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The carols try to tell us that this is a calm and silent time of year. But for most of us, the weeks leading up to Christmas can be anything but calm. You know the drill: office parties, shopping, baking, wrapping, relatives, Christmas plays and everyone’s favorite - family pictures. It’s enough to leave even the strongest among us exhausted. Can we slow things down a little so we can enjoy the season again? Does anyone have time for that?

Whatever your plans for the season, don’t let them overtake your holiday. Remember Dr. Seuss’s classic tale How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Christmas will come without all the wrappings and bows, it will still come if the turkey isn’t perfect, if your tree is a little lop-sided or the dog decides to help you ‘redecorate’.

There are ways to put a little relaxation back into your Christmas season without adding too much to your busy schedule. As we get closer and closer to the 25th, try a couple of these simple ideas and remember what enjoying the holiday feels like.

1. Host a coloring party. Coloring parties are a tradition I learned from my Mom’s friend Gail. Every Christmas the local hospital sells large (3′ x 2′) coloring books as a fund raiser and Gail uses these as the center of her get together. Friends are invited to bring a little of their Christmas baking and come over for a morning of coffee and coloring. Upon arriving, everyone gathers around the coloring books on the kitchen table and dives into brand new packs of crayons with the glee of five-year-olds. The conversation flows. It is a relaxed, non threatening time, a great way to catch up with old friends, an easy way to get to know new neighbors.
2. Choose one or two people from your list and make their present. Making gifts gives you a great excuse to go off somewhere by yourself for a few hours. Put on your favorite music, light a pine scented candle and enjoy the quiet as you work. The possibilities for hand-made gifts are endless.
3. Attend a local highschool or college concert. Most school bands and choirs put on Christmas concerts and the entrance fee is almost always minimal. Grab a friend or the whole family and support local musicians while relaxing and getting into the Christmas spirit.
4. Read your favorite children’s Christmas story. Find a quiet corner, a cup of cocoa, and favorite blanket and curl up a read the story you most loved as a child. How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Night Before Christmas are classics, or better yet, read the original Christmas story in the Bible in the book of Luke (Luke 2:1-20).
5. Reflect on the season. Christmas is many things to many people, but at the heart of all the celebrating and festivities is a baby born in a manger. In Bethlehem, two thousand years ago God sent his son into the world. The Bible tells us that Jesus was not sent into the world to condemn it, but to save it. Many churches put on special Christmas pageants that portray the story of Jesus, who he is and what he came to earth to do. Why not take in a performance over the next few weeks and rediscover the true reason for the season?

“Peace on Earth” is a phrase you see everywhere this time of year. For many of us, we have to wonder where that peace is? Who is at peace? What about countries that are at war? Is “Peace on Earth” even possible in this day and age? Peace on Earth is possible, and it can start with you. You can find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Saviour and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of woman you want me to be.

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, pray it right now and Christ will come into your life as He promised. If you invited Jesus Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

Christmas is a time to remember the gift of love that was given to us. May your days be merry and bright and may the love that sparked the season find you in the days and weeks to come.

What does “stillness” actually look like? See how it can fit into your life.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Imagine the scene: a well-dressed businesswoman rushes to the conference table, arriving five minutes after the meeting’s scheduled opening. Papers scatter as she places them before her, beads of perspiration coat her brow and we hear one side of a frantic cell phone conversation.

Another woman, equally important in the company hierarchy, drops her child at day care, turns her phone to vibrate and five minutes before the scheduled opening seats herself at the conference table where her colleagues gather for planning. They relax in her confident appearance of leadership.

Both women carry heavy loads of responsibilities. Both have families and full schedules. Both know that the hours ahead may present nearly insurmountable difficulties. Without examining the reasons behind each woman’s preparation, or lack of same, perhaps there is a spiritual lesson to be learned.

Which woman do I most resemble when I meet with God each day? Do I dash into His presence wearing an attitude of, “Here I am, God, let’s get on with it.” Does my mind appear as scattered as a haystack? Or do I take a deep breath, close my “closet” door on all the whirling responsibilities of my life, sink into a chair and simply be still before Him?

God awaits and welcomes us no matter our appearance or attitude, but how much more precious to us would be the time if we prepared more thoroughly. In the 17th Century, Catharina von Schlegel wrote these words:

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 As we get closer and closer to the busyness of Christmas, take time to be still with God.

Dear God, Remind me to come to you.  Remind me to put my rushing aside, to set down the good things I am doing and just come and be with You. Thank you for being the greatest gift of all.  Amen.

