Where is Your Focus This Christmas?

Day three hundred fifty-eight

This morning I am praying that in all the hustle and bustle of the day that my family will keep Christ at the center of Christmas. This seems to be more difficult to do each year with all the commercialism and the perceived pressure about gifts. It's too bad that giving gifts has become more of a burden and less of a joy.  

To help my family keep the focus on Christ I have prepared a FHE lesson for tonight that will get them reading and thinking.  I was inspired by the book A Christ-Centered Christmas by Emily Freeman. I won't give you all the details, but I thought I would share a little bit of what I have planned:

verses: Luke 1:26-56; 2:5-7, 19
Focus: Ponder
? : If you could have been anyone present on the first Christmas night who would you choose, and why?

verses: Matt 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7
Focus: Service
? : What would you have offered Joseph and his family if you had been there?

verses: Luke 2:9-14
Focus: Joy
? : What does the news that the angels brought mean to you?

verses:  Luke 2:15-18
Focus: Testify
? : What does your testimony of Christ mean to you?

verses: Matt 2:1-12
Focus: Journey
? :  The wise men journeyed another way home to protect Christ.  What are some ways you 'journey another way' to protect your testimony of Christ?

verses: Luke 2:25-28
Focus: Give Thanks
? : As a true follower of Christ what can we do to show our thanks for what He has done for us?

verses: Luke 2:11-12
Focus: Believe
? : How has your life been blessed because of the birth of Christ?

I hope that each of us will take the time to think about these questions and focus our attention on Christ and what we can do for Him this holiday season. I hope that your heart will be filled with love and gratitude for our Savior. May you all have a very Merry Christ-centered Christmas. God bless you all!