Daphne’s Top Ten Inspirational Posts of 2012
Dear readers,
Thank you for making this a wonderful year! I’ve enjoyed interacting with you–and reading your interactions with others.
Similar to last year, I want to look back to all my posts from this year. Although I cannot quantify the impact of my posts on your life, I pray and hope that you have been blessed by the words on this blog.
Based on your comments, likes, tweets, and sharing, I have created my top ten list of inspirational posts for 2012. I hope you will keep this list as a handy reference whenever you need a little comfort. And I hope you will pass it on to others who might be struggling as well. And… if as you reread the posts and comments, you want to continue the conversation, feel free to do so.
So… here they are. Drumroll, please!
Number 10:
Tied for Number 9:
Number 8:
Number 7:
Number 6:
Spiritual Insight… Straight from my Bearded Dragon LeeRoy
Number 5:
Number 4:
Number 3:
Number 2:
7 Ways to Prevent–and Reverse–Relapse (Part 1)
And Number 1 of Daphne’s Posts of 2012… Drumroll, please!
A Co-Dependent’s Holiday Prayer
Once again, I want to thank you for your comments, likes, tweets, and sharing, In my efforts to encourage you, you also have encouraged me. Every time you “like,” tweet, comment, or share a post, you affirm this ministry, and I am greatly appreciative.
Please keep me in your prayers as I begin 2013. This past year was a very fruitful year for the DaphneWrites ministry:
- Two book collaborations
- The Polk Authors and Illustrators Festival
- 38 Articles published in various magazines
- Readers from 6 of 7 continents
- 56% New visitors to the site
I give all glory to God for these and other accomplishments.
Please enjoy the posts–again. Share them with others.
Big hugs,
Daphne
Come alongside… Which was your favorite post and why?
First Christmas
This Christmas is especially meaningful to our family. It will be our first Christmas with our three children, whom we adopted in August of this year.
We have been trying to point them to Christ during this joyous season—they haven’t had that influence in their three-and-a-half years in separate foster homes.
As we’ve decorated the house, we’ve stopped and read passages from the Bible. We’ve also created a book for them that explains the significance of our traditions:
- The Christmas tree
- Candy canes
- Wreaths
- Poinsettias
- Gift-giving
And most importantly, the manger scene where baby Jesus came into the world.
As we’ve read to them, their eyes have filled with wonder and delight. They continue to look around the house in awe of a holiday that truly is more than lights and commercials. Everything we have done—and will continue to do—celebrates Jesus.
I know it is a turning point in their lives. It is for me too.
Explaining the real meaning of Christmas to a child—our children—has re-ignited a passion in me for the holidays. I find myself getting lost with contentment in the bundles of joy God has brought to our little family.
In many ways, it’s my first Christmas.
Is this a glimpse of what Mary felt on her first Christmas with the Christ of Christmas? Did she gaze at the marvel of God in her arms? Was she silenced by the Son of God on her chest? Did she whisper in His tiny ears that He would save us from our sins? Did she celebrate Jesus—God with us?
Truly, it was her first Christmas.
Throughout history, many families have celebrated their first Christmas—not one filled with lights and commercials but one that lifts up Jesus—God’s first and only Christmas to the world.
Forever, we will share the merriest story of all. Forever, we will treasure all these things in our hearts (Luke 2:19).
Thank you, Jesus, for that first Christmas.
Come alongside… Tell us about your first Christmas celebrating Jesus. What are your traditions?
A Co-Dependent’s Holiday Prayer
As a recovering co-dependent, I cringe at the onset of holiday season. I know—I probably shouldn’t say that–after all, the holidays are a joyous time. We celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
That’s not the part that makes me cringe. It’s all the…
- Expectations.
- Hustle.
- Frenzy.
- Event after event after event.
Starting around Thanksgiving and through mid-January, stress and anxiety overwhelm me.
This year, I figured I would be proactive and pray continually. This is my…
Co-Dependent’s Holiday Prayer
Father, thank you for this joyous season.
Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me
So that I could live forever with you.
God, you know how anxious I get during the holidays.
Help me not to look for approval from anyone—
Not about presents, events I plan, events I attend,
Not even about the way my home should look.
Help me not to let anyone’s frenzy zap my serenity.
I might feel the urge to rescue others from their over-commitments, Lord.
Help me to restrain myself.
Help me not to try to please others by putting myself and my family on the backburner
While spending so much time on what others might want.
Lord, give me the freedom to let my family be themselves—
Not to control their behaviors and appearance.
Help me to be myself,
Regardless of what others might say or think.
Lord, help me to demonstrate the true meaning of giving—
Not giving to others as a way of gaining their approval and exceeding their expectations.
Open my eyes to my own feelings as they arise.
Help me to step aside and regain my focus as I need it.
Show me what I truly want this season—a simple life that celebrates You—
The greatest gift of all—Jesus.
Amen.
Come alongside… What part of my prayer resonated with you most? Will you share this prayer with others?
Taking Time to Rest
You might know from my life story that I struggle with several chronic illnesses. You probably wouldn’t know it just from looking at me, though.
Like any struggle, some days are better than others. Some weeks are better than others. And maybe, if we’re fortunate, some years are better than others.
Lately, it hasn’t been as good for me. And I’ve been struggling keeping up with my writing goals.
I’m letting you know so that you will, first and foremost, pray for me, but also understand if you don’t hear from me as regularly.
I’m taking some time to rest.
You might struggle with chronic issues too.
- Physical illness.
- Depression.
- Addictions.
- Fill-in-the-blank.
We probably wouldn’t know it just from looking at you either. Some days might be better for you than others. And the same goes for weeks and years.
If it’s been good for you lately, I rejoice with you! And I encourage you to share with others who might be struggling in similar ways.
If it has not been as good for you lately, please let me know–I want to pray for you. I hope you, too, will take some time to rest, refresh, and re-energize—not with anything that comes from within you but from God Himself.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)
I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls. (Jeremiah 31:25)
Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
Remember, there is a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). I have had my good seasons, and they have lasted a long while. I’m so grateful. I’ve entered a not-so-good season, and I’m not sure how long it will last. But I do know one thing: I will be in a good season again.
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. (Psalm 62:5)
Time to rest. I’ll be back soon.
Come alongside… What do you struggle with? What season is it for you? (Remember, you can comment anonymously.)
God’s Song to You
One of my favorite passages is Zephaniah 3:17.
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Although the entire verse shows us how much God loves us, lately I’ve been thinking about that last part: “He rejoices over you with singing.” Depending on your Bible translation, the verse could say any of the following:
- He will make a song of joy over you as in the time of a holy feast.
- He will celebrate over you with shouts of joy.
- He will sing and be joyful over you.
- He will delight in you with shouts of joy.
- He will joy over thee with singing.
- He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
- He will sing and be joyful about you.
- He will exult over you by singing a happy song.
- He will exult over you with loud singing.
- He’ll delight you with his songs.
- He will joy over thee with singing.
- He will have joy over you with loud singing.
Regardless of the translation, the message is still the same:
God digs you!
He celebrates you!
He serenades you with His songs!
Did you hear that, dear one? God sings to you. He serenades and celebrates you. Yes, you! Y’know, He takes great delight in you. Are you listening to His song? Can you hear it? What is He singing?
I hear Him telling me He loves me. He doesn’t want me to push myself so hard–I don’t need to prove myself to Him or others. I hear Him reassuring me I’m not the person I used to be and not to let anyone tell me differently. He’s encouraging me to enjoy life–Him, my family, and my friends. He’s speaking peace to my mind and to my heart. He says, “Laugh.”
Come alongside… What is He singing to you?