 Question: When is it hardest for you to be still?

1. Lower expectations: Don’t fall for the hype and myth-takes that can ruin your holiday. You’ll  make yourself crazy comparing your home, your holiday, your family, with anyone or anything that makes you feel less than perfect. Remember, you are not Martha Stewart! Stop trying to win the perfect holiday award for the best cookies, the most elaborate decorations, or the biggest gifts. Remember these four important words throughout the holiday season: Do less, enjoy more.

2. Change routines: Why do we feel that we must continue forever to do things just as we’ve always done them? Don’t be bound by past traditions. Think outside the box and consider new ways of doing things to make it easier on yourself.

• Instead of exchanging gifts with co-workers or extended family, how about choosing a charity to help?

• Who says you HAVE to cook a huge meal for 30 people every year? Could you, have a simple gathering instead? Better yet, let another relative take a turn at hosting this year’s celebration.

• When did we decide we needed 37 different varieties of Christmas cookies each year? If you MUST have a variety of cookies, go to or host a cookie exchange where everybody bakes one type but takes home several of all the other varieties.

3. Don’t do it all yourself: Involve every member of the family right down to the toddlers. If you can’t do it together, then maybe it’s not something you need to do at all. Turn decorating, shopping, gift-wrapping, baking, and even house cleaning into family-time activities.

4. Plan ahead: Work smarter, not harder. Do as much as you can in the months before Christmas to leave December open for spontaneous joy. Get the car serviced in the Fall so it will be ready for holiday travel, bake and freeze cookies throughout November, start addressing Christmas card envelopes during the summer while you’re sitting in the sun sipping lemonade.

5. Spend less money: Nothing adds stress to the season like worrying about how you’ll pay the credit card bill come January. Remember that it’s the thought that counts. Think of creative gifts you can give that cost less but express your love. Keep a journal of all your expenditures. Know each day how much you’ve spent so far. Shop fast.  The more time you spend in the store, the more money it will cost you.

6. Simplify gift shopping: Plan ahead, make a list, and stick to it. Shop throughout the year rather than doing it all at the last minute.Instead of individual gifts, buy one item for an entire family such as a board game.

7. Celebrate family and community: Schedule time for fun and relaxing together. Put it on your calendar and make it top priority. Don’t let anything get in your way. If you’re too busy to drive through the neighborhood with the kids looking at the lights and listening to Christmas music, re-arrange your schedule. Whatever you’re planning to do, share it with someone and make it quality time.

8.  Create lasting, loving memories: Be selective. Don’t fill every moment of the season with frantic activity. Think quality, not quantity. Reading stories together, a relaxed tree-trimming, singing carols, making snow angels, or just enjoying the evening stars and sharing a cup of hot cocoa can be more enjoyable than attending every play, concert, and party of the season. Volunteer as a family to sort food at a food bank, organize a toy or coat drive, deliver meals on wheels, or serve Christmas dinner at a shelter. These are memories you’ll cherish forever.

9. Tame the greedies: Steer  the family’s focus toward the needs of others and how your family can render service. Help everyone to develop an attitude of gratitude instead of always wanting something more. Talk about ways to share the season’s joy with others. Instead of wish lists, make a list of ways to practice generosity. These might include helping someone with shoveling, shopping, decorating, or baking. Or choose a volunteer project you can work on together as a family. Keep the TV turned off as much as possible to avoid commercials.

10. Create fun new traditions: Buy a new cookie cutter each year to add to a collection, or shop as a family to buy an early Christmas present for yourselves like a board game you can play throughout  December.

It’s the little things that make life more meaningful. I like the idea of starting a Christmas tradition of practicing not-so-random acts of  kindness each holiday season and maybe even extending this kindness throughout the year.

Volunteering is a great way to teach children compassion. It develops character, leadership, self esteem and a sense of community. Volunteering also helps offset the materialism of our culture. The key is finding a cause the whole family can identify with.Find some children who need cheery mail and work as a family making cards for them. There are hundreds of such children in need of smiles featured on the HUGS and HOPE Club’s web site. Your family can also sponsor a child for Christmas through the Hugs and Hope Elf Program. It’s fun to shop for and wrap items from your sponsored child’s wish list.

Then you can RELAX

Now that you’ve learned how to tame your inner Grinch . . .  take a deep breath, turn on the tree lights, gather your loved ones around you, relax in your favorite chair,  and watch angel Clarence earn his wings for the forty-third time. Only  this year, you’ll be able to affirm with George Bailey that it really is “A Wonderful Life.”

