Merry Christmas (and Happy New Year)!

We weren't quite able to get the Christmas family photo we were hoping for. I think we'll try again tonight before our Christmas Eve service.

Christmas Eve is just as special to me as Christmas. Tonight after we worship Jesus together with family and friends, (if life goes according to my plans which it rarely does), we'll come home and gather around our advent wreath. I'll take a deep breath and inhale the wonder of all that God's provided for us this year.

JJ will open His Bible to read the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2. Slowly, we'll let each word remind us of that first Christmas night and God’s promise that came true in Bethlehem. “She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger…” Luke 2:7 (NIV).

Then one of the boys will read the promise in Isaiah 7:14: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call him Immanuel, God with us.”

Closing our eyes, we'll picture Mary wrapping baby Jesus. Her hands carefully folding each corner of cloth and placing a kiss on his forehead, like a beautiful bow on a gift.

And then we'll read the prayer I wrote a few years ago to remind us again that not only at Christmas, but all throughout the year, Jesus came to dwell with us and in us! I know many of you read this already when I posted it here. But I needed it as a reminder today. Maybe someone else does, too.

The Manger of My Heart

The first Christmas gift, the greatest gift ever,
You came as a baby born in a manger.
Wrapped like the gifts I find under my tree,
Waiting to be opened, to reveal Your love to me.

This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Search me and know the most intimate parts.
Reveal to me if I have ever hung a sign within,
Claiming it off limits, implying “no room at the Inn.”

Restore to me the wonder that came with Jesus’ birth,
when He left the riches of Heaven
and wrapped Himself in rags of earth.
Emmanuel, God with us, Your presence came that night.
As angels announced, “Into your darkness,
God brings His Light.”

“Do not be afraid,” they said, to shepherds in the field.
Speak to my heart today, Lord, and help me to yield.
Make me like those shepherd boys, obedient to your call.
Casting distractions and worries aside,
to You I surrender them all.

Surround me with Your presence, Lord,
I long to hear your voice.
Clear my mind of concerns and all the holiday noise.
Slow me down this Christmas, let me not be in a rush.
In the midst of parties and planning,
I want to feel Your hush.

This Christmas, Jesus, come to the manger of my heart.
Invade my soul like Bethlehem, bringing peace to every part.
Dwell within and around me,
as I unwrap Your presence each day.
Keep me close to You, Jesus.
It’s in your wonderful Name I pray.

© 2010, Renee Swope ~ www.ReneeSwope.com

So, what are your Christmas Eve plans? And if you don't read this until after Christmas, what were your plans and did they go as planned? I'd love to hear about it.

Hugs and Christmas blessings!

A Confident Heart Gift Pack WINNER!!

Our "Confident Heart Gift Pack" winner is Margo Cole! Please send your mailing address to Renee@Proverbs31.org so we can get your gift mailed out after the holidays.

Margo, your "Confident Heart Gift Pack" includes: a 45minute DVD message that my 2min video clip was taken from so you can hear the whole story, along with my message Letting God Fill the Empty Places in Your Heart on CD, a gift certificate for a signed copy of A Confident Heart (coming July 2011), and a Starbucks gift card!

And don't be sad if you didn't win!! I'll be giving away a "Confident Heart Gift Pack each month in 2011 until my book is released in July!!

I had a fun story and give-away planned for today but some important projects came up at work that needed my all-day attention, and it's almost time for dinner. So, I'll share that tomorrow another day, hopefully before Christmas. Have you noticed that something always happens when I tell about my next post ahead of time? Drives me crazy. And I think it's giving me a fear of commitment. :-> So anyway, if you want to be notified when I actually do post, just sign up in my sidebar for email updates or friend me on Facebook!

Letting God Fill the Empty Places in My Heart

I have a give-away and a special "welcome" for new friends hopping over from my Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion. I hope you'll make yourself comfortable and stay a while. Before we get started, I wanted to show you my book cover!! I can't believe the cover is in catalogs and the book will be on shelves July 2011! All I can say is wow God.

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In my devotion today, I wrote about our longing to be chosen. From the time I can remember, I wanted someone to choose me. To value me. To want me. Someone other than my parents, that is.

