I thought some of you might like to hear more about a book I begun last night. I'm only on page 50 but have highlighted several passages. I will share them here with you. Maybe you will find something that interest you. This book has a Christain theme so you will see some Bible verses in my post.
"Make a conscious effort not to allow the retail world to dictate to you what the holidays are all about and what will make you happy. Turn the TV off, read more, listen to more music, and keep Jesus at the forefront. He often gets uninvited to his own birthday party.
List words that you would like to describe your life from Thanksgiving into the New Year. These words become mini-goals and provide a focus for the entire season. They constitute a short, easy answer to the "what" question.
Make a list of words that you absolutely do not want to describe your life during the holidays. Sometimes we can figure out what we want by knowing clearly what we do not want.
List what you like most about the holiday season. What do you absolutely love? What do you enjoy each year at Thanksgiving and Christmas?
As you consider what you like, go ahead and admit what you do not care for about the holidays. describe your life during the holidays. Sometimes we can figure out what we want by knowing clearly what we do not want.
Now that you have done some thinking about what you like and don't like about the holiday season, it's time to select your joy Goal.
Maybe your goal is truly to live one of the words you came up with to describe your life-a word such as peaceful. Perhaps you will decide to have a certain number of nights at home each week or to attend church each week or to have an Advent study time each morning. Perhaps you want to start the New Year with written goals or commit to pray for God's guidance from Advent until Epiphany.
As you write your steps, consider what brings you comfort and joy during the holidays. Build in small rituals that help you relax and renew. I like to drink my morning coffee out of a Christmas mug and listen to Christmas carols in the morning. (Did I mention that I like Christmas music?) I like to do an Advent study during my morning quiet time. I like to drive my young niece around to look at Christmas lights. Each of these rituals is small but helps me savor the season.
"Make lists. Start early. Save at least one night a week to do nothing except what you find restful. " Rediscover favorite things.
"During the holidays I reread two of my favorite stories." "It helps me to read Christmas-themed literature, whether fiction or religious nonfiction. " Keep a Christmas journal. "I cannot say how helpful my Christmas journal is. I make sure I put down what I learned, what I want to change, ideas I have for next year.
" Take heart: Anything that can go right will go right. Try this: Look for the good in each day. For all that has been-Thanks! To all that shall be-Yes! -Dag Hammarskj6ld
I have too often chosen to focus on what I do not have. My thoughts are prone to wander to what I want, what I need. Weird little greedy thoughts seem to occupy too much of my brain on some days, tending to make me focus on what is wrong rather than what is right, on what I do not have rather than what I do have.
I have found that giving thanks is powerful medicine for almost anything that ails me.
Thanksgiving does not have to be the launching point for weeks of too much-too much food, too much spending, and too many activities. It can be the starting point of a new way of living and thinking. This is not as hard as it may sound. First, in early to mid-November, take a few minutes to begin thinking about what you want your holidays to look and feel like. Consider how you can end the year in a strong and happy way and start the New Year with hope and joy. Most of us do not have time for long periods of solitude and reflection.
First, in early to mid-November, take a few minutes to begin thinking about what you want your holidays to look and feel l ike. Consider how you can end the year in a strong and happy way and start the New Year with hope and joy. Most of us do not have time for long periods of solitude and reflection. But we can find moments here and there to assess how we are living and how we want to live. No matter how busy we are, we can find time to do the things that matter the most to us.
Grab a notebook or tablet and begin to jot down your heart's desire for this time of year and a step or two that you can take to create a more joyful season.
As you begin to give thanks more, you will find that you will worry less. It is as though gratitude begins to take up the space in your mind and heart where worry used to live. God draws near to us when we give thanks.
Philippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Set aside a day of thanksgiving each week, starting in November and continuing through Advent until the Christian observance of Epiphany. On that day, focus your thoughts and prayers and words and actions on saying thank you to God. Thank the Creator
for everything that day. When you find yourself becoming impatient or aggravated, thank God for that moment. Your attitude will change.
Start by sitting quietly. Wow! Does that go against the grain? Before you get caught up in the whirl of the Christmas season, plan for at least fifteen minutes alone in a quiet spot each day. If you can find more time, savor it.
We must plan ways to sit quietly and listen for God's voice-and turn off the television, radio, and cell phone. "Be still, and know that I am God," we are told in Psalm 46:10.
Now, imagine how you want your Christmas season to look and feel. What if you could have more of these moments and fewer of the stressful and frenzied ones? What if your heart could deepen in its love for God and others through this season? What if you could reach the New Year with a new spirit?
Taking time each day to reflect on God's love and power is a small step that can yield big returns in how you want Christmas-and all of your life-to unfold.
Use a journal to Reflect and Meditate Writing in a journal can be a useful tool for this time of year. It might include a prayer, as I have just mentioned, or a word or two that you want to focus on. It might even include a busy day's to-do list, those wayward items that keep popping into your mind while you are trying to focus on Christ. Go ahead and list them and ask for God's help in dealing with them. Commit to including Jesus-with his help-in the day. Here are some other ways to commit to the spiritual side of the holiday:
------------------------
Please share your thoughts. If anyone is interested in seeing more of my highlights let me know.
