The holidays are a time of Fun, Family, Food, Fellowship and fShopping. But don’t check out from your life in God.
There are several pit-falls that I can easily fall into during this next six weeks and I want to avoid them so that in January when the holiday season is over I am more in love with Jesus and I am deeper in the Word of God.
Here’s a quick list of the top of my head of sins or weights that most people probably encounter during the holidays.
- Overeating
- Un-Bridaled speech
- Un-managed spending resulting in debt
- Un-focused time resulting in lack of time with God
These issues are addressed within the 5 lifestyle practices for maturity.
- It is o.k. to not eat so much that you are stuffed to the brim for the next 6 weeks.
- You can have Godly conversations with your friends and family.
- You can spend wisely when Christmas shopping.
- You can still have a life in God; keeping Him as the 1st priority in your time and life if you want it to.
What is your advice for us as we go into the holiday season?
BenDShaffer said:
My wife and I have had a savings plan for buying gifts for others. We have a budget of when we receive money, and how much of it we can set aside for buying gifts. We don’t buy the gifts unless we have the money for it. It’s working out really well.
Or we COULD get a huge credit card with impossible interest, spend it to the limit, and then take months or years to get out from under it!
I’ll take the former.
Budgeting expenses: 0$
Spending wisely: 0$
Being debt-free: priceless
Posted on November 22, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Kate said:
While it is the thought that counts, the gift says a lot as well… I’ve had far too many Christmases of receiving stuff that soon after makes it into a box and will never be seen again…
Think about the person you’re buying for… what’s coming up for them in the next year? What’s a special moment you’ve shared recently? What are the ongoing private jokes that you have?
Posted on November 22, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Kate said:
(to continue…) and use those to get gifts that will mean something more than just another piece of plastic… another option is to think of how to make memories…
Posted on November 22, 2006 at 8:36 pm
Burrito ChriS said:
Making memories is the best gift. Whether you do something with the person or you give them a gift to a play or something else that they remember. Those are the gifts that I remember.
Posted on November 26, 2006 at 11:54 am