Do you remember the first time you wanted someone to choose you? Maybe it was a game on the playground, a position on a team or an invite to a party.

Wanting to be chosen plays into our question of whether we're good enough to be chosen, doesn't it? But, when someone says or does something that makes us feel good enough, it fills an empty place in our hearts where the longing was before.

Then they change their mind or hurt our feelings, and our filled-up place leaks. Our good enough drains out and our confidence goes with it. A sense of inadequacy leaves us feeling empty again.

There are several things that have happened to make me feel like I wasn't good enough. I recently started sharing a part of my story that I hadn't shared before, and I've discovered almost every woman can relate. I don't have the whole message available today, but I have a 2min video segment that I'd like to share with you.

Note: The first 20 sec are photos/titles because we use this for event promotions, but it's pretty quick. Just click the arrow to watch, and then scroll down to read the rest of my post. But be sure to watch this first, or it won't make sense.



More than anything, I just want you to know I understand. I have felt the cavernous emptiness that comes with painful rejection from someone you love. It's hard to believe I can smile about it now, and share lessons I've learned. When it happened, I was devastated. Crushed. Wounded. Convinced I'd never be good enough.

I remember going to my pastor, asking him to help me process the pain and excruciating sadness. I wanted him to tell me how awful my fiancé was and how I had the right to feel betrayed and deceived. I’ll never forget him saying, “Renee, you can’t put your hope in a man; you can only put your hope in God. A man’s love will always disappoint you.”

Honestly, I wanted to throw something at him. I didn’t want him to correct me; I wanted him to side with me. How can you love someone and not put your hope in them? I questioned.

Deep down, though, I knew he was right. I'd always put my hope in a man’s love and been disappointed. I;d tried to find my good enough in what others thought about me and now I had to face my fear of not being chosen.

I needed to separate myself and my worth from a man’s decision to want me or not. I had to hold his words and preferences up to God’s Word and cling to the promise that He chose me and would never reject me. In time, healing came. As I recovered from being unwanted by a man, I embraced the fullness that comes in knowing I am completely accepted by God. I learned how to let Him fill the empty places in my heart and help me find my good enough in Him.

God gave us the deep desire to be chosen, loved and accepted so He could fill and fulfill that desire. He chooses us. He loves us. And through Christ, He accepts us. If we didn't long for love and acceptance, we'd never recognize our need for His.

"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love." Psalm 33:18
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A Confident Heart Gift Pack

Today, I'm giving away the complete 45minute DVD message that my 2min video clip was taken from so you can hear the whole story, along with my message Letting God Fill the Empty Places in Your Heart on CD, a gift certificate for a signed copy of A Confident Heart (coming July 2011), and a Starbucks gift card! Here's how you can enter to win:

1) Send this post or a link (with God's promises below) to someone who might need to know just how much God loves them.

2) Tell a friend (via email, twitter or Facebook) about today's give-away and how they can enter to win here.

3) Share today's devotion,You're the One I Want with someone who needs to be reminded that God sees them and chooses them again and again!

4) Click the word "comments" at the bottom of this post, to tell me which one, two or three you did. Each time you share the love, you'll be entered to win! For another chance, let me know if and how God spoke to your heart through today's messages.

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Confident Heart Promises

In my book, A Confident Heart, I share how I found lasting soul-security by learning to live in the power of God's promises. Here are a few I copied from chapter 6 to share with you and for you to share with those you love:

When I feel unimportant, God says: I am CHOSEN.
“You are my witness,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He.” Is 43:10

When I feel worthless, God says: I am LOVED.
“You are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you.” Is 43:4

When I feel forgotten, God says: I am REMEMBERED.
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Is 49:16

When I feel abandoned, God says: I am NEVER ALONE.
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge... Ps 73:28

When I feel inadequate, God says: I am SECURE.
“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” Deut 33:12

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Check back Monday for more encouragement, my final Christmas give-away and the name of today's winner! If you'd like to be notified, you can sign up in my sidebar for email updates, follow me in Google connect, or friend me on Facebook!

