• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Home Sign In
  • Blog
    • Guest Post Submissions
  • Shop
  • Meet Us
    • Meet the Contributors
    • Meet the Staff
    • Our Story
    • Our Heart
  • (in)courage Library
    • Recommended Reads
    • Our Book Studies

(in)courage

a DaySpring community

(in)courage
(in)

Main navigation

  • Blog
    • Guest Post Submissions
  • Shop
  • Meet Us
    • Meet the Contributors
    • Meet the Staff
    • Our Story
    • Our Heart
  • (in)courage Library
    • Recommended Reads
    • Our Book Studies
  • Most Popular
  • Friendship
  • Encouragement
  • Courage
  • Posts By Author

Why We Are Truly Better Together —
and a Giveaway!

by (in)courage

25 Days of Christmas Promises:
a new Bible reading plan from (in)courage

by (in)courage

Letting Go This Christmas Season

by Anna Rendell

When You Hear the Lies
That You’re Insignificant

by Lucretia Berry

Sustaining Hope Through Pain

by Jen Roland

The Four Friends We Need in a Crisis

by Jennifer Dukes Lee

The Need for Seasonal Bookends During Change

by Kristen Strong

A Frustrating Part of the
Vulnerability Conversation

by Kristen Strong

When Rejection Crowds Out the Rest of the Story

by Marnie Hammar

Six Ways to Show up for a Friend

by Jessica Turner

How to Pour Honey on Someone’s Soul Today

by Becky Keife

The Hard Truth About How God Feels About You

by Michele Cushatt

Grace in the Midst of a Marriage Crisis

by Grace P. Cho

God Has Not Forgotten You

by Aliza Latta

When You Hear the Lies
That You’re Insignificant

by Lucretia Berry

It’s Our Tenth Birthday!

by Becky Keife

Let’s Be Dangerous Women

by Holley Gerth

Women of Courage: a Forty-Day Devotional
is Now Available (plus a BOGO & giveaway)!

by (in)courage

Can You See What I See?

by Robin Dance

The Truth Will Set You Free

by Aliza Latta

  • Alia Joy
  • Aliza Latta
  • Anjuli Paschall
  • Anna Rendell
  • Becky Keife
  • Bonnie Gray
  • Dawn Camp
  • Dorina Lazo Gilmore
  • Michelle Reyes
  • Grace P. Cho
  • Holley Gerth
  • (in)courage
  • Jennifer Ueckert
  • Jennifer Dukes Lee
  • Jennifer Schmidt
  • Jessica Turner
  • Kaitlyn Bouchillon
  • Karina Allen
  • Kristen Strong
  • Lucretia Berry
  • Mary Carver
  • Michele Cushatt
  • Patricia Raybon
  • Renee Swope
  • Robin Dance
  • Sarah Mae
  • Stephanie Bryant
  • Tasha Jun

The Original (in)RL: Counting Down 12 Days of (in) real life Christmas Giveaways

by Holley Gerth Dec 1, 2011 in:(in)RL

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin1
Email This ArticleEMAIL

The wind grows colder, the skies go deep-fall blue and the whisper of Christmas is just around the corner.

And around one more corner after that will be (in)RL on April 27 and 28th.

I’ve been thinking of them both…

How our vision of bringing women together really started with one woman and a baby in a manger long ago.

We’ve talked, our team, of the Word made flesh who came and made His dwelling among us. How we love that God refused to stay in the virtual and instead came into our everyday.

Christmas was the first (in)RL—the original in real life.

Everything we may do is only an echo and extension.

When Lisa-Jo first spilled words over the phone to me of her passion for letting our community connect with each other in real life, I heard something else in between the lines.

I heard the heartbeat of God within what she was saying, what she was asking all of us to do.

Community here in this place is a start but it’s not the be-all, end-all of what loving one another means.

We’re made for face-to-face, heart-to-heart, laughter we can hear, smiles we can see, hands we can touch.

We’re made for real life.

