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Shine the Light of Hope During the Holidays

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The beauty of the Holidays always makes me smile. The colorful trees and joyful decorations along with the music and celebrations make it a magical time of the year. But there is a flipside to this glowing holiday – the rushing around, trying to get a million things accomplished, the pressure of getting just the right gifts and the challenges that come from difficult relationships. Often, our joy can be zapped by the busyness and stress of the season.

Ultimately, I want to live with joy, love and forgiveness throughout the holidays – and I’m sure you do too. I don’t want another Christmas to whiz by without sharing the hope of the season with others.  Here are a few simple ways to intentionally live with hope and shine the light of Jesus into the lives of the people around us.

See Hope. Every person has potential, so let’s open our eyes to look for the positive possibilities in each person we encounter throughout our day. It’s easy to focus on the glaring negatives of friends and family (and even strangers) and see nothing but their mistakes. Aren’t you glad that God looks at us with eyes of grace and hope? If He sees our potential, shouldn’t we do the same for others? Remember, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Since God sees hope in us, let us allow the God of hope to love through us.

Speak Hope. Our words have the ability to offer life, but they also have the ability to tear down and destroy. How we use our words says a lot about our character. Do you use your words to say kind and uplifting truths to the people around you, or do you use your words to gossip, complain, argue and grumble? During this season and all year through, let us use our words to infuse joy and hope into the lives of others.

Bring Hope.  We can’t do everything, but we can do something. There are simple ways to bring hope to the people God has placed in our lives, so let’s be intentional about doing it. Ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you and consider one small act of hope that you can do this season. Share a meal, decorate cookies and give them to neighbors, greet people with a smile, write a note to someone who has been a blessing to you this year – it only takes a moment to brighten another life.

In our world today, every person could use a hearty dose of hope. Let us be lights that shine hope through the darkness in our world this Christmas.

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

Romans 15:13

 

Give the gift of hope to others through Karol’s $5 devotional highlighting the attributes of God. Perfect for stocking stuffers.

Click here to order.

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The Gift that Keeps on Giving

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Double the blessing as you give this season. For every purchase of a Positive Mom book, a donation is made to Engage Positive Parenting Initiative – providing tools and parenting resources to moms and dads in areas affected by poverty and adversity. Your purchase will make a difference for generations to come. For more about Engage Parenting go to: www.EngageParenting.com  

Click the Title Below to order:

 POPM- 2015 The Power of a Positive Mom, Revised and Updated

How to Be a Thankful Person

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Thankfulness is a game-changer! It’s one simple attitude that can make a monumental difference in your personal relationships, your work and your outlook on life. I know it may sound simplistic to say that being a thankful person can have such a powerful impact on our lives, but this one mind-shift has the potential to transform your actions and interactions with others. So how can a person develop an attitude of gratitude? Here are a few ways to redirect your thought-life and make positive difference in the world.

  1. Write it down. Start the habit of writing down your blessings in a thankfulness journal every morning as you enjoy your first cup of coffee. Write down at least five things that happened over the last 24 hours for which you can be thankful. You will begin to notice and pay attention to all the good things in your life, rather than being overwhelmed with the negative.
  2. Turn around challenges. When you face frustrations, mistakes, difficulties or challenges, instead of thinking that the world is against you, look for something good. Every challenge has a silver lining, but you must look (sometimes long and hard) to find it. Keep your focus on the benefits and what you can learn from your difficulties.
  3. See the best in others. There are no perfect people. Everyone has their own set of flaws, but thankful people choose to find something good in everyone. It’s easy to focus on people’s negative qualities, so it takes a deliberate effort to look for the good points in others. It’s a choice, but one that will turn your relationships around and open up your heart to the people around you.
  4. Stop grumbling. It’s time to get rid of the complaints and use your time and energy to do something positive. Negative talk only leads to discouragement, bitterness and anger. When you are tempted to grumble, save your words and find something productive you can do to make a difference. Turn grumbling into gratitude through loving actions.
  5. Step back and look at the bigger picture. Often we get worried and upset over circumstances and events, but if we step back and look at the bigger picture we can gain perspective. Often I ask myself, “In the big scheme of life, how much does this really matter?” When we look at things in light of eternity, it reduces our fears and opens our hearts to the opportunity to find blessings in the long run. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “Our light, momentary afflictions are producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen.” Now that’s the perspective of someone with an attitude of gratitude!

