One question often asked this time of year is,

“Are you ready for Christmas?”

It's not even Thanksgiving yet!!!

But Hobby Lobby and Walmart made us feel behind back in September or October, 

am I right?

 

Here's the thing - 

We can feel frazzled or empty when we forget [or push to the background] the real reason for the season – our savior Jesus Christ

So my question is –

Are we heeding John the Baptist’s words in Luke 3:4-6

⁴ As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
⁶ And all people will see God’s salvation.’

 – Are we preparing the way for our Lord as we go into this busy holiday season?

Our attitudes set the tone for others in our household,

It sets the tone for our children, and our families...

Our attitudes can set the tone for our own holiday season.

 

Do we have an attitude of frenzy and chaos or of peace and stillness? Contentment?

I say we strive for peace as we prepare – intentionally – to celebrate our Savior’s birth.

We can begin setting the tone for our Christmas now:

Let's talk just a bit about some practical ways we can intentionally focus on Christ as we prepare our homes to point others towards Him – 

Does a full calendar overwhelm you?

[Omgoodness – I looked back at some of the calendars 

we had going on when our kids were younger – 

and it was CRA—ZY]

So I know, there’s so many good things going on during this time of year that it’s easy to have a full [overloaded] calendar before we realize it –

And it can be overwhelming -

But even with a calendar overflowing with activities, our holidays can still seem empty, meaningless, and lonely if we forget the real reason [gift] of the season –

 

So, let’s be intentional about how we prepare the way for our Lord –

One of the most important things we can do is to

commit to a daily time with God –

I encourage you to be still and feel His peace 

 Praise Him and thank Him for the gift of Jesus

Ask Him to show you ways you can focus on Him

Ask Him to guide your plans / celebrations - including those you might need to say NO to –

Ask Him to help you see ways you can share His glory with others

I encourage you to plan and discuss holiday expectations -

 As we’re preparing for Christmas, we might also have a Family Meeting –  

[Everything goes better if everyone knows what’s expected, even little ones…]

We've always taken the time throughout our marriage to sit down weekly 

and compare calendars and decide together what / how to focus our time

Discuss your holiday expectations -

What is your holiday budget for finances AND TIME?

What traditions do you enjoy [or can you let go / pass up?]

– Before Kids, I had great expectations that we’d spend hours blissfully cutting out rolled cookies and decorating them –

[Those are pre-made, btw, ready to decorate from a kit, y'all -]

Now, I’m all about my home made slice and bake cookies [our favorite recipe is here -]

Truthfully my mama never made cut-out cookies with us – 

but she did make a delicious fudge every Christmas 

and was sure to pass down her ‘fudge pan’ to me 

when she moved into assisted living…

We all have good memories of stirring that pan of fudge together...

 

Let’s slow down and focus on the birth of our Savior.

Let’s be intentional about taking time to be quiet and be still in this very busy season - 

 LET’S SLOW DOWN AND BE PRESENT –         

And take the time to focus on how thankful we are for all that God has done for us.

 I love this quote from Mandy Kelly with Worshipful living - 

 

So tonight, I want to briefly share some ways to intentionally focus on Christ;

And while some of these are things we’ve done through the years,

--- Yes – I found some on the internets that I wanted to share also –

 

Here are some ways we can prepare for our Lord –

Give the gift of a written thank you to those in our lives who are special to us –

Read a chapter from the book of Luke each day during December – 

[24 chapters – Christ’s ministry on earth –]

Or use an advent devotional throughout the month

We give more to Lottie Moon [or missions] than we spend on our most expensive gift -

Use an Advent Calendar that reflects Jesus’ birth

Limit the number of gifts for each child to three  

[Jesus’s three gifts from the Wise Men -]

  Attend special church services throughout the season 

Is there anything more precious that hearing your baby sing about Jesus?

[Oops, they had already taken their angel wings off...

Choose a service activity you can do as a family to serve someone else

Pray for the families you receive Christmas cards from daily  

Have your Christmas cards reflect the birth of Christ

and not just 'Happy Holidays'

Go to a live nativity  

[Invite a neighbor or friend and share what Jesus’s birth means to you -]

Or, one I always wanted to do – enjoy Santa Claus on St. Nicholas Day [December 6^th] and keep the 25^th holy –

Side Note: Our kids have always [and still do, no matter how far away they might be] received a chocolate Santa on St. Nick’s Day –

It’s one of the few references to Santa we make in our home – 

 [We only have two photos of our boys with Santa - 

both becasue we just happened upon him when we were out and about -]

We’ve always wanted our kids to know what was REAL about Christmas –

That Jesus came to earth as baby to grow up and be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins –

He willingly went to the cross for me, and for you -

Isn’t that the most precious gift of all?

