Category: 40 days

Have a “Mary” Christmas

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Many thanks to Clare Cartagena for today’s post. Clare is a member and a mentor of my writing group and a gifted, multipublished writer with her first novel in the works.

Luke 10: 38-40 NIV “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

We anticipate Christmas from a distance differently than as the time draws near. Nothing changes about what the celebration is except our frame of mind. Some would say we lose our minds.

What happens is the “Mary/Martha” syndrome. Martha invited Jesus into her home. What a special day! Everything had to be just right. Of course the meal should show honor befitting the guest. The plans she had, the pressure, the work, everything important, no detail could be overlooked. How quickly a joyous occasion became overwhelming until she not only missed the guest, she fought with her family! Sound familiar?

Mary on the other hand sat at Jesus’ feet drinking up His words, knowing that a meal of some kind would come together when everyone was hungry.

Right now, we can have “Mary” plans. The holiday season is just beginning. Christmas is still far enough away to waken dreams of colored lights, special gifts, baking cookies and spreading joy among friends and family. In not so many weeks, we may wake to a nightmarish Martha feeling that we don’t have enough time to do what absolutely must be done or some loved one will be disappointed. We will struggle with memories not so sweet of family and friends not always dear, of pounds added from too many cookies and wallets depleted from too many gifts.

Say is isn’t so! Can’t we stay at this moment and time; a week before Thanksgiving with its traditional menu, no thinking involved? Stress has not entered the picture yet but maybe, just maybe we can do something today that will guard our tomorrow.

Consider the calm that is upon you now. Hold onto the worship in your heart that compels you to make Christmas special.

Make a commitment to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen to His words. Be willing to let the perfect meal, the perfect table and the perfect gift pass you by. Choose to keep your focus on the One who will bless you and your household as you draw and stay near Him.

Clare Cartagena

Are you expecting?? (40 Day Focus – Day 3)

Posted on by Susan Panzica

.
.
Are you expecting?

Those words could be a thrill or they could strike fear in your heart.

It all depends upon what you are expecting.

2000 years ago, there was an expectation in the land of Israel that the Messiah would be coming (Luke 3:15). For 400 years (twice as long as the United States has existed!), there had been no spoken or written word from God. The prophecies pointed to this time in history as the time when their fulfillment would occur. The anticipation was palpable. How would the Messiah come? Who would He be? Would He meet their expectations?

Flash forward 2000 years. The church calendar recognizes the season before Christmas as Advent (from the Latin word, adventus, meaning “coming”). Traditionally, Advent commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. It is a season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.

As Advent approaches, what are you expecting?

If you were you expecting a season of stress, perhaps this will be the year that those expectations will not be met!

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

As a photographer adjusts the lens of her camera, adjust the lens of your expectations. When the circumstances of your life, the things that are so close – the earthly things – are in crisp focus, everything else is out of focus. But by adjusting our lens, we can bring into crisp focus the things of God – the things above. Then the things of earth are not so defined. We can still see them; we know they are there, but they no longer are our focus. When we seek Him, we will find Him. We can find Him in the midst of our circumstances. We can find Him outside of our circumstances. He is never hard to find. If we are looking in the right places.

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before You
and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3





Lord, we are expecting…. We are expecting to sense Your presence over these 40 days. We expect to see You exalted among Your people. We expect to be at peace as we keep our focus on You. Thank you, Jesus!

HOPE… 40 Day Focus 2010 – Day 2

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Today a dear friend went home to be with our Lord. With amazing grace, Pat fought a lengthy battle against cancer and now stands in the presence of Jesus. He provided an example for us to follow in his strong faith and unfailing hope. And now he has finished the race and is experiencing the victory that we all hope to have one day.

