Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love all aspects of it; the decorations, gift giving, all the food and just the fact that people seam to be more cheerful and kinder to each other. However, a few years ago I felt so strangled by the hustle and bustle of the season, that I felt like I had totally missed the boat on the true meaning of the seasons. As a young, Christian mother, I didn't want my kids to grow up with a superficial view of the holidays. In my honest opinion, you cannot have Christmas, without Christ.

In my search to better prepare for the holidays, I stumbled across OrganizedChristmas.Com. I fell in love with all planning and discussion groups. I am not an organized person by nature, though I try to/dream of being one. When time rolled around for me to host our women's bible study at church, I really wanted to share with them what I had been learning about preparing for the holidays. So I decided to incorporate the Christmas Countdown into a bible study.

I started of by taking the Christmas study from the bible. I chose Luke, chapter 2, because I feel it's the most complete story. I have a copy in my notebook. After this, I took CEO's Weekly Themes and rewrote theme with a spiritual twists.

GET ORGANIZED WEEK: Decide and pray about what you want Christmas to be like this year. Start your card and gift giving lists.

REALITY CHECK WEEK: Read the Story of the Birth of Christ in Luke, chapter 2. Fill out your Family Values Worksheet. Decide what really important enough to make this Christmas meaningful.

GIFTS AND GIVING WEEK: Try to think of ways you can give of yourself. Think of the needy and lonely who may just need a friend.

GET COOKING WEEK: Thank God that you have enough food to eat. Pray that God will give you the opportunity to minister to someone who is hungry.

DECORATE WEEK: As we began to decorate our homes and take notice of all the pretty decorations the fill the stores and line the streets, take notice of your heart. Is it clean and beautifully decorated in order to celebrate the birth of Christ?

CELEBRATE WEEK: Turn your heart towards God and relax. You're organized and you're in control. Enjoy this wonderful season.