How To Find Your Family's Christmas Traditions

How To Find Your Family's Christmas Traditions


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By the time Christmas arrives each year, I've already been counting down for weeks. The lights, the sounds, the songs, the hustle and bustle, the beautiful packages, the fresh baked cookies — I love it all!

As the pace around us quickens, we can almost feel the anticipation in the crisp cold air. The culmination of all our merrymaking is coming with the celebration of Jesus’ birth.  

If you’re like me, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of the season. But as a parent, I have to grab hold of every opportunity to share why we celebrate Christmas. In parenting, traditions help us teach our children who they are as part of our family as well as who they are in God’s family.

Traditions reinforce our most fundamental values. That's why traditions are important any time of year, but especially around Christmas. Children gain a sense of security and belonging as they experience traditions. And it’s through traditions that our faith has been shared from generation to generation. Psalm 145:4 reminds us that God is worthy of praise every day, and it’s our role as adults to share God’s great works from one generation to the next.

Traditions don’t have to be grand. It’s the meaning behind them and the togetherness that makes them special.

Traditions don’t have to be grand. It’s the meaning behind them and the togetherness that makes them special. If you’d like to start family traditions or add new ones, here are some ideas to get you started.

Four Christmas Traditions to Start This Year

1. Read the story of Jesus’ birth together as a family.

The story of Jesus’ birth is found in Luke 2:1-20. Whether you choose to snuggle up by a cozy fire, read a different part at bedtime each evening, or take turns reading over breakfast, reading the Christmas story draws us closer to Jesus by reminding us that He came to us.

2. Give a deeper meaning to gift giving.

If gift giving is already a part of your family traditions, consider adding more intentionality behind how you give.

When our oldest was born, we started the tradition of giving only three gifts for Christmas. Our intention behind this tradition has many layers, but they all point back to Jesus. First, we don't want the potential extravagance and expectation of presents to overshadow the true purpose of Christmas. Second, we use gift giving as a reminder that Jesus is our greatest gift and we emphasize that with our two little ones. And last, we give three gifts because that’s how many gifts the wise men gave Jesus after His birth.

Our children are 8 and 4, and they love that they get the same number of gifts that Jesus received. This may not be a good fit for your family, and that’s OK. The idea is simply to be creative with your gift giving traditions and look for ways to ensure Jesus is at the center.

3. Do something unique and fun.

Some of our favorite family traditions are the simple ones. It doesn’t matter that they’re simple. They’re ours and that makes them special.

Whether it’s baking Jesus a birthday cake, caroling in the neighborhood, drinking hot chocolate, or taking a late night drive to see Christmas lights, simple things build the foundation of a healthy well-rounded childhood. Include your children in the planning of some simple and fun new traditions this year, and watch their faces shine!

4. Attend a Christmas service together as a family.

Attending church together is a tradition that goes far beyond the holiday season, but there’s something extra special about Christmas services. This gives everyone in our family time to pause and reflect on the goodness of God. God gave us His one and only son, Jesus, to be our Savior.

There’s no better time to start attending church as a family than this Christmas. Christmas services at church are always special and something you’ll be talking about for years to come!


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The Surprising Message Of Grace In The Story Of Jonah

