The Session: 5 Ways Your Blended Family Can Find Peace Over the Holidays

Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"

• As God's chosen, holy, and beloved people, you should clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
• Verse 13: Be patient with each other, and if you have a complaint against someone, forgive them as the Lord has forgiven you.
• Verse 14: And above all these virtues, put on love, which binds all of them together in perfect

1. Remember the reason for the season. Keeping peace on earth starts with you. As Christians, it’s our responsibility to model Christ to our stepchildren and ex-spouses, especially those who are not walking with the Lord. Romans 14:19 says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (NIV).

These special days are a celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one who has brought salvation, grace, love, and joy.

Are we demonstrating the love of God in our stepfamily? Are we expressing the joy of the Lord? Remember to center your holidays on the right celebration.

2. Honor traditions that your step kids bring and consider new ones.

We learned that a new family means doing things a new way. That involves flexibility and open minds. It’s okay to keep some old traditions, but it may be time to create some new ones, too. We asked each of our kids to suggest something they’d like to create as a new tradition. As long as it was legal and not immoral, we agreed.

One new tradition sounds pretty simple, but had a lot of impact. We bought matching ornaments for the kids each year and added their names and the year. As each has married, we have carefully packed up their ornaments and presented to them for their first Christmas tree. There are lots of great memories attached to those ornaments.

As the kids have gotten older, we have added a new tradition of Thanksgiving Day golf. The boys (since we have more of them) leave the house with my husband, Gil, by 8 a.m. Living in the Northwest, you never know what kind of weather will greet you on that morning. Last year, it was more like ice golfing. We came back with a video of 28-year-old Kyle ice skating in the sand trap as he tried to maneuver his way out. Feet sliding under him, his feeble attempt to escape the trap made us all laugh! As we reminisce around the dinner table each year, that tradition is always brought up.

3. Reduce pressure of holiday schedules.

So much strife is created by the timing of family get-togethers, but if you look at things a little differently, you can stretch your holiday time and even enjoy it. (As we always say, “Remember, blessed are the flexible, for they won’t snap.”)

Consider that your celebration doesn’t need to be on the day of the holiday. Instead, reserve another date close to the holiday for your holiday festivities. Having an “open house” day may work best.

4. Don’t hold grudges. Many families trade off each year where kids will be for the major holidays, which can disappoint and hurt feelings. But don’t spend your energy on holding grudges over scheduling chaos. Instead, put your energy into loving them, and enjoy the time you have with them.

If emotions run crazy, chances are they are just trying to make all of their parents happy by showing up when asked. The more understanding you have, the more pleasant the holiday will be and the more your kids will look forward to spending time in your home.

5. Don’t forget about your marriage. Take time to check in with your spouse. Sometimes my husband and I wi

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: The First Christmas (and other holidays) Without A Loved One

Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"

Highlights And Reactions To The First Christmas Without A Loved One from Tom and Scott.

It Is Important To Prioritize Your Needs. Take Time To:

• Walk
• Nap
• Have important conversations
• Take time to have your space.
• Crying and hugs are to be expected and enjoyed

Find new family traditions that help after experiencing loss

• New traditions could include cruises
• Rent a house in a vacation spot for the family

Continue with routine that helps normalize life

• Have your regular coffee time?
• Continue watching your favorite shows or news on TV
• Praying
• Seeking God And His Word
• Eat healthy
• Connect with a friend you haven’t talked to in a long time

3 Suggestions from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

1. Look to the past. God gave you and your spouse many years together; have you ever stopped to thank Him for this? In other words, don’t let the loneliness of the present crowd out the happiness of the past. iMovies, photo albums

2. Look to the present. All around you are people who are lonely or grieving or discouraged. Ask God to help you reach out and be a friend to them this Christmas. It may be someone you already know—in your church or among your circle of friends. Invite them to dinner; take them to a Christmas program at your church; in small ways let them know you care. They need you—and you need them.

3. Third, look to the future. Jesus came into the world for one reason: to make it possible for us to be with Him in Heaven forever. The more we focus on eternity, the lighter our burdens become. In Christ we have hope, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session - The Christian Response to AI

• The Golden Calf (Exodus 32): While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites created a golden calf to worship, a blatant act of idolatry that angered God.
• Exodus 20: 3-5 You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God.

The Setup from Scott: We did some training and orientation to A.I. in the office. Some of us were a little uneasy with it. Including me. My position has been that I would prefer to use the A.I. God gave me…my brain.

Advantages to AI

• Translating scripture into different languages CBN
• When creative with ethic Christian values, it can be helpful
• AI and promote God’s values like compassion and justice, encourage and
• Promote God’s sovereignty

AI Dangers

• Believing anything that would distort God’s plan or will in this world
• Avoiding any form of worship or unmerited importance that would be more important than our God
• Unhealthy dependence on AI
• AI becomes an unhealthy control over society

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.