I’m grateful to Pure Flix for contributing information and resources to help families and loved-ones better bond as they spend time together. To that end, they graciously supplied today’s post. Be sure to scroll down for details on a Christmas giveaway offered by the authors of The Christmas Heirloom! -Becky
With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season is officially in full swing. As we indulge in holiday cheer from elaborate feasts with loved ones to white lights and beloved Christmas songs, it’s important to be intentional about keeping God’s presence at the center of the season. Remaining mindful of God’s word and His role in our lives — especially His hand in the many blessings we recognize during the holidays — will help your family experience the season more deeply.
#1. Stop Worshipping Material Possessions
Holiday spending in 2017 was the highest seen over the course of the previous four years, with retail spending increasing by 6.6 percent between Halloween and Christmas. Within this spike, online spending increased to 11 percent from 5.4 percent.
Galatians 5:22-23 reads, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control….” There are many things God encourages us to demonstrate throughout our lives, but idolizing material objects isn’t one of them. Instead, seek to embody the true spirit of the holidays, intentionally limiting holiday spending so as to make more room for joy, kindness, and faith.
#2. Celebrate Jesus’s Birthday
Make a point of celebrating the birth of Jesus! Planning a birthday celebration for Jesus is a great way to teach the children in your life about the nativity story.
Bake a birthday cake with the kids and let them decorate it once cooled. Have them help you write, “Happy Birthday, Jesus” on top of the cake. Remind the kids of the blessings they were afforded due to Christ’s life and sacrifice. As you enjoy the cake, cozy up on the couch for a faith-filled film fest. Numerous Christian movies are perfect for educating your family about Jesus’s part in our lives.
#3. Intercede in Prayer
Avoid the tendency to pray only when in need and only for your own gain.
James 4:3 reads: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Intercede in prayer for your family members, friends, and community during the Christmas season. Ask Him for strength, joy, and greater compassion so that you may better live out his word.
#4. Glorify God’s Legacy through Good
Much of God’s legacy has to do with sacrifice. Ultimately, He sacrificed his only son so that we can have the blessings we celebrate throughout the holiday season. Matthew 5:16 explains: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
If you don’t have the ability to sacrifice through giving back on a large scale, there are plenty of small ways to impact those who live around you.
How does your family keep Christ at the center of Christmas?
The authors of The Christmas Heirloom (me, Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter, and Sarah Loudin Thomas) have joined with our publisher to offer a Christmas giveaway! One winner will receive: a signed copy of The Christmas Heirloom, the Luckenbooth brooch and the hand-embroidered brooch bag mentioned in The Christmas Heirloom, a set of handmade Appalachian quilt-inspired ornaments, a book ornament, an aromatic Christmas cookie candle, a gourmet mint hot cocoa. Three additional winners will each receive a copy of The Christmas Heirloom
The contest will run through December 7th. Click here or on the image below to enter!
Becky Wade
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Sorry, I just entered the giveaway, and then noticed it was open to U.S. residents only 😔 please remove my address from the giveaway. Thanks.
Grace
Sorry about that, Grace!
Hubby and I, at our stage in life, have more than enough personal possessions so we forego the gift giving part (as in gifts under our tree) of the holidays. I think part of the way we keep Christ in Christmas is to give from the heart and not from the pocketbook. Any gifts we might buy are for those on an angel tree or for someone we know needs something and we try to fill that void. We enjoy doing things like bake and share the bounty of the kitchen with the elderly and shut ins. Our gift of time is more than store bought goods when we visit with someone that has few visitors or help that elderly with a chore they can’t do or can’t afford to pay anyone to do.
Remembering the greatest gift given to man helps us to remember how loved we are. Love is only awesome when it’s shared and not expecting anything in return. That what we try to do and it helps to keep Christ in our Christmas for us.
Oh, Kay! I love your approach to Christmas. I think we’d all benefit from scaling back on gift-giving and focusing more on the types of giving you described. Between my sisters and myself, we have ten kids. Years, ago, we decided not to give to each other, our husbands, or our kids Christmas presents. The kids receive more than enough as it is. And it simplified Christmas for all of us. 🙂
Thanks for this Becky. It’s so good to focus before Christmas comes about what our priorities should be – it helps take the pressure off!
For the past few years my family has been contributing to a children’s charity as one of our Christmas presents. Last year, we encouraged our children to add their contributions. One of the best things about last year’s Christmas was watching the kids decide the best way their money could help other kids through the World Vision and Compassion catalogues – how many chickens, bibles, goats, etc they could buy. Loved this as being their Christmas Day focus!
What a fabulous way to include your kids in giving, Carolyn!
Thank you for this message, Becky. I truly appreciate it at this time. I love the book of James and want to try my best to live up to your post.
I love the book of James, too! It’s a straight-talking, practical, and challenging book.
Love this!
🙂 Thanks, Amy!
Thanks for this generous giveaway. When my daughter was small the Brownies went to a nursing home and sang carols to the residents during the Christmas holidays. The residents responded very positively to the children. They were glad to be remembered. It’s things like this that children remember as they grow into adults.