When my friend lost her firefighter husband on 9/11, she received stacks of mail from NYC advising her on ways to cope. Ann searched the Scriptures to see what God said about coping, and she found nothing. What she did find was HOPE – the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time… Titus 1:2


We can have hope because God sent His Son to secure our eternity. He didn’t send a politician, a professor, or a preacher. He sent a baby, God incarnate. The angel declared, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” Fully God and fully man, the real good news is that Jesus came not to live, but to die. His sacrifice is the reason for the hope within us.

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us.” Heb. 6:19

Would you pray for Pat’s wife and family and for our church family? I know that over during the holidays, it is especially difficult for those who have lost loved ones. May we keep our focus on the One who bore our griefs and our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4), the One who was born to die (Mk 10:45), the One who plans to give us hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).

 

40 Day Focus 2010 – Day One!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Last night, I saw my first Christmas-lit house of the season. Another time, another year, I would have grumbled “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet! Too early for twinkling lights.”

.
Last year, I well remember the day I uttered “Only 40 more days until Christmas!” It was a joke before it came out of my mouth. It was my mission after.

Throughout history, from Noah to Moses to Jonah to Jesus, God has used 40-day periods to accomplish His purposes. Even in this century, Pastor Rick Warren influenced millions with his 40-day plan, The Purpose Driven Life.
.
Well, 40 days from today is….. Christmas Day! How will your next 40 days be spent? Blessed….. or stressed?
.
We are approaching a period of time that each year is often filled with anxiety rather than peace. This may be a deliberate attempt of the enemy of our souls to distract us from the glorious truth that God came from heaven to earth so that God and sinner could be reconciled.
.
So, believing that God can do amazing things in your life over the next 40 days, I am sharing a challenge with you – that together we can each have a revival in our personal lives and can influence those around us to draw close to God as well.


My desire is not that you get into the Christmas spirit…..
but that you be filled with the Holy Spirit.



As you know, I don’t usually post more than 2 times per week because I don’t want to flood your inbox and because I don’t want to drive my family or myself crazy to write more than that. However, as part of my 2nd annual “40 Day Focus,” I will be posting every day for the next 40 days! Why and how will I do this?
.
Why?
I want to partner together with you in this challenge to use these next 40 days as a time for renewal, restoration and revival. I will share devotions as well as practical tips to redeem this time as preparation for our coming King.
.
How?
Each day I will share either:
– Something old – a previous post of mine
– Something new – a newly written post
– Something borrowed – shared from another writer
– Nothing blue – all posts will be uplifting, motivating, encouraging, useful!
.
So far, 14 fellow writers have joined me to share their wit and wisdom for the next 40 days. I know you’ll be impacted by their gifted prose.
.
Will you join me in the 40 day challenge?
Will you commit to redeeming this time?
Will you let me know so that I can pray for you during this time?
Will you share your insights with me and my readers by leaving a comment.
Will you encourage others to walk this 40 day journey with us?
.
Lord, may those reading this today be encouraged to take this challenge with me and commit the next 40 days to draw closer to You, to not be influenced by the stresses in their world, to be blessed rather than stressed, to redeem this time, to glorify You with their words and their deeds.
.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

40 Day Wrap-up

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Hope that you had a most wonderful Christmas – especially the 40 days from Nov. 15th to Dec. 25th!


I’m grateful to the Lord for giving a new vision for this time of year. As I shared on Nov. 15th, my prayer is that these days, rather than be filled with the Christmas spirit, would be filled with the Holy Spirit. I prayed for you all that you would be led into His presence in a greater way, that the distractions so common at this time would be relegated to the background, and that this time of year would be redeemed for the Lord – in your life personally and across the country, in small measure now, but perhaps building as time goes on.


I did feel less stress and more blessed than in years past. Did you?

Even though it was much more work for me, both in writing and in coordinating the other writers, it kept me in the right focus.


I am so thankful for the guest contributors to Eternity Café. Each woman who shared did so out of her heartfelt desire to bring you closer to God. I invite you to check out their blogs for some great inspiration. And I thank Edie for providing the wonderful 40 Day Focus button. You can check out her blog for great graphic design options.

