I Wish You Enough

I Wish You Enough
By Dagmar Schoenrock

This holiday season, I remember back to an incident that happened a couple of years ago. I had invited a number of guests to my home for a holiday season potluck lunch. The night before, I spent the evening cleaning up to make sure that everything was presentable for my guests. I checked that there were enough empty hangers for coats in the entrance-way closet, checked that the powder room had enough toilet paper, tissues and guest towels, and most importantly that I prepared enough soup for number of expected guests at the potluck.

I awoke the next morning with the excitement of hosting a get together in my home and quickly checked e-mails and Facebook for messages before setting things up. There was one message after another...
"Sorry. I had a change of plans and can't make it."

"My daughter woke up with a fever, so I won't be able to attend."

"My Mom was taken to the emergency department and she needs someone to be with her."

"I don't have access to a vehicle today."

"Oh my gosh, the potluck is today? I completely forgot."

I rechecked my guest list and realized that only one person was still confirmed to attend. Despite this, I showered and got dressed up in my holiday outfit, just as though everyone were attending. My guest arrived a few minutes late and said "Do I have the right date?" I laughed, told her of the other cancellations, and responded that at least we'll have enough to eat.

We had a delightful visit, sharing stories from our past and deepening our connection to one another. After our potluck lunch for two, my guest gave me a big, warm hug and thanked me for my time spent with her. I felt very blessed to have spent the time with her as well, for I believe that we never seem to have enough time to give someone our undivided attention. Spending time in this way is one of the nicest gifts you can ever hope to give and receive.

With the holidays just around the corner, I wish you enough good weather to allow you to travel to visit family and friends, enough time to share your love and laughter with your loved ones, enough good food to be passed around the table, and enough rest and sleep to see through this busy time of year. For the holiday season and beyond, I simply wish you enough.

One last thought: If you feel that you have enough material things in your life and are looking to give gifts from the heart, I encourage you to consider a "Couples Reconnection" for you and a loved one. When booking your sessions before December 24th, you will receive a $100 discount. http://mrsgreenjeansplantsseeds.com/couples-reconnections/

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Post Holiday Credit and Budget Checklist

Post Holiday Credit and Budget Checklist
By Michael Zuren PhD.

Now that the gifts are unwrapped, carols sung, and the tree and decorations have been put away, it's time to check your credit and create a budget to pay off the holiday debt. During the holidays households typically use their credit cards at a multitude of stores as well as to make on-line purchases. Just remember, the more times you use your credit card(s), the greater the opportunity for identity theft to occur. Below is a list of steps that can be taken to check your credit and create a budget to pay back the debt racked up over the holidays.

• Request a free copy of your credit report from each of the 3 main credit agencies (TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax). Credit reports can be requested online from annualcreditreport.com. You are legally entitled to one free credit report yearly from each credit agency.

• Thoroughly review the credit report(s) for any errors or discrepancies. You can request the credit bureau correct any errors or dispute any derogatory or inaccurate accounts. If the creditor who put the derogatory credit on your credit report cannot provide evidence that you owe the debt, it should be removed from your report.

• To create your budget, you will need to collect your pay stubs, bank statements, insurance bills, utility bills, and any other documentation that shows your monthly expenses.

• Determine your monthly income after taxes. If you receive a salary or hourly rate and work 40 hours every week this will be simple, if you receive commission or your income varies week by week you may want to take an average of your last year's income to create your budget.

• To create your monthly budget use a software program or write out your budget on a worksheet. Break down your income and expenses line by line to give you a better picture of where your money is going and where you can cut expenses and save money. Account for your mortgage payment first in your budget. Try to budget no more than a third (33.3%) of your gross income on rent. Your gross income is before taxes, whereas net income is how much you make after taxes, or your take-home pay.

• Adjust your expenses, if necessary. Total your income and expenses -- hopefully, you'll find that your income is higher. If so, decide what to do with your extra income, whether it's putting more money into savings or paying off a credit card. If your expenses are higher, decide which expenses you can lower or eliminate.

You have now successfully checked your credit and created a budget. Review your budget each month to see if you have stayed on track and make changes as necessary. As your income or expenses change, be sure to adjust your budget accordingly. The goal is to spend less than you earn. It is also a good idea to review your tri-merged credit report (Transunion, Equifax, & Experian) semi-annually to check for errors and identity theft.

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Leave the Past Behind

Leave the Past Behind
By Linda Hancock

It is always very tempting at the beginning of a new year to think that you can just ignore the past and start over. But life is not like the Christmas decorations that you can just put away and forget about for several months. There are things that need to be dealt with and resolved in order to move on with life in a healthy manner.

Perhaps you have a secret that you have been harboring. You likely live in the fear that someone will find out about it. What a horrible situation - always having to look over your shoulder and never being able to relax!

Maybe you have had a relationship problem that has never been taken care of. You might have to avoid that person and perhaps even their relatives or a group of friends that you had previously shared. Not good!

Do you have money issues and have never developed a plan to resolve them? Are you concerned that a cheque will bounce or your credit card transaction might be rejected? What about savings and retirement? Perhaps you just need some good ideas to help you turn things around.

Have you been ignoring your health? Did you put off having the annual checkup or seeing the dentist? Is exercise something from the very distant past? How about your eating habits? What about those addictions? Do you really think that your body can function at peak performance levels considering how you are treating it?

