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How to Let Christmas Change Your Life Every Day

If you haven’t yet discovered author and artist Ruth Chou Simons, you are in for a treat. Enjoy this Christmas excerpt from her book, “Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always.”

If the idea of Immanuel—God with us—blows your mind, it should.

But more stunning than even the birth of Christ is the mystery of the Savior’s presence forever with us, wherever we go, through the Spirit.

God with us wasn’t one event on Christmas Day, or one lifetime in the 33 years that Jesus walked the earth. God with us is forevermore in the lives of those who receive Him as Savior and King.

Do you see how God’s promise of rescue far outshines a candlelight service or a season of festivities? When we prepare Him room at Christmas, we make room for a lifetime in His presence.

Jesus doesn’t want our partial attention during the month of December, He wants our hearts every day of every year.

He wants us to be transformed.

So ask we seek to celebrate Christ’s birth this season, let’s start by celebrating the new birth granted to us when we trust in Him.

We can truly live a transformed life.

***

Ruth Chou Simons is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several books, including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, and When Strivings Cease. She is an artist, entrepreneur, and speaker, using each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people’s hearts. Simons shares her journey of God’s grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys—their greatest adventure.

Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash

By Jackie M. Johnson

Want to Change Your Life? What You Need to Know

It’s the start of a new year and you’re full of hope and expectations for the months ahead. Like lots of folks, you’re thinking about something(s) you’d like to change in your life.

Maybe you’d like to:

Lose weight.
Save money.
Get out of debt.
Write a book.
Reconcile with a friend.
Redecorate your home.
Find more peace and joy.
Or something else…

Whatever it is, change isn’t easy.

Often, we have big ideas at the start January and then lack the get-up-and-go to actually do something.

Or, we’re so busy with the crazy life we have that we don’t make time for anything else—and yet the longing remains for things to be different and better.

Despite the obstacles, transformation is truly possible. It starts with identifying what is holding you back. So I created the acronym TERMS to help you find the reasons that true change has eluded you.

T (Time) – You simply don’t have time, or don’t make the time to reflect on your life. What do you REALLY want? What does God want for you? Make change a priority in increments and take a bit of time—or a block of time—to start the process.

E (Energy) – You are tired or stressed and exhaustion has been keeping you from making changes in your life. Eating healthier and getting more sleep—along with drinking enough water—are ways to get some energy back. Think about what you can delete from your schedule to get more rest and begin to make some life changes.

R (Resources) – You don’t have the money or other resources to make the changes you want. But that doesn’t have to stop you. Perhaps there are other creative solutions, or ways God will provide.

M (Motivation) – You might have the time and the resources, but for some reason you’re not motivated to make a change. You’re not excited about it or inspired. Perhaps it’s time to get a new goal. Or, be a grownup and do the thing you simply don’t want to do because it will be good in the end.

S (Something else) – Other things that may be keeping you from making changes could be: You fear the unknown. You fear failure. You fear success. You don’t have the skills you need. Or (fill in the blank).

Now that you’ve identified some ways that are keeping you from making changes, it’s time to pray, make a plan and take action.

Prayer is key because that’s where the power comes from. You don’t have to do this life in your own strength. It’s God’s power at work in us and through us that makes real and lasting changes. He is the engine to your boat. And He wants you to succeed!

Ask God to help you make a plan and prioritize: What needs to change? Where do you start? How can you find the resources you need to get where you really want to go? And what action steps do you need to take to get there?

Then, take action. Do something. Take one small step at a time. Don’t freak yourself out by trying to do too much at once.

Momentum builds as you take one step, and then another.

May God give you the time, energy, resources, motivation—and all you need to make changes in your life. May He give you the power and strength, and open doors for great opportunities. He is for you. He is with you.

Step by step. Choice by choice. Day by day things start to change, and you are closer to what you truly desire.

By Jackie M. Johnson

Finding Wild Hope in the Landscape of Your Life

Where I live in Colorado there’s an extraordinary park with gigantic natural red rocks called Garden of the Gods.

