10 Joyful Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas - plus a bonus

A meaningful, memory-making list to center your holiday season on what matters most.

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A friend once asked me to write a column on how to keep more Christ in Christmas. I loved the idea then—and I love it even more now.

With each passing year, I’ve added new traditions that help our family focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Today I’m sharing 10 Christ-centered traditions we practice during the season. Whether you adopt one or try them all, I hope they’ll bring deeper meaning and joy to your celebrations.

Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments—I’d love to hear your favorite ways to make Christmas about Christ!

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1. 🕯 Observe Advent with a Heart-Prep Focus

One year, my church introduced me to the Advent wreath—four candles lit on the four Sundays before Christmas and one on Christmas Eve. I eventually found a ceramic version I love, though the traditional greenery is beautiful too.

Advent reminds us to prepare—not just our homes, but our hearts—to welcome the Christ child.

🔗 More on Advent from Rev. Mark D. Roberts

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2. 🎁 Hang a Stocking for Jesus

We hang a special stocking just for Jesus. All month, we drop spare change (and sometimes bills) into it. On the Sunday before Christmas, we quietly give that money as a gift to Him.

⚠️ Tip: Use a sturdy stocking and a strong hanger! Ours once fell—coin-heavy and proud—off the mantle with a bang!

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3. ❤️ Give Like the Wise Men

Just as the magi brought gifts to Jesus, we find someone in need and give generously. Options include:

• Picking a name off a Giving Tree
• Donating to a missionary
• Filling a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child
• Gifting anonymously with another family

Even with a tight budget, giving something—together—teaches that Christmas is about love, not lists.

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4. ✨ Display a Nativity Scene (or Three)

My childhood nativity now sits in our home, and setting it up still fills me with awe. We also have:

• A kid-friendly wooden set
• A delicate glass version
• Miniature ones as ornaments

Some families hide the baby Jesus until Christmas morning, or let the wise men “travel” through the house. Choose what works for you—and let it anchor your home in the real story.

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5. 🐪 Visit a Live Nativity or Walk Through                Bethlehem 

Few things bring the story to life like a walk-through Bethlehem. Some are basic where you can walk up and see the characters, some include petting zoos or hot cocoa and donut holes, and some are full-blown villages! We’ve stood in line to sign the census and received free "coins" to spend, chatted with vendors whispering about the Messiah, dodged roaming Roman guards, and quietly entered the stable to find Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

Unforgettable.

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6. 🎄 Decorate with Meaningful Ornaments 

Among our candy canes and snowmen are nativity ornaments, angels (given to me by my mom mostly but some Hallmark as well) and handmade beaded crosses. These tiny decorations speak big truths from the branches of our tree.

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7. 📺 Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas

It never fails: Linus steps forward, recites Luke 2, and something in my heart melts. A cartoon that boldly proclaims the Gospel? Yes, please. Every year.

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8. 💌 Send Christ-Centered Christmas Cards

Whether you choose cards with Scripture, a peaceful scene, or just a thoughtful note about your faith—your cards can encourage and uplift those who receive them.

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9. 🕯 Attend a Candlelight Service (or Create One at Home)

Nothing beats a candlelit Christmas Eve service. But if your church doesn’t offer one, light a few candles at home and gather your family for a short devotion. It’s a beautiful, quiet moment to reflect.

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10. 🎂 Bake a Birthday Cake for Jesus

Who doesn’t love birthday cake? Make one for Jesus, light a candle, and sing. Or, as we did one year, make cupcakes with a candle on every one of them. 

Kids adore this tradition, and it beautifully reminds them that Christmas is a birthday celebration. Happy birthday, Jesus!

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BONUS! Read Christmas Picture Books from Different Perspectives

After you read the story of Jesus’ birth in the Bible, try reading picture books featuring the nativity story. Enjoy the beautiful illustrations and stories written from the perspective of the innkeeper, a shepherd, an angel, or even a donkey. Authors have gotten creative over the years, and these stories help children (and adults!) experience the wonder of Christmas in fresh ways.

Newsflash! This is the perfect place to announce that my debut picture book, Meanwhile Back at the Manger, will be available this fall through my publisher, Ambassador International! This version of the birth of Jesus is written from the POV of the stable boy, whose stable is where the holy family spends the night—but Thomas has abandoned his post for a night of fishing. What’s happening back at the manger? Will Thomas ever know what he is missing?

What Are Your Christ-Centered Traditions?

These are just a few ways my family brings Christ into the center of Christmas. Maybe you do something totally different. I’d love to know about it!

🎄 Drop your favorite traditions in the comments and share the joy!

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#KeepChristInChristmas #FaithAndFamily #JesusIsTheReason #FamilyTraditions #MeaningfulChristmas #ChristmasTips #ChristmasinJuly #ChristmasPlanning

3 Steps to Get Ready for Your Best Christmas

 

Christmas is a magical time of year, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful if you wait until the last minute to get ready. That’s why I’ve always advised friends and colleagues to get an early start! By getting a head start, you can enjoy a more relaxed and enjoyable holiday season. Here are three practical things you can do early to ensure that you enjoy your best Christmas!

