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A Minimalist Christmas by Valerie Woerner | Val Marie Paper, margin, holiday, less stuff, intentional gifts, meaningful season, prayer journals, simplify, keep it simple, decor, ideas, traditions, decor

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HI! I’M VAL!

I’m a Deep South gal, who lives off dark chocolate, lime lacroix, books and Psalm 16:11. I love chatting about prayer, motherhood, entrepreneurship, books and margin and my absolute favorite? When I get share how it all blends together! 🙂

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  • We need to know your story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our world needs to know your story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Every person who can't understand why God would let this happen needs to know your story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The curious neighbor who's about to right off God over something this big and tragic needs to know your story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The new believer who WANTS to trust God, but hasn't fully seen what He can do needs to know your story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The long-time believer discouraged and fighting to keep the faith needs to know your story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ GOD IS AT WORK RIGHT NOW AND I'M DESPERATE TO COLLECT SOME STORIES AND SHARE THEM. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When we see what God is doing, we put to rest our fears and worries that God's abandoned us or that He simply doesn't care. We put to rest the idea that He's powerless right now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We will likely never fully understand this side of heaven what's happening now but that doesn't mean we can't get glimpses of what God is doing. And what a powerful thing to see God at work! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I've been overwhelmed by Scripture lately calling us to proclaim the works of God and I can't shake the idea that we need to be telling these stories right now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • Psalm 92:1-2 - "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • Psalm 102:18 - "Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • Psalm 107:2 - "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I can't do this alone though. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ SHARE THIS POST. SHARE THIS POST. SHARE THIS POST. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Ughh, I hate even putting that but I literally can't do this without each and every one of you. Someone's witnessing miracles and unexpected salvation stories. Send them our way so we can share their story!
  • I spent nearly 36 hours in bed straight this week. No, I don't have Corona. I've got some other health stuff and after weeks of trying to figure it out, I kinda just realized I needed to chill out and stop. And gratefully, my family was ready to see me healthy too so they were supportive of me not helping much.⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ I thought I needed to do battle with the enemy and press on in something and in this case, I felt like the Lord had a different lesson for me.⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ I DON'T NEED YOU. I LOVE YOU.⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ That sounds like it should sting but it's quite possibly the most loving and freeing message of all time.⁣ ⁣ • God doesn't love us because we offer Him something He needs. He loves us for His pure enjoyment.⁣ ⁣ • He doesn't want to meet with us in prayer to teach us another lesson or scold us for messing up. He wants to meet with us because He loves us.⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ He invites us to be a part of His kingdom work and for some reason, I can take that to mean that if I don't perform, this whole plan falls apart.⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ As I laid in bed, I wrestled the impulse to DO something of value but the time of rest had such a healing effect on my body.⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ Whatever you're trying to hold together right now, let me just remind you:⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣ GOD DOESN'T NEED YOU. GOD LOVES YOU.
  • A behind the scenes look at a new book coming this fall and how we create our collection, a practical guide to protecting our minds during this pandemic, tips of picking a Bible translation and how to pray for businesses right now. We blogged a lot this month! Link in profile or blog highlight! Tell us your favorite or let us know what posts you’d like to see soon!
  • ONE DAY ONLY - Everything in the shop is $10. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Why? Because we think it would be fun to send some mail to friend who had weddings postponed, showers canceled, labor and deliveries turned upside down, kids to homeschool, social events canceled. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Grab a gift in the shop, leave a message in the notes section and we'll send a handwritten note to your friend to open! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I've limited my new intake to only a few accounts sharing all the good coming out of all this and we want to be a part of spreading that! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Head to the shop if you have a friend in mind or grab a few for yourself to have on hand when we can finally connect with others in person! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Link in stories or my profile!
