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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I am giving myself grace this year by spending more time treasuring the time I get with my family instead of worrying about trying to please everyone the whole time. Thanks for the best reminder for the season.
I am giving myself grace this year by just doing the best I can and reminding myself that presents aren’t the important thing this year but to give more of myself to others. Time with my kids and family is more meaningful to them than lots of presents.
Oh I was so touched by this that it brought tears to my eyes… I hold a Ladies accountability group at my house on Monday mornings and this would be such a blessing to friends. Ohhh how we need grace!
I already won the Gift~ Jesus Christ! I am just overjoyed this morning I needed to hear this!
Thank you for all you do in touching lives.
Merry Christmas ~ And God Bless You
I gave myself grace by putting up less decorations this year, and not giving out so many gifts. I usually try to buy something, even little, for so many people and it gets overwhelming. My daughter was also looking for ways to earn extra money for Christmas, so I gave her lots of little chores and had her help with Christmas cards, etc. It was such a load off of me, she was more than willing to help, that the little bit of $ I gave her was well worth all of the help. She does usual chores around the house, but this was all extra things that I just hadn’t been able to get to myself. It was a “win-win” for both of us!
Thank you so much Renee. This is exactly what my heart needed to hear today amidst the Christmas chaos. I shared it on my facebook wall and know that it will bless many others also.
I LOVE that my Daughter is raising her Children Knowing the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS..& that is NOT about gifts they get..BUT The Gift GOD Gave US..& They are learning its better to give than receive..& most Christmas’s they pass up getting presents from their parents..& have them give what they would have gotten to those less fortunate..Warms my Soul..TY JESUS!!!
I need to hear that this am, GRACE and to rest in his PLAN for ME . Thanks GOD is great and using you in a mighty way . Thanks for your time and your love for Jesus and using the JOY in your live Jesus Others Y ou
I am giving myself grace by laying it ALL at the altar. I have sacrificed my entire life raising kids and grand children. I did so voluntarily. I put my life on hold. Well, after 21 years of not dating I have decided it is time for ME! I met a man that told me I need to lose 50 pounds (I am 15 pounds over weight), my baby girl just had a baby last week so I have been cooking for her and watching her four year old, my son is in Iraq and seems emotionally drained and my daughter that is still living with me does little to help me. So, despite my desire to live for ME now, I am still devoting my time, attention and energy to help the people in need. His grace, wisdom, peace and joy are all I need to get me through!!!! His will be done!
This year, for the first time in over 23 years, I did not decorate the tree. I let my children do it. This is also the third year we have not bought gifts for extended family. (our children still receive 3 gifts) My husband lost his job a few years ago and was unemployed for 9 months, which fell over Christmas. God used that year to teach us what He wants us to do at Christmas. Since then, we celebrate the reason. Each year we add a new way to celebrate Jesus. Each year we teach our children to give in honor of Jesus instead of expecting to receive. For the past couple years, Christmas has been not stressful. Christmas has been a restful time with my family celebrating the greatest gift we have received, Jesus!
I let my kids put up the tree and didn’t allow myself to fuss over it. It looks great! I’m reminding myself to stop and take moments through out the day to breathe and reflect and pray. I’m remembering the reason for Christmas, and it’s not to spoil my kids rotten. As a military wife I’m under a great amount of stress. And I’m forgiving myself some of my “moments” and attempting to find that grace on a daily basis. Thank you.
I am giving myself grace to focus on the important things this Christmas season – Time spent with Family & Friends. Carving out quiet time with the Lord. Showing love to others. Praising & thanking God for sending Jesus. I am giving myself grace to not feel guilty or worry about the other things I just find I don’t have time for.
I will give myself grace and not overwhelm myself with trying to outdo myself in spending money on materialistic things for my family and friends. I have so many who I would love to give a present to and I always come down hard on myself thinking that one gift isn’t enough or a guilty feeling of I could have done more… Not realizing I’m not even defining that true meaning of this holiday. And that is to honor the king my heavenly father. Every year my pastor tells the church that our gift to God for christmas should not be a smaller amount than to those which we spend some much money on with gifts. I honestly got a wake up call from this video.. I don’t want to have an empty heart after all the celebrations. That would make me feel even worst than from the moments I will feel for not being able to do for people like I want. WELL this year GOD will be getting the greatest gift of them all. I will be marking down all of my gifts for people and I will give God the most expensive.. He is so deserving of it. He’s the one who supplies every single one of my needs and loves me unconditionally.. How could even think to give him leftovers. NOT THIS YEAR and I mean it. Thank you Renee for this beautiful reminder of GRACE and the power of those words. I thank you for helping me to understand that empty feeling inside of me after doing what I thought was good deeds and that was because I hadn’t fulfilled my duties as a child of God by honoring him with the best gift of mine xoxo
Wow! What a wonderful gift,GRACE! Thank you
Today’s message,Renee,could not have. come
a better time. I have had the worst case of the flu I’ve ever had and I was sitting in bed this morning feeling sorry for myself when I checked my email and heard your video. In thinking back over the plans I made for this holiday season I realized I was feeling sorry for myself because none of my plans had come to fruit. Last night I missed the cookie exchange at my mothers house my plan had been to work for two weeks before the children let out for Christmas vacation at the public school where I substitute. I plan to have extra spending money to pay some bills that desperately needed to be paid in January. after listening to your video I realized that I had made the mistake of putting all of my expectations around my plans and not God’s. Tears came to my eyes when I realized that he knows the plans he has for me and I realized I needed to give myself the grace of the recovery time I truly need. I realized I had left him out of all my Christmas plans. Thank you for your timely message and God bless you
Just shared your gift giveaway with friends on facebook.
Hi, Renee! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and your experiences with us. I hope you are being blessed just as we are! I would love to win a copy of your book for me and my friends, theres nothing better than giving a meaningful gift! Its hard being a single mom and between trying to get a college degree, work and raise a child, i mean, a teen, to find time to calm down and accept that things that i would love to do might not get done for this Christmas…
I shared on FB 🙂
I am a young, single woman who recently joined staff with an amazing ministry to reach college female athletes, which means I am in the process of raising up a team of ministry partners to help fund my outreach. Praise the Lord, He is the great provider and all of my basic needs have been met, but I do not have even an extra penny to my name. Thus, buying gifts for my loved ones this year is nearly impossible. I love people through giving gifts and although it is extremely difficult, I’m giving myself grace to not feel guilty about not being able to buy people big, wonderful gifts this year. My prayer is to be a light to my family, that Christmas is about so much more than presents under the tree… its about the gift of eternal life. Merry Christmas.
Thank you so much for sharing that video. I needed to hear that. As a single mother of 3kids (2 teens -1chronically ill & a 10 yr old) I’ve surpassed many of the expectations people have put on me because of the statistics and odds against me. Because of that I’ve almost placed sky high expectations on myself this holiday season but theyve been directed in the wrong place. Remembering the real reason for CHRIST-mas is and should be my top priority but like others I’ve gotten caught up in the gifts and gatherings. This year I have to diligently remind myself to maintain in the spirit of gratitude to the one who has carried me and met me all those times I’ve fallen short of strength, patience, finances, wisdom not just during the holiday season but throughout the year. Though the world calls me a single mom, I’m really not.. He is my other half, my best half. Thanks for reading..
We will be moving to a new station over the holidays with a visit to our hometown, which is a great opportunity to give myself grace about making everything so “perfect” for everyone for Christmas. We have each other and we are celebrating the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, so that is plenty perfect!