Doreen

Lynne Chapman
BellaOnline's Christian Living Editor

The Christmas season is called “the most wonderful time of the year.� We look forward to it as being a joyful and fulfilling time. Unfortunately, we often let preparing for family gatherings, the hustle and expense of shopping for the perfect gift, or fighting the crowds, get the best of us and turn this into the most stressful experience of the year. These feelings of stress that often generate into moods of irritability and cause many us to dread the season, are a state of mind that is not honoring to God and certainly does nothing to promote good family relationships. Why not decide to stop holiday stress this year before it begins by constantly reminding yourself of the reason we celebrate?
I have put together a few suggestions that may help.

Get up a little earlier in the morning, at least once a week and read about the very first Christmas. Share these verses with your family.

Matthew 1:18-25 and 2: 1-12

Luke 1:26-45

John 1:1-5 and 1: 14


Enjoy Christmas music in your home while decorating, cooking, cleaning or wrapping gifts. Some of my favorite Christmas CDs are:


Midnight Clear (An intimate acoustic Christmas with guitars and other instruments)


Breath Of Heaven: A Christmas Collection by Vince Gill
Lynne Chapman
BellaOnline's Christian Living Editor

A Christmas Story by Point of Grace



Mend a broken relationship with a family member or friend.

Colossians 3:13,14
You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.



Take a plate of Christmas goodies to a grumpy neighbor.

Wish a “Merry Christmas� to every sales clerk you come into contact with.

Throughout the holiday season, give your family the gift of a sweet disposition.


Finally, reflect on this Gift at the end of every day.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8,9
God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

__________________
Doreen