It’s the holiday season and guess who’s coming to the family dinner? It may be one of your least favorite family members because of previous conflicts. It may be that family member you were avoiding because of personal reasons. What if the conflicted person everyone else is avoiding is you? In this blog, I will share my top tips for reducing family conflicts during the holiday season so you can experience more peace, love, joy and happiness.

Tip #1- Reach out before you meet up. It can be beneficial to have a conversation with the person in conflict with before the family meet up. Romans 12:18 states, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (NIV). If someone has offended you, be the one to reach out by using this simple script. You can say, “I care for you and our relationship. When this ____ was done/said, it really hurt/offended me. I wanted us to use this opportunity to talk about it even though I have chosen to forgive you for hurting/offen...

Are you a thankful person? Are you a thankful spouse? Are you a thankful parent? Did you know that you can be intentional about being thankful? What does the bible say about being thankful and how is this connected to hopefulness? Let’s get started with a few well known verses.

“In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1Thess 5:18).

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col 3:15). 

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col 3:17).

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Col. 4:2).

Just by reading these verses, you will quickly agree that thankfulness is important to God. However, what many do not always understand is how thankfulness is connected to hopefulness. Hence, a thankful heart is a hopeful heart. 

Hope is a critical component in everyone’...