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!)
This Christmas finds me just asking for grace for those close to me who are experiencing major heartache and health issues. Thus, I have decided to give myself room to not do all the trimmings this Christmas, and just some little touches of decoration will enough. I even bought gifts where they gift bagged my presents! But the greatest blessing has been giving to others who are in need.
ahhhh…grace!
My one word for 2011 was GRACE ~ choosing to rest ~ keeping my eyes on HIM.
Embracing the joy, the pain, the uncertainty and CHOOSING TO rely on the PROMISES OF GOD!
Be STILL and know that I am God. ~ Psalm 46:10
So true that we are the hardest on ourselves sometimes. I am truly in the need of grace and I know that I can find rest in presence of the Lord. Thank you for the reminder to slow down a little and embrace the true meaning of Christmas.
I realize that the grace the Lord has given to me/us is difficult to accept for many of us, including me. After watching your video and reading the emails sent to you, it is apparent we continue to need to seek the Lord and His peace, His love, and His grace ever more diligently. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and amazing writing talent! Bless you and your family this Christmas!
Onto the book of face, your video went!
Be encouraged!
Boy oh boy, did I need to hear what you “held up.” *sigh* GRACE. I do this to my heart each and every year–except the year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and walking with God through treatment…that year, I had no expectations, no rush, rush, hurry, scurry mentality–I just wanted to BE. My family and I did and when we look back, that is the “best” Christmas ever.
4 years later, I’ve managed to let my heart creep back to ” If I only had this” or if “my house looked like hers” or “why do I always WAIT to shop so long?” I get crazy I tell you!
I need to give myself grace. I need His presence. His promises..His power…(that wasn’t on your list was it?)
Thank you Renee.
Blessings to your heart this Christmas
I am needing to give myself grace right now–grace to allow myself to get through the depression I am struggling with, without beating myself up about struggling. God is here, right where I am at, and I can laugh or cry, and he is there to share whatever kind of moment I am having. Like I have said before, he loves me when I feel like Tigger, and he STILL loves me in the times I feel like Eeyore. God is good.
This year my husband and I will be spending Christmas with our grown children and three grandchildren. The grace part will be having the get together at my daughter’s house and not our own. Also leaving all the meal planning to her and my daughter-in-law. I think I will really enjoy concentrating on the grandchildren and not on kitchen duty. I’ll bet they want help cleaning up! Lol!
I want to learn how to give myself Grace! I give it to everyone else but when it comes to myself I don’t. Thanks for this opportunity!
i am giving myself grace this year by just giving in to life. i am the 4th one down this week being sick. i’m not super woman. tonight i’m suppose to be baking sugar cookies with the family but we’re all sick & that is not happening. But it is okay. life happens and stressing about what i’m not able to do is not going to help.
nicolepipkin{AT}gmail{DOT}com
Renee, Thank you for sharing your message of GRACE. So often, I feel empty on Christmas day because I feel like I missed ‘Christmas’, the true meaning of Christmas, due to the hectic “to do list” of the season. This year I made a choice to have my “to do list” completed by the 14th so I could focus on God’s gift for the season. 🙂
I so much need His grace every moment. Missing my mom. All the shoulda woulda and couldas keep running through my mind.
I am so excited to do this bible study! I am counting the days down. I have invited a few friends to do it with me. Renee thank you for all you do! You truly help me in many areas of my life. May God bless you in all you do. With Love Shawnia. Phil.4:13. I shared with friends on FB about. The bible Study.
This was so beautifully written it really touched my heart. I shared this on facebook.
I am giving myself grace this Christmas starting today. I am going to bask in the feeling of feeling loved with all the wonderful birthday wishes I received from FB friends today. I am giving myself grace with knowing that it is enough this year. It has been a hard couple of years and I am just going to let things happen how they will. I am realizing that I cannot control much at all. I have to know that my sweet daughter is loved by God as much as I am and that He will be with her when I can’t over the holidays. (I have to let her spend time with her Daddy on Christmas Eve). This is a first for me. Grace,grace, grace, God just give me the grace in excepting that you loved me enough to send Your Son to die for me. And if i was the only person, You would not have changed a thing. For that I am truly grateful.
Shared on Facebook as well
I am giving myself grace by not feeling pressured into giving my family big expensive gifts this year but some homemade goodiesmade out of love. A lot more fun especially involving my kids in being creative!
I am giving myself grace this year by not stressing over gift giving and all the commercialism that Christmas has become I feel we have lost touch on the real meaning of the Christmas season . Renee God has truly blessed you with a great gift thank you for being an inspiration to so many women. I bought your book twice “” A Confident Heart ” I read it then gave the one I read to my sister I enjoyed it so much I bought another one for my other sister I do need to purchase it once again so I can have a copy of my own that I can read and reference it often. Thank you again
have a blessed and Merry Christmas to you and your family
I also shared the link 🙂
I am trying to give myself grace for all my imperfections: not eating healthy, not spending as much time with my kids as I would like, not praying for my husband as much as I should and not feel guilty about keeping the season simple. I don’t want to compare what we do as a family with what others do but it can be hard.
I shared the video. My friends will love it.
