6th Day of Christmas with Tracie Miles

Do you often have Norman Rockwell-like expectations about the holidays — the decorations, the food, the gifts, the activity — laden schedule, the family get-togethers?

There are many areas where women want to exert control ensuring the perfect yuletide season. What if we learned instead to let go of unrealistic expectations and embrace an “out-of-control” Christmas this year: relaxing and relating in a peaceful manner while letting others offer input and ultimately allowing God to call the shots?

Then join the 9000 women who have gotten my free 5-day resource From Chaos to Calm: The LET. IT. GO. Christmas Challenge?

This challenge will allow Christmas to go from chaos to calm as you learn to control what you should and trust God with what you can’t. The result? Less stressing and more blessing!  Click here for the free sign up.

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Welcome to our 5th annual 12 Days of Christmas giveaways!.

Each day I’ll feature one of my Proverbs 31 sisters offering a recipe, idea or memory and giving away a prize for the day!

Up next?

The fabulous author and speaker:

Tracie Miles

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My maternal grandparents were pillars of faith. Despite the stress and frustration that surely came with raising 10 children on a very low salary, in addition to multiple foster children, they stood firm in their beliefs, and always made God a priority in their life.

As a result of their faith, their Christian legacy stretches for multiple generations, including all their children and their spouses, 20 grandchildren, and so many great grandchildren that I’ve lost count – with every single one being a believer in Jesus.

One of my fondest memories of my grandparents was their Moravian faith and the Moravian star that symbolized their beliefs. They spent the majority of their life in Charlotte, NC, and they and their children attended a small church for many years called Little Church on the Lane. My parents got married at that church; I spent a lifetime going to the Moravian Love Feasts on Christmas Eve;  my mother hung a Moravian star on the front porch every Christmas and still does today; and my husband and I were married at Little Church on the Lane as well.

Although we don’t go back there very often, especially since my grandparents passed away a few years ago, their legacy carries on. Although I have never been a member of a Moravian church myself, the Moravian star will forever hold a special place in my heart.

The star is a popular Christmas decoration in cities and towns in America and Europe, mainly where Moravian congregations exist. It takes its English name from the Moravian church, but in Germany they are known as Herrnhut starts.

The first Moravian star is believed to have originated in the 1830’s at a Moravian Boy’s School in Niesky, Germany, probably as a geometry project, but was soon adopted throughout the Moravian church as a symbol of Advent and the Star of Bethlehem. Yet for me, it also serves as a reminder that we are to do everything we do to the glory of God just as we read in 1 Corinthians 10:31, which says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

If you read up on the history of the Moravians, you will discover that they were devout Christians and it is believed that “there was no distinction between the secular and the sacred, even in their daily activities. Everything was considered worship.”

Lots of stores across the country sell Moravian stars today in all shapes, sizes and colors, even in areas that don’t have many Moravian churches.  But each time I see one hanging in a store, I am reminded of so many wonderful childhood memories, but most importantly, of the birth of Jesus Christ, and that we are all called to live every day worshipping and glorifying Him in all that we do – not just at Christmas time, but all throughout the year.

Now for my giveaway: 

One signed copy of Stressed-Less Living: Finding God’s Peace In Your Chaotic World, one Stressed-Less Living Spiral Bound Companion Journal, Cinnamon Spice Coffee, and a Christmas bell doorknob decoration.

**SPECIAL NOTE: Tracie is running a special Christmas promotion! If you order one or more copies of Stressed-Less Living by midnight on December 24th, you will receive 7 free gifts!  The 7 gifts include 5 videos from her Stress-Less Video series, an MP3 of her speaking message called Staying Afloat In A Sea of Stress, and a 50 page Stressed-Less Living Companion Journal (download) which makes for a great free Christmas gift to accompany the book!  Visit www.stressedlessliving.com and click on the 7 free gifts tab to find out how to claim your free gifts!

To be entered in today’s giveaway, leave a comment telling us what most stresses you out at Christmas.

Remember, you have until Sunday night December 16th to comment on all the posts. One grand prize winner will be chosen from among the gals who post on all 12 days!

What the grand prize is will be announced TOMORROW!!!

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