Throughout the Old Testament, God instructs the Israelites to celebrate annually certain days to remind them what He did for them. I liked the idea of celebrating American holidays with the purpose of honoring the Lord. Therefore, when my children were born, I researched our holidays and was delighted to learn how each one can be used to teach about and remember what God has done for us!
New Year’s
“‘For I know the plans I have for you.’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'” Jeremiah 29:11-13
Welcoming the New Year. What better time than the New Year to remember what God has done and thank Him! What is your favorite tradition? Now consider how you can use it to honor Christ.
Many of us like to reflect on (or in some cases forget about) the previous year. Write down what you learned from good as well as difficult experiences. Note how you saw God at work . If you make resolutions, ask God to lead your commitment. Choose a Bible verse for the year to pray for yourself, spouse, and children. Several years ago, I felt I was missing God’s will for my life somehow. Nothing “I wanted to do” opened up and I felt trapped in “meaningless” endeavors. During our family devotion, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 stood out. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This verse totally transformed my self focus on circumstances to a God focus which transcends everything. I did not realize how self absorbed I had become. I repeatedly prayed this verse and applied it through the year. I researched people like Joseph, Job, and Esther to learn how their character and faith changed in the midst of terrible situations which was of far greater value than final titles, wealth, or restorations. By the end of the year, circumstances had not changed, but the joy of the Lord had. For the first time ever, Paul’s statement about learning to be content in all circumstances rang true instead of eluding me.
If you’re really organized, have family and friends write their verse or prayer for the year on white paper and keep it in a clear jar. Pray for each other throughout the year. When you meet the following New Year, have fun reading the entries and sharing how God answered them as you count down to midnight.
My mother’s family celebrated the New Year by opening the front door at midnight and welcoming Baby New Year. How about opening the front door and welcoming whatever God has in store for you. Welcome the Holy Spirit to do even more in your neighborhood and family. Light sparklers to remember He is the Light of the World and He casts out all darkness. Or make a joyful noise with purchased or homemade English poppers.
Review pictures taken throughout the year. As a family, make a few pages for a scrapbook or online photo journal. It is so fun to share the memories together, many of which you forgot.
Some family friends of ours have a fun tradition of walking to each others’ homes New Year’s Eve for a progressive dinner that ends in a bonfire. What a wonderful opportunity to enjoy God’s blessings, thank Him, share devotions or favorite Bible verses, and end with a glowing fire. Perhaps you want to write down confessions from the past year and cast them in the fire knowing that God is faithful to forgive. Psalm 51, Ephesians 1:7. Wrap up the evening by saying the Lord’s prayer together.
I like to eat New Year’s dinner on glass or acrylic plates. They represent the start of a new year filled with things we cannot see. A clean, clear slate! “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil–this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 4:13.
Valentine’s
“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth–for your love is more delightful than wine.” Song of Songs 1:1
Several stories exist explaining the origin of Valentine’s Day. One is that Valentine was a respected priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. At this time the Emperor was heavily recruiting men to serve as soldiers for his wars without much success. To limit home attachments, he banned marriages. Valentine thought this unfair and secretly married couples which landed him in prison. Other stories state he was imprisoned for helping Christians in general or while in jail, he wrote letters to the jailer’s daughter signed, “From your Valentine.” Through the centuries the holiday became a time to exchange love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.
Whatever the origin, we can celebrate Christ during Valentine’s by sharing love with others. Write notes to family and friends. Leave goody boxes on your neighbors’ porches. Do something fun with the kids like finding the word “Valentine” hidden in John 3:16 on a printable coloring sheet. Make homemade truffles together.
As a couple, read Song of Songs out loud together. Relate the 5 Love Languages to the 5 days or 5 weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. Look for creative date ideas to get out of a rut. Fill a bowl with secret ideas on Valentine’s to select each date night afterward for mysterious fun the rest of the year. Pray together as a couple for your marriage, thanking God for the wonderful gift of a spouse. Proverbs 19:14.
St. Patrick’s
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Scotland around 387 AD. As a teenager, he was captured and brought to Ireland, where he was forced to work as a shepherd. After 6 years, he escaped, went home, and became a priest. St. Patrick felt God wanted him to return to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He converted the Druid people from a nature-worshiping religion to Christianity. An account of his life is told in the movie I Am Patrick produced by CBN films.
This is the perfect holiday to pray for and talk about missions with the family. Get pictures of the missionaries from your church. Pray for them and send a care package or financial support. Become a home missionary by sponsoring a child from Compassion International or another trusted group. Be a community missionary by volunteering in a local shelter or food bank.