Christmas is so much about that, really. When you pull back the tinsel and distractions, the memories and meaning that remains is really all about relationships.

About who we are together.

About who we are (in) Him.

Over the next few days, we’ll be celebrating in creative ways with you and we hope in all of it you’ll see our hearts for this season and (in)RL too.

It’s simple, really…

We love Jesus.

And we love you.

by Holley Gerth, a girl who loves Nutella and friendship

_________________________________________

Click over here to see the first of our 12 days of delicious (in) real life Christmas Giveaways!

by Holley Gerth
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin1
Email This ArticleEMAIL

Holley Gerth

Holley Gerth is a bestselling author who loves encouraging the hearts of women through words. She does so through books like You're Already Amazing and Fiercehearted. Holley is a beloved daughter of God, wife to Mark, Mama to Lovelle, and Nana to Ellie. She'd love to have coffee with you...
Author Bio       Author Website

PreviousNext

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Felicity says

    December 1, 2011 at 3:14 am

    I’ve only recently found this site through a link on the gypsymama’s site, and I just wanted to tell you how much I love it here. I feel very at home!

    Thanks so much for all the time and effort you put in.

  2. Robin Dance ~ PENSIEVE says

    December 1, 2011 at 6:36 am

    I didn’t realize we were doing this but what a darling, meaningful idea :).

    xo

  3. Dawn Camp says

    December 1, 2011 at 9:58 am

    I think it should say: by Holley Gerth, a girl who loves Nutella and friendship and Words with Friends 🙂

  4. Alexis says

    December 1, 2011 at 10:45 am

    Giveaways! Yay! 🙂

    Merry Christmas!

    I LOVE this time of year! 🙂

  5. Karen says

    December 1, 2011 at 11:18 am

    Christmas is my favorite time of year, one of my favorite memories is the children’s program each year. My grandson Jacob was baby Jesus last year. He did great, although mommy was nervous and went up on stage in case he started to fall out of the manger. He didn’t but she made the children’s program pictures

  6. Beth WIlliams says

    December 1, 2011 at 11:35 am

    Christmas is my favorite time of year. Sad thing is my family is all far flung. We have never really gotten together. Some in VA, GA, TX, TN (Murfreesboro) & now China.
    As my hubby & I age our family keeps getting smaller & smaller–we’ve no kids & parents aging & dying.

    My favorite part of Christmas is listening to Christmas music, & the candelight service at church. I wish I could say my hubby and I have traditions, but nay. A lot of times he has to work Christmas day.

    The past two years, since Mom died, my dad has either come to my house/or gone with us to in-laws for a delicious dinner &receive his gift.

    Praying for everyone this Christmas season!

  7. Betty Humphries says

    December 1, 2011 at 11:49 am

    My favorite part of Christmas is listening to Christmas music.

  8. Nan fisk says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    One of my favorite memories occurred a few years ago. My daughter, granddaughter and a family friend accompanied me to a ‘Walk through Bethlehem’ event held outside a few hours away. We were hampered in our search for the event by unfamiliar territory, the early darkness of winter and lack of good directions or signs. The trip took longer than we expected, and we had to search diligently for the location. When we finally arrived we were tired, a bit cranky from the long and frustrating journey and ushered into a crowded, cramped and humble abode to wait our turn to enter ‘Bethlehem’. The evening turned out to be perfect, as our trip took on new meaning as we remembered the first family encountered a long, arduous journey and arrived in Bethlehem to find crowds, cramped quarters and could very well have chosen crankiness over the lack of comfortable surroundings and circumstances. We relived the events of the birth of Hope that evening amidst the hustle and bustle of Roman occupation, an inconvenient time for a tax collection and a serious madman of a ruler (Herod) living close by. The first Christmas wasn’t convenient, easy or simple, but it was a labor of love. Our visit to Bethlehem drove this truth home and found a place in my heart.

