www.creativeladiesministry.com

[overwhelmed]

Greetings,
The holiday season has gotten me down already.
I should not feel this way.
Too much going on, and not enough time or money to do anything.
I have parties I'm supposed to host.
I have family coming in from all over (at least 4 different states)
Some will be staying at my home some in hotels.
I have been asked to have Christmas Eve dinner at my home.
I have birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, and Christmas gifts to buy.
I don't have any extra money.
I don't know where any of these funds are coming from.
I am being serious. I have $25.00 in my purse and nothing extra in my bank account.
The relavtives coming are already paying for plane tickets, gas money, car rentals and some of them hotels, I cannot ask them to pay for food while they are here.
I will feel awful if I cannot give them a gift - some of them have little ones.
We don't do this often, as a matter of fact, it's been at least 15 years since we've all been together, so I can't blow this off, it is important to everyone.
The majority of them coming are not Christians.
I am really at my wits end.
My children realize there won't be presents this year. One of them, the oldest says "Christmas is not about presents" and is much more understanding than the younger ones who are seeming to resent the family and other things at this point.
I just wish all these things would not go on all at the same time.
I have gotten so overwhelmed.
I didn't know until a couple of months ago that all this was going to happen and the family would be coming here.
I have tried and tried to pray over this and be faithful and trusting.
I don't think I'm doing a very good job.
Because it comes down to just a few short weeks away and I still don't know how I'm going to feed anyone or how I am going to get gifts for anyone or how I can even entertain small groups when I have to have just dessert and drinks ready for them. Plates napkins and etc. seem to be such an expense when you don't have the money.
Please pray for me and give me some advice.
Overwhelmed

[jodi]

Is it possible for the family to pitch in toward the expense of the food and paper goods and such? If my family were all getting together we would not burden the hostess with all of the expense. This sounds like a family reunion and I wouldn't think that anyone would expect one person to foot the whole cost. At our family reunion we pass a collection plate to cover the overhead. Maybe you can split things up? One family member can buy paper plates, another napkins, another can provide a side dish, etc.
You mentioned you have been asked to host this. Let the person that asked you know you are glad to host but need help with the cost or that you need help with supplies.
Sorry you are overwhelmed. It kind of takes away from what should be a great time of year. Hopefully the Lord will guide you through this time of year and you will come through it having experienced His provision. That happened to us one year - my first daughter was born Nov 24. I was the only breadwinner at the time (my husband was in Bible College) and obviously stopped working with the arrival of a new baby. By the time my husband found a job that would work with his schedule and received his first paycheck, we had gone 8 weeks without a paycheck. Christmas was quite lean that year but it was amazing how the Lord provided for us in that time. He sent money from places I would have never imagined. It taught me a valuable lession in trusting Him, Jehovah Jireh.
_________________
Jodi
Jer 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

[preachywife]

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.

My prayer for you is to NOT get caught up in the WORLDS meaning of CHRISTMAS.. You mention that the rest of those that are coming to YOUR home are NOT Christian people. But I hear in that, that YOU ARE, CORRECT ? If this is to be true, then YOU know the TRUE meaning of what CHRISTMAS is all about and what a blessed thing that this gathering of those YOU love are coming to YOUR home where YOU can take the lead in SHOWING FORTH CHRIST to all YOUR family. PRAY and ask GOD to show you ways to entertain to your family the true meaning of Christmas. After all, HE is a FREE gift to us if ONLY we but accept it. DO you have wrapping paper? Get empty boxes enough for each one coming, and wrap the box. EMPTY.. make a tag and place on it a personal note from YOUR heart. Filled with LOVE, and KISSES and MEMORIES. Things that are from around YOUR home that others have so admired. DO you have an imagination? Put it to use for Christ. If Your home is the HOsted Place, ask each one to bring ONE thing from the Menu.. Make a menu, then LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING and like YOU have put much effort into this, asking each one to bring a portion of that menu. Pie, Drinks, Tators, Ham ext. THere is NOTHING wrong with that~! Surround them with the lOVE of GOD. after all is there any better gift to give those around us?! Read the CHristmas story to your little ones. I firmly believe as we seek and serve GOD, he opens the heavens and Rains a Blessing upon us so much that we can NOT even contain it all. HOLD YOUR FAITH. I speak all this from Experience. My heart was overwhelmed. And I promise you it will be the best Christmas any there will ever remember. GOOD Luck and GOD bless you with a restoration of YOUR JOY!
preachywife

[ladoty]

I am so sorry you are overwhelmed by all of the holiday hussle. Christmas is a time to reflect on the birth of our Savior. Share this with your family. It's the greatest gift they will ever receive and it's free. If you feel you have to give a gift, I have a suggestion. Spend some time alone and think about each person you want to give a gift to, what is there about the person that gives you joy? What special memory do you have of that person? Take time and write them a letter and share your special thoughts with them. They will appreciate the time and effort you put into this. Do you have pictures of the people coming? Let your children help you make a memory page for each of them. You can print off pictures from the computer to enhance the page. Another idea is a journal or blessing jar. Take an empty jar and wrap it with tissue paper and place questions in the jar for them to answer and write down, or write or print (from your computer) some verses from the Bible about blessings. There are lots of things you can do that don't cost a lot and still would be special gifts.
_________________
If God brought you to it, he can bring you through it!
Blessings,
Dolly

[Guest]

Happy New Year Ladie.
I took much of your advice. The most, prayer and showing the Love of Christ to my family. This page could not contain the blessings God POURED out on us this Christmas! I had MORE than enough to share and I can't even tell you how or where it came from except that is was GOD!
I was able to share the Love of God with my fmaily, they heard the plan of salvation plane and clear and saw the love of Christ overflowing from my husband and children and myself. God provided everything NEEDED.
We didn't have an overabundance of gifts, just something simple for the little ones and let the big folks know how the gift of being together meant so much more. It was a blessed Christmas! Yes, one of the BEST ever!
Even with no money, but lots of love and all becuase of JESUS! Thanks for your prayers, and I'm ashamed to now say how overwhelmed I was to begin with! Just have faith! HE WILL PROVIDE!

[creativ4]

Hello Guest,

Thanks for reminding us how God is faithful So glad to hear how everything went. That's so exciting that you were able to share the plan of salvation. I will pray that it will bear much fruit.

Our Christmas was good too and we really enjoyed spending time with family.

Hope you are having a great start to your New Year as well.
_________________
Creative Ladies Ministry
https://www.creativeladiesministry.com
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