Other ways to celebrate are cooking an Irish meal, researching more information about St. Patrick, and reading some of his prayers as a family. The words from his breastplate are especially impacting. Pick a 3 leaf clover in your park or nature area if possible with your children. Explain how the shamrock is a symbol of St. Patrick because it is said he used it to explain the Trinity. Close your celebration with the blessing from Numbers or this Irish proverb:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Resurrection Day or Easter
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen.” Luke 24:5-6
What a wonderful holiday for remembering Christ’s love and sacrifice. You don’t have to look hard for ideas that focus on Christ. Here are a few of our favorites.
Make 12 Disciple Eggs. Dye 11 hard boiled eggs representing the 11 faithful disciples. Empty a 12th egg by pin pricking holes on the top and bottom of the egg and then blowing out the yolk. Then dye it. This is the Judas egg. It demonstrates how without Christ, you are empty, fragile and hollow. Enjoy an egg hunt with these eggs. Resurrection eggs are also fun and you can find instructions for making or purchasing them online.
Enjoy a Seder Meal at a local church or with a Messianic family. These will help you understand the significance of the Last Passover Meal Jesus ate with His disciples. Celebrate communion as a family.
Enjoy a daily family devotional during Passion Week starting with Palm Sunday and finishing with Resurrection Sunday. For example: Palm Sunday, read Luke 19:28-40 and place a leaf in the middle of your dinner table. Monday, read John 13:1-17 and add a hand towel to the middle of your dinner table. Tuesday, read John 13:21-30 and add 3 silver coins or something representing the 30 pieces of silver. Wednesday, read Luke 22:14-22 and add a cup to your centerpiece. This is also a good time to celebrate communion as a family. Thursday, read Luke 22:39-71 and add a small whip to your centerpiece. Good Friday, read Luke 23:26-43 and add a cross and nail to your centerpiece. Saturday, read Luke 23:44-56 and add a stone to your centerpiece. This is also a good day to make something as a family like Resurrection cookies or your favorite Easter recipe along with dying eggs or preparing for your Sunday celebration. Resurrection Sunday, read all of Matthew 28 and remove the collection of items in your centerpiece. Replace them with an Easter lily or something representing your family’s celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Note: we like to light a candle during each Bible reading representing Jesus being the Light of the World. Friday and Saturday, do not light the candle because the Light has gone. Sunday, light the candle again rejoicing in Jesus’ resurrection.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day honors people who died while serving in the US military. It originated after the Civil War and became an official holiday in 1971. As we remember our military, look up verses in the Bible about comfort, honor, courage, peace, and freedom. Look online for verses pertaining to Memorial Day and choose one to memorize as a family. Or look up a verse each week to discuss during a family devotion time. It is hard to understand that there are worse things than death. Reflect on your life. Is there anything you would die for? This is a great time to donate money to veteran organizations, write letters to deployed people, and share your family’s military history.
As Christians, Memorial Day is also a time to remember modern day martyrs. People are tortured, imprisoned, and executed for their faith now. Voice of the Martyrs website shares stories of people suffering for their faith and offers action items to help like praying and writing letters of encouragement. Choose one or more stories to read as a family and then take the next step of action.
Flag Day
“We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.” Psalm 20:5
What do you celebrate in June? Remember Flag Day. You may not get a day off work or school, but Flag Day provides an opportunity to understand our flag and its history. This also prepares you for a more thoughtful and meaningful Independence Day.
Look up the history of the American flag as a family. Watch a great movie or documentary about America, especially its faith leaders, along with your summer picnics. We may know the 50 stars represent the 50 states, but how about white stripes signifying purity and innocence. The red stripes represent hardiness and valor. The color blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Research the proper way to handle and display your flag. It will deepen your respect. Read all the stanzas to The Star Spangled Banner to understand a bit more how faith was woven into our history.
4th of July or Independence Day
2 Corinthians 3:17
Following the American Revolution and subsequent freedom from England, celebrating Independence Day became an immediate American tradition. It is easy to find inspiring stories from the war and about our founders. Look into Revolutionary history for yourself and see what resonates with your family. Share stories of courage and faith during your traditional picnic and parade. Read the Declaration of Independence together and learn about the lives of each signer. Notice how much larger John Hancock’s signature is? There is a reason for that!
Reading entire lyrics of the songs played during fireworks is inspiring, too. They are loaded with faith messages. Consider America the Beautiful (America! America! May God thy gold refine, till all success be nobleness and every gain divine), The Battle Hymn of the Republic (He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat. He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat. Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on), God Bless America (God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above), and The Star Spangled Banner (Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation). Again, the history of the songwriting and songwriters is very interesting and often faith building.