Let's consider your career. Maybe you have always wanted to be doing something different but just never had the courage or the training to take the leap into your dreamed of occupation. Many people stay in jobs that they don't like for years when it might have only taken a few months or a couple of years to get the certificate they need to open the right door. Even if you really love your job, you might need to learn some new skills or get better at doing certain things.

What is on your wish list that you just never get to? This year I had to remove six people from my Christmas mailing list because they have died. Make sure that you contact the people who are important to you before it is too late to do so. Regrets come from putting things off for too long.

Are you facing personal issues that you wish would go away? Learning how to be assertive, developing strategies to manage stress or figuring out how to set and reach goals can make a big difference in your life. What would you like to learn in the next year?

Is your environment packed full of "stuff"? Perhaps you need to start getting rid of things or organizing what you have into practical systems.

Yes, we have twelve months ahead of us and how we live them will largely depend on the choices we make. Hang onto the good memories of the past but don't expect the problems to just go away on their own.

Today is probably the very best time you will have to schedule an appointment with a psychologist who can help you to deal with the things from the past that are holding you back.

Make it a truly Happy New Year!

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://lindahancock.com

From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker

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Unusual Christmas Traditions

Unusual Christmas Traditions
By Andrew A. Francis

Christmas is often the season of lights and frivolity, and a big jolly man in red. But in some countries, there is a darker side to this festival in the depths of winter. If you are of a Gothic disposition, or simply fed up of all the meaningless enforced jollity, here are five suggestions of countries to travel to whose festive traditions you might appreciate:

Finland:

For the Finnish, Christmas time is the season to remember the dead. It is a tradition on Christmas Eve for families to head down to the graveyard after mass and chill out for a time with their deceased relatives. They will eat porridge by the graveside, and the one who finds the almond hidden therein must sing a song. It may seem ghoulish to some to eat lunch in a graveyard, but really it is a celebration of the lives of those who have passed on - a truly meaningful ceremony.

Austria:

In Austria, beware the Krampus! Throughout the country, at Christmas markets and in town centres, young men will dress up as demon-like creatures and will brandish cow bells and rods, scaring everyone they come across. Krampus is the Christmas devil, the flip side of St. Nicholas, who will punish those who have been bad over the course of the following year. Krampus is known in several Alpine regions, and he is said to drag particularly naughty children off into the black forest!

Norway:

If you are visiting Norway this Christmas, be sure not to leave any brooms lying about. On Christmas eve, witches and other spirits roam the skies causing mischief, and they will take advantage of any brooms or mops left lying around as a means of transportation. Be sure not to aid them in their devilment!

Denmark:

In Denmark, on Christmas Eve, be sure to leave out a bowl of porridge or rice pudding for Nisse, a bad little elf, who will sometimes play pranks, or even steal presents, or worse. Tales tell of Nisse's who have killed livestock on a farm or even severely beaten someone! Make sure to appease these little household guardians, however, and they will give you gifts, much like Santa Claus.

Catalonia:

Catalonians seem to have an obsession with the scatological! In amongst the beauty of the wide nativity scenes frequently depicted in this region there is a strange figure to be found - the Caganer - a person defectating. He is a popular addition to large nativity scenes, and children are often tasked with finding him. In a similar vein, bizarrely, children also beat a log, called the Caga ti� - pooping log - which will poop out candy and nuts.

Wherever you travel in Europe you are likely to come across strange and often ancient Christmas traditions, so be sure to chat with locals and get a true sense of the beliefs of the place you are visiting. The diversity of the celebrations to be found in different countries are a sure antidote for the homogeneous sameness of the modern commercially packaged Christmas.

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Christmas - A King Is Born

Christmas - A King Is Born
By Ngozi Nwoke

A King Is Born

Praise God! Another opportunity to celebrate the wisdom of God again: the birth of the Saviour of the world. Christ is the wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:10-11, 13-14 NKJV)

A king is born (Matthew 2:2), not just a king but also a king-maker. Jesus made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:10). He is the king of kings.

Jesus Christ was born not only to save us, but also to make us reign on Earth as kings and to stand in the office of the priests, interceding for men.. What an honour! What a privilege! Our celebration knows no bound. The Lord's birth connotes victory on every side.

The season calls for praises and dances, singing with instruments making joyful songs unto God. No wonder the three wise men brought gifts to the baby, worshipping Him (Matthew 2:11) and the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God (Luke 2:20). A king is born!

So, know that you are a king and a priest unto God because of Jesus Christ. Think it, talk it and act it, because as He is so are you on earth ( 1 John 4:17).

The birth of Jesus is the birth of your victory over all assaults of the enemy. The celebration of Christ's birth is the celebration of the birth of your victory, and the end of defeats in your life. Praise God, you reign over challenges! Hallelujah!

Furthermore, the birth of Christ calls for the priest in you. God is looking for who to stand in the gap that men may be saved and not be consumed. He has found you and I worthy to stand in that gap and intercede, just like our saviour is still interceding for us in heaven (Hebrews 7:25). When you pray things happen, the enemy is pushed further away and the will of God prevails. And when you don't pray, you give the enemy an upper hand. That will not be the case again in Jesus name.

You are a king and a priest, and you reign on earth. Arise and take your place, for victory is yours. A king is born that you may reign too. Praise God! Praise Jesus!

Compliments of the season.

Grace and peace of God be unto you.

Ngozi Nwoke is a teacher, speaker and a counselor. She has a passion to teach people how to enjoy peace, God's love and christian living for more fulfilling life. Want more fulfilling life? Subscribe for free email updates today. http://stepswithgod.com

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