| They say the most stressful time of year
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| | and only attend because you feel pressure
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| is during the holidays. Why is
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| | to meet the expectations of other people,
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| that?Thanksgiving.....Christmas....they'r
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| | then perhaps it's time to let people in
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| e supposed to be happy and fun, you
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| | on your change in direction. It may
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| know.....almost Norman Rockwell like.....
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| | upset some people initially, but taking
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| but somewhere along the way the stress,
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| | back control of your holidays won't
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| the unrealistic expectations, the
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| | always make everyone else happy.
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| unreasonable demands, and all that other
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| | Pleasing God and keeping your sanity have
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| negative stuff show ups and the next
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| | got to have the highest priority.There
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| thing you know.....you're depressed,
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| | will always be pressure from other people
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| over-tired, and dreading one more day
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| | coming at you from all directions during
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| during the so-called "holiday
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| | the holidays. Being a Christian at
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| season".Amazingly enough, Christians seem
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| | Christmas means you have to fight your
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| to have the exact same issues as
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| | way through the noise to get to all
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| non-Christians. There is no apparent
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| | that's Christian about the season. The
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| difference in the way they act or talk or
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| | holiday season is a great opportunity to
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| handle the stress of the holidays. Or is
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| | let others see you "walk the walk" and
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| there?I could tell you that simplifying
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| | "talk the talk". Saying you're a
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| things to make it easier is a good idea,
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| | Christian is one thing........actually
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| but then I'm pretty sure tipping over the
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| | being one at Christmas....shows what
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| Christmas tree, throwing out the lights,
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| | you're really made of.Give other people a
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| and using the family egg nog recipe as
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| | break. Putting pressure on others to
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| fireplace kindling wouldn't count in the
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| | meet your expectations puts alot of
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| whole "simplifying" concept.So how do you
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| | unneccessary stress on them because
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| prioritize all that's Christian about the
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| | they're facing alot of what you're facing
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| holidays with all the other stuff that's
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| | during the holidiays. If people can't
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| creeped in over the years? How do you
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| | make it to your holiday gathering, the
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| satisfy your family and friends, and
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| | world won't stop turning. Cutting people
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| still be able to keep your focus on
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| | some slack will go a long way toward
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| what's truly important?Here are some
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| | doing what you can to help others reduce
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| things you can do that may help you start
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| | their holiday stress level.As a family,
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| moving in the right direction.Start
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| | discuss your financial status and make a
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| planning NOW. Decide what is truly
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| | commitment not to overspend. There is
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| important and necessary as a family.
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| | nothing Christian about getting into debt
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| Having Christian priorities means putting
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| | just to satisfy a lot of unreasonable
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| "all that's Christian" at the top of the
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| | demands and expectations. God always
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| holiday list. This is a great time to
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| | looks at motive, no matter what you do.
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| teach your kids the difference between
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| | Now is the time to re-evaluate what
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| giving and receiving. When your kids see
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| | you're spending, and why you're spending
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| that your priorities are centered around
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| | it. It may not be easy to change your
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| truly celebrating the real purpose of the
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| | overspending holiday habits, but it's
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| season, it will get easier and easier for
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| | better to take small steps than none at
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| them to be a Christian at Christmas
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| | all. Of course, gift giving can mean
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| too.Now, let me clarify. Teaching your
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| | alot of different things to alot of
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| kids about giving and receiving doesn't
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| | different people. For example, in my
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| mean you can tell your kids to tell Aunt
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| | family gift giving takes the form of an
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| Martha they can't "receive" her favorite
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| | olympic event. Having received
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| fruitcake because it exceeds the airline
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| | belly-button lights which my brother
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| weight requirement for the trip home, and
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| | helpfully described as "great for
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| that she should "give" it to the starving
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| | reading", and slippers made from Kotex
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| children in a foreign country.Let other
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| | pads, and oh yes....let's not forget the
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| family and extended family members know
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| | talking fish that was already moving
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| well in advance of your holiday season
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| | under the wrapping paper before I even
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| plans. Explain that as a family, you've
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| | opened it.....well, let's just say the
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| decided to change your focus to things
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| | attempts to out-give each other really do
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| that can make a difference for someone
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| | reach olympic proportions.I'm not really
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| else. Perhaps that means there will be
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| | sure what God thinks about the motive in
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| less gift giving amongst family members
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| | that scenerio.....I'm just glad He has a
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| and more to needy families. Or perhaps
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| | sense of humor.Being a "Christian at
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| it means you won't be spending every
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| | Christmas" has to be a deliberate,
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| available dollar on decorations and
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| | concentrated effort. The world continues
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| holiday parties, but rather on things
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| | to get more and more commercialized, so
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| that will make your family truly
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| | you can bet God will honor all your
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| understand and appreciate the intent of
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| | efforts to keep the focus where it should
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| the season. It is important to set the
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| | be. And you can also bet He'll
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| example for all those extended family
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| | appreciate your efforts to set the right
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| members. You'll be surprised how others
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| | example for your family and friends.For
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| will follow your lead.....they just need
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| | more help on this topic, go to "Ways to
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| someone to show them the way.As a family,
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| | Live Out Your Christian Priorities"Karen
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| evaluate all your scheduled holiday
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| | Wolff is the founder of a place that
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| activities. Only participate in those
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| | gives Christian women lots of info, tips,
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| that you can honestly say you're
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| | and help with a variety of issues they
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| attending because they bring you joy and
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| | face every day. Find book reviews,
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| contribute to your Christian holiday
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| | recommendations, and submit your favorite
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| season. If, on the other hand, you're
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| | books so you can be a blessing to someone
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| dreading that party or that holiday event
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| | else.
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