Early on Christmas morning, the lights on the tree twinkled in anticipation of the excitement to come. Christmas cards lined the mantel with smiling faces. The presents were stacked neatly eagerly waiting for tiny hands to open them. But one was missing, still tucked away, hidden where no one would find it until the right time. It wasn't like the others. It was special, different, set apart for a reason. The sound of little feet running upstairs broke the quiet atmosphere, and before long, the children arrived followed by sleepy parents dreaming of their first cup of coffee. Within minutes, wrapping paper covered the floor and excited voices screamed in delight as the children played with their presents. The parents looked at each other and smiled, happy to see their little ones so full of joy on this special day. The mother thought about the hidden present for a moment, and put the thought to the back of her mind. When the moment was right, she would bring it out for the family to open. The exciting day passed as the children played with their new toys and the parents prepared for the rest of the family to join them for Christmas dinner. The present stayed in its hiding place, patiently waiting for its turn. The doorbell rang announcing the arrival of the grandparents. Before long, others had arrived, more gifts were exchanged, and finally they sat around the table with heads bowed in prayer. After the prayer and a conversation-filled dinner, the mother slipped out to get the present that she had waited all day to open. She handed it to her youngest child and asked her to open it and show it to everyone. She told her daughter that this gift would be the most important and amazing gift they could get for Christmas. The girl's eyes grew wide, and she cradled the gift in her hands as if it would shatter any second. Everyone sat quietly as the youngest one stared at the curious wrapping...black paper with a flowing red ribbon. What kind of Christmas present would be wrapped in black paper? She took a deep breath and carefully unwrapped it and discovered a white box. She timidly opened the lid to find out what was hidden inside. Inside she found a simple golden cross. Confused, she held it up for all to see. At the moment, the father began to speak. The black wrapping represents the sin in our hearts. The cross stands for the most beautiful gift ever given in history...the greatest act of love - when Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. The red ribbon represents the blood he shed, and the white box reminds us that three days later He rose from the grave. And finally, the golden color of the cross reminds us that he is waiting for us to join Him in Heaven. While Christmas is a wonderful time to get together with family and receive gifts from each other, let us not forget the most important thing we celebrate on Christmas - the birth of Christ - when God came to us in the form of man to live among us and finally die so that we could live eternal life. The story doesn't end there though because He isn't dead. He is alive and well, and if we accept his gift of grace, we will live with him for eternity in Heaven. The little girl stared at the cross she held in her hands. In her youth, she had a hard time understanding everything she just heard, but she knew that this cross was important. Not many years down the road, she would not only watch the annual opening of the gift, but she would be part of the story, for she would accept Christ into her own heart and would thank Him for the greatest gift of Christmas...the gift of life. But this gift isn't just for the little girl in the story. It is a gift for all, a gift for you. We pray here at Deliberate Women that as you go about your busy Christmas day, that you will remember the gift that God has given you through His son Jesus Christ. We hope that your day will be filled with wonder, excitement, joy and most of all remembrance and gratitude as we remember the true meaning of Christmas. *CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED* Giveaway Time! We're celebrating Christmas and our 2 year anniversary by giving YOU gifts! Today we have Kari Jobe's Majestic CD *All you have to do to enter to win is comment below with your FAVORITE CHRISTMAS DAY TRADITION. We will select a winner after midnight tonight and email the winner. You MUST provide a valid email in order to win. Must be 18 years old or older. For residents in the US and Canada only. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner has 24 hours to respond or another winner will be seleceted. Merry Christmas! *CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED* There is a Casting Crowns song that I {Mandy} love that's called While You Were Sleeping. If you've never heard it, you can watch the youtube video below that includes the lyrics. It is a play off of the song O Little Town of Bethlehem. The premise of the Casting Crowns song is: Will you be sleeping when Christ returns? Will there be no room for Him in the world He came to save? This is a very deep thought that deserves pondering at any time, but especially at Christmas when we celebrate Christ coming to earth. As we celebrate Christmas this year, some with decorated trees, beautifully wrapped gifts, and family gatherings, let's take time to really focus on what Christmas represents. Yes, it's peace on Earth and good will toward men, but it's really all about God's love for us. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) This Christmas, spend some time being truly thankful for Him and for all that He has done for us--given us the best gift of all--the gift of forgiveness and the hope of eternal life with Him. GIVEAWAY TIME! We're celebrating Christmas and our 2 year anniversary by giving YOU gifts! Today we have Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs - Hard Cover and Audio.
