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Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”  Luke 1:28 WEB

Greetings highly favored women! The Lord is with you! The same words the angel spoke to Mary, God is speaking to us today.

You are highly favored.

God is with you.

You are blessed among women.

There are many times when I feel like my life doesn’t reflect those words.

Highly favored?….. Blessed among women?….. Chosen to carry Christ into this world?

Yet God did choose a woman to bring forth His Son. A woman who lacked all the knowledge and experience to do what was being asked of her…. A woman just like us. However, her abilities did not change her calling or what God said about her.

I believe women have been uniquely designed by God to cultivate a Christ centered atmosphere in their homes. Click to Tweet

As a momma of 5 children, I remember the feeling of expecting a child. There was a sense of anticipation, a newness that seemed to excite the atmosphere in our home. This season, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we can create that same environment as we prepare to welcome Him into our homes.

In the past I have begun this season in hopes of peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…. all the fruits of the Spirit.

Yet somehow it turns into quite the opposite.

I would feel worn out, impatient, and caught up in the chaos.

So this year we’ve decided that our family will make some changes.

We are going to begin to focus on what’s most important… creating an environment that our Lord would love to be in.

As we invite Him in and celebrate His miraculous birth, we will focus on Him as our guest of honor.

By His grace I will be able to balance between the Martha who wants to get things done and the Mary who rests at His feet.

As women, we have a unique gift to provide our family and guests with an atmosphere that invites peace.

Why not start today?

Practical tips for a Peaceful Christmas Atmosphere:

Light candles

This makes your home warm and welcoming and it smells good too! I lit my new favorite wintery scented candle: Nest Fragrances, Birchwood Pine. I’m not usually a fan of pine scents, but this one is a must have!

Here’s a few other candle scents you may like…

Bath & Body Works Fresh Balsam

Yankee Candle Frosted Fir

Decorate the mantle

Sometimes we need a little help from our friends! This year I had one of my talented friends decorate with me. If you feel incapable like me, don’t hesitate to ask others to help out.  I found some amazing decorating ideas on Pinterest you can check out!

If you are looking for decorations I found these cute items for great deals….

Gireshome Ivory Cable Knitted Stockings

National Tree Company Pre-lit Holiday 5 piece set

Play Christmas music

We stream Christmas music through our computer or through Pandora on iPads. Also check out CBN Radio– it has continuous Christmas music throughout the season. In later posts I will highlight some of my favorite Christmas songs and artists.

For some of you this may be exciting, but for some it can be overwhelming.

Let me encourage you with this thought: The blessing is in the process. Adding just a few of these tips can create a peaceful Christmas atmosphere in your home.

Prayer
Lord, I pray for each and every person reading these words today. As they begin this journey of preparing for the celebration of Your Son’s birth, I pray you would be with them. Encourage them, strengthen them, refresh them. Lord, I’m believing and asking for miracles to take place. That everyone who enters their homes will feel and receive your presence and will come to know you more intimately. I thank you for changed lives and the restored relationships. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

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