During this time, let’s also remember the freedom we have from sin and death thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Take time to look up verses about freedom in the Bible. Review evangelism tools like The Bridge Diagram or the Roman Road to remind yourself of the price paid for your freedom by the only One who could secure it. Finish this meditation with the song Amazing Grace. This song’s history is wonderful! “Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!” Act on opportunities to share the Good News with others so they can also be free through Christ.
Back to School
Proverbs 4:13
Perhaps this is a stretch, but we enjoy having SOMETHING to celebrate each month. Back to School was fun as a child. Buying clothes and supplies, reconnecting with friends after the long summer break was great! Later, Back to School became something to dread. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13, was more likely the verse to memorize. Whatever the stage your family is in, how can you make Back to School meaningful? If you don’t have children, how can you intentionally be a life long learner? Consider adding importance to this season by looking up verses about wisdom and learning. Choose a new verse to memorize each week. Read a Proverb a day. Study the book of Ecclesiastes. Join or start a Bible study or Christian book club. Choose an activity that is age appropriate for your family and season of life.
Maybe we take school for granted, but in other countries, people long for education. Read stories about children who cannot go to school due to lack of funds, clothing, clean drinking water, or work obligations. Sponsor a child who would otherwise be denied education. Compassion International, Orphan’s Promise, and Samaritan’s Purse are good options. Discuss as a family how to creatively raise funds.
Labor Day
“Come to me…and I will give you rest.” What wonderful words from our Lord Jesus. The image above is of my favorite resting place. It’s high on a hill in my backyard overlooking the yard, then a ravine across the street, and finally the beautiful Sandia Mountains. This area happened by accident. The earth is so sunbaked that nothing grows here. So I spread some mulch, set up a lounge, and promptly forgot about it. Then during a very difficult time of unemployment, with nothing left in the day to do, I went up to the lounge and just sat. I told God that I didn’t even know what to say or pray for anymore. I heard, “Good,” Then His presence came in such an overpowering way that I really was speechless. I felt elation, humility, peace, and perfect care in a way I had not since first committing to Jesus. We then sat in companionable silence for the rest of the afternoon. Now it is one of our regular meeting places.
A few different origin stories surround Labor Day, but we can all thank God for His provision through work and the commandment to rest. As a retailer, Labor Day was just an extra busy work day. As a homemaker, Labor Day was just an extra busy family day. It is only recently that I have appreciated and learned the vital importance of the 4th Commandment and Scripture repeatedly pointing to rest.
I pray you have experienced Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, “… there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work…these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?” Take time today to rejoice in God’s provisions and pray for co workers. If work is not currently enjoyable, ask God what to learn during this difficult time. Look up verses that apply to your situation and start praying them daily.
As for rest, challenge yourself and your family to not pack this day full of activities. Sleep in, enjoy a leisurely walk, do nothing. It can be harder than it sounds and much more restorative to body and soul than imagined. Choose a day of the week to continue this practice of resting, enjoying God’s presence quietly, and enjoying His company.
Halloween
This photo always makes me think of The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. As a child, dressing up for Halloween was one of my favorite things, never mind the candy. As a parent researching its origins, I struggled with finding a Christ honoring way to celebrate. In fact, I lost my desire to celebrate at all. Many of our friends skipped Halloween altogether. We settled with allowing costumes (discouraging scary ones), neighborhood trick or treating, and church harvest celebrations. Perhaps that was compromising. I don’t know.
During the summer, our church taught a series about the armor of God. It was called The Forgotten War. What better time to remember the war we have against spiritual forces of evil than with little ghosts, demons, and witches wandering our streets requesting candy! This holiday is a visual reminder that evil exists even though we don’t always see it. Now with children out of the house and no concerns about ruining their childhood, the holiday can be spent restudying the familiar verses of Ephesians 6:10-18.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Instead of decorating with the usual jack-o-lanterns and spiders, I display a statue of a Roman soldier in full armor. Every piece in place. For children, there are fun posters illustrating this Bible passage. Not to mention, what a cool costume this would be!
Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving Feast is considered to be the one held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and Native Americans after their first harvest. The Pilgrims traveled from England to America, some looking for religious freedom, others looking for freedom in general from a restrictive life. This feast was held outdoors. No building existed big enough to shelter 90+ guests. Roasted turkeys and pumpkins in some form probably did grace the table along with corn, wheat pudding, venison, duck, geese, and swans. A leader of the colony, Edward Winslow, wrote, “And although it be not always so plentiful as it was this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”
We all have our favorite Thanksgiving dishes, but consider researching recipes from the time period and adding one or two to the table. It makes for a fun conversation piece and culinary experience.