Joanne Kraft at Blessed


Cheri Bunch at Seven Branches


Laurie Hock


Lynn Mosher at Heading Home


Susan Reinhardt at Christian Writer/Reader Connection 


Jean Matthew Hall at Encouraging Words for Writers


Sonya Thompson at Truth 4 the Journey


Kelly Combs at Chatty Kelly


Susanne Scheppmann  from Proverbs 31 Ministry


Edie Moore at Rich Gifts

Patti Niebojewski


Pastor Janice Rizzo

My prior post was about how since childhood I’ve felt that Dec. 26th is the most anti-climactic day of the year. Maybe it was because of the 40 Day Focus, or maybe I’m just growing up a little, but this year provided a whole new insight regarding that day.


It occurred to me that perhaps Dec. 26th seems so dull because there’s so much hustle and bustle prior to that day, and then the activity level just drops suddenly.


Hmmmmm… I wonder how I’ll feel when God takes me home to heaven after the clamor of this earthly existence. Somehow, I just don’t think it will be anti-climactic at all! Aside from the obvious joy of being in God’s presence, on a purely earthly level, I think I’ll feel relief and peace and release from the never-ending hamster-wheel pace of life.


From now on, I’m going to consider my birthday (Dec. 26th) a little taste of heaven!

Susan

Merry Christmas!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Merry Christmas! May today be blessed as we honor the incarnation of our Lord.

Today’s post is from Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA






“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

The real message of Christmas is not the gifts we give each other. Rather, it is a reminder of the gift that God has given to each of us. It is the only gift that truly keeps on giving, so I want to point out four things about it.

First, it is surprising. When Christmas rolls around, you often try to figure out if certain people have bought that gift you really wanted. Maybe you already know what they bought, because they didn’t hide it very well. Or maybe you uncovered it by accident-or maybe not. But when the day comes and you open the present, you have to pretend you’re surprised. Yet all along, you knew what it was. God’s gift to us, however, was a complete surprise. It was not expected and, as you examine it more carefully, you realize how great a gift it actually was.

Second, God’s gift came to us in the humblest of wrappings. What would you think if you saw a gift under your Christmas tree that was wrapped in newspaper and tied up with string? At first, you would probably assume that a guy wrapped it.

But think about God’s gift to us. Jesus was not born in a palace of gold; He was born in a stable. He was clothed in rags. He was laid in a feeding trough. Yet these things do not, in any way, diminish the story of Christ’s birth. If anything, they help us realize the great sacrifice God made for us. God’s gift to humanity, the ultimate gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, came in the simplest and humblest of wrappings.




Third, we don’t deserve this gift. At Christmas, we give gifts to the people we care about, the ones who have been kind to us over the past year, or the ones who have given us a gift first. We don’t give gifts to the person who has been slandering our name, or to the angry neighbor who never has a kind word to say. Yet God gave us His gift when we were His enemies. He didn’t give this gift to us because we deserved it. In fact, it was just the opposite. The Bible tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NKJV).




Fourth, the gift tells us something about the giver. When you want to give someone a gift, you start thinking about it ahead of time. Hopefully, you try to find what that person wants or needs. When God decided to give us the gift of eternal life, it wasn’t something that He just thought of on the fly. Long before there was a town called Bethlehem, a garden called Eden, or a planet called Earth, a decision was made in eternity that God would send forth His Son, born of a woman, to redeem those who are under the law.

The Bible says that He was slain from the foundation of the world (see Revelation 13:8). Make no mistake about it: this gift that God has given to us was the most sacrificial thing He possibly could have offered.

So Christmas isn’t about those gifts that you have under your tree right now. All of those things will be gone one day. All that will be left after this life is the human soul, and that will live forever. We will put so much stock in what we have, but this is all going to pass away.



Life is about what happens beyond the grave. Life is about knowing the God who made you and who gave you the greatest gift you will ever receive.



