Preparing for The Christmas Holidays: Grace Filled Holidays
Oluseye Ashiru • Luke 10:41–42
Hey Mama! The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes that familiar pressure to make everything picture-perfect. Between finding the right gifts, decorating the house, planning family gatherings, and keeping everyone’s spirits up, Christmas can sometimes feel like a marathon that leaves us feeling more exhausted than joyful. If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by this, you’re definitely not alone!
Let’s take a moment together to breathe and remember that Christmas isn’t about perfection. It’s about celebrating a miraculous moment—God’s gift of Jesus, born into a humble manger, with no fancy decorations, coordinated colors, or Pinterest-worthy setup in sight. When we look at Christmas through this lens, we’re reminded that the season isn’t about how things look but about how we experience them and who we’re spending them with.
Embracing Simplicity
It’s okay if your holiday doesn’t look like a magazine spread or a Hallmark movie. Jesus didn’t come in grand style—He came in the simplest way, into a world that wasn’t ready or dressed up for Him. Christmas reminds us that God works beautifully in simplicity and humility. So, if this season looks a little messy or less “perfect,” that’s okay. Real life is often beautifully imperfect.
When we embrace simplicity, we’re able to slow down and actually enjoy the moment. Instead of stressing over the “to-dos” and “must-haves,” let’s focus on being present. Christmas is about connection—with God, with our families, and with our communities. Sometimes, letting go of one or two things on our list opens up space for spontaneous, heartwarming moments with our kids or quiet reflection for ourselves.
Try This: Pick one holiday task you’re okay with simplifying or even letting go of entirely. Maybe it’s cutting back on the number of decorations, opting for store-bought treats instead of homemade ones, or skipping an event that feels like too much. Use that extra time to create a simple, meaningful moment with your family.
Shifting the Focus from “Perfect” to “Peaceful”
As moms, we often feel like the “keepers of the home.” We want to create a space where everyone feels special, loved, and welcomed. But the truth is, your family doesn’t need everything to be perfect; they need you to be peaceful and present. The beauty of a grace-filled holiday season is that it gives us permission to prioritize peace over perfection.
When we focus on peace, we’re creating an environment where our children can experience the true joy of Christmas—knowing they’re loved and valued just as they are. Instead of worrying about everything being just right, let’s pour our energy into creating warmth, laughter, and joy in our homes.
Scripture to Reflect On: “But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42, NLT).
Jesus’ words to Martha remind us that being present with Him—and with our families—is the best gift we can give. Martha was worried about the details, just like we often are, but Jesus gently reminded her that her presence was more important than the perfect meal or spotless home. This Christmas, let’s choose to be like Mary and treasure the time with our loved ones instead of letting details steal our peace.
Choosing Grace Over Guilt
If you’re like many moms, the holiday season can bring up feelings of guilt. Maybe you’re worried that you’re not doing “enough” or that the Christmas magic isn’t what you’d hoped. But remember, God didn’t send Jesus to a world that was prepared or perfect; He sent Him to a world in need of love, grace, and redemption. When we accept His grace, we can extend that same grace to ourselves.
Your worth as a mom isn’t measured by how perfect the tree looks or how well-planned the holiday festivities are. God delights in your heart and your desire to show His love to your family. If something doesn’t go as planned, give yourself grace. Even if things aren’t picture-perfect, your presence, love, and peace will shine brighter than any holiday lights.
Encouragement: If things feel a bit out of control, take a deep breath and remember that your best is enough. Let’s take this season as an opportunity to practice letting go of perfection and embracing God’s love for us, just as we are.
Finding Small Moments of Rest
Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year, but it’s also a season that invites us to rest in God’s love. With all the busyness, rest might sound impossible, but even small moments can make a difference. Take a few minutes each day to center yourself, whether it’s through a short prayer, a worship song, or just a quiet moment with a cup of tea. These moments can bring a surprising amount of peace and perspective.
Rest is about reconnecting with God and allowing Him to refresh us. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to carry the weight of the season on our own. God is with us, ready to fill us with His peace, strength, and love.
Scripture for Peace: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus calls us to come to Him with our weariness, promising rest for our souls. Let’s carry this promise with us through the season.
Wrapping It Up: A Grace-Filled Season
This Christmas, let’s give ourselves and our families the gift of a grace-filled season. One where peace takes priority over perfection, where we find joy in the simple things, and where we make space for God’s presence. Your family will remember the love and warmth you brought into the home far more than they’ll remember how perfectly everything was arranged.
