Dear Saints,

As we move into the holiday season and the winter, developing a plan to stay blessed and godly instead of succumbing to the seasonal doldrums (a time of listlessness or despondency) is wise. A few suggestions to consider are to stay physically fit, push yourself to get out of the house and attend a fellowship, keep your head in the Scriptures, and get involved helping and serving someone.

When the weather is cold, we are less likely to exercise, and when you add in all the holiday overeating, the tendency is to gain weight and become lethargic. When we exercise and stay in fit condition, we feel better physically and mentally. Exercise releases good chemicals in our brain that offset depression and sadness. Park in the back of the parking lot, and walk to the store. Let the other people have the good spots. Walk up the stairs rather than use the escalator; join a gym, and go.

Dress warm, get out of the house, and attend fellowship where you will hear God’s Word, pray with believers, and interact with the family of God. We have great home fellowships that are available for you to attend many nights of the week. Sunday morning church or fellowship may be harder in the winter, but you will get much more from attending as you give more effort to do so.

Arrange your day so that you have time to be in the Scriptures every day. Make a plan to read sections of the Scriptures through the winter. See if you can read the entire New Testament or all the prophets…. We have so many very good classes available in our bookstore or on our website that you can enjoy this winter, so get your calendar and make a plan to listen to His Story: God’s purpose of the Ages, the James class, Revelation, Isaiah, or the 500 Years.

People always need help, but winter seems to be a time when more help is needed. Pray and ask God for someone you can serve the bread of life, and look for opportunity to witness, teach, and help in some loving way. Perhaps you can volunteer to help at the church or a city mission or hospital. Ask God to direct you to help another person in some way that provides a sure way to get outside of yourself and stay blessed and godly.

The greatest way of all to keep your head in the right place is to make a special effort to meditate on the Scriptures that speak to you about your heavenly Father, then praise and thank Him.

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

Romans 8:5-6

Be thankful!