Merry Christmas!
 
Susan

What Do You Believe?

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Despite pageants, stories and pictures to the contrary, there is no innkeeper mentioned in Scripture. Luke simply says it this way: “And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)



The image of a cold-hearted scoundrel turning away the holy family is a part of folklore, but not part of the scriptural record.

The “Bethlehem Inn” was not like the Holiday Inns of today. Usually, the first floor of an inn was a stable for the animals owned by the travelers who stayed in the rooms above. There was little privacy at normal times, probably none during the census. The most private area for people would be the “fragrant” space reserved for animals. It was an act of kindness for Mary and Joseph to be allowed to share of corner of the first floor to deliver their Child.

What other images are part of our memory, but have no foundation in Scripture? Do you picture Mary and Joseph traveling alone from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a hugely pregnant Mary astride a donkey, solitary figures in dark silhouette against a blue background? It’s highly unlikely that they would be traveling alone. It wasn’t part of the culture. Bands of robbers roamed the highways. The other family members of Joseph would also need to be in Bethlehem. How about Mary running to see Elizabeth? Again, unlikely that she would be traveling alone from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Speaking of travelers, the magi are often pictured alongside the shepherds in a nativity scene, when they actually arrived up to 2 years after the birth of Jesus.

Those are just a few of the images that inhabit our minds that are not based on truth. The Scripture is silent about some details, and so our ideas are formed by popular culture instead.

But there’s plenty that Scripture is not silent about, and because of our familiarity with the story, we miss important messages. In Acts 17:11, Luke commended the noble character of the people of Berea when he said, “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” I encourage you to search the Scriptures to see if what you believe is really true.  

In your search, you will find nuggets there that will speak directly to your heart, words that you might have skimmed over in the past. I had this experience a few years ago when reading Luke 1. I knew that after her encounter with the angel Gabriel, Mary hurried to see her relative Elizabeth. I knew that when Elizabeth saw Mary, the baby “leaped in her womb”, and Elizabeth declared Mary blessed and herself favored because of Mary’s visit. And then, Mary began her “song”. At least, I thought she did. I totally missed a little statement by Elizabeth that spoke volumes to me 2000 years later. “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Luke 1:45 NLT 

Maybe it was reading in a new translation (something else I recommend), but seeing those words made me realize how blessed I am simply because I believe that God will do what He says. I need nothing else to be blessed. That verse was there all along, but I had skimmed over it for years. 

As you read these 4 chapters (Matt. 1 & 2, Luke 1& 2) this year, in your quiet time or with your family, won’t you ask God to reveal something new to you?

I wrote a poem called “Mary Had A Little Lamb” which concludes:

For God did speak to Mary
And He spoke to Joseph, too.
And if you listen with your heart
God will speak to you!!
May He speak to You anew this Christmas season!
Susan

The Ultimate Gifts

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Since our family is observing the Advent Conspiracy, we’ve been thinking differently about gifts. I shared in my 11/29/2009 post that my children, my husband and I will not be buying gifts for each other this year (other than stocking stuffers). We will be buying “gifts” from World Vision, Samaritans Purse or Touch The World to benefit those in need. We will be contributing to provide clean water, livestock and food for villages, and helping women learn a trade to support their families ravaged by AIDS.


This week, my husband said that the magi gave gifts, but not to each other. The magi’s gifts were given to Jesus. (How did we get the idea that Christmas is about giving gifts to each other on Someone else’s birthday anyway?) Our family’s gifts this year will also be given to Jesus because He said that “whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for Me.” (Matt. 25:40)

What about the gifts that the magi gave? Gold, frankincense and myrrh… The magi didn’t stop in Target or Walmart for these items. It is said that these gifts were not randomly chosen. They each have spiritual meanings:

Gold represents royalty, a symbol of His kingship on earth.