Another Winner & Favorite Christmas Traditions

I have loved reading through your favorite Christmas traditions from my "Simply Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas" post. Thank you so much for taking time to share those with us!! Now, it's time to announce the winner of "Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas" by Sharon Jaynes. Congratulation to the bloggy friend who posted:

One of my favorite traditions is that we pick a day before Christmas to write letters to Jesus. Each year we write about something we want to give to Him, then we read our letters Christmas morning. It stops the Christmas frenzy and helps us get quiet and focus on the heart of our savior. We save the letters and reread them each year. They're a wonderful record of the passing years (some letters have pictures and baby scrawls). Our family looks forward to both the letter writing time and when we read them.

I love this idea! We give Jesus a gift from our hearts during Christmas breakfast, but we don't write a letter and read it. We're going to add that to our tradition this year.

Just in case you haven't figured it out, if you are awcamp you are the winner! Please email your mailing address to Renee@proverbs31.org so we can get your book in the mail to you before Christmas!

We've got a Winner!

Thank you so much to each of you for sharing the gift of encouragement with friends and family from my devotion"Unwrapping His Christmas Presence" and blog post last Tuesday! I was so touched by your stories and how much you participated in giving the gift of Immanuel, our God with us!

I wish you all could have won!! Since I'm on a budget, that wasn't possible but be sure to scroll down to Friday's post Simply Celebrating a Christ-centered Christmas for more encouragement and find out how you can win my next Give-away!

Now back to last Tuesday's winner....Congratulations Miranda White!!!

You will be receiving a gift pak that includes...

• The ADVENTure of Christmas book
• Bath & Body Works Mint Chocolate Candle
• Bath & Body Works festive candle holder
• My Unwrapping His Presence message on DVD
• My Rest Assured message on CD
• $5 Starbucks Gift Card

Sweet and cozy Christmas blessings,

Simply Celebrating a Christ-Centerd Christmas

Earlier this week I wrote about the Christmas that I got overwhelmed by preparations and tangled up in unrealistic expectations. I never wanted to have that kind of Christmas again so I decided to get intentional about making Jesus the center of my attention each December that followed. And it's made a big difference.

The first thing I do is look for reminders of Christ everywhere I go. Each time I see a Christmas symbol, I pause and ponder its significance. For instance, when I see a Christmas tree, I stop and think about the wooden cradle and Cross that held my Savior. The evergreen also reminds me that from the cradle to the Cross, Jesus lived and died to give me the gift of everlasting Life.

Stars on houses and treetops remind me of the Star of Bethlehem that led the way to Jesus. Wreaths on doors remind me of His unending circle of grace and mercy. Christmas reds remind me of His lavish love and sacrificial blood that was shed for me.

A favorite of mine is the candy cane. The twists and turns of red and white stripes remind me of His Holiness and His promise declaring that "by His stripes we are healed." Shaped like a shepherd's crook, I remember and thank Him for being my Shepherd. Then I turn it upside down and see a J for Jesus, reminding me again that Christmas is all about Him.

Another secret to keeping my sanity is simplifying. This doesn't come easy for me. Yet I can't help but remember how that first Christmas was so very simple. So, I'm moving my heart in that direction by focusing in on what matters most to Jesus and me. I've started letting go of the things that stress me most.

I want peace more than anything this Christmas. Isaiah 26:12 reminds me where it comes from, "Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” The truth is, Peace comes when I do less and trust Him more. Peace stays when I make room for it in my day, in my heart and in my home.

I've also simplified by asking my husband and kids what traditions and decorations matter most to them. Driving around looking at Christmas lights and having a Christmas tree was at the top of their list. They also want a few decorations in each room downstairs to remind them all day that it's Christmas.

This year we're putting out our favorite things, but not all our things. Andrew loves our Christmas village so it stayed but I did away with the white sparkly cotton that went under it. It was messy and drove me crazy. Now our little Christmas town warms our imaginations but doesn't make me want to hide in the steeple of the miniature church. That's progress.


