How Christmas Peace is Possible
Are you looking for Christmas peace this year? Well, you’re in for a blessing and powerful message from my friend, Sarah Geringer.
And at the end, I disclose details of how to enter a giveaway for Sarah’s devotional.
The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV
Is Christmas Peace Possible?
Christmas peace is possible. But it is only possible with Jesus.
That might be hard for a busy woman like you to understand, even if you are a Jesus follower. Which of us hasn’t been bogged down with anxiety, frustration or stress in the past few Christmas seasons? Who doesn’t have a holiday to-do list that’s already a mile long?
Like Martha in Luke 10, we are distracted by all the preparations:
- decorating our homes
- shopping for groceries and gifts
- baking and cooking special food
- wrapping all the gifts
- cleaning all the extra messes
Looking at that list makes my heart race—but I’ve plodded through that list every year I’ve been a mom.
Like Martha, I have been worried and upset about how much work is to be done in preparation for Christmas. I wanted picture-perfect memories of Christmas with my family. For many years, my peace got lost in the pursuit of perfection.
Christmas peace is possible. But it is only possible with Jesus. Find out how. #blog #devotional #giveaway @SarahGeringer Click To Tweet
Stress at Christmas
Stress at Christmas feels nearly impossible to avoid. Many of us face the season with resignation—just grit our teeth, paste on a smile and bear it. Sure, we’ll enjoy the cheerful moments sprinkled throughout the coming weeks, but we often believe we can’t get through them without a truckload of secret stress.
That’s not how God intended it to be, friend. He placed you and me inside this fast-paced culture which is weighed down by materialism and selfishness. God calls us to serve as his ambassadors of peace in what is often the busiest time of the year, since so many still do not know him.
We need to be the hands, feet and smile of Jesus this busy December. We need to show others that Christmas peace is possible. @SarahGeringer Click To Tweet
Christmas Peace, a Christmas Gift
He is the Prince of Peace, the one who gave us peace as a Christmas gift.
When the angels announced his birth, they first praised God. Then they sang,
And on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14 NIV
Peace was God’s gift to the shepherds that night and to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior now. God knows we need peace. We are separated from him by sin. Jesus is God’s peace offering to us, his gift of forgiveness and grace.
We can have peace with God through Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection. On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV
Meeting with the Prince of Peace
If we meet with the Prince of Peace every day during these upcoming busy weeks, we can serve him in our calling as peace ambassadors. We’ll be filled up with peace from Jesus, unlike what the world gives, and the people we know will instantly see the difference.
If we meet with the Prince of Peace every day during these upcoming busy weeks, we can serve him in our calling as peace ambassadors. #devotion @SarahGeringer Click To TweetBy sitting at Jesus’ feet like Martha’s sister Mary, I found the Christmas peace that is possible only with Jesus. You can find this peace too. These are the practical ways I found peace even in busy December:
- Setting aside time each day for God’s Word.
- Planning for the next day.
- Focusing on making memories with my family.
- Lowering my expectations for a perfect holiday.
- Choosing to serve others at Christmas.
- Reflecting on God’s goodness to me in the past year every December.
Cultivate Christmas Peace
When you intentionally cultivate Christmas peace in your life, you’ll be able to share it freely with others. Doesn’t that sound like a beautiful alternative to the same old stressful routine?
I encourage you to choose an Advent devotional to help you mindfully seek peace in this season. Here are a few of my favorite picks. I’d love for you to check out my book, Christmas Peace for Busy Moms, which is filled with practical tips for seeking peace in busy December.
Whatever tool you use, be sure to have your Bible open beside you. God will lead you to scriptures you can use for meditation in your busy holiday schedules. By applying God’s Word to your stressful moments, you can get through busy December with greater peace.
Christmas peace is possible. But you need to intentionally seek it. With Jesus leading the way, you will not only have more peace in your heart this Christmas; you will be able to share it with others.
Are you ready to welcome Christmas peace into your heart? Good news: God is ready to give it to you! Simply carve out time to study God’s Word every day and he’ll show you exactly how to be a peace ambassador this Christmas.
Reflection questions:
- What’s the most stressful part of the Christmas season for you? How can spending time with God every day before Christmas help you find peace in this area of stress?
- With whom would you most like to share Christmas peace this year, and what steps will you take to intentionally share God’s peace?
This post is adapted from a chapter in Sarah Geringer’s book, Christmas Peace for Busy Moms.
Sarah Geringer writes about Finding Peace in God’s Word at sarahgeringer.com and is the author of three self-published books. She is represented by literary agent Michelle S. Lazurek of WordWise Media Services, and her book on Christian meditation will be published by Leafwood Publishers in October 2019. When she’s not reading or writing, Sarah enjoys painting, baking, gardening and playing the flute. She lives in her beloved home state of Missouri with her husband and three children, right in the heart of prime viewing for the Great Eclipses of 2017 and 2024.
