Every day is an opportunity to show love; however, the holidays can be hectic, and forgetting what is truly important is easy. That’s why we’re launching our “Intentional Christmas Love Challenge” to help us pause and concentrate on love throughout December. Join us for weekly challenges as we remember what matters during this special season of giving.
How Our Intentional Christmas Love Challenge Works
Each Wednesday during December, on Facebook, Instagram, and below, Maree will announce a new challenge to help us focus on love. Follow along, share your stories, and hear from others as we learn to love more like Jesus.
Let’s pause to love God, ourselves, and others this December with #IntentionalChristmasLove. Join us for weekly challenges as we turn our hearts and minds toward love in this special season of giving. #MareeDee #Christmaslove #love Share on XA Personal Reflection
Christmas has always been a challenging time for me to spread love. The hustle and bustle of the season tend to drain my energy, and the sorrow of unmet expectations can resonate loudly. Sometimes, Jesus is unintentionally relegated to the background when the season is supposed to be about Him. Does this ever happen to you?
As December approaches, moving this love challenge to February, when life tends to slow down, often crosses my mind. However, I recognize the crucial need for God’s love this month for us and those around us. After all, a little love can make a significant difference in the world.
What Jesus Emphasized
Jesus was clear when asked about the greatest by his disciples.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV)
Therefore, there’s no better time than December to intentionally focus on loving God, ourselves, and others.
Let’s take this opportunity to express gratitude to God for His indescribable gift and spread love in the spirit of the season.
Let’s take this opportunity to put Jesus at the center of our holiday season and show love to each other.
In I John 4:19, it is said, “We love because He first loved us.” Let’s take the time this December to be mindful of how God’s love has surrounded us and spread that love to everyone we meet.
Join us for Intentional Christmas Love – #IntentionalChristmasLove #MareeDee #Christmaslove #love Share on X
#IntentionalChristmasLove
Please Share Intentional Christmas Love
We encourage you to share our challenge with your friends. The share buttons are at the bottom of this page. Hearing the experiences of others is a fantastic way to inspire us all to love more like Jesus.
This December, let’s pause collectively and intentionally show love to God, ourselves, and others with #IntentionalChristmasLove. #MareeDee #Christmaslove #love Share on XWe eagerly await hearing about your intentional acts of love throughout December.
Our Challenge
Please check back weekly.
Week One
Love the Lord
It’s the first week of December, and it’s time to show some love! Let’s make Jesus the reason for the season and intentionally express our love for Him..
After all, the greatest commandment in the law is to—
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30 ESV)
We know Jesus is the season’s core, but keeping Him at the forefront in a busy month can be difficult. Life’s hurdles seem more formidable, and the to-do lists appear endless. A well-thought-out plan can help us ensure that we don’t overlook the precious gift of Jesus. Do you encounter challenges in demonstrating love to God during December? Why?
A well-thought-out plan can help us ensure that we don’t overlook the precious gift of Jesus. Consider one of these strategies to help you express love to God this week.#IntentionalChristmasLove Share on X♥ Discover the beauty of advent
♥ Write a letter to God expressing your love for Him
♥ Read the Christmas story in all four gospels
♥ Memorize a scripture this week
♥ Give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus.
♥ Set a timer at a specific time of day, and share with God how much you love Him
♥ Each day, write one attribute of God you admire
♥ Thank the Lord for three things daily
💕Challenge
Determine what adjustment you can make to ensure Jesus remains the focal point of the season. Then, choose one new way to express love to God this week. Please share your response in the comments.
Let’s deliberately nurture our love for God this week.
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Week Two
Love Others
It’s no coincidence that God has placed people in our lives to treasure. This week, let’s purposefully express love to those around us. Acts of kindness need not be extravagant; a simple smile in someone’s direction can make a difference. Loving God’s people is our way of expressing gratitude for the extraordinary gift of “Jesus” that He has bestowed upon us.
My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12, NIV)
Perhaps you have come up blank on how to love others. Think about how someone has shown you kindness and how you felt loved. Go ahead and repeat the gesture.
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
♥ Leave a secret gift for someone.
♥ Invite someone to join you in an activity.
♥ Take time to visit with a neighbor.
♥ Send a text or make a call to say hello.
♥ Do an act of service for someone.
♥ Be present.
Make it a habit to seek out opportunities to love those around you. Pray for God to bring someone to mind for you to love each day, then commit to intentionally expressing love. Share your ideas in the comments section and revisit this post to share how you’ve integrated love into the lives of others this week.
💕Challenge:
Write down seven ways to show love to others, and then pray for God to bring someone in mind for you to love each day.
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Week Three
Show Yourself Love
Are you wondering why our focus this week is on self-love? While the Bible emphasizes loving others, neglecting our physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being leaves us with little to offer God and those around us.
Jesus came to give us life – and that means you, too!
Too often, our self-care takes a backseat to the wants and needs of others, leaving us depleted and exhausted. So, we must listen to the flight attendant telling us to put our oxygen mask on first.
Prioritizing self-care leads to wiser decisions grounded in love and compassion rather than guilt or obligation. Plus, taking good care of ourselves sets an example to those around us, promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀:
❤ Treat yourself to a hot bubble bath
❤ Blast some music and dance
❤ Watch a funny movie
❤ Take a stroll around the neighborhood
❤ Practice stillness
❤ Engage in reading
Do whatever brings you joy and relaxation, even for only five minutes daily.
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲:
💕Commit to dedicating time each day this week to self-care.
Please share with us how you will rest and restore this week.
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Week Four
Love the Lost
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿: 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁
This week, let’s look around us, identify someone experiencing loneliness or feeling lost, and offer them love and kindness. This time of year can be especially difficult for those in isolation, but you have the power to illuminate the darkness through a simple smile, a kind word, a thoughtful gift, or just by being present.
Drawing inspiration from Luke 19:10, where it is states
“𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁.” (𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 19:10 𝗡𝗟𝗧)
Here are five suggestions to intentionally love the lost.
❤ Reach out with a call to someone who spent Christmas alone.
❤ Send a heartfelt message to someone who has lost a loved one this year.
❤ Extend an invitation to someone to join you for dinner or a casual catch-up.
❤ Keep goodie bags with essentials like socks and protein bars in your car so you’re prepared to help anyone who may be homeless you encounter.
❤ Dedicate some time to volunteer at a homeless shelter.
Please share any ideas in the comments.
Pause momentarily to pray and ask God to make it obvious who needs your loving touch this week and in the new year. Inquire with him to help you be more aware of those around you who are hurting and to respond.
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲:
💕Commit to intentionally loving someone who is lost or lonely this year. Write down one way you will reach someone lost this week and beyond.
Share your ideas in the comments, and let’s commit to purposefully showing love to someone feeling lonely or lost in the new year. We eagerly anticipate hearing your stories of spreading love!
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