrapping the Word, sitting with Him, my gift. Resting in His plans, His presence, and His promises – all tied up within our gift. Jesus.
After listening to your video on Sunday, I was able to help a friend through a family crisis, resting in Jesus, resting in His presence.
Christmas blessings! Jodie
Thank you for touching my heart today. I been feeling like soemthing is missing in Christmas this year. After reading and listening to your video I was reminded that God given this greatest gift of all His Son.
I am really not interested in the drawing, but I just had to say thank you for being God’s vessel today. I have been meditating on Matt. 11:28-29 for about 5 days now and started writing down some of my thoughts on rest and what that means and looks like. I about fell out of my chair when you mentioned that in your video. And it being one of the Gifts we can have in Christ. God used you as confirmation to me that I was on the right track. Thank you for your willingness to be vulnerable and sharing what Our God is showing you. I hope you have an amazing day today.
Thank you so much, wish you a very Mary Christmas
I really enjoyed your poem, The Manger of My Heart. Thank you so much for reminding me how important the Gift of Jesus really is and thank you for doing God’s will in the lives of women. Being the chair of our womens ministry at church, I share your love for the hearts of women to know God’s plan for their lives. May God bless you this Christmas and continue to bless you this coming new year.
Thank you so much for your posting. Thank your for letting the sprit and God’s grace lead and direct you. I haven’t decided what I will do this Christmas, the most important thing is to use my God given talent to pray for others. Gods grace sustains us in a way that is unexplainable. To feel the presence of God and His love for is makes life worth living. Gods grace wraps us up in a warm cotten blanket, while we sit by the fire sipping hot cocoa. Gods grace is before us protecting us from danger. God grace is behind us erasing our past and foreving our sins. Thank you so much and May Gods grace continue to sustain you in your lies journey.
Thanks for reminding us to go to the manger of our hearts. Invite Jesus into our hearts and as we do, the natural overflow should be of His love and grace this season. Help me be intentional to fill my heart and mind with Him and not things of this world. Help me to stop and reflect the beauty of this season and thank God for His precious gift!
I am focusing on the gift of Jesus for Christmas this year, more than ever before. I am being allowed this gift through grace, as I told my family and friends that I would not shop on demand this year. Throughout the year as I see gifts for a friend or family, I have given freely. This has allowed me the time this year to bake and relish in the Christmas season without the hustle bustle of shopping. I just did not realize I was giving myself a gift at the same time. Thank you for pointing that out!!
I am giving myself grace this year, by allowing myself to the season with family and not stressout over howeverything looks, also by teaching my grand children what the season is all about….Jesus…..
I’m giving myself grace by allowing myself to accept His grace and not finding my value in how perfect our Christmas is/looks but rather enjoying the season, having more fun and sharing His love and grace with my husband, children and family.
I have decided to give myself grace this year by not giving every single person in my family gifts this year. I’m a single mom and often go broke around this season trying to get everyone in my family gifts. Well I’ve decided not to do that this year and just really focus on the True meaning of Christmas. We often get so bogged down in the giving of gifts, that we lose what Christmas is all about. I want my daughter to know and understand what Christmas is all about, not just giving and receiving gifts.
Renee, thank you for your uplifting message and encouragement for us to seek grace. This year I am focusing on helping those less fortunate and getting away from the commercialism of Christmas by making many of the gifts I am giving to family and friends.
I walk slowly and enjoy the lights. I sit and enjoy a hot cup of something and listen to what God wants to share with me as the snow is falling. I am trying to learn to live more in the present and also knowing what a wonderful Present we received at Christmas. Also, I am being reminded not to compare.
I’m letting my kids do more this year… decorating, planning, etc… and by giving less stuff and more of me, my time, my love… which I’m already seeing is building confidence in each of them.
This is the first year I actually enjoyed putting up the tree and decorating it… it’s also the first year I didn’t do it by myself… and it looks better than it ever has!!!!
Thank you for this timely message. I have just stumbled upon this website recently. I have had a hard time focusing on God as I have a just now 6 month old, I feel most days are only about her and I have been feeling very overwhelmed and frustrated as MY expectations and plans aren’t working and sadly, my time with God has been decreasing, not increasing as I had hoped.
We celebrated christmas with my family in early december as all of us were able to get together (the first time in 3 years!) My parents, 8 siblings (4spouses), 2 neices, 1 nephew, my husband daughter and me –20 total!!! It was a blast, but I’m realizing my type A personality won’t let me do it all, especially with the challenges of having a very structured new baby.
Thank you for the words “rest in HIS plans, not ours(mine)- I forget this frequently and have such a harder day. When I take the time to stop and rest and listen, it is when my heart feels lighter and my mood brightens- because it is about Him and caring for the wonderful gift he gave me
I’m sharing this on FB!
Renee, Thank You for your video. Grace! What a word! Not just “grace”, but “the grace of God!”
As Christmas is approaching I am so thankful that I can understand what it means and why it matters.
