#dinnertimedive

This Christmas season, we invite you in to real conversation. Slow down, be present, and see the people around you. Ask them heartfelt and thoughtful questions, intentionally engage in conversation, and stop to actually listen to their response!

Explore Sharing Joy

What are ways we can share joy?

Do you have an ornament or decoration from your Christmas tree you can share with a family member or friend? Write the date and a note on it with a sharpie. Give it away.

As you put your decorations away let your mind wander. Who does the Holy Spirit bring to mind? Reach out with a text or a phone call.

As you take a walk to work off the extra calories you’ve consumed, pray out loud in the name of Jesus for your neighbor.

Ask a friend or family member, “What brings you joy?”.

This Christmas season, we invite you in to real conversation. Slow down, be present, and see the people around you. Ask them heartfelt and thoughtful questions, intentionally engage in conversation, and stop to actually listen to their response!

Explore Simplicity

What would it look like to enjoy the simple things?

Turn off all the lights and sound except for the Christmas tree lights and lay on the floor underneath the tree.

Sing every Christmas song you know. Twice.

Make a paper or popcorn chain, or a gingerbread house.

This Christmas season, we invite you in to real conversation. Slow down, be present, and see the people around you. Ask them heartfelt and thoughtful questions, intentionally engage in conversation, and stop to actually listen to their response!

Explore Thoughtful Giving

Ask your family and friends, “What is your love language?” Gift Giving, Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Physical Touch.

How does knowing someone’s love language determine the type of gift you give?

How can you be creative in your gift giving?

What type gift is the most fun for you to give?

This Christmas season, we invite you in to real conversation. Slow down, be present, and see the people around you. Ask them heartfelt and thoughtful questions, intentionally engage in conversation, and stop to actually listen to their response!

Explore Thinking Outside the 21st Century Christmas

Imagine what it was like for the people of Bethlehem at the time Jesus was born:

What do you think they did for entertainment? What Christmas activity do you like?

Consider the types of animals in the barn area around the manger and the smells that would bring. What are your favorite smells of Christmas?

What do you think they ate at a normal dinner? What are a few of your favorite Christmas eats?

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8

As we launch into the Christmas season, make a point to identify those you are grateful for and to express your gratitude for what they have done in your life.

Hand-write a personal letter or card to a person and mail it through snail mail.

Visit a person who you are grateful for to express your gratitude in person.

Have your children draw a picture or make a craft for a teacher or other person who makes a difference in their lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  Psalm 34:8

At your Thanksgiving meal, ask your family to identify the different ingredients that make up the food you are eating.  

How did the ingredients get from farm to table? (Farmer, harvesters, packers, truckers, stockers, cashiers, cook, server)

Compare farming to discipleship (plants a seed, tends it with water, sunlight, food, protects it from harm, stakes or supports when needed, harvests when ready, shares with others.)

Identify the blessings given to you by God to allow you to have the meal and talk about why we celebrate Thanksgiving.

At some point during the meal, have everyone read one or two of the strips your family has been gathering in your gratitude jar and pray together thanking God for giving you all of these blessings and people.

“Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” Colossians 3:15-17 MSG

How can we make our homes and hearts inviting to others? Challenge your family to step out and cultivate kindness to share the blessings God has given you.

How can you bless your neighbors? Can you offer to help rake leaves or bring them a plate of cookies? If you don’t know them, can you find a creative way to introduce your family to them?  

Invite someone who may be lonely to join your family for a meal. Find a way to build community in your home and make sure God is invited.

Make a big batch of Blessings Mix to share with neighbors or friends.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

All of us have moments of negativity and need to be reminded not to complain or whine. Sometimes we need new eyes to help us see the blessings in our lives.

Identify an “Attitude Accomplice” in your life. Ask what they see in your life that is a blessing, and ask them to help keep you accountable if you start to complain.

Identify those who are less fortunate than your family. Pray for them and find a way as a family to be Jesus to them through service, donations, supporting a missionary, etc.

 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:8-10

Ask your family what tough things have happened to you in the past year and how you have reacted to them. Talk about what blessings you can find in the hard times.