Be a grateful person and you will become happy and content with life. It begins with simple habits formed over time to change your perspective. Most important, start each day thanking God for His unfailing love. Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving every day of the year!

 

I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.

Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

…How kind the Lord is! How good he is!

So merciful, this God of ours!

…I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.

Psalm 116:1,2,5,17

 

Guest Blogger – Sonja Samuel

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As we prepare for the holidays, I asked my friend Sonja Samuel to write a blog to encourage us as we face the days ahead. Be sure to check out the info at the end of the blog about her seminar, “Get Through the Holidays Without Losing Your Mind!”

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BATTER UP

With so much uncertainty and division surrounding us, it appears everyone has become a commentator or critic as it relates to our national state of affairs. Regardless of what side you are on, the back and forth of ideologies and opinions have created an unusual high level of fear, worry and doubt. The negativity on social media has hit an all-time high (or low depending on your perspective), added to the tell-tell signs of many who seem to be overworked, burned out and overwhelmed. On top of it all, the holiday season is upon us which comes with its own set of apprehension and pensive attitudes. One could walk around feeling like ‘the hits just keep on coming.’

This is not the life we’ve been created to live. This type of thinking and behavior puts us in survival mode. We were created to thrive …not just survive! Therefore, we must change the dialogue and redirect our energy. In doing so, if the truth be told, a little anxiety can be a good thing if used wisely. Because of its levels of uneasiness and discomfort, it can push us to rise above the fray and seek out creative solutions. It can motivate us to pursue hope, and in some cases healing. With the proper thought process and desire, it can challenge us to be better, do differently. It can even bring out our greatest potential, and drive our relationships to a deeper level of authenticity, with the crowning achievement of commandeering our faith to new heights of trust and truth!

To help us get through these unprecedented times, including the holidays and the rest of the year without losing our minds, take some time to do 3 things:’

  • Remember – Remember a time when you thought all hope was lost, all possibilities had been exhausted and/or you didn’t know how you were going to make it through. However, here you are today. You got through it and you will again.
  • Reflect – Reflect on what is good, what is beautiful and what is positive. Bless the stress in your life and use it to propel you forward, not backward.
  • Respond – Respond with care, caution and most of all with grace to those you differ with. It is still true that more bees can be caught with honey that vinegar. Therefore, be gracious in your speech. In every conversation, let the goal be to bring out the best in others not put them down or cut them out.

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To register: www.tinyurl.com/hbbacq4

For more information about Sonja, visit her website at www.LightTheWayInternational.org

Painful, But Powerful

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This past weekend, I saw the new Mel Gibson movie Hacksaw Ridge. It was a tough movie to watch (lots of blood and guts), but it was also one of the most powerful and positive movies I’ve seen in a long time. No one walks away from this movie unmoved.

This morning, I decided to make a list of a few of the many lessons that can be derived from the true story of Desmond T. Doss at the Battle of Okinawa.

  • Stay True to What You Believe
  • Be Willing to Be Different
  • Be Strong and Courageous
  • Live a Selfless Life
  • Don’t Give Up – Persevere
  • Always Look for Ways You Can Help (or Save) Others in Need
  • Take Risks
  • Be Humble and Kind
  • Don’t Repay Evil for Evil
  • Seek God’s Help in Everything You Do
  • Read Your Bible for Direction and Strength

The List could go on and on – I’d love to hear what you would add.

One scene in the movie stands out to me, and it’s one that I think each believer can apply to his or her own life. In this particular scene, the Americans retreated off the ridge, but Desmond chose to remain on top of “Hacksaw Ridge” in order to save as many soldiers as possible. Tired and hungry, he worked through the night and all the next day risking his life to help his fallen friends (and enemies). He continued to pray, “Please Lord, help me get one more.” God gave him the energy and protection to save over 70 lives.

We may never see physical combat as Desmond Doss did, but the Bible says as believers we are in a spiritual battle.  Are we willing to pray as Desmond did – Lord allow me to help save one more life? Are we willing to go the extra mile to share the gospel and serve others? Desmond Doss offers an example to us all to be strong and courageous, to love the Bible and to ask God for wisdom and strength in all we do.