Emotion #1: Stress and Anxiety | How to Cast Down Your Anxiety and Adopt a Carefree Spirit 

We’ve been counting down to Christmas by focusing on the 12 different emotions the holiday season can bring. Whether you are overly busy or spending the holidays on your own, emotions are heightened during the holiday season.

Do you find yourself asking, “How do I cope with holiday stress?”

You might feel guilty even asking this question. Don’t be ashamed to admit that the holidays can be overwhelming. When you feel things are out of control, God wants you to trust that He is in control.  

Psalm 55:22 (NIV) tells us, “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

From Surviving to Thriving

As you start the holiday juggling act, it’s important to let the holiday unfold. Releasing your need to control the outcome will alleviate any anxiety you feel.

Keep your eyes on our perfect...

Emotion #12: Loneliness | This Love Story Is Better Than Hallmark 

My husband, youngest daughter, Kirsten, and I created a new Christmas tradition when the older kids moved out of the house. Gary builds a nice, warm fire in the fireplace, and we sit, in the light only from our Christmas tree and the flicker of flames, watching Hallmark Christmas movies together.

With all of the garbage that’s on TV, we love being able to watch something that’s family-friendly and feel-good!

Within the first five minutes, we know how the movie is going to resolve… but somehow, as it all comes together at the end, our heart is filled with the warm, loving feeling that reminds us of Christmas. 

Perhaps these movies are so popular because they embody what many people are searching for: love, companionship, and hope.

People often tell us Christmas should be the happiest time of the year, full of warm memories, Christmas cheer, and quality time with friends and family…...

Emotion #11: Greed vs. Generosity | How to Transform a Greedy Attitude into a Generous Spirit 

We’ve been counting down to Christmas by focusing on the 12 different emotions the holiday season can bring… and the eleventh one is an unfortunate, but very real struggle during the holiday season. It’s GREED! 

I want to encourage you, as you spend money for various items like a Christmas tree, presents, food, and more, it is important to ask yourself: What is Christmas all about?

In Giving to Others, We Receive.

God doesn’t want you to celebrate the Christmas season without cherishing and loving those in need. 

This holiday season, look for opportunities to carry His Good News into the world.

James 2:14-17 (NIV) remind us: 

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them,...

Emotion #10: Disappointment vs. Satisfaction | Why This is Going to Be Your Best Christmas 

I was watching a Hallmark movie with my husband and daughter when I glanced over at the fire Gary had prepared earlier.

“It’s absolutely perfect,” I said as I observed the way the flames flickered and danced on the neatly placed logs. “It’s so perfect, it seems fake!”  

My husband laughed and said, “So, if it looks perfect, it’s fake? The fake isn’t as perfect as the real!”

Mind. Blown!

He had a point! How often do we let our expectations for perfection keep us from enjoying the beauty that’s found in REAL life?

Romans 8:28 (NIV) says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” 

Over the last few years, our family filmed our Christmas editions of Drenda and Fixing the Money Thing right in our living room. And...

Emotion #9: Anger vs. Forgiveness | How to Turn an Angry Heart into a Forgiving Spirit 

We’ve been counting down to Christmas by focusing on the 12 different emotions the holiday season can bring. 

Between juggling holiday social commitments, taking care of Christmas tasks that seem never ending, and dealing with relatives who know just how to test your patience, frustration can quickly turn into ANGER.

I want to encourage you and give you the tools that will help you turn those feelings of frustration and anger into forgiveness, so you can celebrate Christmas with a peaceful spirit and make the kind of memories that will last a lifetime!

Attitude Is Everything

When holiday stress and anxiety creep in, don’t let your frustrations run amuck. Instead, harness the power of positive thinking; this will help you keep your eyes on what is good in your life. 

Negative thoughts can snowball out of control, so you have to make the choice to stop negative...

Emotion #8: Pressure vs. Confidence | Under Pressure? Learn to Walk through this Christmas Season with Confidence! 

We’ve been counting down to Christmas by focusing on the 12 different emotions the Christmas season can bring…

Trying to decide between a Christmas card that says, “Happy Holidays” or a card that says, “Merry Christmas”?

Our confident joy for our Savior’s birth is not something we should feel pressured to hide.

If you are feeling the pressure to conform to society’s PC attitude toward Christmas, here are some great tips to ignite a spark of confidence in your spirit!

Your Confident Joy Will Set You Apart.

So many Christians are living just like the rest of the world—not experiencing life as God has designed it and not experiencing freedom.

If you let the culture tell you how to act and what to say, then you are not really free. 

Don’t fall into the trap of hiding your Christmas joy because...

Emotion #7: Sadness vs. Happiness | How to Be Happy During the Holidays 

We are over halfway through with the 12 emotions of Christmas. Christmas is rapidly approaching, and it can be easy to get bogged down by focusing on what could be better. That’s why the seventh emotion of Christmas is sadness. 

Sadness can have a snowball effect. You might start out being sad about one thing, but before you know it, there’s a whole laundry list of things you wish were better. 

Serving with a Smile 

Years ago when our children were younger our family was invited to sign at a nursing home. I was excited about the opportunity to serve, but my husband Gary and the kids had other thoughts. Gary was to play the piano and the kids were to sing. He was not confident in his piano playing and did not want to go. 

We got everybody together and ready to sing much to their dismay. They put on a great performance and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I loved seeing the...

Emotion #6: Hurt | Dealing with Christmas Heartbreak 

Christmas is almost here, and I can’t believe we’re already down to the sixth emotion of Christmas! 

The sixth emotion is hurt.

It’s something we’re often reminded of during the holidays due to get-togethers with extended family and friends we haven’t seen in a while. 

Hurt can reveal itself in many ways: heartbreak, unforgiveness, disappointment, depression, anger, and even disgust! 

I just want to encourage you, if people have hurt you in the past, God wants to heal you from ALL of those emotional wounds.

Psalm 34:18 (NIV) tells us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

Past hurts don’t define future possibilities! 

I remember going to speak at a women’s conference a few years back and being caught totally off guard by the situation I walked into. As soon as I arrived, the pastor’s wife began...

Emotion #5: Stress vs. Peaceful Expression | How to Trade Your Stress for Peace this Christmas 

We’ve been counting down to Christmas by focusing on the 12 different emotions the holiday season can bring.

They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for many people, the holidays can be busy, stressful, and can result in feelings of anxiety, worry, and despair. 

I see so many women fall apart trying to create the perfect Christmas.

I just want to encourage you, as you dig out dusty decorations from the attic, call friends and relatives to make holiday plans, and create a never ending to-do list, take a deep breath and reboot.

It’s not about creating the “perfect” Christmas; it’s about choosing an attitude of peace in any situation, so you can have a joyful Christmas season.

Let Go of the “Perfect” Holiday.

A great way to manage holiday stress is to resist the urge to create the “perfect” holiday;...

Emotion #4: Fatigue vs. Rest | Three Steps to Overcoming Holiday Fatigue 

We’ve been counting down to Christmas by dealing with the 12 different emotions the holiday season can bring … and the fourth one shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. It’s EXHAUSTION! 

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but they can also be one of the most busy. With family get-togethers, work parties, Christmas shopping, and gift wrapping to do—there’s only so much of you to go around. 

So here are three steps to avoid holiday fatigue and refind your energy this Christmas season! 

1. Say yes to the right things.  

It’s a fact: If you don’t prioritize your time, you’ll lose it. 

In order to say yes to more of the things you love, you have to say no to some of the things you don’t. Don’t worry, that’s good news! When you make time for more of the things you enjoy, you will find...