{"id":4562,"date":"2010-11-15T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2010-11-15T13:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=4562"},"modified":"2025-09-07T11:01:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T15:01:10","slug":"effects-of-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/effects-of-holidays.htm","title":{"rendered":"Prepare for the Holidays: Dealing with the Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Happy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Effects of the Holidays on The Heart<\/h2>\n

How easy it is in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to neglect or become distracted in our walk with the Lord. We can get so consumed with meal planning and preparation, decorating, parties, shopping, church activities,\u00a0and the like that it preoccupies our thought life, builds anxieties within us, leads to stress, and pulls us from normal routines.<\/p>\n

Prepare your heart.<\/span> <\/strong>Before you get in the throes of it all, make a plan for how you will keep on track.\u00a0 Commit now to keeping Him first, to making time for Him regardless of how busy you get.\u00a0 Take time to read Matthew 6:33-34<\/span>.\u00a0 What will you do to nurture your walk with God?<\/p>\n

Article:\u00a0 So Much of … Everything but Jesus Over the Holidays<\/a><\/p>\n

Prepare your people.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Hebrews 10:24<\/span> exhorts us to spur one another on to love and good deeds.\u00a0 The holidays are no exception for exercising the “one another” passages of Scripture.\u00a0 You could help by using a curriculum over the holidays intended to keep us focused.\u00a0 Click on the titles below to read more about two published by Ministry Tools Resource Center for adult classes.<\/p>\n

Curriculum:\u00a0 Christmas Reminders
\n<\/a>Curriculum:\u00a0 May Jesus Help Our Christmas<\/a><\/p>\n

Prepare your ministry efforts.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The holidays present unique windows of opportunity to impact people’s lives that you might not otherwise have. Consider ways you can make the most of these opportunities (Col. 4:5)<\/span>. Think of how to pull people’s thoughts about the holidays onto related truths from God’s Word in your preaching and teaching. You might focus on an upcoming holiday in your small groups or Bible classes distributing a discussion guide that makes that transition. Or, send home a guide for the entire church body to do on their own. The following resource can help you with that.<\/p>\n

Resource:\u00a0 Holiday Reflections Discipleship Guides<\/a><\/p>\n

Prepare for the Effects on Church Life<\/h2>\n

Prepare yourself as a teacher or ministry leader.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong> Be ready for the effects of the holidays on people.\u00a0 Remember that people need you to be there for them, not just physically but relationally as well.\u00a0 During the holidays it is easy to get distracted and self-absorbed and neglect important relationships.\u00a0 Remember the effects of holidays on attendance, giving, and other areas.\u00a0 Be prepared for it but don’t get discouraged.\u00a0 Make the most of the season.<\/p>\n

Article:\u00a0 Holidays and the Church<\/a>
\nWorksheet:\u00a0 Intruders in the Classroom: Holidays & Other Special Events<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How easy it is in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to neglect or become distracted in our walk with the Lord. . . . The Effects on the Heart . . . The Effects on Church Life . . . Continue reading Prepare for the Holidays: Dealing with the Effects<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christmas","category-thanksgiving"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t