  9. Ruth says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    Christmas, my favorite part? Almost impossible to choose beause I love it all (I have a little tree I keep lit all year long) but the music and the giving are the best. Singing and listening to songs that honor Christ’s birth fill my heart with wonder and praise at the magnitude of God’s gift and provision to save us and restore us. Giving to others, lots of time secretly, in His honor gives me great joy and then lots of laughter when I see or hear of the reaction of the giftee 🙂

  10. Sherry says

    December 1, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    One of my favorite and fond memories was a Christmas when I was probably 9-10 years old. There were five of kids and Mom was in the hospital for back surgery. Dad had went Christmas shopping in Mom’s absence. (I didn’t know this at the time) He was proud of his shopping adventure and informed Mom that he bought us three girls all matching beautiful red plaid dresses and had gotten them at a really reasonable price. She was skeptical about the purchase, but nothing she could do being laid up in the hospital.
    Christmas morning revealed three beautiful red plaid flannel matcing “nightgowns”! Us girls were so excited with the gifts from Santa and couldn’t wait to put them on! We even had our picture taken together in our new nighties! : ) They were so beautiful!!
    Mom said it was the most expensive nightgowns we ever had…. they were actually just as much as a dress (in her shopping budget!). Ho-ho-ho! Santa knows what little girls like! : )

  11. Susan says

    December 1, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    My favoritie Christmas memory(ies) are the times I was part of the orchestra for a Messiah performance. It is one thing to listen to the Messiah, it’s a totally different experience to be a part of it.

  12. Sarah says

    December 1, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Thank you for going beyond all the glitter and glam to remind us what CHRISTmas truly is about…God bless!

  13. Kathy @ In Quiet Places says

    December 1, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    I just saw the December calendar (using the photo above) and it is beautiful, it really takes my breath away on my laptop background, thanks Dawn for the way you capture beauty and share it with us. I can’t even take a good cell phone picture! You truly have a gift!

  14. Colleen G. says

    December 2, 2011 at 6:28 am

    My favorite Christmas memory would be time at my grandmothers house. I can still feel the warmth in my heart, hear the music in my ears and see the beautiful faces of loved ones who have since past. I hold this treasure in my heart forever.
    -Colleen G.
    Vageyers@aol.com

  15. Melissa says

    December 2, 2011 at 9:39 am

    Hi all the nearest RL meet-up group to me is in Eugene, Oregon.

  16. Donna Dippel says

    December 2, 2011 at 11:05 am

    Dripping Springs, TEXAS is where we will meet in April! I can’t wait to meet more ladies!

  17. Donna Brown says

    December 4, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    I try to encourage people with my words most of the time and when that is inadequate, just a touch. I have had much grief in my life this year, losing my sister, my dad and now or family pet. So I try to encourage folks especially as they deal with grief.

  18. Trista says

    December 12, 2011 at 6:03 pm

    My favorite thing about (in) real life friendships – authenticity. A place to be real knowing I will be accepted and loved for who I am, struggles and all!

Blog

  • Subscribe

    Sign up for daily words of courage and hope. By clicking ‘join’ you will receive daily emails and the monthly newsletter from (in)courage. See our privacy policy here.

    THANK YOU.

    Your first email is on the way.

    * PLEASE ENTER A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS
  • Get the (in)courage Devotional Bible today!

  • Send an (in)courage e-card to a friend today

  • Today, 1:04am

    Follow On Twitter
  • Footer

    (in)
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    Instagram
    YouTube

    Subscribe

    THANK YOU.

    Your first email is on the way.

    * PLEASE ENTER A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS

    By clicking ‘join’ you will receive daily emails and the monthly newsletter from (in)courage. See our privacy policy here.

    copyright 2019 DaySpring. all rights reserved.

    Main navigation

    • Blog
      • Guest Post Submissions
    • Shop
    • Meet Us
      • Meet the Contributors
      • Meet the Staff
      • Our Story
      • Our Heart
    • (in)courage Library
      • Recommended Reads
      • Our Book Studies