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If this sounds familiar, you, like many people, may be caught in a holi-daze. Cooking, shopping, entertaining, cleaning, organizing take precedence over all else, including personal and spiritual rituals that are a necessary part of our overall well-being.

I remember one year when I hardly looked up from October 1 to December 31. October was a month of birthdays, anniversaries, and a wedding. In November we had a family reunion at our home for Thanksgiving followed by a weekend of sight-seeing for those in from out of town. The next week began my husband’s busiest retail season of the year – prior to Christmas. Then there was choir practice, holiday parties, the children’s play, the family advent workshop, holiday gift swaps, and Christmas cookie exchanges.

I was spent by the time we took down our Christmas tree and ushered in the New Year with a cup of hot cider. I wished I were a bear so I could hibernate for the rest of the winter! vowed that year that I would never again allow myself to become so frazzled. I wanted to enjoy the holidays, not merely endure them, to rejoice in them, not simply react to them. And to take time to rest – even in the midst of the excitement and celebration.

This new commitment led me back to Scripture. I wanted to know what God says about rest–both His promises and His mandates. Here’s what I found. I hope you will feel encouraged to build on them.

Rest from burdens

“Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV)

Imagine – the Lord himself invites us to put down our load when we are tired and overwhelmed. What better time to respond to this invitation than during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season? Merchants don’t want you to rest. They want you to buy their goods and services. Bankers don’t want you to rest. They want to loan you money so they can charge you interest. Friends don’t offer to give you rest. They want you to come to their party or dinner or serve on a committee at church or at work. And your children and spouse? Well, they may sympathize that this season is demanding, but do they want you to rest? Not really. If you do, who’ll prepare the meals and shop for gifts, organize the family get-together, and pay for it all when the bills arrive?

Only the Lord wants you to rest. Only He wants you to come away with Him when you are weary and heavy-laden. When you hear His call, put down whatever you’re doing. It’ll be there when you return. Follow His lead. “Take five” with God today. Find a quiet space. Retreat from your burdens. Relax and refresh yourself.

Rest from work

“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the ploughing season and harvest you must rest” (Exodus 34:21 NIV).

Even as the Israelites were commanded to rest during harvest, we too must rest during the busyness of holiday celebrations. Set aside some vacation days for this season of the year. Too many of us try to work normal hours and shop and cook and decorate and entertain. Then we wonder why we come down with a cold or the flu or a bout of depression. We need to rest. We deserve to rest. We require rest.

God knows this and that’s why He commands us to rest on the seventh day – even in the midst of the busiest seasons of the year – whether at work or at home or in our communities. Our work will live on long after we’re gone. Other people will take up the plough and bring in the harvest – and decorate the tree, prepare the turkey, buy and wrap the gifts. It is up to each of us to look within, and to find ways to refill our well. For some of us that means turning off the computer, turning on the message machine, saying no to an invitation, saying yes to the desire to take a nap, simplifying the way we do our jobs -taking on less and giving away more.

There is a time to work and a time to rest. When the Lord calls us to rest even during the busy times, let us not be so consumed with our routine that we miss this opportunity.

Rest from people

“Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’” (Mark 6:31 NIV).

My husband walked through the front door, tossed his jacket and keys on the chair in the hallway and let out a big sigh. “I’ve had enough of people,” he said, obviously spent after a long day behind the customer service counter at the store where he works. “What’s happening to our world?” he asked as we walked into the dining room for dinner. “This is supposed to be a happy time of year. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s. But people are impatient, angry, in a hurry. I’ll be glad when it’s all over.”

Some relaxing music, a few moments of prayer together, and a good night’s sleep helped my husband come back to normal. Like Jesus, he felt the press of the crowd and he needed to retreat for a few hours.

We all know that feeling. There are times when we absolutely must be alone – away from the noise, the bustle, the anxiety that seems to run through the masses. Jesus experienced it often. And at such times he went off alone or with a small band of friends, to pray, to listen to His heavenly Father, to rest.

How much our lives would change for the better if we, like Jesus, did what our heavenly Father tells us to do. Rest from people.

Rest in the Lord

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1).

What an awesome truth to contemplate. Those who trust in the Lord will experience His protection. The God of the universe is telling us, His children, that He will protect us, that there is rest for us in the shadow of the Almighty. If we seek Him first, build our lives in and through Him, and put Him above everything else – even above family, our job, church, our civic duty, celebrations, we will never have to worry or fear.

