Praying For The Holidays_Day 1

So this week we are praying for peace and comfort as we move forward with an emptiness in our hearts. I just got off the phone with Randall after he was editing the first episode this week. He said WOW, every mom needs to hear this.

I was raw and real as I had my own little emotional breakdown during the FB Live trying to move forward from such an unexpected loss.

This week we are also starting a challenge to help us enjoy the holidays by focusing on what is truly important. I talked a lot about it in the podcast this week.

You can join our Enjoy the Holiday Challenge by clicking here.

ACTION STEPS:

1) Do the next right thing. This will look different for everyone. That might mean crawling out of bed when you want to sleep all day or go for a long walk/run to clear your head.

2) Continue giving yourself GOLD stars all week. Every task you do, grab the gold star, put it in its place, and say out loud...Thank you God for this gift.

3) Focus more on your relationships than the holiday task that needs to be done.

4) Listen this week to Prayers From a Mom Podcast and join me in praying for this each day. You can also listen to Enjoying Your Blended Family and hear us talk on this important topic.

5) Sign up for the Enjoy the Holiday Challenge, there will be a book included.

FOCUSED PRAYER:

Father,

You are such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You're a proven help in times of trouble, more than enough, and always available when I need you. Help me and my family walk into this next season with peace, love, and joy. Help me focus more on the things that matter like relationships and less on the overwhelming task of the holidays. Show me things I can clear from my schedule so I can be present in my life. I want to be like the good samaritan and not only see a need and meet it but go the extra mile for those God places in my path. Help me and my family be your hands and feet during the holidays by reflecting your love.

In Jesus Name, Amen!

SCRIPTURE FOCUS THIS WEEK:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 A Time for Everything

1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

Luke 10: 38-42 Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:30-37 Parable of the Good Samaritan

30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

SHOW RESOURCES:

ENJOY THE HOLIDAY CHALLENGE, 25 Days of Great Joy for Christmas

This challenge is not about doing more for the holidays but doing more of what matters.

WANT MORE…

New episodes come out every Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST).

Join our FaceBook Group family PRAYERS FROM A MOM live Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST).

Check out our website ENJOYING THE MOMENT to read more of our story.

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