Introduction: Do you have good memories of CHRISTmas? Perhaps most of us do. But how can we continue to build good memories? Here are some suggestions:

1. Take time to SLOW DOWN your busy pace. (Matt 6:25-34)

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? …..O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Simply put. Put the brakes on some things during this time.

2. Be deliberate in building UP your RELATIONSHIPS. (Col 3:8-14)

“8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man…
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

Relationships are more important than rules.

3. Watch OUT for unresolved conflicts. (Heb 12:15)

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

Be quick to forgive.

4. Stay FOCUSED on our Lord’s will. (Phil 3:10-14)

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Walking in the Spirit of prayer gives us a clear vision of our Lord’s will.

6. CREATE an atmosphere of unconditional LOVE. (1John 3:14)

“14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.

Without the love of God, we are tinkling cymbals.