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I’m giving away a copy of Sarah’s book, Christmas Peace for Busy Moms. Enter the drawing two ways:
- Leave a comment about this post or answer one of the reflective questions in the comment section.
- Share this post on social media.
© 2017 by Sarah Geringer, All rights reserved
LOVE this! I love the point made that God placed us in this busy culture. We’re not here by accident. And because of that, we have to cultivate a Christmas peace and set the example for the world around us. Such insight here! Enjoyed being your neighbor on #MomentsofHope today. 🙂
I love that Sarah is helping us to get ready and anticipate Christmas. This post reminds me that I must be intentional in seeking His peace and in maintaining it as well. May you both have a great day!
I love the guidelines Sarah shared: Setting aside time each day for God’s Word (God has to be first); Planning for the next day (knowing that God sometimes changes our plans); Focusing on making memories (or just making time for others) with my family (or friends); Lowering my expectations for perfect (that’s always a big one for me – to give it to God & relax when things fall apart or don’t happen); Choosing to serve others (I heard family stands for: “Forget About ME, I Love You) ; and Reflecting on God’s goodness (that produces thankfulness & praise in our hearts)! I paraphrased these to fit our every day, because they are excellent advice for us each day.
In full transparency, I’m not a mom, but the holidays are super stressful. Family dynamics are messy with my side and I hate navigating then. It would be easier to take my wife and kids on a trip where there’s no cell service but then we wouldn’t have a cozy traditional Christmas.
I see what you’re describing in my wife too. She typically prepares the house, the gifts, the food, etc. I just wonder how life giving that can be. As it turns out, the juice is worth the squeeze. We just have to survive it.
What you’ve outlined is really practical. Spending time with the Lord is first and foremost. When we aren’t calibrated to him daily our family feels it, Christmas or not. Good thoughts. Thanks for sharing
My internet is slow today, so I will reply to all the above comments here.
Emily, thank you for your kind words. We definitely must pursue peace with intention in our busy culture.
Joanne, I’m glad to be promoting God’s peace with you each week on the Women 2 Women Ministries site!
Becky, thank you for the follow on IG today and for sharing your reflections above. Lowering my expectations is a great big challenge for me too every year, and God is making me wiser in time.
Chip, we have two messy sides in our family, so this is the first year we are “fleeing the coop” for Christmas. The BnB place where we’ll stay looks like the Apple store, so I’m definitely bringing some Christmas decor along to make it more traditional. I’m looking forward to fresh memories with my own little family. Thanks for your kind affirmation, and I hope my post gives you a new look at your wife’s perspective on this blessed season.
Blessings to all of you!
This post is an early Christmas blessing! Thank you for sharing this message before the craziness is upon us. I especially appreciate your reminders to lower my expectations and remember the many blessings God has given in years past. Many times the stress we feel has been self-inflicted. These suggestions are helpful in that regard. God bless you!
[…] I’m delighted to be sharing about Christmas peace on my friend Karen Friday’s site. She is generously offering a giveaway of my book Christmas Peace for Busy Moms in your choice of […]
My biggest Christmas stress had been trying to make sure everyone is having a great Christmas season. I realize that’s not my responsibility. I can continue traditions and look for different ways to celebrate for my own enjoyment and whether others join in or not is up to them. – I don’t have kids, my in-laws and my husband’s childhood friend live with us.
Melissa, thank you for your kind words. I know the craziness will descend upon us quickly, and I’m doing planning in advance to ward it off.
Katharine, I too struggle with wanting to make everyone happy. Over the years I’ve learned that is simply not possible. It’s enough work to create a pleasant atmosphere for my husband and three children, and I’m focusing on that. We can be the peace ambassadors in our own homes. 🙂
I loved the sense of peace described in this post. For the last few years, I have strived to make the holidays a peaceful and joyful time in order to honor Christ. I try to only do what I can do and not stress about the things I can’t. I find more time to visit friends to enjoy the season together. Now that my children are grown with families of their own, sometimes my husband and I sneak away for a quiet Christmas weekend with nothing planned other than enjoying Christmas together.
This is a great post to remind us of what truly matters: A “Christ-mass”. After all, it’s His birthday party, right? So we should remember to celebrate Him, and the best way to do that, in the middle of our ‘busy’, is to take our ‘Martha world’ and bring a little ‘Mary’ into it.
