holiday

July 4, 2018 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Happy 4th of July!

Hope you have a happy and blessed 4th of July!

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December 1, 2016 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

How to Find More Joy This Christmas

Are you wondering how to find more joy This Christmas? Does the thought of Christmas stress you out? Are you more focused on your to-do list than the true meaning of the season? Do you stay up at night worrying about how you’re going to do it all? Are you ready to know how to find more joy this Christmas? Let’s talk about what you can do to focus on the true meaning of the season this year, friends.

How to Find More Joy This Christmas

I spent many years struggling with holiday anxiety–worrying about all the things I wasn’t doing “right”. The thought of Christmas brought dread, not joy. Then one year I decided to make a change. What’s the use of spending hours baking when I was cranky with my family? What was the point of attending tons of holiday events when I didn’t have time to celebrate simple, holiday traditions? That’s when I decided not to let myself get wrapped up with the busyness and instead, I began to focus on what would bring joy to my Christmas. Here are five ways to do that:

1. Focus on three favorite Christmas traditions, instead of trying to do everything.

Trying to do everything will make you tired and overwhelmed. By choosing your favorite traditions you can take time to really enjoy them. The three traditions we chose were decorating the Christmas tree together, driving around to look at Christmas lights, and decorating sugar cookies. Focusing on a few simple things was more fun for everyone.

2. Lower your expectations.

In our minds, we picture our time together as a family reflective of those holiday Hallmark commercials, and we’re highly disappointed when they don’t turn out that way. Realize that your kids will be messy when making cookies. Know that your opinionated aunt will still be opinionated at those holiday gatherings. Try to be realistic when making plans, instead of being a disappointment in the long run.

3. Put away your wallet and connect with your heart.

Instead of spending hours hunting down the perfect gift, spend that time with your kids. Kids love time with their parents playing and laughing. Let them choose the game or activity. Pick a holiday movie to watch together. Get on the floor and build a Santa’s workshop with Legos. Dance to your favorite holiday songs.

4. Focus on the true meaning of the season.

Too often we get distracted from what Christmas is all about. During the weeks before Christmas the one thing that settles my soul is centering my thoughts on Jesus. I do this through daily Bible reading and prayer. One great reading plan is FREE from BibleStudyTools.com. I love this plan because it includes Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments.

5. Memorize a Scripture verse.

Whenever frantic thoughts try to invade you this season replace them with God’s truth. Here’s a verse to memorize: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” Isaiah 9:6 (NLT). Plant God’s Word in your heart and pull it up whenever you feel yourself becoming worried or fretful. God’s Word reminds us who the true gift of Christmas is. We can remember no matter what we have or don’t have this holiday season the gift of Jesus is always available, always free, and always just what we need to bring us joy.

How about you? What brings you Christmas joy?

Share your answer with me in the comments!

This post originally appeared at thebettermom.com

Don’t let the busyness of the season take away joy! Here are 5 ways how via @triciagoyer

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December 20, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

6 Ways to Find Freedom from the Frenzy this Christmas

Christmas is my favorite time of year, but it hasn’t always been that way. For many years I looked at December as a list of duties and obligations. The decorations, parties, events, and gifts. Everything!

The thing is, we are the ones in control. We choose what we allow into our holiday celebrations and what we won’t. We are the architects of our December schedule. The holidays happen by our design.

And that’s the problem. We don’t take time to design. We fill our schedules before we design what they should look like, and we end up in a great big frenzy!

Freedom from frenzy comes when we remove the “oppression of overdoing” that has a hold on us. To do this, we need to start by figuring out specifically where that oppression is coming from.

Here are six ways to find freedom from the frenzy this Christmas:

1. Make a list of all that worries you about Christmas tasks and events. A great start to fixing the problem is knowing the problem!

2. After each item ask, “Why does this worry me?” Be real with the answers.

3. Make hard choices. Once your worries are written down, then it’s time to tackle them. How you choose to tackle them will be unique to your situation. You are the only one who can make the choices, but here are a few ideas to find freedom from the frenzy:

Events: Choose one or two important gatherings to participate in. Say no to the rest.
Gifts: Decide the one gift your family member would like the most—forget all the sales, forget what the neighbor kids are getting—and buy only that. (Remember that when asked, most kids would rather have TIME with their parents than GIFTS from their parents.)
Decorations: Pick out your favorite holiday decorations. Only put up those. Keep the rest boxed up. Just because you have them doesn’t mean you have to use them.
Cards: Whittle down your Christmas card list to a few select individuals—those who aren’t online and don’t see updates of your family on a regular basis.

Read the rest of the post and discover the other steps you can take over at momlifetoday.com!