This book might still be available for free on the Kindle or Kindle apps
"Make a conscious effort not to allow the retail world to dictate to you what the holidays are all about and what will make you happy. Turn the TV off, read more, listen to more music, and keep Jesus at the forefront. He often gets uninvited to his own birthday party.
List words that you would like to describe your life from Thanksgiving into the New Year. These words become mini-goals and provide a focus for the entire season. They constitute a short, easy answer to the "what" question.
Make a list of words that you absolutely do not want to describe your life during the holidays. Sometimes we can figure out what we want by knowing clearly what we do not want.
List what you like most about the holiday season. What do you absolutely love? What do you enjoy each year at Thanksgiving and Christmas?
As you consider what you like, go ahead and admit what you do not care for about the holidays. describe your life during the holidays. Sometimes we can figure out what we want by knowing clearly what we do not want.
Now that you have done some thinking about what you like and don't like about the holiday season, it's time to select your joy Goal.
Maybe your goal is truly to live one of the words you came up with to describe your life-a word such as peaceful. Perhaps you will decide to have a certain number of nights at home each week or to attend church each week or to have an Advent study time each morning. Perhaps you want to start the New Year with written goals or commit to pray for God's guidance from Advent until Epiphany.
As you write your steps, consider what brings you comfort and joy during the holidays. Build in small rituals that help you relax and renew. I like to drink my morning coffee out of a Christmas mug and listen to Christmas carols in the morning. (Did I mention that I like Christmas music?) I like to do an Advent study during my morning quiet time. I like to drive my young niece around to look at Christmas lights. Each of these rituals is small but helps me savor the season.
"Make lists. Start early. Save at least one night a week to do nothing except what you find restful. " Rediscover favorite things.
"During the holidays I reread two of my favorite stories." "It helps me to read Christmas-themed literature, whether fiction or religious nonfiction. " Keep a Christmas journal. "I cannot say how helpful my Christmas journal is. I make sure I put down what I learned, what I want to change, ideas I have for next year.
" Take heart: Anything that can go right will go right. Try this: Look for the good in each day. For all that has been-Thanks! To all that shall be-Yes! -Dag Hammarskj6ld
I have too often chosen to focus on what I do not have. My thoughts are prone to wander to what I want, what I need. Weird little greedy thoughts seem to occupy too much of my brain on some days, tending to make me focus on what is wrong rather than what is right, on what I do not have rather than what I do have.
I have found that giving thanks is powerful medicine for almost anything that ails me.
Thanksgiving does not have to be the launching point for weeks of too much-too much food, too much spending, and too many activities. It can be the starting point of a new way of living and thinking. This is not as hard as it may sound. First, in early to mid-November, take a few minutes to begin thinking about what you want your holidays to look and feel like. Consider how you can end the year in a strong and happy way and start the New Year with hope and joy. Most of us do not have time for long periods of solitude and reflection.
First, in early to mid-November, take a few minutes to begin thinking about what you want your holidays to look and feel l ike. Consider how you can end the year in a strong and happy way and start the New Year with hope and joy. Most of us do not have time for long periods of solitude and reflection. But we can find moments here and there to assess how we are living and how we want to live. No matter how busy we are, we can find time to do the things that matter the most to us.
Grab a notebook or tablet and begin to jot down your heart's desire for this time of year and a step or two that you can take to create a more joyful season.
As you begin to give thanks more, you will find that you will worry less. It is as though gratitude begins to take up the space in your mind and heart where worry used to live. God draws near to us when we give thanks.
Philippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Set aside a day of thanksgiving each week, starting in November and continuing through Advent until the Christian observance of Epiphany. On that day, focus your thoughts and prayers and words and actions on saying thank you to God. Thank the Creator
for everything that day. When you find yourself becoming impatient or aggravated, thank God for that moment. Your attitude will change.
Start by sitting quietly. Wow! Does that go against the grain? Before you get caught up in the whirl of the Christmas season, plan for at least fifteen minutes alone in a quiet spot each day. If you can find more time, savor it.
We must plan ways to sit quietly and listen for God's voice-and turn off the television, radio, and cell phone. "Be still, and know that I am God," we are told in Psalm 46:10.
Now, imagine how you want your Christmas season to look and feel. What if you could have more of these moments and fewer of the stressful and frenzied ones? What if your heart could deepen in its love for God and others through this season? What if you could reach the New Year with a new spirit?
Taking time each day to reflect on God's love and power is a small step that can yield big returns in how you want Christmas-and all of your life-to unfold.
Use a journal to Reflect and Meditate Writing in a journal can be a useful tool for this time of year. It might include a prayer, as I have just mentioned, or a word or two that you want to focus on. It might even include a busy day's to-do list, those wayward items that keep popping into your mind while you are trying to focus on Christ. Go ahead and list them and ask for God's help in dealing with them. Commit to including Jesus-with his help-in the day. Here are some other ways to commit to the spiritual side of the holiday:
------------------------
Please share your thoughts. If anyone is interested in seeing more of my highlights let me know.
This book might still be available for free on the Kindle or Kindle apps
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