So, Mama, let’s invite grace into our homes this season. Let’s let go of the perfection, embrace the joy of simplicity, and celebrate the peace and love that Jesus brings. May your holiday be filled with all the things that truly matter—a heart of gratitude, a spirit of peace, and the beautiful, grace-filled love of Christ.
Advent Week 1: The Wait
December 3, 2023 • Oluseye Ashiru • Isaiah 7:14, Luke 2:25–38, James 5:7–8, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:25
As a Christian mom, you've likely experienced the joy and challenge of waiting, especially when your children eagerly anticipate something they've been promised. The constant questioning and restlessness can be exhausting. But have you ever stopped to consider how your own relationship with God is affected by waiting?
This Advent season, let's explore how the art of anticipation can draw your heart closer to Jesus. Just as the Jews waited for the Messiah, and just as you wait for your children's excitement to come to fruition, you, too, are waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled.
Have you ever promised your child something?
You know how it feels to get them coming to you every second, reminding you of the promise you made to them?
I am sure you can relate, as every other parent can.
Or maybe it is a long road trip that takes maybe only a few hours, but may feel like a whole day the way the children keep asking, “are we there yet?”
They can almost wear you out with their incessant checks - “are we there yet?”
We All Struggle with Waiting:
I am not sure I am that much different from my children when I need to wait for anything. In fact, I just may be more terrible at waiting than they are! I absolutely hate waiting for things. My personality does not even help matters, as I just want everything done now and immediately. Later is a word I don't like to hear, and wait is one I equally dread hearing.
This was the exact situation the Jews found themselves in. They had been waiting for many years. Even the prophet Isaiah prophesied about it in Isaiah 7:14. Many years had passed since these promises, and they were probably tired of waiting. Are you also at that point in your life too? Where you are tired of waiting, waiting for a promise God made to you? As the year draws to a close, you are losing hope that maybe this year is no longer your year. Of course, I also have those kinds of expectations where I have been waiting on God for some things He promised me too. I choose to believe that God loves me too much to make me wait for nothing (1 Peter 3:9). God is not slow in keeping His promise, and over the years, I have learned so much in my waiting.
Three Lessons on Anticipation:
1. Anticipation Keeps Me Alert:
Anticipation keeps me alert and expectant. Just like when you order takeout and eagerly await the delivery driver, when I need to wait on God for something, I am alert and expectant. In Luke 2:25-38, we see the story of two lovely characters in the Bible - Anna and Simeon. They lived in active anticipation of the birth of Jesus, waiting eagerly. Their anticipation kept their hearts and souls stirred up (James 5:7-8).
2. Anticipation Keeps My Heart Stayed on Jesus:
In my waiting season, anticipation keeps me close so I can hear what God has to say about the fulfillment of His promise to me (Jeremiah 29:11). As we get our hearts ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us learn from those who have gone ahead of us in the Bible.
3. Anticipation Helps Me Build Resilience:
Anticipation helps me build resilience, patience, and endurance (Romans 8:25). When we wait for what we don't see, we are able to wait for it with patience. The more I learn to wait well, the better for me. I need to learn to wait with joy. Maybe you are like me with some rough edges around your heart; anticipation may be God's tool for smoothing out some rough edges in your life (James 1:2-8 MSG).
Let anticipation be a tool that God can use to shape your heart in this season. As we enter this Advent season, let's reflect on the anticipation of those who waited for the Messiah, and may your anticipation draw your heart even closer to Jesus. End it with a prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of anticipation and the waiting season. Help us, as Christian moms, to embrace the lessons of anticipation, to keep our hearts and souls stirred up, to keep our focus on Jesus, and to build resilience, patience, and endurance. As we wait for the fulfillment of your promises, may our hearts draw closer to your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Advent Week 2: The Visitation
December 10, 2023 • Oluseye Ashiru • Psalm 46:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Matthew 18:3, 1 Chronicles 16:11
Have you ever listened to someone sharing their stories of divine encounters and wondered if those moments were reserved for a select few? It's easy to feel a tinge of envy when hearing about God-moments, those times when the divine seems to touch everyday life. But here's the good news: God is not limited to extraordinary circumstances or select individuals. He can and does reach us in the midst of our ordinary, everyday lives.
Can God Reach You Too?
It's a question that often crosses our minds. Can God reach someone like me, a busy mom trying to juggle the demands of motherhood, work, and life in general? The answer is a resounding yes. God's love and grace know no bounds, and His presence can be found in the most ordinary moments. We don't need to wait for a grand, life-altering event to experience His visitation.
Three Keys to Enjoying God Encounters:
In this blog post, we'll explore three essential elements that can help you invite and recognize God's presence in your everyday life. Let's delve into these keys and accompany them with relevant Scriptures to guide our journey.