And download the Freedom from Frenzy worksheet to help you eliminate stress this year!

Find out 6 ways to find freedom from the frenzy this holiday! @TriciaGoyer

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May 26, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Happy Memorial Day!

Wishing you a blessed holiday surrounded by family and friends as we remember and honor those who’ve sacrificed for our freedom.

I have a few books on sale right now! Generation NeXt Marriage is $2.99. You can also get my four World War II novels in the Liberators Series for $13.99.

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December 19, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 72 Comments

Connection with Far-Off Family Members This Christmas | 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 7

If you’re away from loved ones this year, here are eight ideas to help you connect across the miles and celebrate your family!

Connect across the miles and celebrate your #family this #Christmas with tips from @TriciaGoyer!

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1. Send emails to long distance family members and collect their prayer needs. Spend a few minutes after dinner praying for those you love.

2. Skype with family members who live far away…or a missionary family you know. This can be an especially lonely time for missionaries who are not only away from family, but live in places that don’t celebrate Christmas the “American” way—if at all.

3. Create your own holiday journal. Allow kids to write messages in it (or help them write their messages) and save for years to come. Include things you did, gifts received, and even the words to your favorite Christmas songs…and then type them up or photocopy your messages and mail it to loved ones.

4. Ask family members from different generations to share family memories through letters.

5. If you have an old Bible from an elderly family member who is now gone, copy the notes in the margins or the verses he or she underlined and share them with family. My grandfather was a pastor. I have some of his old sermons, and I’m going to share some of them with my sisters.

6. Make photocopies of old, family letters—like from Grandpa’s letters home from WWII—and make copies for your family. Talk about the letters during a Skype call.

How do you plan on connecting with far-off #family this #Christmas? Share with @TriciaGoyer:

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7. Watch the same Christmas movie or decorate cookies on the same night and then share photos on Facebook.

8. Speaking of sharing photos, don’t forget to snap photos above and beyond opening gifts. Take photos of the kids’ table, the Nativity set, your favorite ornaments, and the dinner table BEFORE you dig in.

I hope this list gives you ideas to connect across the miles. What are some of your ideas?? I’d love to hear!

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 7

I’m celebrating Christmas with my favorite blog readers by giving away a different book pack each day! Today’s book pack is the Home to Heather Creek Pack, which includes Every Sunrise and Sweet September. Winners will be announced on my blog on Christmas day!

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December 19, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 72 Comments

Connection with Far-Off Family Members This Christmas | 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 7

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. It can also be a difficult time when we are far from family. Even as I’m excited about seeing my son, daughter-in-law and grandson in Montana, I’m also sad that I can’t see my dad, four sisters and their families . . . for the second year in a row.
If you’re away from loved ones this year, here are eight ideas to help you connect across the miles and celebrate your family!

Connect across the miles and celebrate your #family this #Christmas with tips from @TriciaGoyer!

Click To Tweet

1. Send emails to long distance family members and collect their prayer needs. Spend a few minutes after dinner praying for those you love.
2. Skype with family members who live far away…or a missionary family you know. This can be an especially lonely time for missionaries who are not only away from family, but live in places that don’t celebrate Christmas the “American” way—if at all.
3. Create your own holiday journal. Allow kids to write messages in it (or help them write their messages) and save for years to come. Include things you did, gifts received, and even the words to your favorite Christmas songs…and then type them up or photocopy your messages and mail it to loved ones.
4. Ask family members from different generations to share family memories through letters.
5. If you have an old Bible from an elderly family member who is now gone, copy the notes in the margins or the verses he or she underlined and share them with family. My grandfather was a pastor. I have some of his old sermons, and I’m going to share some of them with my sisters.
6. Make photocopies of old, family letters—like from Grandpa’s letters home from WWII—and make copies for your family. Talk about the letters during a Skype call.

How do you plan on connecting with far-off #family this #Christmas? Share with @TriciaGoyer:

Click To Tweet

7. Watch the same Christmas movie or decorate cookies on the same night and then share photos on Facebook.
8. Speaking of sharing photos, don’t forget to snap photos above and beyond opening gifts. Take photos of the kids’ table, the Nativity set, your favorite ornaments, and the dinner table BEFORE you dig in.
I hope this list gives you ideas to connect across the miles. What are some of your ideas?? I’d love to hear!

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 7

December 15, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 63 Comments

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 3

I’m celebrating Christmas with my favorite blog readers by giving away a different book pack each day! Today’s book pack is the Parenting/Marriage Pack, which includes: Lead Your Family Like Jesus, Generation Next Parenting, and Generation Next Marriage. Winners will be announced on my blog on Christmas day!

Enter to win @TriciaGoyer’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaways!

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