It’s December and the hope of Advent is in the air.
The reality of my need for the Savior is also cruelly apparent.
Example: Do you attempt to decorate the house with your kids?
Every year, I feel hopeful about how fun and meaningful our experience will be. The reality looks more like y sanity twisted in knots like the string of lights I can’t get unraveled.
Every. Single. Year.
@Ashley.Henriott nailed it on Insta! 🤣🙌🤣🙌🤣
Our expectations catch up to us, and those of us raising kids get smacked in the face with disappointed realities on the daily.
So how do we cope?
I was chatting with a friend last night and a lightbulb went off in my head. I frantically grabbed a pen and paper to jot it down cuz I knew I’d need it again – and you may need this today too.
- Friend, perhaps you’re like me: battling the beautiful with the broken.
- Perhaps you’re frustrated with yourself at how frustrated you get, when all you wanted was for things to be memorable and meaningful.
- Perhaps you see your need for tools and need a nudge of motivation.
There is solidarity here, sister.
We can tackle our expectations * perfectionist tendencies * frustrations * triggers * failures * one day at a time, one choice at a time, one pre-decision at a time.
BOOKS TO HELP YOU REFRAME
Here’s what I’m reading this month! This book is filled to the brim with tangible tools to help you calm the overwhelm in your life.
Plus, the Kindle version is on sale today for $2.99 on Amazon!!
One thing I’m particularly excited about is making my own Personal Manifesto. Kathi and Cheri give us the tools and encouragement to pre-decide how we want to show up in any given circumstance. And writing it down is key. Wanna join me??
THESE ARE THE BOOKS I’M GIFTING IN 2020 + READING IN 2021
(available now for pre-order)
(in)courage community of writers
HOPE FROM SCRIPTURE
2 The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,[c]
a light will shine.
3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest
and like warriors dividing the plunder.
4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery
and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5 The boots of the warrior
and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
They will be fuel for the fire.
6 For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
A PRAYER TO HELP YOU REFRAME
Father God, thank you for Jesus.
His birth was a miracle, the breath of Heaven.
This tiny baby would be our salvation. The Light of the World, whose power can fill up the darkness. God, I need that Light in my life. I too often go back into the darkness. I get stuck. I forget.
Please use this Advent season to help me realign my life with my True Love, Jesus. When You see me looking to food, shopping, cocktails and Hallmark to take take my mind off my troubles, point me back to Jesus. He’s the only One who truly offers what I need to be satisfied.
Forgive me for my discontentment. Forgive me for looking to other things to fill the void in my soul that only You can fill. Forgive me for placing other things on the throne of my worship where only You belong.
Bring me back to the baby in the manger, who left the glories of Heaven so that my soul could be made whole and free from the bondage of this world.
Bring me back to Jesus. In His name, Amen.
REFRAME PRODUCTS
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my crazy clan to yours!
let’s connect on social
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