Savoring the Savior: Celebrating Jesus Throughout the Season Christmas Part 1

11/20/23 • 24 min

Feeling overwhelmed or weary by the holiday season? What if we told you that there is a way to find simplicity and truly savor the Savior amidst the Christmas chaos? When we went back to the first Christmas, we saw that it centered around three things: a family, a message, and a Savior. What if we embrace those things this Christmas to make our season simple, meaningful and memorable? In Part 1 we look at how to savor Jesus all through the season and not just aim at celebrating on Christmas Day.
Let's explore the heart of Christmas, as share personal experiences, and offer ways to keep Jesus as the focal point during the season. We dig into different Advent traditions that are not just fun, but also help to cultivate a deep connection to savoring Him. Join us as we share tips on age-appropriate devotionals, creating joy-filled traditions, and incorporating the nativity into daily activities.
Additionally, we delve into the powerful hymn "O Holy Night," and how it continues to remind us of the true spirit of Christmas. Together, let’s make our Christmas celebrations meaningful and Jesus-focused, taking a step back from the holiday rush to cherish the reason for the season.
Prophecies of Jesus, 25 Prophecies and Jesus’ Fulfillment #1 Find all 25 on Called To Shine’s Instagram Feed ( Scroll down to Dec 1 2022
NBS2GO’S Advent Bible Study
Children’s Christmas Books/ You Tube : The Crippled Lamb, Song of The Stars, Christmas in the Manger, 25 Days of the Christmas Story, A Christmas Story of Light, The Jesus Story Book Bible Christmas Collection, The Tale of Three Tree’s
The Star From Afar
The Kindness Manger Options: The Giving Manger, Filling The Manger
Redeeming The Season Podcasts with Pam McCune and Kim Wier on Revive Our Heart ( 5 Different episodes)

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Previous Episode

Lighting Up With Gratitude: Cultivating a Heart of Thanksgiving

Do you remember the juice cups, that you stick the straw in? What happens every time you poke that straw through the plastic? Juice spills out! In life, the same holds true: what is inside of you will come out once poked. What would spill out of you: sourness or sweetness, grumbling or gratitude, light or death?
Today we are delighted to have Jessica Gilbert with us again as we talk about how to Light up with Gratitude as we go through the Thanksgiving Season. Not only do we want to take advantage of this cultural holiday that has a biblical basis, but we want our lives to spill over with gratitude when we are poked.

Cultivating a heart of gratitude, takes preparation, training, and discipline. As we offer practical tips and traditions to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in ourselves and our kids, see which ones work for you.

The ultimate spirit of gratefulness begins and ends with our personal relationship with God. What are you grateful for that He has done for you, protected you from or provided?
Enjoy Rend Collective’s Counting Every Blessing, appreciating all the things God has given.
From Rend Collective: Just because we intellectually KNOW God’s promises, doesn’t mean we always feel them to be true. Counting Every Blessing came from a season of real wrestling with God because we couldn’t see His promises coming to pass. We despaired instead of looking at the signs of His goodness along the way. It’s so easy to give in to looking at what God hasn’t done yet rather than counting the blessings God has already given us.

As we try to set the Thanksgiving table for Jesus to be the centerpiece of our heart celebration, who pointed you to Jesus? How can you thank them this season? Grab a seat, fill your cup with gratitude and let's light up with thanksgiving together!
Grumbler’s Guide To Giving Thanks Book by Dustin Crowe
Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks YouVersion 7 Day Plan
Corrie Ten Boom Story in Hero Tales Volume 2

Next Episode

Setting Apart Family Time Through Traditions And Rhythms: Being About The People Christmas Part 2

Join us on the journey back to the first Christmas, where we saw in Episode 7, Savoring The Savior Christmas Part 1 that it was all about a baby that was worthy to be worshipped. In this episode we will see that it was also about a family, and not just any family, it could have been today’s dysfunctional family— an unwed teenager who finds out she is pregnant, a betrothed man, considering divorce, or adoption.
Mary and Joseph, all had great faith when they said YES to God’s plan. We, too can embrace our circumstances, and the people in our life and say YES to God by loving them right where they are this Christmas season.
Family relationships are precious, and the holidays are a great time to pour into creating a vibrant spiritual home, with blood family or those who are like family to you. We can do this through traditions, messy prayer, loud tables, and open doors. We share our experiences about the beautiful chaos of family dinners, the sweetness of opening our homes to others, and opportunities to develop deeper connections and meaningful conversations. Spending quality time with loved ones and being about the people with give you treasured and precious memories, not by doing more, but choosing less of the right things.
In case you are wondering,—“How can we simply incorporate the sights, sounds, and tastes of Christmas this year?” or “How might we connect with teens during these family activities?” Then you are at the right place. Together, let's shine the light and love of Jesus this Christmas.
Christmas Conversation Starters