Some areas are not open to the public because they need repair, and a sign posted there reads, “Area Under Reclamation.” In other words, “Don’t walk here; we’re fixing this section.”

Just as the land needs ecological restoration, the landscape of our hearts needs spiritual restoration—and often emotional and physical changes as well.

That’s because “the landscape of our lives” may need repair. Life can get messy and chaotic. We make poor choices. Or, others hurt us.

Maybe the landscape of your life appears perfectly manicured on the outside, but on the inside you feel like you’re barely surviving.

Maybe it’s time for a change.

The good news is that both landscapes and lives be transformed. Restoration is possible, but often we lose sight of how it happens.

We lose sight of hope.

Focused solely on our circumstances our view becomes myopic; we see only part of the picture.

For instance, if you took a photograph of a desert landscape, all you’d see would be what the camera can capture. It’s your perspective from one viewpoint: some sand, cactus and a bit of tumbleweed blowing in the distance.

But what you couldn’t see beyond the edges of your snapshot was an oasis just ahead, or the desert’s end.

There’s more to the landscape, and more to your life.

Beyond how you feel at this moment, beyond your discouragement or desperation, there is more.

There is hope ahead.

You can have hope in hard times—in all times—when you know more fully the One in whom we put our hope, Jesus Christ, our Wild Hope.

He is “wild” in the sense that He is passionate and powerful—adoring and authoritative—yet often unpredictable.

Isaiah 55:8 reminds us, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” While His ways are often surprising, He acts out of ultimate love.

Hope that is wild is extravagant hope; it is beyond your wildest dreams.

Extravagant hope is when you have only pennies left to your name and God provides the resources you need to pay your bills the very next day.

Extravagant hope is when the doctors tell you that you have less than 1% chance of ever getting pregnant and you finally have a healthy, baby girl.

Hope allows you to overcome fear and discover a life you never could have thought possible.

Hope is not crossing your fingers and making a wish, it’s folding in your hands and saying a prayer. It’s expecting God to answer, even when you have no idea when it will come.

Even when you haven’t a clue as to how things will ever change, you can have hope for the future and for this very moment because:

• God is sovereign. He is in control and you can trust Him even when you do not understand.

• God is loving. He accepts you unconditionally, despite your circumstances or poor choices. He’s chosen you; He’s just waiting for you to choose Him back.

• God is wise. He knows what He’s doing and His wisdom and ways are far beyond our comprehension.

• God keeps His promises. He is trustworthy to do what He says He will do, and that strengthens your faith.

• God is faithful. He is totally reliable and utterly dependable.

God will provide. He is good. He is loving and faithful. He is with you.

Always.

Photo: Unsplash

By Jackie M. Johnson

Powerful Life Lessons from Nature: Mountain Climbing

Where I live in Colorado we have mountains that are well over 14,000 feet tall. Yet, if you were to climb one, you’d only get there by taking one step at a time.

As you start your journey to the summit, you put one foot in front of another, again and again, until you reach the top.

In order to get to your destination—whether climbing mountains or in life—it’s essential to be prepared.

For instance, mountain climbers know the importance of staying hydrated, never climbing alone, and trusting your guide.

We can stay hydrated with refreshment from God’s Word. It’s nourishment for our souls to grow and flourish, and it’s as essential to life as water.

We need to read the Bible—an ancient text with relevance for today—for spiritual cleansing, to stay connected to God, and to learn more about how to live and love here on earth. And the glories we have to look forward to one day with Him.

We can build a team around us for support and encouragement from family and friends—so we don’t have to go it alone in life.

And we can learn to trust our guide, Jesus Christ—the One who knows us better than we know ourselves, and who will lead us into His will.

As you press on in life’s journey, know that the power of prayer helps you to persevere and to find peace.

A prayer-filled life is a powerful life. It will help you to stand strong in tough times.

When you pray, your life—and the lives of those around you—will be forever changed. You will be inspired to live with greater peace, restored hope, and more freedom.

You will discover wild hope through Jesus Christ, a hope so unexpected yet so wonderfully good, that when you begin to grasp it your life just may be transformed into one of startling kindness, lavish love, and limitless possibilities.

