A couple of years ago I read an article from Family Life Ministries. It was on how to start family traditions. During this Christmas season, my prayer is that we all focus on the right things throughout this time. This article will help you focus on the right things and how to engage in these as a family.

Starting Family Traditions by Sabrina Beasley

It may sound strange, but Christmas traditions don’t have to be … well … traditional. You can start new activities that bring meaning to your holidays and build a legacy for your family. Perhaps you came from a family of non-believers, and you have never celebrated traditions that were based on Christ. Or perhaps you have found that your current traditions have no meaning for your family. This year, we have compiled 10 ideas for new traditions, some from FamilyLife and some from our readers.

1. What Does God Want for Christmas? The Christmas holiday is really just a part of the gospel story—God came as man in the flesh to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. His birth signifies God’s grace and love for His people. FamilyLife has developed an interactive nativity set that not only tells the story of the birth of Christ, but it also presents the gospel to children.

This resource, What God Wants for Christmas, can be used in your own family, in Sunday school classes, or as an outreach for neighborhood Christmas parties.

2. Use decorations to tell about the entire life of Christ. Christmas is a time that usually emphasizes the birth of Jesus, but decorations can also celebrate the remainder of His life on earth. In addition to the basic nativity set, angels, and stars, include crosses, verses that talk about the life of Jesus, and statuettes of Him while He was on earth.

3. Fast a meal. In America, Christmas includes a large focus on food. This year, during the week before Christmas, sacrifice a meal and pray during that time for the poor, hungry, and spiritually lost in the world.

4. Watch a movie that remembers the life of Christ. There are several good films that focus on the birth, death, and life of Christ. We recommend “Jesus of Nazareth,” the film, “Jesus,” or for mature audiences, “The Passion of the Christ.” Or for a change of pace, try “Ben Hur,” a movie that begins with Jesus’ birth and ends with His death, and tells the story of a man who was transformed by His love and forgiveness.

By watching movies that focus on other aspects of the life of Jesus, the Christmas celebration of His birth is put into proper perspective. This can be an excellent opportunity to talk to your children about why Christ had to come in the form of a child.

5. Share stories about how God has worked in your life. Have you ever told your children the story of your salvation? How about your spouse? While the family is together during the holidays, use the time to share your personal stories about faith, redemption, and life change. Also, reflect on the previous year and talk about how you have grown in your faith individually and as a family.

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You know its gonna be a good day when you go to Sonic to redeem your free Route 44 coupon and they give you another coupon for a free one.  Its like it was double free this morning.  For a man that’s addicted to Sonic’s Iced Tea, this was a confirmation that there is nothing wrong with my addiction 

In fact, I left Sonic this morning feeling like I had been blessed.  Thanks Lord for even the “small” blessings.  Its going to be a good day.

When three year old David got to church yesterday morning, his mother told me he had some new pet goldfish.  Awesome pet for a three year old.  Easier than a dog and certainly more tolerable than a cat…goldfish are a perfect fit for little David.  Patti, David’s mother, informed me that he named his two new goldfish, Pastor and Mrs. Sonya.  What an honor!

Honestly, that makes my heart feel good.  I want to make an impact on the lives of everyone.  Especially, on the younger generation, I want to touch their lives for the glory of Christ.  To have a goldfish named after me is possibly a sign of a deposit that I have made in David’s life.  I love this kid.  He is full of life and excitement.  He also has an incredible knowledge of vacuum cleaners.  He can name almost every brand and type.  Sharp kid and will certainly make a good husband some day.

By the way, I am glad they were goldfish.  I might have been offended if a cat was named after me

Hannah had her first Thanksgiving play at school today.  She was nervous to say her line but she did great!  Couldn’t tell she was nervous.

Sonya and I had the opportunity to get away for our 20th anniversary.  We had a great time in a borrowed convertible corvette (Thanks Mike and Donna).  Not sure if Sonya enjoyed being with me or the Corvette more  We went to Russellville to stay in the Prophet’s Chambers (Thanks Pastors Don and Susan Nordin).  The house was nestled in the mountains outside of Russellville.  Beautiful and quiet, the house allowed us to relax and enjoy a couple of days away from the busyness of life.  On the way home, we drove to Lake Dardanelle and to the top of Mount Nebo and what a beauty to behold.  It was an awesome getaway!

All the freedoms we enjoy in this nation came at a price.  The expense was paid by brave men and women who have served our country faithfully to ensure that our homeland is safe.  They have fought foreign wars to rid other nations of tyranny and to bring freedom to other lands as well.  These veterans have served within our borders to secure our land and to protect it from those who seek to harm us. 

For wages that are not comparable to the risk of their lives, these veterans have served faithfully out of a call to patriotism.  They make less than most of those who enjoy the benefits of our military’s sacrifice.  Yet, they serve proudly and humbly because that is what veterans do.

