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At (in)courage, we empower women to be like Jesus. Our writers share what’s going on in their life and how God’s right in the middle of it. They bring their joys & struggles so that you can feel less alone and be empowered by the hope Jesus gives.

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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Anna,
    I’m with you. My heart always craves a simple Christmas but it’s always doing battle with the trappings and tinsel that vie for my attention. My heart does go out, however, to all those who don’t have family or a loved one with whom they can have a simple Christmas. God is tugging at my heart as to how I can tangibly make Christmas less lonely for single individuals who’ve already endured months of isolation and loneliness.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

  2. Thank you, Anna. Beautiful encouragement that Christmas faithfully comes each year without fail. I’ve been saying, “No, COVID! You can’t steal Christmas!” It might look different on the outside, but the Truth of the season remains the same. Jesus Christ ~ the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

  3. Let’s celebrate this year with EXPECTANCY and EXCITEMENT for the chance to focus on what is truly important. God sent His son for you and for me. Soak that wonder in for a moment or two. Use this year to treasure that amazing truth. Then use what you would have spent on clothes, food, extra gifts, travel, to lift someone else up this season.

  4. thank you so much for helping us all in these tiem that it isnt all about the so called traditions but the birth of our Savior!! god bless you all at this Special time of the year!!

  5. Thank you, Anna! You always help us to”look at the bright side” of life. There always is one. Thanks so much for showing it to us!

  6. This came just when I needed to hear that the Joys and Peace of Christmas is the birth of my Savior Jesus.
    I just mailed out letters this morning to our family letting them know I would not be hosting our traditional Christmas gathering with food, sharing The Twelve Days of Christmas. One of our granddaughters colored the twelve days of Christmas, I took them and had the them laminated. One card it handed out to a family member to say or sing what is on their card. What fun it has been. Live Laugh Love…

  7. The thought of a simple Christmas fulfills my yearning for SOMETHING to occupy my focus that does not drain me physically nor emotionally. Months of upheaval in nearly every aspect of life have left me “pandemic weary.”
    I just want to celebrate Jesus with a simple Christmas. Thank you for leading the way.

  8. Anna,

    Over the past few years I have come to dislike the holidays. I believe it’s because of the “worldliness” of it all. Going from Halloween right to Christmas gift buying/black Friday without even a mention of Thanksgiving. Call me “Charlie Brown” if you will. I don’t get the need to want everything big & flashy. I just want to know in my heart & head the true meaning of Christmas. Why celebrate at all. I love the part where Linus drops his blanket & simply tell the story. Hubby & I have a small decorated tree that I lovingly call my Charlie Brown. Most like me will miss some traditions like caroling at nursing homes, church candlelight service. The point of Christmas is that Christ left the splendor of Heaven to come down to broken Earth. Listen to the song “Leaven Heaven” by Matthew West. I’m all for new traditions of keeping Christmas simple. No big fanfare. Just some Christmas music & good meal with family & a few gifts.

    Blessings 🙂

  9. Thank you for offering a “Simple Christmas”..
    It’s not what’s under the tree, but Christmas lays in our ♥️ Hearts.
    Let’s be grateful this year, for our family’s well being, health.
    In such a horrific time, when we should all be together, let’s just pray for friends, families, homeless, people going hungry.
    I have tried to understand, in our USA, how are people going without, food, clothing, shelter, I just have NO WORDS, let’s all try to give one simple bit of pleasure to someone who has nothing. Just think, if everyone in our country stood together, gave 1 item, there would no longer be a shortage of food for our homeless, or just families who are struggling through this pandemic.

  10. It is an encouraging mesaage. I love it. I want more christmas messages to read, do sent me again

  11. The last few weeks I have missed receiving your daily in-courage emails, and wondered if my email address had dropped off your list? Today’s post reminds me of a poem I wrote many years ago, and is a favourite of most (from my book Living & Learning).
    CHRISTMAS JOY
    ‘Tis the season to be jolly,
    Decorate our homes with holly,
    Subsidise Australia Post
    Sending greetings to a host
    Of relatives and friends-
    It’s a list that never ends.
    There’s the pudding and the cake-
    One to boil and one to bake-
    And the presents-big decisions
    With additions and revisions.
    Putting up the tree-and lights,
    Checking bulbs, (and stopping fights?)
    It can seem an endless round
    Of laughter, stress and sound!
    Yet the reason for this season
    Of frivolity and mirth
    Is to celebrate the birth
    Of a Saviour come to earth.
    God our Father sent His Son
    To be the One and Only One –
    Lest in darkness we would grope
    By His birth He gives us hope.
    May our hearts be filled with joy,
    Welcome in this baby boy
    May His birthday then inspire
    A New Year filled with desire
    To be like a heavenly choir
    Chorusing His Name.
    Camilla Diann 1993
    NB: Although the usual copyright sign is printed in my books, I have mentioned that I waive copyright for anyone who wishes to share my poems for God’s purpose. (although it is polite to name the author.) So please feel free to share if you wish.
    And one of my poems inspired a friend to ask her family’s agreement for a new tradition – to set an extra (empty) chair at their family Christmas table – for Jesus.

  12. Thanking you all for your thoughtfulness & wishing you all a very Blessed time celebrating our Lord’s Birth simply together with Love!

  13. Thank you for your ministry to all of us during this time…helping us to focus on the truth of God’s everlasting love for us! We appreciate all of you!

  14. Thank you all for this wonderful opportunity to join you all in this series. I am so excited to see what God has in store for me in 2021 by doing this study.

    Gods Blessings!!