1. Awareness:
The first step to experiencing God's visitation in the ordinary is being aware. Cultivate a mindset of openness and attentiveness to the world around you. In doing so, you'll start noticing God's hand in the small things, those everyday moments that may have previously gone unnoticed.
Psalm 46:10 (NIV) -
"Be still, and know that I am God."
2. Gratitude:
A heart filled with gratitude is receptive to God's presence. By recognizing and giving thanks for the blessings, both big and small, you open the door to experiencing more of His grace. It's often in the act of thanksgiving that we feel God's love and His nearness.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
3. Simplicity:
Sometimes, we overcomplicate our spiritual journeys. But God can be found in simplicity. Embrace the beauty of the everyday. Engage in moments of quiet reflection, prayer, or meditation. Simplicity allows you to find God without the need for elaborate rituals or grand gestures.
Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
"And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
As we continue our Advent journey, let's remember that God's visitation knows no boundaries. He can and will reach you in your everyday life as a mother. All it takes is awareness, gratitude, and simplicity. Whether it's in the laughter of your children, the warmth of a hug, or the quiet of the night, God's presence can be felt in the ordinary moments.
Don't let the busyness of life blind you to the divine encounters waiting to happen. Embrace the joy of knowing that God is with you, always, even in the most ordinary moments. Your life as a mom is a sacred journey, filled with opportunities to encounter the divine.
So, let's keep our hearts open and our eyes keen as we journey through this Advent season. God is there, in the everyday. It's up to us to find Him.
"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually." (1 Chronicles 16:11, ESV)
May your ordinary moments be filled with the extraordinary presence of God.
Advent Week 3: The Ultimate Gift
December 17, 2023 • Oluseye Ashiru • Luke 2:11
"And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." - Luke 2:11
As we journey through the Advent season, our hearts are drawn to the ultimate gift of all, the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a time of reflection and anticipation, a season filled with the spirit of giving. And as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, let's consider the ultimate gift we can offer in return—deploying the precious gifts that God has placed within us for His divine purpose.
The Ultimate Gift: Your God-Given Gold
The ultimate gift you can give is to take all the precious gold that God has bestowed upon you, refine it, and offer it back to God by deploying it for the benefit of those around you. It's about using your unique talents, skills, and abilities to extend God's rule here on earth. But this gift often goes unopened, hidden away or left unrefined.
Are You Hiding Your Gold?
What are you doing with the treasure that God has given you? Are you keeping your talents hidden, afraid of what others might think or say? Do you find yourself consumed by the challenges of life or complacent in your comfort zone, failing to use the gifts that God has entrusted to you?
Your gift back to God is the ultimate expression of gratitude for Jesus coming to the earth for you. It's a way of saying, "Thank you for the ultimate gift of salvation." So, how can you ensure that you harness the gold within you and give it back to God?
Three Steps to Deploy Your Gifts for God's Use
1. Self-Reflection: Start by taking a moment to reflect on your unique gifts and talents. What are you passionate about? What brings you joy and fulfillment? These are often clues to the gifts God has placed within you. It's crucial to identify and acknowledge these talents.
2. Prayer and Discernment: Seek God's guidance in prayer. Ask Him to show you how you can use your gifts to serve others and extend His rule on earth. Through prayer and reflection, you'll gain clarity about the specific ways you can deploy your talents for His glory.
3. Action: The final step is taking action. Don't let fear or complacency hold you back. Start using your gifts in practical ways to impact the lives of those around you. Whether it's through acts of kindness, volunteering, or using your talents in your community, begin the journey of deploying your God-given gold.
This Advent season, let's not only celebrate the birth of Christ but also honor Him by using the precious gifts He has given us for His glory. Deploying your gifts is the ultimate gift you can offer in return for the gift of salvation. It's a way of participating in God's plan and extending His rule on earth.
So, as we continue our Advent journey, let's remember that each of us possesses unique and valuable gifts. These gifts are meant to be shared, refined, and used for the benefit of others and the glory of God.
Heavenly Father,
We come before you with hearts full of gratitude for the ultimate gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. As we celebrate His birth during this Advent season, help us to recognize and deploy the precious gifts you have entrusted to us.
Grant us the wisdom to identify our unique talents and the courage to use them for your glory. May we not hide these gifts out of fear or complacency, but instead, refine and deploy them to serve others and extend your rule on earth.
Guide us in self-reflection, prayer, and action, so that we may be faithful stewards of the gold you've placed within us. Thank you for the gift of your Son and for the privilege of participating in your divine plan.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
