Billy Graham Shares 3 Helpful Tips for Keeping Christ at the Center of Christmas Celebrations

Leah Marieann Klett : Dec 7, 2017
GospelHerald.com

"Most of all, let this Christmas be the beginning of a journey for your family that lasts all year long—a journey with Christ. The Bible says that after the shepherds had seen Jesus, 'they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child' (Luke 2:17)." -Billy Graham

[GospelHerald.com] For many, Christmas is the most stressful time of the year. How do we keep Christ at the center of our celebrations amid all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? (Photo: Creative Commons/via Pixabay)

The Rev. Billy Graham has shared three tips for keeping Christ at the center of Christmas celebrations and warned that far too many people get so busy around the holidays, they never stop to remember Who they're celebrating.

"First, set aside time each day to focus on that first Christmas," the founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association wrote in a recent blog post. "When you eat together as a family, pause not only to thank God for the gift of your food, but to thank Him for His greatest gift-the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. In addition, each day set aside a few minutes to read about the birth of Jesus from the Bible. (You can find this in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.)"

Second, look ahead during the next few weeks, and set aside time for something special. It could be something simple, like a Christmas concert or Christmas pageant in your church.

"Make sure you also attend your church's regular services during the Christmas season; this will help you focus on Christ," Graham advised.

Third, look ahead to next year, the pastor said.

"Plan your time more wisely, so you don't fall into the same trap a year from now. Most of all, let this Christmas be the beginning of a journey for your family that lasts all year long-a journey with Christ. The Bible says that after the shepherds had seen Jesus, 'they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child' (Luke 2:17)."

Nearly a quarter of Americans reported feeling "extreme stress" come holiday time, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association, and forty-five percent of Americans would prefer to skip Christmas due to stress, according to a survey from Think Finance and reported on NBC News.

In an earlier post, Graham cautioned that overspending is actually a "spiritual problem" and shared tips for remaining within budget—and alleviating stress—this holiday...

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