Frankincense is a symbol of priestship. The priests burned incense representing the prayers of God’s people, and Jesus is the great high priest (Hebrews 4:14).


Myrrh is an embalming oil or spice, and as such, represents death. Even at His birth, the reality is that reason He came was to die.


He is the King of kings and most deserving of receiving gold. But we are His children, joint heirs with Christ, a royal priesthood. So what can these gifts represent to us?

If gold represents His and our royalty, what noble qualities is He developing in us? Do we live like paupers, bereft of the riches that He offers us as His children? Are we growing fruit of the Spirit? (Gal. 5:22-23) Do we exhibit the peace that passes understanding, the result of thinking noble thoughts (Phil. 4)? Are we storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? (Matt. 6:19)

The Book of Revelation refers to incense as being the prayers of God’s people ascending to heaven (Rev. 5:8 & 8:4). We are a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9) offering prayers on behalf of others and for ourselves. Our prayers can be hindered due to unconfessed sin or praying outside of His will. But sometimes, what seems like unanswered prayer is really an opportunity for His grace to be sufficient, for us to rely on Him instead of our own strength (2 Cor. 12:9). What about answered prayers? Can you testify about any prayers that God has answered in your life?

Anyone want some myrrh? Want to prepare for burial? The very thought is daunting I know, but there are things that we do need to die to: the deeds of the flesh, the attitudes of the heart, the things that Jesus came to give us victory over. These must be dealt the death blow.

May His gifts be yours this Christmas. May you experience His royal character. May your prayers ascend to heaven unhindered, a fragrant aroma to our King. May He reveal to you the those things that need to be addressed and confessed. And may the gifts that we will give be reflective of our royal relationship with the King.

Susan

Do As The Shepherds Do…

Posted on by Susan Panzica

The shepherds were tending to their flocks…







The shepherds were doing their business, tending to their flocks. They were feeding the sheep, taking them to graze, buying their food, shearing them, keeping them safe, doing many the same things that we do to take care of our flocks.

Right now, you are probably buying food for your family’s daily needs as well as the holiday dinners and parties you’ll be hosting or attending, buying gifts, cleaning and decorating your home, going to work and taking care of business there.


The shepherds were interrupted from their daily routine by a heavenly chorus. Hearing the good news proclaimed from the angels led them to leave their chores and go and worship the King.









So the question is:


What are you tending to?


Are you willing to set it aside to worship the King?

Lord, May we cease our busyness and be about Your business. May we sense Your presence and set aside any activity, even the “godly” ones,  that keeps us from You. Feel free to interrupt us, so that we can worship You. May we be filled with the joy of Your coming, and may we release the stress that depletes us.

Susan

Longest Night – Blue Christmas Service

Posted on by Susan Panzica


Today’s message was written by my dear friend, Patti Niebojewski, at her request. Patti has had more tragedy in her short life than many have in a lifetime, but meeting her, you would never know it. Her spirit is one of hope and encouragement. Last year, alone she attended a Blue Christmas Service on Dec. 21st that changed her life. This year, she is sharing her experience with us.

Needed: rocks or coins, 4 votive candles to light


This day, the winter solstice takes place. According to Wikipedia, “The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradually lengthening nights and shortening days.” In other words, each day’s sunlight will now be increasing and the night will be shortening by one minute each day! That knowledge alone makes me happier!


Susan’s vision of these 40 days included a category of “nothing blue” – all blogposts are to be positive and uplifting. But this date is known as the “Bluest”. I chose to share on this date because this date is normally known as the “longest night of the year,” where much grief, sadness and/or depression are emotions felt by many for many reasons. My prayer and hope is that you will sense God’s presence in your life as He lifts the darkness and pain in your soul and that you will soon find He replaced your soul full of light and joy.


Loss takes its name in many things; a loss of a loved one, a spouse, parent, child, pet, job, dream, money, health, home, marriage, possible memories, relationship and the list goes on.