One of the ways I do this is by reading Ann Voskamp’s book on the advent. On each Sunday advent, I read a portion of her book and light a candle with the family. It’s become a tradition that focuses not only on the first coming of Christ, but on His second coming. For now, as they did in the ancient of days, we wait for the promise of His return. Celebrating the advent for me has been a great way to slow it all down, and reflect on the deeper reason for the season. May God bless you!
Guess what, Lisa? You won Sarah’s book in the giveaway drawing! Yay!
Lisa, what a wonderful idea, to transition the Christmas advent season into the advent of His second coming! Thank you for sharing that suggestion, as well. Though I’m trying to pare everything down, that one might have to be added in. Peaceful advent season, everyone!
So true, Sarah!
We cannot let the busyness of the holidays rob us from the peace that the Baby in the manger died to give us… great post as we approach the holidays. Congratulations on your book! Nothing like the excitement of having your first book published!
Blessings!
Thank you for this timely post, Karen and Sarah! We need these reminders every year. And we need a plan. I’ve been dreading this particular season as we uprooted and moved clear across the country this year. Nothing will be the same here, many family members won’t be seen, and I’m a creature of habit. BUT, Jesus will be the same. He will be here. We will see the truth of him all around us. This season, I will/must focus on him and let go of all else – traditions, expectations, hopes, and wishes. This is a great post for heading me the right direction, especially since I’m starting my shopping this week. Thank you for these uplifting words!
Reflecting on peace, I realize it comes with a steady calm and hope. But I hadn’t really thought about how that calmness and hope prepares me to be a peace ambassador, as Sarah put it. Not bogged down by daily stresses, or the stress of the season, I am more free to share peace and about peace, and be an ambassador of peace and life – the best life.
Sarah, this was wonderful. Christmas is a very stressful time. I am looking more forward to it this year because I am no longer working full time and feel like I will be able to rest more during the season. I loved this devotional about serving others. Something we started as a family is handing out Christmas cards to the residents of our local nursing home. My kids love handing the cards out and loving on the residents. Their smiles when they receive their cards is enough to fill your heart with all the joy and peace you could hope for. Thank you so much for sharing this.
How true. Our expectations of ourselves and others creates stress and tensions especially at this festive time of year.
Some members of my own family can be competitive with each other and for attention.
This year we are attempting to scale those behaviours back with a Family Secret Santa for the Adults and less demands to spread the whole holiday together
You have challenged me to take up a Advent Study as well and I shall be making the effort to include the family in that study by daily posts in our family WhatsApp Group
What a timely post to read as November begins. I have found myself in the Martha mindset in years past. This year I’m focusing on one thing each day – spending time with Jesus. I still have a list and I still have a busy season coming. But God is faithful and will equip me as I sit at His feet and surrender my time and talents to Him. I know I’ll still have overwhelmed moments, it’s my hope to turn to God faster than last year!
I love the idea of being a “peace ambassador”. It is a great way to truly remind us the reason for the season!
Perfect timing for me to receive the words of this post. As a family, we are talking about this season. We just received the sad news of my mom’s medical tests. As a result, all my siblings and their families are coming to town for Christmas. As the only daughter still in our hometown, much of the hosting and planning will fall on me. I will need to be a “Peace Ambassador” and walk in the fullness of Christmas Peace.
Elaine, so sorry to hear about your mom’s health issues. I just whispered a prayer for her and for you as you continue in your role as Ambassador of Peace.
So many wonderful, thoughtful comments! I am glad God moved like this: He moved me to write my book on Christmas peace in 2016, then Karen asked me to write a guest post for her in 2018, then I adapted one of those chapters, and now the Holy Spirit is using my words to inspire you all to new thinking. I love, love, love building up the body of Christ like Barnabas built up the Jews, and I’m so honored to do so here with Karen’s tribe. Thank you for sharing your thoughts…they are making me feel blessed and uplifted this Saturday evening, friends! And thanks for all the tweets too…my heart is full!
Thank you, thank you, Sarah for sharing your wonderful thoughts on Christmas peace with us. Our hearts are full too because of you!
Sure, Christmas can be a time of stress unless we plan it well, and remember to take the time to be with our families.
The most stressful part for me is figuring out which gift to buy or how to be creative in that process.
With love,
Edna Davidsen
Agree, Edna.
Spending time with family and not letting stress get the best of us or win is key I think. That’s what the Prince of Peace came to combat in our lives after all. So it’s ironic a holiday to celebrate His coming can be anything but peaceful. I relate to the gift-buying issue. 🙂
Great message to my heart today. It’s one of my goals this year to stay focused on Jesus and not the holiday.
Thank you
Prayers dear sister.
~Bunny
Thank you, Bunny. Love Sarah’s thoughts here too. And this, “If we meet with the Prince of Peace every day during these upcoming busy weeks, we can serve him in our calling as peace ambassadors.” Blessings!