Here are a few more "simplifying" suggestions some of you shared on my Facebook page this week:

• Enjoy one fun activity a week - like going to a Christmas movie or play, staying home drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies, going to a Christmas church activity, or reading a Christmas book, Christmas magazines, enjoying Christmas games and puzzles. ~Joyce Watson

• Find crafts that double as decorations. The kids have fun, and get to have pride in seeing what they did everywhere they look. Bake together and give treats as presents. ~Tricia Preston
  
  
• Take pictures of your decorations so that next year isn't stressful trying to find a perfect place for everything. ~Julie Leary Hull
  
  
• Decorate only 4 main areas: door, table, tree, mantle. It "covers" enough to be festive but you don't feel like you have to decorate every inch. ~Linda Elliot Moore
  
  
• Let kids help decorate and don't stress if your house doesn't look like Southern Living:-) ~ Kelly Casse Thomas
  

• Make bows with wired ribbon to put here and there, to add just a pretty touch. Pick long needle pine branches, put a bunch in a vase with a bow. Very Christmassy! ~Sandy Allen
  
  
• Ask "Will it still be Christmas if I don't...?" (Buy one more gift, make one more batch of cookies, host a Christmas party, etc.) Christmas will come whether we have presents or not, whether our husband is here or not, whether we have 3 Christmas trees, just one or none. Only ONE thing is needed. ~Deb Galetka Heath
  

This week God reminded me that by simply seeking understanding from Him, and acquiring knowledge from those we love, we can fill our hearts and homes with rare and beautiful treasures made up of Christmas memories, traditions, laughter, peace and joy that will last long after the parties are over, the leftovers are eaten and the decorations are put away!

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

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Christmas Giveaway
Which Christmas symbol or tradition is your favorite and why? Are there things you are doing this year to simplify and make room at the Inn of your heart and home for Christ this Christmas?

Join in the Christmas conversation and enter to win "Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas". Just click on the word "comments" below. I'll leave this post up through next Tuesday, Dec. 14th and announce a winner here that night. "Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas" is written by my friend Sharon Jaynes. It includes wonderful and doable ideas for each day in December in a beautiful full-colored Christmas table top book!

The Unwrapped Gift & Christmas Give-away!

In my devotion featured at Proverbs31.org and Crosswalk.com today, I shared about the year I planned for the perfect Christmas and how I almost missed what God had planned for me. Click on the title if you'd like to read "Unwrapping His Christmas Presence."


My sadness caught me by surprise that day. I thought if I got to be with all of my family eating holiday meals, opening gifts and celebrating, it would be the perfect Christmas. But there was something missing.

When Christmas day came, my house was full yet my heart felt oh-so-empty. It wasn't until I snuck upstairs and sat in my walk-in closet talking to God and reading my Bible that my mind was quiet enough to untangle my thoughts and process my disappointments.

That afternoon I realized I had been trying to turn my childhood Christmas disappointments into grown-up dreams come true.

You see, my family wasn't all together for Christmas when I was growing up. My parents were divorced, so we spent our Christmas day with one or the other. Usually after all the gifts were opened and toys were played with, I felt sad as a child and always wondered why. I think I just wanted us to ALL be together. And 25 years later, as an adult, I was sure that getting my wishes was going to give me the perfect Christmas feeling I was trying to create.

I wanted all those longings from long ago to be fulfilled that Christmas day in 1999. Yet the longings were still there because I was looking to something that couldn't give me what I longed for, not as a little girl or as a grown woman.

What I longed for was the presence of God's Peace. What I needed was the gift of His perspective. What I craved was a renewed sense of His purpose. But I was so focused on all the people and presents that I honestly forgot to unwrap the most important present- the gift of God's presence.

Sitting in my closet realizing what had happened, I sensed God saying it wasn't too late. The gift of His presence was still there, always there, waiting to be unwrapped and enjoyed. So I told Jesus about the longing in my heart and how I needed and wanted Him to fill it. His peace came, washing away my anxiety and disappointment. Reminding me of His forever love and abiding presence. As I shared in my devotion today, it ended up being the perfect Christmas after all.

In the year that followed, a Christmas prayer was birthed in my spirit and ended up on the tip of my pen. By the following December it became my Christmas gift to Him. Today I'd like to share it with you ~

The Manger of My Heart
This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Fill me with your presence, from the very start.
As I prepare for the holidays, and gifts to be given,
Remind me of the gift You gave,
when you sent Your Son from Heaven.

The first Christmas gift, the greatest gift ever,
You came as a baby born in a manger.
Wrapped like the gifts I find under my tree,
Waiting to be opened, to reveal Your love to me.

