How can we reduce stress
during Christmas and/or
Easter so that we can
celebrate Jesus Christ's
Birth and Resurrection
and focus on Him and
not on us and our lust
for spending, for 'things',
and parties. Christmas
and Easter can become
holy days when we
focus on Jesus Christ's
birth, death, and
resurrection, and not
on ourselves and our
pleasure!
has taken over Christmas,
we feel that we must do,
and go, and buy so many
things to prepare for
Christmas. The advertisers
and retailers bombard
us with ads very early on
in order to tempt us to buy
more decorations and
'things' to celebrate. But
Christmas (and Easter)
are not just holidays, they
are holy days that should
be about more than
presents and parties,
decorations and/or Easter
egg hunts.
What did you get out of the
What did you get out of the
holiday afterwards except
stress, exhaustion, and
perhaps debt because of
buying things that aren't
necessary to worship our
Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ, who is THE reason
for these holy days! But it
seems that HE gets left out
of His Own Birthday and
His Own Resurrection
Celebrations!
When these holy days are
all over, we realize that we
have we forgotten WHOSE
Birth Day and Resurrection
Days we should be have
celebrating. I know that I
have done this myself in the
past. And, in the process I
ended up exhausted,
depressed, and felt empty.
That's because nothing
earthly can satisfy.
Also commercialism (to the
Also commercialism (to the
joy of Satan I am sure) has
made Christmas to be
about a cutesy little baby
in a manger instead of about
what a costly gift God gave
to us that Christmas several
thousand years ago! We
need to remember that
there was a shadow hanging
over Jesus Christ in that
manger - the shadow of a
large wooden cross that He
would be crucified upon at
the end of his ministry
when he voluntarily gave
up his life to pay your sin
debt and mine so that we
could spend eternity in
heaven IF we accept His
Sinless Blood Sacrifice to
pay for our sins!
I hope that the following
information will help in
planning a better, less
stressful Christmas.
Paul tells us not to be
anxious about anything,
but to pray (with
thanksgiving to God)
and ask God to show
you what He wants you
to do (or not do) to
celebrate His Son's
Birth and/or His
Resurrection. With
God showing you
what would please
Him you will surely
not over-do, over-spend,
over-party, and will have
God's peace that passes
all understanding.
Philippians
4:6 Be careful [anxious]
for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and
supplication with
thanksgiving let your
requests be made
known unto God.
4:7 And the peace of
God, which passeth
all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and
minds through Christ
Jesus.
What Christmas is About:
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is
given: and the
government shall be
upon his shoulder: and
his name shall
be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty
God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince
of Peace.
I would like to add a
personal note about
spending too much
at Christmas and/or
Easter. Instead of
focusing on your
wants, why not
donate to a charity
or ministry in the
name of your loved ones
instead of buying
things that they don't
need or want, and
that you will pay too
much for, and maybe
even go into debt for.
I remember when we
were in our early teens,
my precious Mother
used to buy too much
for my sister and me
for Christmas. And
being a single mom
she spent the rest of the
year struggling to pay for
the stuff! That's just crazy.
We would have been happy
with just one thing that was
something we really wanted.
It's not how many presents,
but just one gift that was
thoughtful. And if you do
not have money, why not
give that person an IOU to
spend time with them, or to
do some errand for them or
with them. Or make some
gift - many times people
appreciate that you took
the time to make
something you thought
they would like. Or maybe
just an IOU to spend time
with them. And, if you
don't have money, try
giving of your time. You
could help the elderly,
visit someone that is
sick or lonely, or give
someone an IOU for an
errand or odd job you can
do sometime when it's
needed that would help
them out. Most times that
will mean more to them
than spending money on
them. Not going into debt
is important to your family's
well-being for the rest of
the year. Be sensible so
that you don't have to
suffer all year long paying
off debt. It's just a thought.