This message hit me hard!! I’ve been trying so hard not to focus on the gift giving, shopping pressures, party pressures, and so on, of the season. My plan has been to focus on what really matters, Jesus. He is the reason for the season right? Well, now I have this lovely poem that you have shared to help me to ease my anxieties. Thank you Renee. Have a Merry CHRISTmas!!
Thanks for the video. It is too easy to get caught up in the secular parts of Christmas. I relate to you going to your closet to find peace and quiet and hear God’s voice.
Thanks so much, Renee, for the perfect timing of your post. I have a tendency to stress about anything and everything as if the stressing changes anything. Just like so many others, we are going through tough times at work, financially, etc. Our expectations of ourselves are so unrealistic to begin with. I need peace and rest. I’m giving myself grace this year to simply be and enjoy family and friends and the real reason for this Christmas season and to grow in my faith journey. Have a wonderful Christmas!!
I am giving myself grace by not sending Christmas cards or stressing about not buying gifts. I lost my job 2 months ago, and trying not to worry about bills.
Renee, where did you find the G R A C E cutout…I love it!!
I’m a 1st grade teacher. During this time of year is a little stressful to get everything done before our break. This year I’m trying to give my self some grace and enjoy this time of year with my students and not try to rush everything. Merry Christmas!
I am giving myself grace by not worrying that it will just be me and my two children celebrating Christmas this year. We will make it a great day knowing the true reason for the season. Thanks Renee
I’m giving myself grace by not worrying that the tree is not up yet nor any of my decorations. I’ve had sick children, one right after another, and I haven’t felt too good either. We are all getting better now, but I’m still not going to stress or worry about decorations. I like the idea in the video of having pauses in our day to remember Emmanuel God with us. Thanks Renee for offering another chance to win your book!
Blessings,
Michele
I am giving myself grace this Christmas by not sending out Christmas cards and only getting gifts for those closest to us. I need to stop and slow down and remember what the real Reason for the Season is!
I am giving both me and my husband grace this year at Christmas. My husband is taking chemo for colon cancer and the busyness of visiting with family (lots of them) and the long travels combined with my overload of cooking and preparing for these trips is just too much for him both physically and mentally. This year we will visit with a couple that are in their 80’s and just spend some quiet time with them. Good grace for all 4 of us.
This Christmas I am going to celebrate with not worrying about what others think about my tree, not going to worry about anything. I am going to put my worries in Gods hands and going to enjoy my family.
I am showing myself grace by keeping a shorter to-do list so that I have the time to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with my family and friends in relationship, not in the rush of getting things done.
I am giving myself God’s grace by allowing God to be in control of when my husband and I will be matched with our forever child in our adoption journey. I will give myself grace in the waiting and find contentment with today and what I have and not what I want…a child.
If this is a duplicate, please delete. I don’t think I have entered, but I would say I am giving myself grace when it comes to getting everything done. I am doing whatever I can do with the help of God!
I shared your video on facebook.
Thanks for your video! It was a timely reminder to slow down and recall the true meaning of Christmas! Again, thanks for reminding me to seek Grace this year and give myself some grace also.
Shared the info with my friends on facebook. Thank you for the video and the reminder to put the focus on Him and on things of true importance. Hope you have a blessed Christmas with your family!
I cannnot be responsible for the response of others; critisms, judgement,whatevs. His grace is sufficient. Sometimes I wish others would rest in His peace too. Thanks for the great point to bring reflection on this Christmas.
I am giving myself grace this year by focusing on spending time and being connected to those that are important to me. I am not going to worry so much about all of the details that don’t matter and focus on creating memories and building relationships with loved ones.
I love your thoughts about grace and letting yourself off the hook.I’m a perfectionist. So this year I am giving myself the grace to let go of everything having to be just, and that some may not be coming home, but that I will be wishing them a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New year, and to enjoy and be safe. And I am wishing this for everyone!
I shared your video on facebook.
God’s grace truly is an amazing gift that we all need. We truly don’t deserve His favor, but I’m so glad He gives it to us. Grace can also be His power to redeem any situation or circumstance to bring about good. Boy do we all need that! Thanks Renee for reminding us to seek Grace this Christmas season.
I’m giving myself grace (and hopefully spreading the grace to others) by not stressing over buying Christmas gifts for family and friends who really don’t need anything. My gifts this year are donations to a local charity that provides assistance to those down on their luck who are having trouble making their heating and electricity payments. Thank you for your website and your work to spread the word and grace to others.
Thank you so much for sharing this Renee….
Grace… so much goes into this…
I know that as a mom of 3 young children.. I need to show more grace to them at times..
But esp to myself in the expectations I have for myself and things esp this time of year…
Letting go of things and letting God direct our time…
Be with family and just enjoy this season of celebration of His birth…..
I really needed to hear this message today….
I am spending more time studying the word of God.
I thank the Lord that He is a gracious God. I will receive His grace. I hope I win the Christmas give-away.
KC
I didnt think i needed to give myself grace until i saw your video today……..now i know i need it and will try to think of away to get there. :-/
No Christmas cards being sent out. No decorations up except the small tree and that’s all that’s going to happen this year.
I shared on facebook!