 

And because of this precious gift –

We all know Christmas is a time of CELEBRATION!

We’re celebrating the birth of our Savior!

And of course, we want to decorate!

Maybe a little – Maybe a lot –

There’s something special about setting a festive mood –

After all, we are preparing the way for our Lord!

As believers, our reason for celebrating is Christ’s birth –

But it’s so easy to let our celebrations

[or planning, or expectations] get out of control –

[Remember those crazy calendars!]

 

So let’s do our best to -

Create a calm and relaxed home

I want to encourage you [and me!] to focus on creating 

a calm and relaxed home for all who enter:

FOR EVERYONE - Our immediate family, extended family, friends, and others -

We've always wanted our home to be a comfortable home –

Hospitality is about WELCOMING others –

- not about what I’ve done for them –

- not about the perfect meal –

- not about having a Pinterest perfect home,

But I enjoy cooking and decorating as much as the next person

[We've even been known to decorate the camper a bit - ha]

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the extra indulgence of the season –

  Or including little touches / gifts to help others feel special or loved –

 But if the presentation is the focus,

we may have missed the REAL PRESENT of the season – Jesus

Are we preparing the way for our families and friends 

to celebrate Jesus or to celebrate all that we’ve done?

God’s love is about welcoming people IN – 

not about working ourselves [and our families -?] 

into a frenzy before guests arrive.

I think if we're honest, we've all been there, right?

 Love is always about the people –

  not the STUFF, not the food, not the décor, etc.

 There’s JOY in loving others – inviting them into our lives,

– and sharing God’s love with them.

 

So I encourage you to Focus on Christ as you decorate –

We’ve always wanted our home to be comfortable and welcoming with an atmosphere that points others to Jesus. And I’m sure you do to –

You know how some people feel the need to have a TREE in every room? 

 

[And okay, if I’m honest, I may have put up two or four on occasion - 

But they are SMALL, y’all! My house can only hold one big tree -] 

But! I also have a nativity in almost every room – 

seriously, even the bathroom , and a couple outside -

  We have little signs/ décor that focus on Christ instead of Santa –

We focus on Christmas CAROLS not holiday songs, and there is a difference to me -

 All of the other stuff is fun, but this is what we have chosen to do in our home – 

Because we want the focus of Christmas to be on the joy Christ alone can give  –

There’s been a ‘trend’ going around for a few years now –

Who has heard of hygge?

Spelled - hygge? pronounced "hoo-gah," 

This Danish expression is an attitude towards life that emphasizes

finding joy in everyday moments.

Rather than drudge through the winter, or the holiday season, hygge "hoo-gah," is about celebrating coziness, warmth and family, as well as practicing mindfulness —

Being intentionally present with those you love.

It’s about all things warm and comforting –

And I believe we can have that by focusing on the peace that only Jesus gives –

Let’s cultivate a sense of Hygge "hoo-gah," this holiday season 

as we prepare the way to celebrate our Lord;

Let’s strive for a home and lifestyle of contentedness, one that invites people in and embraces – and looks for - those warm and happy feelings you have when you're enjoying simple things, and family, and friends, while focusing on the birth of Christ Jesus.

 

Luke 3: 4-6 is fulfilling this scripture from Isaiah – and several translations, including the Amplified Bible, interprets it by saying, 

“Clear the way for our Lord”

Let’s clear out the clutter in our hearts, and minds, and calendars,  

and yes, Pinterest boards…

Let’s slow down and appreciate the little moments and delight in the simple things –

Let’s choose the best things for our families this year 

as we use the coming days to prepare the way for our Lord.

 

I love this quote by Ann VosKamp -

“We’re ready for Christmas, not when we have all the gifts, 

but when we are ready for Christ –  

when we’re ready to give all of ourselves to Christ.”

 As we kick off the Christmas season

I encourage each of you [and me !!]

Let’s be intentional in focusing on Christ during this holiday season – 

Let's get ready for Christmas - 

So let me be the first to say – Merry Christmas!

And yes, that's me circa 1964 or so - 

[A little early? Perhaps, but according to the retail world 

I've got some catching up to do - HA.]