How could we turn down such an invitation? God is our dwelling place and our plane of refuge and rest. Retreat to Him often during this stressful season and allow him to refresh your spirit, renew your mind, and refuel your body. Then you can participate in the holidays fully alert and able to share the good news of Jesus Christ. “Take five” with God today.

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Here are some tips from the National Headache Foundation to help you battle holiday headaches:

1. Plan in advance. A well-planned trip can ease the stress of holiday traveling. Be prepared for extra long lines and wait times at the airport and arrive at least three hours before your scheduled departure. As many Americans may choose to drive rather than fly this holiday season, consider increased traffic on the roads and plan accordingly. If you do plan to travel by car, plot your course and make all hotel reservations in advance.
2. Make lists. Forgetting to leave the key with the neighbor who will water the plants and pick up the mail can spoil even the best tasting turkey dinner. Make a list of everything that must be done and of all important items you will need before you leave. Knowing that you have everything carefully organized will ease the tension of a long trip.
3. Don’t skip meals. An empty stomach could spur a headache. Therefore, if you’re unable to follow your normal eating schedule, pack snacks for the trip. Avoid foods such as ripe cheeses, processed meats and chocolate, which may cause headaches in susceptible people.
4. Consider alternate plans. If you are staying home for the holidays and can’t be with family and friends far away, create new ways to celebrate. Plan a special dinner with neighbors, volunteer at a shelter or other community event, or plan to swap photos and videotapes of your celebration to with loved ones later.
5. Avoid last minute shopping. Hot stores and long lines are enough tol give the most ardent ‘shop-a-holic’ a tension headache. This year, why not utilize catalog or online shopping opportunities as a stress-free option. Also start holiday shopping early, slowly accumulating gifts for friends and loved ones.
6. Be aware of smoke- and perfume-filled rooms. Both are typical celebration environments, which can trigger headaches. If possible, get some fresh air or find an area that is relatively smoke and perfume- free.
7. Don’t disrupt your normal sleeping and waking patterns. Those late-night parties can also lead to migraines by tempting you to stay up past your bedtime and wake up later than usual. Try to go to sleep and awaken at the same time everyday.
8. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Try to sip your drink slowly. Mixed drinks containing fruit or vegetable juices will probably have less effect than straight alcohol. Alternate with non-alcoholic beverages such as soda or water. Avoid red wine which contains tyramine, a naturally occurring amino acid known to trigger headaches. Try a glass of white wine instead.
9. Schedule personal time. Holidays bring families together for quality time, but the stress of being with your family over several days, perhaps in close quarters, may be stressful. Have realistic expectations about the visit. Plan to visit friends, take long walks and give yourself a break from all that family togetherness.
10. See your healthcare provider. If you find that you are experiencing more frequent or severe headaches during the holidays, you should make a specific appointment with your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and to develop a treatment plan.

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“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well….All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:14, 16)

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

How many hats have you worn in the past week? You may have picked up a “nurse’s cap” as you cared for an aging parent or a family member who’s ill. Many of us wear a “chef’s cap” as we attempt to provide nutritious meals for those we love. Some days “short-order cook” might be more accurate! Chauffeur, counselor, teacher, project manager, accountant, activity director – all are common roles within our homes.

We wear hats outside of our homes as well. You may also have a career, a ministry, a role within your neighborhood or community. Our lives are busy, our relationships complex, and with each change of hat we have a new set of expectations to fit the role. Soon we can find ourselves driven by the competing expectations of others. We find ourselves under stress.

How is a woman to wear so many hats? One secret is found when we each learn how God made us. We’re not all to be gourmet chefs; not all are gifted musicians; not all are able to coordinate events for dozens of women on a shoestring budget. God has given each of us talents and abilities to use in His service. He’s also given us areas where we can learn to depend on others for their expertise. God has not called me to be you, nor has He called you to walk in my shoes.

As we learn contentment in His plan for our lives, we may find courage to remove a few ill-fitting hats. We may also find a new freedom to invest ourselves more fully in areas of our own giftedness. This brings honor to God, as we align our activities with who He made us to be. It also benefits those around us.

Lord, You are the One who designed me. You know how I’m wired and have a good plan for my life. Help me to live in accordance with Your design. Guide me as I evaluate competing expectations and priorities today, and help me honor You with the choices I make. Amen.

Question: Do you find it hard to say no? How do you keep from getting overwhelmed?