Pitch your Tent!
Are you ready for Christmas? I love, love, love this season! Love the music, the lights, the decorations, the cherished family time, the decadent food and most of all the reason we celebrate - Christ's birth!
Have you been shopping and seen the signs at Macy's, yet? The ones that say "Believe". Every time I see them I feel as if it is a God whisper to believe and to have hope! You see, I believe hope is a "position". By that I mean, the only time you need "hope" is when you are waiting for something; you're hoping the job is going to come through, hoping your husband shows up, or hoping your dream comes to pass. While you are waiting for your hope to be reality, your "position" determines if your waiting is endurance or expectation.
Wherever you place your hope will determine whether you will remain hopeful in a world where things are hopelessly broken.
"I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; He's right by my side. I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope." Acts 2:22
So where you place your hope determines how you position yourself. It is so important to do a "hope check" every once in awhile to see where we've placed our hope. Placing your hope in a God who loves, believes in and delights in spoiling His girls will keep you going! Believing that "He is right by your side" will make you "ecstatic and nothing will be able to shake you!"
Girls, make a decision this Christmas season to "pitch your tent in the land of hope". Decide that discouragement and hopelessness can't stay! Instead of looking at what you're waiting for and what you don't have, begin to think about what He has already done and all the things you DO have! Live with expectant hope, I promise you won't be disappointed! It will be the best Christmas ever!
With all my love,
Pdonna xoxoxo
December "Be the Love" Challenge:
This month's challenge is to not only "position" YOURSELF in the land of hope, but to be intentional on giving HOPE to others this Christmas! Part One: Give the "gift of hope each day in December." We can all get so busy at Christmas time finding the best gifts to give family, co-workers and friends. Your challenge is to be intentional on finding the people in your world that can use one of greatest gifts - hope! It could be a kind word to the waitress, telling a friend to not give up on their dreams, letting someone know they are not alone in their darkest hour or encouraging a co-worker to not let the trying times define who they are. Just letting someone know there is a God in heaven who loves them and believes in them can change a life and give them hope to keep going on. I believe HOPE can change everything! See if you can "be the love" this month by giving the gift of hope daily. Part Two: Give hope by being a part of the "Christmas Hope" (formerly "Bless a Family") this Christmas. For a number of years CCC has "adopted" several families in need to help out at Christmas time. Each family is supplied with groceries, winter coats, gloves, hats, and special gifts. It is always a special time for all as the family is touched, as well as the givers! There are several ways to be involved this year. The first is you can nominate a deserving family that is in need of special help this Christmas in your world (in the DC metro area) to receive Christmas Hope. Email here. Include 3-4 sentences on why you would like to nominate them. Include your name and contact info, as well as the family's name. You can also participate by volunteering to help out by giving, shopping, wrapping and/or going to the families' homes to give the gifts. If you are interested in helping out in any way, please email here. Not only does it give hope to the family, but YOUR life is touched, as well. It's generosity that transforms! We want to hear about what you're doing! Don't forget to share your December story on the "Be the Love" video blog. (Monica, Leah and Chelsea did!)