It is not hard to celebrate Christ on a day dedicated to Thanksgiving. The internet and holiday books are filled with wonderful ideas for your family to choose from. One thing we do to focus the celebration, as well as extend the eating and visiting, is host a 5 course meal. Don’t tune out yet! It’s easy to prepare ahead of time using the traditional dishes. First, welcome everyone with an inspirational or fun fact about the first Thanksgiving. The Edward Winslow quote works well. Serve soup and salad. Secondly, read Psalm 107:1-9. It expresses a great sentiment for Thanksgiving. Serve appetizers. Third, cleanse the palate with a course of sherbet in ginger ale. Use this time to share what you’re thankful for, enjoy an icebreaker, offer a coloring page or activity for the children, or read excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863. Fourth, read Psalm 100. It’s full of praise. Enjoy the main course! Fifth, dive straight into desert if you like or take time for a walk, play a family game, watch the football game or a favorite holiday movie/cartoon.
Christmas
Photo: Emily De Wett
Like Easter, Christmas points us to Christ in and of itself. Like Easter, it is tempting to be distracted from the primary point of the holiday by worldly additions.
You can enjoy creating a holiday celebration that matches your family interests and locale. In New Mexico, we look forward to luminarias brightening buildings and walkways, Christmas Eve posole or tamales, the lighting of the Old Town tree, and cookies in the shape of chili peppers, roadrunners, cacti, and coyotes. A few activities we personalized as a family to celebrate Jesus’ birth include a weekly advent wreath and Nativity addition, a Christmas box, and stocking stuffers related to the gifts of the Magi.
We decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. We can’t wait any longer and Stan (acting as Santa in the photo above) won’t have it any earlier. In addition to the tree and tiny village, we set out an advent wreath on the table and an empty manger on the entertainment center. 4 Sundays before Christmas we begin. There are traditional advent wreath instructions but we didn’t know any better and came up with our own. The first Sunday, add one lighted candle to the side of the wreath, read Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 9:2-7, add the angel and animals to the manger. O Come, O Come Emmanuel and Crown Him King of Kings go well with this passage. The second Sunday, light two candles for the wreath, read about Mary’s visit with an angel in Luke 1:26-50, add Mary, Joseph, and the donkey to the manger. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Mary did you Know, and Great is Thy Faithfulness go well with this passage. The third Sunday, light three candles for the wreath, read about Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:1-7, add Jesus to the manger. Silent Night, What Child is This, and Joy to the World go well with this passage. The fourth Sunday, light four candles around the wreath, read about the angel’s announcement to the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20, add the shepherds to the manger. Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Come all ye Faithful go well with this passage. Christmas Eve, light four candles around the wreath and add a fifth candle to the center of the wreath, read about the Magi’s visit in Matthew 2:1-12, add the three wise men to the manger. We Three Kings, Isn’t He, and Go Tell it on the Mountain go well with this passage. We also enjoy a church service, special meal, and viewing of The Nativity Story on Christmas Eve.
The Christmas box idea grew from a Nativity calendar. I wanted something a little bigger in which to place toys, movies, books, goodies, and the nativity pieces to usher in the big day. Starting with the first Sunday of advent, we place a wooden box Stan’s grandfather made for us under the tree. It now has pictures of Christmas through the years decoupaged on the lid. Each morning, the boys found one of the things listed above in the box. Sundays they found a candle and nativity pieces for the advent wreath. As they grew, candy and children’s activities were replaced with outing invitations and special interest items. Christmas Eve they found empty stockings ready to hang. This box really helped ease the tension of waiting for the Christmas Day extravaganza and made every day special.
Finally, connecting the stocking stuffers to the Wise Men came from a desire to focus on Jesus and the gifts presented to Him even as He presented Himself as the ultimate gift to mankind. In each stocking, we place chocolate gold coins or money for the gold. Frankincense was represented by fragranced stickers or pencils in early days and body spray in the teen years. Gum or candy represented the myrrh. Additionally, we add an apple representing God’s gift of life, an orange for God’s gift of family, and a candy cane for God’s gift of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. We did not ignore Santa, however. Instead, we found a really good children’s book describing who “Saint Nicholas” really was in history. He gave gifts to others out of his love for Jesus just as we do during this holiday season.
Finding His Footsteps 