So, even when you feel like giving up, believe that the ascent is worth the climb. For once you reach the peak, the view is exhilarating.

Journey on, my friend. With prayer and peace, journey on!

***

More resources from Jackie M. Johnson:

When Love Ends and the Ice Cream Carton Is Empty
(an essential breakup recovery guide)

Power Prayers for Women

Praying with Power When Life Gets Tough

Photo: Fabrizio Conti, Unsplash

By Jackie M. Johnson

How to Let Go and Trust God: An Autumn Lesson

Autumn is a time of shedding. For a few weeks every fall, many parts of the country enjoy a colorful landscape dotted with russet oaks, red-orange maples, or golden aspens.

But the beautiful foliage doesn’t last forever. Soon the time comes for the trees to release their leaves…

whether they waft gently to the ground,

or they’re blown away suddenly by strong winds.

Interestingly, these trees don’t need their leaves anymore. They are preparing for winter, aiming to conserve water and energy for the days ahead.

The good news is that despite the loss of leaves, we can have confident hope and anticipation of new growth in the springtime, when bare-limbed trees will sprout fresh, green leaves.

The same can be true in our own lives.

There are seasons to “shed” or get rid of things that no longer serve us.

What are some things you need to release in your life? What needs to go?

Years ago, I was recovering from a horrible breakup and I could not seem to let go. I was holding on to “what was” and “what could have been.”

I was hurt and angry about how poorly my boyfriend treated me when we ended things, so I was grappling with forgiving him.

I felt as if I was holding onto the past so firmly, like a tight fist, and our loving Lord was prying it away one finger at a time.

Then, one winter day while walking in a nearby park, I came upon some scrub oak trees. Surprisingly, some of the branches still had leaves clinging to them—but they were dried up, crunchy and brown.

It was wintertime. Their season had passed, yet still they clung on.

It stopped me in my tracks as I realized that I was just like those tenacious oak leaves.

My season with this guy had passed, yet I still hung on.

How could I let go?

I wasn’t able to do it on my own. I’d tried for months.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew and carried dozens of leaves off the scrub oaks in front of me.

And in that moment I knew that the strength I needed to let go would never come from my own limited abilities.

I needed the power of God to blow strong winds of change in my life—to release my grip on the past and drive away the lingering sadness.

And He did.

God helped me to forgive the person who had hurt me so greatly. It wasn’t easy, but it was possible. And I was finally able to move on in freedom and peace.

Whether you need to let go of a person, the past, or something else, you can choose to be free and find joy again.

Maybe you need to shed fear and doubt.

Perhaps you want to release worry, anxiety, or negativity, and find relief.

Or maybe, like me, you need to walk away from the misery from a breakup or another loss, and move forward into renewed hope and joy.

When you let go and give your worries to God, you can trust that He will take care of whatever you’re holding on to so tightly. You can always rely on Him.

God loves you—more than you know. He is wise. He is good. And He will be faithful to work all things together for His good purposes, as we are reminded in Romans 8:28.

Here is one of my favorite verses that’s helped me through many of life’s hardships:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord, not people or circumstances. Not feelings or emotions. Why?

Because we may not have a full understanding of the situation. God knows what we don’t know. And He has the ability to guide us, and change our situation—no matter how difficult it may seem.

When we when we look at what’s happening around us, we can tend to sink into fear and doubt. Yet, when we look our strong God, we stand firm in His mighty power.

Think about what you need to release in your life. What do you need to shed in order to make room for new growth, or perhaps something better?

Then ask God to help you. And choose to trust Him every step of the way.

It’s the season of shedding. Let it go.

It’s time.

***

Jackie M. Johnson is an author and blogger who writes inspiring content on growing a better life, the power of prayer, and encouragement for singles. Her books include the breakup recovery guide, When Love Ends and the Ice Cream Carton Is Empty, Power Prayers for Women, and Praying with Power When Life Gets Tough. Connect with Jackie at www.jackiejohnsoncreative.com.

By Jackie M. Johnson

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