Christmas and Advent

The best gift you can give your spouse this year might be grace. Discover seven simple ways to extend kindness and keep your marriage strong through the holidays.

Having in-laws that are tough to get along with can make an already stressful holiday even more difficult. But learning to love yourself, asking your spouse to honor your relationship, and setting firm boundaries will help diffuse a difficult situation.

If your heart feels heavy under the weight of holiday demands, you’re not alone. These five gentle, Scripture-rooted reminders can help you trade stress for peace and put Christ at the center again.

Holiday tension starts when silent expectations collide. This heartfelt guide helps you release control, communicate clearly, and build unity in your home this season.

Although it might be tempting, the most unhealthy thing you can do is go to bed and sleep your way through these months. Instead, I want to share that you WILL get through this.

As we embrace this season of waiting for the coming of Christ, setting aside time to intentionally meditate on who Christ is and what he has done for us helps keep us focused on the meaning of Christmas. As married couples we need to have rituals in our lives that draw us closer to God. Participating in Advent is one way we can grow closer to each other and the Lord.

Although my husband and I intentionally worked to have a positive spiritual influence on our children, I know we also missed many opportunities to impact them with the truth. Often, the demands of daily life derailed good intentions. Sometimes, we allowed the urgent to overshadow the more important.

Perhaps youre dreading getting together with your whole family this year. Hopefully, the following list will help you embrace the gifts of family gatherings.

Everyone’s holiday season looks different regarding commitments and time restraints. Choose two or three things you would liketo do as a family to make this Advent season the most meaningful yet.

There is nothing like the expression on someone’s face when you give them a gift that they are looking forward to enjoying. One of the hardest demographics to buy for is children because there are so many options. As a former daycare teacher, I’m a big fan of educational gifts that promote different developmental skills, as well as books and traditional toys. You will find a little of everything on this list.

God smiles when you seek Him through His Word. Draw close to Jesus and your family through hope, peace, joy, and love this Advent season.

Incorporating these Advent traditions brings deeper, added meaning and makes Christmas morning even more joyous. This is because Advent helps us center ourselves on the real message of the season.

Family conflicts. Long travel times. Rushing around to try to make things "perfect." The holidays can be a difficult time for many, but they don't have to be devoid of peace. Read through these eight verses and prayers to help you pause, breathe, and lean into the peace of Christ this holiday season.

How do you and your spouse approach Christmas? Do tinsel, gift giving, and in-laws turn you against each other?

Overspending, especially during the holidays, is easy for us all! One of the ways I have found to curb some of the struggle is to discover what is driving the perceived need to spend more than God has provided.