Burden takes its name in many things; fighting illness and/or disease, financial burden, job stress, lack of job, overwhelming schedule, a need to forgive, a grudge, just to name a few.


What I ask for you to do is to think about all the loss that you have experienced this year and make a list of all these things that pertain to your life. Also add any burdens that you may have and add these to your list.


For each thing on your list, collect a rock or a coin whatever is easiest. Hold onto them until the end. They are your burdens. I will ask you to place this rock or coin on God’s altar to give it to God. Or, you may hold onto your burdens for as long as you need to, and when you are ready, please release them to God. You may see that the weight of these burdens is heavy. As you release them, my prayer is that you will feel lighter and at peace so that you may be able to enjoy the birth of Christ and rejoice with the angels of the ‘great tidings of joy’.


“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.


Please speak out loud:


As Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” How come you do not hear my words or my groaning?


ALL: Dear Heavenly God, my cries are day and night and yet you do not hear me? I cannot rest!






Our forefathers who believed in you had faith in you. They trusted in you and you delivered them.


ALL: You knew me before I was in my mother’s womb. You know the very number of hairs on my head. I am written in the palm of your hand. You are my God.






There is no one to help me and trouble is near. Please stay close Lord.


ALL: I am not alone for you God are with me. Your rod and your staff will comfort me. You will not hide from me but you will shelter me with your everlasting arms, your infinite love and mighty power. When I cry to you God, you hear me. Thank you God!






Please pray with me:


Dear God you are mighty and powerful yet gentle and humble in heart. You are Holy and full of grace. I am not worthy of your love yet you have limited yourself for me. You know me and have searched my heart. You know that my heart is not full of joy, and I confess that I am holding onto my grief, my sadness, and my anger. I do not believe that the angel’s song of ‘great tidings of joy’ is for me. I believe this joy may be for others this year. It is difficult for me to participate in the celebration of your birth. Help me to receive your grace and love. Help me to release to you my grief, my sorrow, and my anger. Forgive me Lord for holding onto it. Forgive me for not realizing that you are walking with me Emmanuel, you travel with me, and you will help carry my burdens. Please restore my soul with light, joy and peace. In His Name, Amen.






The Lighting of the Candles:


We remember as we light the candles:


Candle #1 represents those we loved and lost.


Take the time to remember their names, faces, voices and the memories of them.


Pray: May God’s everlasting love surround them. (Envision them happy in His presence.)






Candle #2 we light to redeem the pain of our loss.


Reflect on the losses that we have listed. Acknowledge the pain of this past year.


Feel it. Now, offer it to God asking him to replace it with peace.


Pray: Lord, take my pain and restore my soul to peace.






Candle #3 we think about ourselves, and all the people who have supported us through our tough times, by prayer and fasting, hugs and kisses, handshakes and pats on the back, financially, dinners, and just stood by us. We are grateful and give thanks to God for them this Christmas season.


Pray: Thank you Lord that the Light outshines and overcomes the darkness.






Candle #4 represents the fire of our faith and the promise of hope that the Christmas story offers to us. The gift from God is the promise that one day we will live with God and he will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away. He is making all things new! Revelations 21:3-5


Pray: We remember God’s gift this Christmas season, the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, the Prince of Peace, the Great Comforter, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Great I Am, worthy to be praised. He is the Word who reveals himself to us in it. Praise, honor and glory be to you Lord Jesus Christ.


May God grant you renewed and continued Peace this Holy Christmas season.


Love, Patti Niebojewski

Dear Lord,
I thank you for speaking to Patti, and using her to speak to us. May you protect her on the journey she’s on and keep her close to You. May you be with those who have suffered loss and won’t be having a cheerful Christmas this year. May Your peace sustain them and give them hope. May the words above lead them to release their burdens to You.

For excellent tips on how to cope with Christmas while grieving, please check out this post by Stacie Ruth Stoelting on Lynn Mosher’s blog Heading Home.

Susan