Planning Backward to Make the Most of Christ at Christmas

How can we guard against Missing Jesus this Christmas?  Many of the things we are invited to do this season are good things.  But are they the best things for me and my family?  Do they take us 1 step closer to the Dreams God has given us for our future?

Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV) A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

God has plans for us an He will direct our steps if we just ask Him… and then obey what He says.

(PS… be sure to get all the way to the end to enter to Win the $600 Giveaway!)

What do you dream for your family?

The Montgomery Family (of which I am Mommo Tiffany – Hi!) have Big Dreams for our family.

• Dreams of the salvation of our children
• A close intimacy in our marriage
• A future of serving others as a family.
• My heart dreams of a day we will pass a legacy on to these Little Blessings.

None of that will happen if we don’t make a plan… because there is a very real enemy who has a strategic plan to stop all of those dreams!

Our Plan starts with prayer.

At Christmastime especially I need to seek His guidance and direction!  I can do nothing on my own.  Honestly, we have no idea how to raise these Little Blessings – but God does.

So we turn to Him.

We ask Him to show us His plans and His Dreams – which He faithfully does!

Many years ago we learned to Plan Backward.  It is a tool that helps us decide what things are allowed in our life and what things we need to say no to.

It is really a simple process.  Hubby and I talk through what we want the end to look like – and then walked backward step by step to think through what we should be doing today.

That greatly impacts how we celebrate at Christmastime

There is just so much stuff to do.   Do I have to do all the “Stuff” to really make the most of this Season?

Hubby and I have worked hard to cultivate Christmas Traditions that match our Dreams and Goals and keep Jesus Christ front and center.

Can I be honest with you all?  If we hadn’t planned it out and talked it through – when pressure from friends and family close in on us (and it comes every year)- we would never stick to it.

For more ideas on how to keep a Christ focused Christmas see this from Lullaby Lark.

So what Christmas Traditions will foster our Goals and what Traditions will confuse them?

• The Nativity is the central focus in our home this season.

  • • We struggled to find a Nativity that could be touched and played with -because it helps us as we retell the story – to let the children act it out and play with the pieces.
      • • This Itty Bitty Stuffed Nativity Set is what we picked

    • This is a great way to let the Kids make their faith real.
      We also added The Shepherd on the Search this year to have fun with the Nativity Set.  (It comes with a sturdy Stable that fits our theme perfectly!

• Family time to Craft Gifts for our loved ones and neighbors.

  • Crafts are one of my favorite Christmas Traditions.  We get to spend quality time together having great conversations about Jesus.  Some of that conversation can be found in this post.
  • Some of our favorite Christmas Crafts are in this post.
  • I’ll just add that kids have such short attention spans.  Big conversations need to be weaved strategically, intentionally, into your day to day life.  We get the best results talking while crafting or cooking together.

Hebrews 13:16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

• A Christmas tree is a beautiful Christmas Decorating tradition we kept

  • Because of all the symbolism of the evergreen (eternal life), the lights (Jesus is the Light of the world), and the Star or Angel on the top (both connect to that beautiful night in Bethlehem).
  • Time together around the Christmas Tree is a great way to have some of those big conversations.  Be sure to think of ways to Plan those Intentional Conversations!

Deuteronomy 6:4-9:  ⁴ “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶ These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

 

• Christmas Caroling to the Least of These

  • This is a way to share our faith with others.  It is also a way to show love to our neighbors and those on the fringe who are often left out at Christmastime.

Matthew 25:40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

 

• Advent activities to focus our hearts all month

  • Specifically, those that focus on reading the prophecies and talking about the many ways Jesus fulfilled them.
    • We have used the ABC Jesus Loves Me  Lego Advent Activity for years and love it!  I love how this one focuses on the Names of Jesus*.
    • This year we are adding 12 Days at the Nativity from InAllYouDo and Christmas Around the World (Which studies how 20 other cultures celebrate Christmas)
    • We absolutely love the YouTube Series 12 Questions of Christmas and others like it!

Isaiah 9:6-7 

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

There are many Christmas Traditions have kept, but each corresponds to our Backward Planning.  Each put Jesus Christ front and center throughout Christmastime.

Stay focused on our Dreams and goals and don’t get sucked into the culture.  It’s too easy to lose focus and miss the entire season!

 

If this blessed you, you will enjoy all the articles in the 24 Days to a Christ-Centered Christmas.

What are your Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions?

in HIM