*All you have to do to enter to win is comment below with your favorite Bible verse. We will select a winner after midnight tonight and email the winner. You MUST provide a valid email in order to win. Must be 18 years old or older. For residents in the US and Canada only. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner has 24 hours to respond or another winner will be seleceted. It's our anniversary! On December 28th, Deliberate Women will be celebrating TWO YEARS. We can hardly believe it either. We are so amazed at where God has taken us on this journey and we can't wait to see what's in store for year three and beyond. In recognition of this special week, the gifts are all for you, friends. Be sure to visit each day for a new post AND some great giveaways! It’s just three days until Christmas. Can you feel it in the air? In my (Melissa) house, my kids are counting the days. And if you take a trip to your local mall over the next 72 hours, you’ll most likely feel the hustle and bustle of the season. You’ll find people scrambling to find that “one last {perfect} gift” or frantically grabbing anything they can find as this is the first day they’ve set foot in the mall this season. And for those last minute shoppers, you can also pick up any number of magazines from the grocery store rack, open to any spread and find an article titled “The Perfect Gift for Everyone on Your List” (or something similar) with recommendations for the hostess, the cook, the gardener, the artist … But what you probably won’t find at the mall or in those magazine recommendations is the ONE perfect gift for everyone on your list this year. It’s one that is easy to shop for and, best of all, always available. And that is the gift of TRUTH. What if this year, instead of searching the mall or online sites for the perfect gift, we simply opened our Bibles and found one perfect verse -- that one truth -- that each woman (and maybe even you!) needs to hear during this season? For those people in your life right now -- the woman who longs for a closer relationship with God but is struggling with feelings of inadequacy, with burdens from her past, with questions about who she is -- would you share one of these verses from scripture with them? It may be the best gift she receives this Christmas! For the woman struggling to find contentment Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. For the girl who questions her self-worth Psalm 139:13-14 You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. For the mom who wonders whether all of it is really worth it Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. For the stressed-out friend 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (And because I think there may be many of us out there who fit into this category, I’m including another!) Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. For the one who thinks she needs to do it all Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For the woman who experienced a loss this season Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. For the one who thinks she needs to be perfect Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For anyone feeling weak 2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. For the friend feeling burdened by her past mistakes Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. For all of us Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. AND John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (This is by no means an exhaustive list. For every situation, there are many other verses that are applicable and even more that we didn’t share. Perhaps there is another that speaks more powerfully to you. If so, would you share your go-to verse in the comments section? We’d love to share the words that encourage you, too!) Merry Christmas! I (Melissa) love when something from my “everyday” teaches a life lesson. Today, it’s a Word document.
If you’ve ever created something using a word processing program, then you probably know a thing or two about margins. Regardless of which program you use, there are “default” margins set, designed to create the right amount of white space around your words; to make it more legible; to give those words some room to breath so that the ideas can be fully understood when read. But I have a little confession to make. I like to push the margins on my documents – squeeze out a little more space here and there. You know, half-an-inch on the top, a quarter-inch on the sides. Whatever I need to make sure that everything I want to say fits on the page. Here’s the interesting thing, though. When you squeeze the margins and attempt to print the document, you immediately receive a warning message: “It appears that there is text outside of the allowed margins. Do you wish to proceed with printing?” And there it is. The printer is keeping me in check – reminding me that I am trying to squeeze too much onto one page. So now I have another little confession to make. I not only push the margins on my documents, but I find that, many times, I’m pushing the margins in my own life, trying to fit too much in one day, one week, one month. And just like my printer warns me to keep my documents from becoming too crowded, there are warnings that pop up in an attempt to keep me in check in my day-to-day. Signs that I am taking on too much, trying to do, be, accomplish more than is possible. What are some of the warning messages that I get when my margins are being pushed too far?