They have gone to foreign lands and left behind their families so that they could bring peace to other families in far away lands.  They have stared in the face of danger yet not showing fear.  With courage they become all they can be for a people who often take for granted the freedoms.

This group of veterans is often overlooked but they still cherish their service to our country.  Veterans, thank you!  You are my heroes!  You have exemplified the words of Jesus, “No greater love has a man than he who lays down his life for a friend.”  Thanks for being willing risk your life for our freedoms.

I would have never dreamed that time would fly by so fast.  20 years ago today, Sonya and I exchanged vows.  What an amazing journey!  We were 19 years old.  Too young to realize that we were “too young” to get married.

Through these years we have been through many valleys and we have even spent time on the mountaintop, yet through the years we have grown.  It has always intrigued me how God created such a thing as love and then gives us the capacity to learn to love and then to grow in that love.  Certainly, there have been challenges in our years together, but through it all we have grown closer.

Now, after 20 years, we say the things that the other is thinking.  We respond to one another, knowing what the other one needs.  As the years have passed by, we have learned what it means to become one.  God’s intention for marriage was that the two would become one flesh.  He didn’t say that would happen overnight.  Love is cultivated by sacrifice on the part of each spouse. It is learning to make concessions while also knowing that, sometimes, you receive much more than you deserve.

That is how I feel with Sonya.  I have received much more than I deserve.  She has made many concessions in this marriage that resulted in her becoming a pastor’s wife.  I wasn’t called to ministry until 2 weeks after we were married.  She didn’t sign up for life in ministry, but she has embraced it with poise, grace and sacrifice.  She has shared me with others in crisis.  She has graciously encouraged me to participate in ministry needs, even when it meant it would cut into family time.  Sonya has been a counselor to many and a friend to all.  She has ministered to people and served in ministry for the last 15 years.  Always willing to pick up the slack and be all things to all people.  She has kept silent, when it would have been much easier to “speak up” and defend herself or her husband.  God could not have created another “helpmeet” that would be able to walk in this life of ministry with me.

Taking that a step further: As we raise our 17 year old and 5 year old, she tries hard to balance ministry and her family needs.  Sonya is a wonderful mother to her children and will sacrifice everything to make sure their needs are met.  When we were married 20 years ago, I would have never dreamed that she would be so selfless and giving to her children and her church.

Cheney, I love you!  Here’s to another 20 years!

Do you need glasses? I always thought that when you turned forty (which is only a few months of for me) that you were officially over the hill. No one told me what to expect when I turned thirty. I noticed, however, something drastic change when I turned thirty. Everyday when I came home from work I had a terrible headache. Without fail, my head was exploding so of course I blamed it on the lack of caffeine. Then when that theory was shot down I thought, “Maybe I am studying and reading too much”. Then the thought hit me that maybe I ought to see the eye doctor.

Finally one day I decided to go to the eye doctor to see if I could get some reading glasses. The doctor laughed and told me, “You do not need reading glasses but all the time glasses. Your vision is not as good as it used to be.” I had vision impairment and I hadn’t noticed that my total vision was going bad. I never even realized it. The only way I could tell was by fixing my vision. After I got glasses I could read the road signs and everything else alot better.

This is the way it happens in our Christian lives. We once had a fire and vision for the Lord and His ministry but somewhere down the road our vision became impaired. Our vision is not as clear as it used to be.

Sad to say, many people once had great vision and dreams for their work for the Lord, but over the years it has faded. They once had great plans and goals of what they wanted to do for God’s Kingdom, but now they cannot see ahead.

It may be the case that they don’t realize that their vision is faded. It could also be that their dreams were crashed on the rocks and discouragement and frustration has impaired their vision. All they can see is their failure and can’t think of trying something new.

The fact is that God has a great plan for all of us, young or old. He has a plan for all of our lives and He wants us to carry His vision. Even if you have lost your vision, we can find a pair of glasses that will help us to see again. God has great things in store for us and He wants to give us 20/20 vision once again.

If your ministry was once flourishing but now you cannot seem to get the fire started, ask God for a renewed vision for your ministry. Without a vision the people perish. We must have vision or else we will die on the inside. Our ministry around us cannot live unless we have a vision for it.

If you have lost your vision, look for it. If your vision is impaired, look back to the days that you had vision and passion for what you did. Rekindle that flame and let God’s vision burn in you once again.

The enemy desires to block your vision because He knows that your ministry cannot go forward with your eyes dim. Satan desires to thwart the ministry of the Lord by discouraging, frustrating and making the people of God feel inadequate. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Go to the eye doctor (Jesus) and ask Him for a pair of new glasses to see His heart for you.