Hey friends! Recently I’ve noticed people saying this common phrase a lot: “Don’t underestimate me.” I am all for inspirational quotes, & it’s great to believe in yourself...BUT I think there’s a greater power we can be tapping into!
So many of you you are facing real life heartache. Doubt. Worry. Confusion. Short end of the stick frustration. This is for you. Here’s to all the Christians out there in an impossible situation. The ones who continue to persevere because they KNOW there is no need to underestimate THEIR GOD. There is only one God & the cool part is, He takes personal interest in YOU! Just as a father has a special relationship with each of his kids. So yes, I call Him MY God. I hope you know God as YOUR God too. He fights for you. People love to say “don’t underestimate me,” but I don’t really like how that comes off for a Christian...Why? The thing is, it’s NOT all about me. It’s not all about you either. My life (& your life!) exists for God to tell His story through me (& you!). I literally doubt something about my future/gifts/calling every day. Every day! Ask my husband if you think I’m lying! Doubt is a natural form of fear we are bound to experience in seasons of uncertainty. The only way I know how to be myself & overcome my weaknesses is when I rely on God. Believe me, it’s easy for all of us to underestimate ourselves. We are all insecure at times. It’s okay to admit that. I think this is why people will hastily say “Don’t underestimate me!” to the very people who have hurt them. It’s a self-defense move. But what if we had someone else we could turn to who is actually ON our side? Someone without insecurity & weakness. Someone who would fight to the death for us. We do. THANK YOU, GOD. If it’s up to me, I flop. But if it’s up to God, I fly. So instead I say: “Don’t underestimate MY GOD!” Seriously though...don’t do it! Don’t underestimate our God. He is behind the scenes making miracles we can’t even see yet! To my friends fighting for their faith & dreams, I am SO proud of you. Sometimes the best thing you can do is obey God in this time. Stay on the straight & narrow path, & allow this season to SEASON you for greater things. God made the universe, but He also made your soul. Big & small, He is ON it. 100% on it. When the world fills your mind with negativity, set your mind on higher things. When you do that, it’s impossible to underestimate Our God. Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things ABOVE, not on earthly things.” So now instead of your “impossible situation,” you’re finding a new impossible...it’s now IMPOSSIBLE to underestimate your God! I am praying this over each one of you today. You have been #BornToShine. Let NO impossible situation hold you back from pushing forward in faith in whatever way is presently possible...Sometimes it looks like crying alone & repeating “I trust You, God.” Sometimes it’s singing loud at church & feeling surprised at your joy. Let the story unfold; you’re doing just fine. You may not be happy with everything, but you can always find joy in the Lord. Share this with a friend who helps you to keep you running the race, & enjoy your new life mantra... ...DON’T UNDERESTIMATE MY GOD. 🔥 Merry early Christmas, Abby Grimaldi
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Being the baby of our clan & being part of a BIG, Christmas-loving family, Christmas has always been kind of magical (soft word, I know! Ha) & meant a lot to me! My love of Christmas prompted me to make my Christmas album last year! “Christmas Time is Here,” available on iTunes/Spotify! I have so many memories of Christmases past & things I love about Christmas!