I’m sad to admit that in this week alone, I’ve received every single one of those warning messages. In Monday’s devotional, I talked about my desire to pursue more solitude, just like Jesus did. And getting my margins in check is the first step. So I’m putting a few strategies in place to help readjust my margins. #1: Take it to God. I’ve been praying for help in opening up my schedule, for a way to find more time in my day and/or use my time more efficiently. Of course, for the past few days I’ve been waking up at 5:30 a.m. No alarm needed. And I’m talking wide-awake! Looks like my next step is to look at this “extra” time as a gift and embrace it! #2: Make real priorities my priority. I’ve heard it said time and time again that if everything is important, nothing is important. I’m beginning to understand that one of my weaknesses is making everything important and, as a result, I’m missing out on some of the things that I love the most. More importantly, I’m missing out on the things that God wants me to embrace. When I catch myself saying things like, “I would love to do {X}, but just can’t find the time,” I know that it’s time to re-examine what things ARE taking up the bulk of my time and making sure that they are TRUE priorities for both me and for God. #3: Let go of the idea that I have to do it all. I put up fewer Christmas decorations this year than I have in past years. But the ones that I did include in our home fit beautifully. They have room to breathe, to be seen (just like those words on the page that fit within those default margins) and my family is enjoying them just as they have the excess in past years. I need to use this as a reminder that “more” isn’t always better. Many times, I’m the only one who notices the “more.” I’ll be the first to admit that while none of these steps are easy, they are all necessary if I am truly going to increase those beautiful moments of white space. That's why I'm committing to cleaning up my page. Perhaps a New Year's Resolution in the making? However I approach it though, it will be an ongoing process. So I’ll take it a little bit at a time … maybe in half-inch increments! What about you? What are your strategies for readjusting your margins and creating more white space in your lives? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below! ***The winner of the From Treetops Glisten book giveaway is: Charissa Skelton! Charissa, your comment was selected using Random.org. Congrats! Please email deliberatewomen@gmail.com with your mailing address within 24 hours! Thank you all who read and entered!*** By Natalie Snappwww.nataliesnapp.comRecently, someone asked what I would do if I had an afternoon all to myself with nothing on the agenda. My first reaction was disbelief because could this ever really happen? But then . . . I started to think about it and of course, it’s a no-brainer. I am a lover of words, a devourer of books. I love the way they smell. I love how the pages sound when they’re turned, one by one. I love their covers and spines, their distinct personalities only a fellow book-lover would understand. How you can lose yourself in a good storyline for an hour or three. So if I had an afternoon all to myself with nothing to do and nowhere to be, it’s easy. I would be with a book. Like summer, the two weeks of Christmas and the New Year is prime season for reading. School is out so we can stay up later and honestly, I don’t mind if my children want to play Minecraft a little bit longer so I can lose myself in a good read. If you’re a book-devourer like me, then perhaps these books might rivet your soul, too. Here are five books you MUST read. Like, right now . . . Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman and Sarah SundinOK, so maybe I love this book so much because it takes place in the town where I currently reside. Cara Putman is also a local and I adore her BUT . . . This is not why I’m recommending it, friends. I love, love, love the stories told of the Turner family during the holidays. Set during World War II, I found it so interesting to learn what wartime was like for stateside civilians and the characters are so well-developed you’ll feel like they’re good friends by the end of the book. Perfect holiday read! Unbroken by Lauren HillenbrandI have to admit, books about World War II fighter pilots don’t always sound so riveting but this one, friends. Oh, my. I really feel like this book should be required reading for ALL people in the United States. I won’t spoil the ending because I had no idea the turn it would take, but I was so pleasantly surprised by how Louis Zamperini