This holiday season when I think of the word “gifts” I want to think instead of the word, GRACE! Because THAT is what GRACE means – a GIFT, unearned, priceless, that’s free, and yet also freeing! There probably is not another word in our English language that is so little understood, as the word Grace!
Grace is a GIFT: A giving-ness that God has towards us – just constantly blessing, and giving, when we do not deserve anything.
Grace is a Great Attitude: Grace is God looking beyond our sinfulness, our selfishness, and loving us anyway. It is just being accepted by God when we shouldn’t be.
Its Importance: If God had no grace, Jesus would never have been born, God would have just judged this world, and condemned everyone in it to an eternity in hell, and would have just left us to self-destruct!
But thankfully, God DOES have grace – great grace! And it is the foundation for a Christian Christmas!
Grace IS Christmas!
I shared on Facebook, Renee! Thank you!
I’m going to give myself grace this Christmas by not getting caught up in the rat race to buy the perfect present for everyone. I always struggle this time of year because I love giving gifts to people that are thoughtful and essentially “prove” that I listen to their wants, needs, and hobbies. This year I’m going to just give a small amount of presents and focus on not blowing my budget. We give presents to represent the ultimate present that was given to us. And I don’t want my desire to prove anything to take away from Jesus.
I did your book study with Melissa, but I love the book so much, I have signed up to do it again! So excited to study A Confident Heart with the author! 🙂
It’s so difficult to ‘rest’ or allow ourselves grace when society constantly bombards us with images of what we ‘should be’ providing for our families… especially our children… for Christmas. I am ashamed to admit that Christmas has become little more than a tremendous source of stress for me and fills me with dread as I try to figure out how to afford presents to put beneath the tree.
I’m praying for a season where God’s presence and the presence of my family all in one place becomes the true focus of our Christmas.
I will myself a break if everything is not “perfect” this holiday season. I am doing my best and I have to remember that……
What a wonderful message Renee! Thank you for helping me understand God’s scriptures better. It’s no coincedence that I was just looking up the definition of “grace” today. God has put that on my heart for a reason and I know He will help me to understand why. Maybe I’m trying to hard to earn my salvation, and He’s letting me know I have unmeritted favor from Him through His love and grace.
I am letting myself off the hook for not finishing a project before Christmas and purchasing a small gift instead. The project can wait until after Christmas when times are less stressful and I can give more focus..
Thank you for that prayer! I am going to use it for one of my Christmas gatherings with friends!
I am giving myself grace this Christmas by not getting caught up in all the craziness. No cards, no lights outside. a few years ago we started the three gifts. It was the best decision ever. I want my children to always remember what Christmas is all about and its not in the gifts.
It’s been a very difficult year for our family. We are going into a bad year because of something horrible that happened . I appreciated and needed this so much.
Merry Christmas!!
Shared the link on Facebook. Great video Renee,thank you!
** I adopted a dog,not a dig! Haha 🙂
I remember the day my husband said to me,”you have such high expectations and then you always get disappointed.”, well I was mad,and hurt….until I thought about it. Then it all made sense. I had played out scenarios of holidays,birthdays,and even normal days,to the point of what others would say and do,and when that didn’t happen I was indeed..disappointed. Hmmm, I guess he was right. And who knew I was trying to insert my will into God’s plans all along, I bet He laughed at me and shook His head. I am ever so grateful for God’s gift of grace. So much so that I adopted a dig from the shelter and named her Amazing Grace, and let me tell you,she sheds her grace on thee and everywhere! To all my sisters in Christ,have a very merry and blessed Christmas,all the while remembering that we are not the author of our lives,and to let the script be written by our Father.
Renee thank you for you obedience and sharing with all of us your walk with God. I look forward to reading, meditating on your material and the other ladies of P31. The readings are always on time for me.
The Christmas Prayer is what I need. I, too, am basking in God grace. Thank you for your unselfish commitment to share with us.
I am giving myself grace by not beating myself up if the kitchen is still a wreck when I got to bed, because I’m so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open. The laundry should have been done, but instead I was chasing after two little ones under the age of 3. I want to take more time for me, and not feeling guilty that there was one more thing on the list that just had to get done before the lights get turned out. I want to give my husband more credit and appreciation that I give him already because he has done so much for us in more ways that I can imagine.
I have really tried not to get caught up in the commercial aspect of Christmas and really encourage my family to do the same. Several around me dread Christmas because of the wordly view but I have really been trying to encourage them to remember why we celebrate Christmas. My grace to me is to slow down. I do pretty good until I forget to say no occassionally. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Another reminder to remember that every detail does not have to be done. We have to remember to focus on what is important and that is Christ’s birth.
Renee, Hi!enjoyed seeing your christmas video. I woukd like to give myself grace by making it through christmas with out getting too stressed and trying to stay calm through it all.I am very determined to get your book.
Thank you so much for this message. It spoke to me so much. I think as a women we feel we need to take care or everyone and everything, but we forget ourselves and we get our focus off of Jesus,