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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Read An Excerpt: Chapter 1 & 2

Don’t Forget to Unwrap {the} Gift

Cmas Radio Post

My home was full of people, my living room was full of gifts, and my stomach was full of food!

So, why did I feel so EMPTY?

One Christmas I found myself asking these questions. I hated feeling so depleted, so I opened my Bible and asked God to show me what was wrong.

As I read the story of Christ’ birth where it describes Mary covering Jesus in cloths and placing Him in the manger, I imagined Mary wrapping the “gift” of God’s Son. God used that image to show me that in the midst of all of our family’s holiday activities, I had forgotten to unwrap the most important gift of all – the gift of God’s presence.

Just like that first Christmas, God offers the same gift today – His presence and His peace.

No matter what is going on around us today, let’s not forget to unwrap the most important gift of all this Christmas – Immanueal – our God with us.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

~Renee

Comments

  1. Renee,

    Just wanted to say that this great message does not only apply to the Christmas season, as we can unwrap the precious gift of God’s wonderful presence all throughout the year. Life can be hard for many of us as we experience layoffs, downsizing, divorce, death/loss of loved ones and it can look as though God has forgotten us … but He hasn’t. He’s right there with us. We only have to keep remembering to open His gifts every single day.

    Happy New Year! May 2014 be even more than you wish it to be.

    Gale Weithers, Barbados

  2. Renee:
    I hope that you and your family had a very Merry Christmas. I caught myself a few times hearing your words in my head that gave me new sight into the Christmas season. It was a different Christmas for us as we had friends to have their home burn on Christmas Eve – all was safe. Then, we received word that another friend got up on Christmas morning and passed away with a heart attack so very unexpected. We had just lost a church member a week before this in his passing. Yet, we have tried to find ways to help these families and let them know that God is still in control and is with them every minute during these hard days ahead.
    May I wish you and your family a Happy New Year and look forward to continuing to hear about your ministry and your family during the upcoming year.
    God bless and take care.
    Pat Hill in Conyers