This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Search me and know the most intimate parts.
Reveal to me if I have ever hung a sign within,
Claiming it off limits, implying “no room at the Inn.”

Restore to me the wonder that came with Jesus’ birth,
when He left the riches of Heaven
and wrapped Himself in rags of earth.
Emmanuel, God with us, Your presence came that night.
As angels announced, “Into your darkness,
God brings His Light.”

“Do not be afraid,” they said, to shepherds in the field.
Speak to my heart today, Lord, and help me to yield.
Make me like those shepherd boys, obedient to your call.
Casting distractions and worries aside,
to You I surrender them all.

Surround me with Your presence, Lord,
I long to hear your voice.
Clear my mind of concerns and all the holiday noise.
Slow me down this Christmas, let me not be in a rush.
In the midst of parties and planning,
I want to feel Your hush.

This Christmas, Jesus, come to the manger of my heart.
Invade my soul like Bethlehem, bringing peace to every part.
Dwell within and around me,
as I unwrap Your presence each day.
Keep me close to You, Jesus.
It’s in your wonderful Name I pray.

© 2010, Renee Swope ~ www.ReneeSwope.com

(Feel free to print or share this prayer by copying it with copyright and the link to my website please, and then paste into another document.)

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A "Christ-Centered Christmas Give-away"

• The ADVENTure of Christmas book
• Bath & Body Works Mint Chocolate Candle
• Bath & Body Works festive candle holder
• Unwrapping His Presence message on DVD
• Rest Assured message on CD
• $5 Starbucks Gift Card

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Enter to win by giving the gift of encouragement and His Christmas Presence:

1) Send a copy (or link with today's post & Christmas prayer) to a friend, co-worker, pastor, women's ministry leader, family member or neighbor you want to encourage today.

2) Tell someone (via email, twitter or Facebook) about today's give-away and how they can enter to win here.

3) Send today's devotion, Unwrapping His Christmas Presence, to help someone find or keep Christ in their Christmas.

4) Click on the word "comments" below to tell me if you did one, two or all three! Each time you do, you will be entered to win!

5) Describe your perfect Christmas if you could have one for another chance to win.

Check back Friday morning for more Christmas encouragement, another holiday give-away and the name of our winner! If you'd like to be notified you can sign up in my sidebar for email updates, follow me in Google connect, or friend me on Facebook!

Happy Birthday Princess!

Today is also my sweet baby girl's birthday and even though I'm sick, I just have to share some of her sweetness with you! We started our morning with a Princess Spa Bath (she loves a bubble bath). You'd never know she also has a bad cold. That girl is so full of joy, she made us all smile in between our coughing and sneezing.

Today is a playschool day (which worked out great for her sick momma). I've been saving this outfit for a day with somewhere special to go. Before we left, our whole family delighted in her cuteness for breakfast! And then she went to Ms. Becky's house where they are having a little party for her during lunch. Since I'm too sick to join the fun, I left my camera there so I"ll be sure to post her party pictures later.

*****If you are here from Karen's blog****
Welcome! Be sure to scroll down to my next post for an update on my Christmas Blog Party.

A Party Postponed

Hi friends. I'm in urgent care waiting to see a doctor for a really yucky cold that turned into an upper respiratory infection. I've been sick since Sunday and I'm getting worse every day. Today I feel awwwwful.

I'm scheduled to speak in WV tomorrow night at a Christmas event, so I'm really sad about the whole timing of this. Please pray with me for complete and quick recovery.

This morning, I wanted to hop on quick to tell you about something fun and say a special welcome for new friends stopping by. My dear friend and P31 sister Karen Ehman is hosting "12 Days of Christmas Give-aways." Karen invited me to be her guest today and asked me to share a little about my family and me, and some ways I've learned de-stress Christmas decorating. I'm also giving away a few of my favorite things for Christmas so be sure to hop over to Karen's blog and enter to win!.

I also planned to share some decorating ideas, traditions and photos here, not knowing I'd be down for the count with this cold of mine! So, I'll need to postpone my little Christmas party. But I'll be back next week after my event, and I'll announce another Christmas give-away and ideas for the holidays! Until then, I'll be praying you and yours stay healthy and warm!

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