Published: November 10, 2024

Beyond the Whale: The Real Story of Jonah We've all heard the story of Jonah and the whale. It's a tale that has captivated imaginations for centuries, often reduced to a simple narrative about a man swallowed by a giant fish. But what if I told you that the whale is not the most incredible part of this story? What if there's a message of grace so profound and unexpected that it challenges our very understanding of God's love? The book of Jonah, though only four chapters long, carries a weight far beyond its size. It's a story set against a backdrop of national tragedy and bitter enmity. Imagine a prophet being sent to the heart of Nazi Germany in 1939 to proclaim God's judgment and call for repentance. That's the emotional equivalent of Jonah's mission to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria – a nation that had destroyed Israel's northern kingdom and taken its people into exile. In this context, Jonah's reluctance to go to Nineveh becomes understandable. Was it fear that drove him to flee in the opposite direction? Or was it something darker – a desire to see his enemies destroyed rather than given a chance at redemption? Whatever his reasons, Jonah boards a ship bound for Tarshish, as far from Nineveh as he could get. “But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – Jonah 1:17 But here's where the story takes an interesting turn. Even as Jonah flees from God's command, he still identifies himself as a follower of the very God he's disobeying. When a storm threatens to sink the ship, Jonah doesn't hesitate to tell the sailors that his God is responsible. It's a stark reminder of how we often try to compartmentalize our faith, claiming to follow God while actively running from His will. God's Unyielding Grace The sailors, interestingly, show more compassion than the prophet. They try desperately to save the ship without harming Jonah, even after he tells them to throw him overboard. It's a poignant moment that challenges our assumptions about who truly demonstrates godly behavior. When Jonah is finally cast into the sea, God's grace makes its first dramatic appearance. Instead of letting His wayward prophet drown, God sends a great fish to swallow Jonah and carry him to safety. It's a miraculous rescue, but more importantly, it's a powerful illustration of God's unwillingness to give up on us, even when we've given up on Him. After this dramatic intervention, Jonah finally goes to Nineveh. His proclamation of impending judgment is brief – perhaps just ten words – yet its impact is nothing short of revolutionary. The entire city, from the common people to the king himself, repents in sackcloth and ashes. It's one of the most successful prophetic missions in the entire Bible, and it happened through the most reluctant of messengers. “Should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left?” – Jonah 4:11 But the story doesn't end with this mass conversion. In a twist that reveals the true heart of the narrative, Jonah becomes angry at God's mercy. He sets up a shelter outside the city, seemingly hoping to still see it destroyed. It's a shocking reaction that forces us to confront our own attitudes towards those we consider beyond redemption. Takeaways from Jonah's Story God’s grace is relentless, reaching out even to those we might deem unworthy. We should examine our own hearts for any reluctance or bias that might hinder God’s work through us. God’s mercy challenges our assumptions and invites us to expand our understanding of His love. Every person, regardless of background or past, is within the reach of God's grace. We are called to be bearers of God’s grace, extending compassion even to those we consider "beyond hope." As we go about our lives, may we be mindful of the Ninevehs around us – the people and places that seem too far gone. And may we, unlike Jonah, rejoice when we see God's grace at work, transforming lives and bringing hope where there was none before. The story of Jonah invites us into a grander narrative of redemption. It calls us to turn away from our own limited understanding and step into the boundless grace of God. In doing so, we might just find ourselves part of a story far more amazing than we could ever imagine – a story of grace that changes everything.

Exchanging Anxiety For Peace: A Journey Of Faith And Contentment

Published: December 10, 2024

Exchange Anxiety for Peace: A Transformative Gift In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by anxiety. From global conflicts to personal challenges, the weight of worry can seem unbearable. But what if there were a way to exchange that anxiety for something infinitely more valuable—God’s peace? The Gift Exchange That Transforms As the holiday season approaches, many of us get caught up in the frenzy of gift-giving—making lists, shopping, and stressing over finding the "perfect" presents. Amid this whirlwind, let’s consider a different kind of exchange—one that doesn’t involve material goods but transforms our hearts. The world gives us its own “gifts,” but often these come as sorrow, fear, and darkness. These unwanted burdens can leave us feeling heavy and discouraged. Thankfully, God offers a divine exchange: trading our worries for His gifts of hope, peace, joy, love, and light. These are not temporary fixes—they are life-changing treasures. Jesus’ Promise of Peace Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” These words are more than comforting—they’re an invitation to trust in a peace that transcends understanding. Say them aloud: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” There’s a soothing rhythm in these words that quiets our hearts. This peace is more than a feeling of calm. It transforms our thoughts, actions, and even the world around us. It’s a peace that calls us to be active participants in God’s vision. Becoming Peacemakers The peace Jesus offers isn’t passive. It’s a call to action: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” True peace requires more than internal calm—it demands reconciliation, love for our neighbors (and enemies), and a commitment to seek justice. Our world desperately needs this kind of peace. News of war, violence, and injustice reminds us that as long as such realities exist, we cannot claim to have fully realized peace. Yet, this does not mean we should lose hope. Instead, hope propels us forward, helping us live in the tension between our current reality and the promised peace of God’s kingdom. Living the Divine Exchange How do we begin this exchange of anxiety for peace? It starts with turning to God. When worry threatens to overwhelm us, we can lean on Jesus’ words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not let them be afraid.” This peace is more than a personal escape from stress. It transforms how we live, love, and interact with others. It enables us to love ourselves, embrace our neighbors, and even extend grace to our enemies. Through this transformation, we become true children of God—peacemakers in a world hungry for hope. A Daily Challenge As we journey through this season and beyond, let’s challenge ourselves to make this exchange every day: When anxiety knocks, trade it for peace. When fear takes hold, exchange it for hope. When darkness creeps in, replace it with God’s light. This exchange isn’t always easy. It takes faith, practice, and perseverance. But the rewards are profound. Living in God’s peace allows us to share that peace with others, becoming beacons of hope and healing in a broken world. Reflecting the Prince of Peace Whatever weighs on your heart today, bring it to God. Offer it up in exchange for His peace. Then, empowered by that peace, step into the world as a peacemaker. In doing so, you reflect God’s love and bring His transformative peace to those around you. The Prince of Peace is always with us, ready to help us make this exchange. In His strength, we can trade anxiety for peace, fear for love, and darkness for light. This is the ultimate gift exchange—one that not only transforms us but also the world we touch. Are you ready to make the exchange today?
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