was able to forgive his captors while he was a prisoner of war in Japan. The man was a true hero – and he just passed away this past July at the age of 97. The movie releases on Christmas day but since it’s Hollywood, the best part of how he was able to forgive was omitted – so you’ll need to read the book. Peace Like a River by Leif EngerI’ve read it twice now because it’s that good. Peace Like a River is a beautifully written work of fiction about a family who is torn apart by two town bullies who are out to get the father. In an act of protection, his sixteen year old son kills the two teens after they break into their home but he is eventually convicted of murder. Soon after this conviction, he breaks out of jail and the family goes on the run to find him. I love the supernatural powers the father possesses – he communes with God regularly and is very strong in his faith, making the reader wonder if he is some sort of angel. There is so much symbolism in how the story ends that we could talk about it for days. Definitely a must-read! The Language of Flowers by Vanessa DiffenbaughFive years ago when my daughter turned five, we had a birthday party for her at our home. One of the mothers of the guests asked if I would mind too terribly much if she sat and read while the party was going on and of course, I enviously told her it was no problem (but I secretly wanted to fling cake at her because I wanted to read, too. I know. Selfish. ) She apologetically explained she was reading an early version of a manuscript her sister-in-law had just completed and was in the process of looking for a publisher. Three years later, I picked up The Language of Flowers because of its beautiful cover and recognized the last name immediately. Sure enough, the woman who read during the party was credited as an early reader. It’s now one of my very favorite books of all-time. The complicated story of a woman who spent her childhood in the foster care system, “Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness” (from Amazon description). You won’t be able to put it down. Trust me. The Devil in Pew Number Seven by Rebecca Nichols AlonzoA transformational story of forgiveness, this true tale of a pastor stalked and heckled by a neighbor who didn’t care for his ways will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. Young Rebecca Nichols grew-up in a constant state of fear because Horry Watts eventually did more than just heckle – he started to bomb the parsonage where her family lived and ultimately, altered her family forever. While Horry did unspeakable things to this family, it’s Rebecca’s strength and ability to forgive that is most impactful. Yet another page-turner. There you have it, friends. Five books to keep you riveted during the more relaxed (hopefully, right?!) days ahead. Even if you aren’t much of a reader, these are titles I think you’ll love. To get you going, how about we have a little giveaway? I’m giving away two SIGNED copies of Where Treetops Glisten to Deliberate Women readers. All you have to do? Leave a comment telling us about your favorite Christmas tradition. Yep, that’s it. Well, it would be nice if you checked out some of Cara Putman's others books and her blog, too. She's a wonderful writer and I'm blessed to call her a friend. Visit her at www.caraputman.com. You'll be so thankful you did. Deliberate Woman will announce the winner on Friday as well as on my Facebook page. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Sweet Friends! Natalie Chambers Snapp is first and foremost a follower of Jesus, then wife to Jason, and mom to one spunky daughter and two spirited sons with a crazy amount of energy. Choosing to follow Jesus at 27, Natalie is passionate about sharing the grace, mercy, and truth of God’s love regardless of your track record. She lives in the Midwest with her crew and tries to channel her inner Brother Lawrence when she writes about finding faith in the everyday moments. The outpourings of her heart can be found at www.nataliesnapp.com in the free moments between being a wife and mother. Her first book, Heart Sisters: Being the Friend You Want to Have, will be published by Abindgon Press April 21, 2015. Twitter: nataliesnapp Pinterest: nataliecsnapp Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorNatalieSnapp |
This space is reserved for Founder Mandy's perspectives and viewpoints of Scripture. Man is fallible, but God is not. It's strongly encouraged that you study the Scripture for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your understanding.
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