1. Plan Your Holiday Budget

You can reduce holiday stress by planning your budget in advance. Start by listing all potential expenses, including gifts, decorations, holiday meals, and travel. This will help you set a realistic budget and avoid overspending.

• Create a Gift List: Write down everyone you plan to give gifts to and set a spending limit for each person. This will help you keep track of your expenses and avoid last-minute splurges.
• Track Your Spending: Use budgeting apps or a simple spreadsheet to monitor your expenses as you go. This can help you stay within your budget and make adjustments as needed. I have a free Holiday Spending Worksheet to share if you leave your request in the comments!

2. Start Gift Shopping Now

Gift shopping can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of Christmas preparation, so getting an early start can make a huge difference. As an added bonus, you’ll escape the crowds shopping in December. If you shop online, shopping early ensures gifts arriving in plenty of time. No more IOU’s for Christmas!

• Make a List: Outline what you plan to buy for each person. Consider their interests and hobbies to find thoughtful gifts.
• Shop Sales and Discounts: Take advantage of early holiday sales and special promotions to find great deals. Many retailers offer discounts well before the holiday season, so keep watch for them!

Starting your gift shopping early not only helps you avoid the last-minute rush but also allows you to find more meaningful and budget-friendly presents.

3. Prepare Your Home for the Festivities

Getting your home ready for Christmas early can make the season more enjoyable and less stressful. This includes decorating, organizing, and planning your holiday gatherings.

• Decorate Early: Put up your Christmas decorations in early December (or the day after Thanksgiving) to fully enjoy them throughout the season. I had a friend who had multiple trees for her house; she started decorating the beginning of November to avoid decorating burnout in December!
• Organize Holiday Supplies: Gather and check your holiday supplies, such as wrapping paper, ribbons, and greeting cards. This will prevent last-minute trips to the store and ensure you're fully prepared. In the coming year, consider shopping clearance sales after the holidays to stock up on your supplies!
• Plan Your Menu: If you're hosting holiday meals or taking dishes to other events, start planning your menu and creating a shopping list. This gives you ample time to try new recipes or adjust your plans based on dietary needs.

Starting your Christmas preparations early can transform the holiday season from a stressful time into a joyful one. By planning your budget, shopping for gifts, and getting your home ready, you’ll set the stage for a relaxing and festive Christmas. So, take a deep breath, get organized, and enjoy your best Christmas!

#5 - April: Your Christmas Stash and Items to Stock Up On

This month I want to focus on your Christmas “hiding place” and the things you can start filling it with. Do you have a place where you stash the gifts you make or buy throughout the year? Do you need a place to store materials for gift ideas? Without such a place, you probably hide things and then forget where you put them. One year it was two months AFTER Christmas when I found a big gift I’d gotten for my son. I’d hidden it behind a chair that sat behind my bedroom closet door that always remained open. He never looked there — but neither did I after I chose that as my hiding place!

Now I have an old, black metal, two-door supply cabinet with three shelves inside. It sits in my home office, where I spend most of my day. That’s where I stash gifts. My kids are old enough not to care what’s in there (or maybe they’ve never figured out what I keep in there besides old coloring books and boxes that once held office software), so I don’t lock it. If you have junior detectives in your house, you may want something that you can lock. Do you have a closet, cabinet, or shelf that you can use (and even disguise) as your Christmas storage? A solid color (not clear) plastic storage bin with alid is better than playing hide and seek for your gift stash. Having everything in the same place will save time later.

Now let’s turn our attention to items we can stock in our storage place. Gifts already bought or made are a given; any sewing supplies related to your gifts could be placed there, as well as any recipes that you’ve gathered for making a family cookbook. Maybe you are gathering supplies for making pretty soaps or candles. What else? This month we enjoyed the Easter holiday. What does that have to do with Christmas? Baskets are for sale now at clearance prices! If you want to make gift baskets for Christmas, stock up now. Easter grass is also on clearance and would make nifty packaging material in gift bags or boxes in place of tissue paper. You can also use the grass in clear plastic ornaments - hiding a small gift in the middle. What a pretty and unexpected surprise!

Some items may be readily available now but hard to find in the fall. Canning jars are such an item. One year I wanted to bake jar cakes as Christmas gifts, but I couldn’t find wide-mouth jars for sale anywhere in November! If you want to can homemade food items as gifts or make mix-in-a-jar gifts, now is a good time to pick up a supply of jars and stash them where you can find them. Don’t forget small jars to fill with bath salts or other homemade bath supplies as well.

Do you have a special place where you store your Christmas gifts and craft items? Share it here! This blog is set to post all comments, so feel free to comment, offer advice, or ask questions of your own.