My TOP 12 favorite things about Christmas: 12. THE DECORATIONS! Since Rocco & I move SO often, we don’t decorate for holidays yet. (Wah) It makes me REALLY appreciate fancy trees & such! Someday when we have a house, I will go nuts. Rocco, be warned! Haha 11. THE SPARKLY ACCESSORIES & COZY CLOTHES! My sister, mom, & I are unstoppable when we find matching sweaters in different winter colors...,or some blingy necessity! Wonder why Dad gets sick of the mall... :D Last year the three of us found some life-changing, matching Christmas jammies!! Does it get any better than that? NO, it does not! Ha 10. FAMILY SKATES! My love of getting out on the ice happened WAY before I met my pro hockey playing husband. All the Mattson’s skate & almost all of the boys have tried hockey/still play it! They didn’t mind when I started dating that “Grimaldi guy” for the Sioux. Haha 9. Balancing CHRISTMAS COOKIES with CHRISTMAS ZUMBA! Yep! When I taught Zumba for three years at UND, I would start adding in Christmas songs as soon as December came! Perfect way to balance out the concerning number of cookies you just ate BEFORE noon...what? Don’t judge! #Christmas 8. CUTE COATS/HATS/MITTENS/BOOTS (in every color)! You know you’re from a freezing place, when every year you choose a new colored coat & accessories for Christmas. One year it was a white puffy coat, then a black peacoat, then a navy one, then a full body fluffy bergundy one! Believe me, they each got sufficiently used! (Until I moved to Texas...HA) 7. Can’t believe I’m going to say this, but SNOW! Yep. What am I saying?? Listen, I’m from Grand Forks, ND: the COLDEST CITY IN AMERICA. Yes, we actually win that award... & we are loud & proud about that! Living in San Antonio gives me this strange sense of seasonal confusion! High of 85° yesterday...is this real life?! Where am I ?! 6. CHARITY EVENTS! As a Miss America titleholder I had so much fun ringing bells for the Salvation Army, singing at events, etc. People open their hearts at Christmas time, & it’s so good to see! I wish all charities thrived this much throughout the year too, but the extra burst of compassion at the end of the year sure helps most organizations, I’d imagine! 5. SURPRISING/SENTIMENTAL GIFTS! One time my parents surprised my sister & I with a BARBIE DREAM HOUSE! 2 years ago they get my sister a violin & me my 1st guitar! I think we both actually cried! Ha When Rocco & I were long-distance he’d send a surprise! My dream purse at the time was a HIT! My personal favorite was a Build-a-Bear he shipped with an NHL uniform & personalized message! He named it “Beary Speedy Grimaldi l,” & we stinkin love that bear! Haha 4. CHRISTMAS MOVIES & TV SPECIALS! One word: ELF! Also: A Christmas Story! AND...The Mistle Tones (a real winner on Netflix, ask my sister LOL). I love all the TV specials & parades too! #MAGICAL 3. CHRISTMAS MUSIC! Why else would I make a Christmas album, right? When you’re a music kid, you’re spending the end of October through the end of December rehearsing & performing Christmas music. It gives me that warm & fuzzy nostalgia inside everytime I think of my final college performance, our Winer wUNDerland showcase! Candles & matching dresses & fake snow - I do miss Christmas productions! 2. FAMILY TOGETHERNESS! I have a million cousins. JK...but I have at least 30 of them! My parents are both from families of 5 kids, so we have BIG getogethers! Interesting Norwegian food, jokes, & memories of me being a pain-in-the-rear, PICKY EATER as a younger kid at Christmas! This year is the first year Rocco & I will spend Christmas with my family since getting married! YAY! & Baby Weston’s (our nephew) 1st Christmas! 1. THE REASON FOR THE SEASON: JESUS! We must continue to put the focus on Jesus each Christmas! Society is trying to kick Jesus out of His own birthday party! I’m not about to ignore the truth: Christmas is a day to celebrate the Savior of the World entering our lives as a helpless baby, destined to die on the cross for the salvation of our sinful souls. Thank you, Jesus! It is a small beginning that brought the BIGGEST & BEST ending of all time...our salvation! This Christmas we thank God for the miracle of Jesus in our lives! But we also thank God for all of the fun things such as family skates & Christmas cookies! Once again, give my Christmas album a spin! I promise it will get you into the Christmas spirit! Find “Christmas Time Is Here” on Spotify/iTunes today! I would LOVE to hear from you if it reached your family this Christmas season! What are YOUR favorite things at Christmas time?? Love & Christmas Greetings, Abby Grimaldi P.S. Below are some Christmas family pics! Enjoy! |
AuthorChristian Singer-Songwriter, Writer, Hockey Wife, & Fitness Fanatic. Nomad with North Dakota roots. Archives
January 2020
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