About the Author

Stephanie Bryant is the co-founder of @incourage and a podcaster at the #JesusLedAdventurePodcast. She owns a Marketing & Business Coaching company. She is passionate about guiding you to your promised land and personal brand therapy. She enjoys spending her days with her husband and their miracle daughter, Gabrielle, on #BryantFamilyFarm....

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. “It takes courage to trust Jesus enough to have fun.” -> Amazing! If I’m busily perfecting that worry line between my eyebrows (the horizontal one at the top of my nose), I’m not having fun and I’m not trusting. Why is it that the simplest truths make the biggest difference in the way we live?
    Thanks, Stephanie, for sharing your seasonal wisdom.

  2. Stephanie, thank you for this! The Lord used you to give my heart a hug! At Christmas (and other occasions) I tend to have a Martha heart. This year, though, my mom went to be with the Lord in October, and while most of the time I can be comforted by the words at the end of 1 Thessalonians 4, and have joy knowing Mom is with Jesus and my dad. And I know that one day we will all be reunited in heaven…but I just finally got the Christmas tree up (it’s still bare, though). I’ve been talking with the Lord about Christmas, and He’s been calling me to have a Mary heart…to take time to sit at His feet…to worship Him. Tears are flowing right now, as I write this because I am overwhelmed at our Savior’s love. He is so amazingly awesome. He know’s just what each of us needs to draw us closer to Him. This is what He sent me today! But I know He is touching so many other hearts with this to, at this moment! Our Lord is so wonderful!

    • Aww Sandra, I am so sorry your mother had to leave you. Jesus must have wanted her to be there with Him to celebrate His birthday. This can be such a difficult time of year. My mother broke her foot last week and now I have to sit at our house all day every day. I have been feeling very angry about it because I don’t want to be isolated from the rest of the world while I sit at her house . Then I began to think that perhaps Jesus is using this as a gift for me to spend more time with her right now. I am just going to try to do the best that I can for Christmas this year . I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, too, Sandra! Thank you Stephanie for your wonderful story!

      • Megan,

        I understand your frustration. I assisted in the care of my aging dad from 2009-2017 when he died. The last few years were hard. I had to quit a good paying job & stay home to be more available for him. The late night calls, isolation from friends. I was able to attend church most of the time. But needed to check on him 4 or so times a week. It was hard. The hospital visits, going to ER, etc. all so hard. it was hard & frustrating, but I will never regret being there for him. I know he saw my love for him. Also he got re baptized in 2008. I think it had something to do with my coming & visiting him and mom each week & calling to check on them. Just wanted you to know you are not alone. God & I are here with you sweet sister!! I will be praying for you. May God give you a sense of peace!!

        (((((Hugs)))))

    • Sandra,

      Sweet sister. I am so sorry or the loss of your mother. I lost my dad back in March. May He comfort you during this time of loss. Do the Mary thing and just sit at his feet and enjoy him and the quiet time. His love is soo amazing because He forgives us over and over. He wants to touch each of us & bring us all closer to Him. Listen to A Hallelujah Christmas by Cloverton. Here is the link to the beautiful song. I will be praying for you sweet one!

      (((((Hugs)))))

  3. Wow, I needed this encouraging reminder…it’s as though you know what my heart is struggling with as we approach Christmas…thank you for sharing your heart…one that is common to man if you know what I mean by saying it…there’s nothing new under the sun!
    Merry Christmas! ❤️

  4. I have added a link to today’s post to my bookmark bar, right next to my Bible reading link. I need to reread this about how to have the Joy of Christ in my life on a regular basis until it becomes habit and ingrained in my blood and DNA. The evil one will not steal it from me. Life is to be lived!

  5. I love this!! It is exactly where my heart is this December!! I was so done with December rushing by in a frenzy of busyness, fatigue, irritability, and feeling defeated by everything that didn’t get done. This year, Christmas is about JOY and FUN in our house!! It is an intentional and constant reminder of keeping our hearts in an attitude of worship. Loving this time of year and looking forward to Christmas with joyful FUN expectation, is absolutely an act of worship!! And I want to do it well!! <3

  6. LOVE this! JOY to the world….the Lord is come!!! So much to celebrate and worship! Thank you!

  7. Dear Stephanie,
    Thank you for beautifully putting my heart into words. Not only for the Christmas season (although it can be most difficult with all the ‘to do’ list), but everyday…..to live and laugh with those we love with seeet child-like abandon, with freedom only Jesus can give! It is my hearts desire and prayer for this busy season and 2018.
    Merry Christmas

    Irene

  8. Stephanie,
    This was an awesome post, thank-you for your sweet message. ‘JOY’ is what I have been writing around our home lately, but for many reasons, I know it doesn’t always come easy, I pray for those of you who are struggling that you may be surrounded by it.
    Blessings to all,
    Penny

  9. Oh, how I love this! I will be saving this to go back to. I have trouble getting hung up on the stuff of life, satan’s lies and my own idea of how I need to be. I want to tap into the freedom Jesus paid the price for me to have joy and excitement in this life, here one earth. I want this to be part of this coming year! He is so good to us, but we don’t dig into the depths of what He offers His children.

  10. I needed this so much today Stephanie! Thank you for giving us permission to live out loud the very reason for our joy this season. What a gift! Merry Christmas…and have a great time with that beautiful four year old who obviously brings you such delight!

  11. Wonderful article! It has taken many years to realize this truth, and not just for Christmas, but in our day to day lives throughout the year. Thank you for sharing a vital truth. Not only does God love us, but we reveal His love when we relax and delight in the simple everyday gifts; fresh snow to make a snow angel, lake ice to skate, an ocean wave to jump over. God is good!

  12. Thank you Stephanie for this. Some African Priests that I met taught me
    the most about having fun-because we were having fun together. Your
    way of expressing this FUN made me very aware of how we must remain
    childlike.

  13. Stephanie,

    Each year Christmas is hard for me. It is just my hubby & I at home. We visit his parents & one nephew joins us. The thing that seems to get me is the constant barrage of ads & commercials about what to buy for whom. It starts even before Thanksgiving. it so gets on my nerves that we seem to have lost the true meaning of Christmas. No more joyful kids playing in mangers. Just people out there buying stuff. Christmas should be a day to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. I love the idea of acting like children & having fun on Christmas!

    Blessings 🙂