Operating a successful home-based business is a time-consuming endeavor. This is doubly true as work-at-home moms in that we are responsible not only for the success of our business, but for our family as well. We must be self-reliant, self-motivated, and discipline ourselves in order to attain success in both areas.
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Author: Gordon

We all know that New Year is a time of celebration, a time to join with family and friends to say goodbye to the problems of the past and welcome the fortunes that the future holds. But have you ever wondered why January 1 marks the beginning of the year? Have you ever thought about why we celebrate in the way that we do?

New Years Traditions and Superstitions

There are a number of superstitious traditions that began many years ago that have lost their meaning in present day. Typically these traditions were enacted to influence the luck one would have in the coming year. For example, the New Years Eve parties that we all know and love began due to the belief that what one did on the first day of the year could affect their luck. This is why parties go past midnight and into the new year and it also explains why they involve lots of family and friends.

When the clock strikes midnight it’s common for us to kiss our loved ones and make lots of noise to celebrate the beginning of a new year. While most of us just do this without really thinking about it, there is a superstitious reason behind this. Traditionally, people kissed each other to ensure that the relationship lasted for the rest of the year and they made a lot of noise as they believed it would scare the evil spirits away.

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Eastern Orthodox icon of Saint Nicolas

When my daughter was in grade school, she used to get into heated arguments with her classmates about Santa Claus. She would say “Santa looks and sounds funny, but he is not true. My gifts come from Jesus, not Santa! Jesus gives my dad money to buy the gifts I prayed for!” These statements normally get her into trouble with her classmates. I had my daughter attend the International School in Metro Manila for both grade school and high school so she could avoid secular religion classes. I opted to teach her our faith first hand. And at a very young age, I have always taught her the truths - which sometimes do not conform with the popular practice. But I never regretted this.

How Does Santa fit into a Christian Christmas? Christian and non-Christian alike have heard of him. As children, we imagined the sleigh, decorated with gold and jewels. Small pointy-eared people stuffed dolls, train sets, trucks, and other treats into a bottomless red bag. The sleigh driver is a plump, kindly man sporting white hair and a red outfit, sat at the ready to lead his reindeer team across the night sky in search of deserving girls and boys. I remember not being able to sleep on Christmas Eve, my body filled with nervous energy as I waited for Santa Claus to arrive.
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As Christian men and women, we know the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts. But how many among us proclaim this fact to the world around us? We can ‘gently’ challenge those who would see Christmas as a time for commercialism - and sometimes, greed - by letting our actions speak for themselves.

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by Debbie Przybylski

“Here on earth, Christ as man came to reveal what prayer is. To pray in the name of Christ, we must pray as He prayed on earth, as He taught us to pray, in union with Him, as He now prays in heaven. We must study Him in love and accept Him in faith as our Example, our Teacher, and our Intercessor.”

Jesus has so much to teach us about prayer. He is our example, our teacher and the greatest intercessor throughout all of history. No wonder his disciples called upon Him to teach them to pray. He taught by example, He taught by passion, and He taught by words. The heartbeat of Jesus was for prayer and communion with the Father. Take a moment, be silent and imagine the King of Kings coming into your home and sitting down in your living room. Lean over carefully so as to catch His every word, and ask Him, “Jesus, what are the most important things we must personally learn about prayer? The following are nine lessons that Jesus wants you to personally incorporate into your own prayer life.

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