  • How are you filling out this page right now? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We made this page in our prayer journal to add some flexibility. If there's a section you wish we had in there that maybe doesn't fit everyone, here's your place to add it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Pre-Co-Vid, I'd have a section for VMP, my word for the year, small group or missionaries, friends pregnant, friend's writing books or running businesses. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now? We could have a section for: • FIRST RESPONDERS - doctors, police, mail delivery, etc. • WISDOM - world leaders, scientists working on a vaccine, people to stay home, sick to know when to get help • GOSPEL - believers to love selflessly and boldly, people feeling hopeless or afraid to turn to Jesus • REDEEM THE TIME - enjoy extra family time, stop scrolling, pray more, connect intentionally with outside world • MENTAL - peace to reign, creativity to thrive, joy instead of depression • BUSINESSES - your favorite business to make it through this season (we actually have a post tomorrow of 5 things to pray for your business!) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What are you putting in this section? Also, today’s prayer challenge in stories is kinda big! 🙈 Who’s in?
  • I feel like we're all on a study abroad course on rest right now. Instead of being immersed in a language so we can develop fluency, we're being immersed in a rest unlike "back home" and I can't help but think we're learning so much. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So let's talk about it. Share below what God's been teaching you about rest. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I'll go first: I'm being forced to remember that I'm not God's workhorse and that He loves me no matter what my "contribution" is. The reminder even had me comforting Vivi by reminding her when she got nervous to perform a song for us that we love her no matter what. And whether she messes up the words or sings it perfectly, our love never changes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ P.S. We started a prayer challenge in stories on Monday with a new thing to pray every day. See the highlight “PANDEMIC”.
  • I’m joining an amazing group woman to bring you a loop of encouragement today. After you watch this video, click over to @jenniferlucytyler to watch the next video in the series! @alliworthington @karakae.james @sharonhmiller @beckykeife @jessaconnolly @mary.kuti @lovealways.anjuli @lisawhittle @valwoerner @jenniferlucytyler @phyliciamasonheimer @sarahwbragg @niki.hardy @melanierdale @restorationhouse
  • We spoiled y'all.⁣⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁣ 10 days ago I could:⁣⁣ • I could go grab a Magnolia Berry Tea whenever I felt like it.⁣⁣ • I could drop my girls off at a school they loved all while getting to do what I love.⁣⁣ • We planned trips for rest (like this pic from Serenbe last June which most likely won't be happening this year) or adventure (like how many had to cancel Disney trips?).⁣⁣ • We could grab food around town after a long day and not wanting to cook.⁣⁣ • We could hit the gym for a good workout.⁣⁣ • Or get a massage, nails done, hair colored, eyebrows waxed.⁣⁣ • We could go to the doctor for even the smallest thing and not be told it will be weeks because offices were closed.⁣⁣ • We could count on steady(ish?) income and less distracted work schedules.⁣⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁣ Is anyone else feeling awoken to the fact that we had it pretty good (and technically still do!!) about two weeks ago maybe without knowing it?⁣⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁣ I can't help but feel like our country is about to learn what matters most in the most widespread way our generation has ever seen. Just think of of when you go through a hard trial and grow from it. Now multiply it by a country.⁣ ⁣ The Depression taught my great grandma to save and re use foil (among other things) even decades after.⁣⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁣ What are we about to learn?⁣⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁣ • How to eat for nourishment and not an "experience"?⁣⁣ • How to not waste hours on social media because worktime is limited?⁣⁣ • That Easter will still be the greatest day despite no family photo of perfectly matched outfits?⁣⁣ • That what we loved about Serenbe is sitting in our own backyard right now, now that we're slowing down to notice it?⁣⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁣ I know there's a lot of tragedy in this (deaths to grieve, businesses that will go under) and I don't take it lightly but I strongly believe we're gonna grow through this experience way more than all the self-help book section in Barnes & Noble can teach us.⁣⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁣⁣ As I set my eyes on that instead of the news, I'm finding hope in an otherwise hopeless situation. Who’s with me? 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️
  • As I’ve been reading Scripture I keep seeing miracles done and it’s not just for the individual, but it’s to reveal God’s glory to a multitude.⁣ ⁣ Today we’re starting our prayer challenge.⁣ ⁣ Every week day for several weeks I’ll share a specific thing for us to pray for together in stories. (If you miss any I’m saving a highlight of them too!) If there’s one thing we can unite in while we’re social distancing ourselves, it’s prayer.⁣ ⁣ Let’s unite.⁣ ⁣ Let’s pray big things.⁣ ⁣ Let’s not stop just because it feels impossible. He’s the God of impossible things.⁣ ⁣ And then let’s be ready to give God all the glory. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 ⁣ ⁣ #prayingduringapandemic

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