How can we have peace in the chaos of Christmas? We pay attention to the danger of busyness, which leads to anxiety, pride, and division. We adjust our expectations of others. We must be honest about our priorities. And we must remember that we are never alone or forgotten.

How do we have extraordinary love this Christmas season? Extraordinary love lets go of bitterness, listens carefully to God's wisdom, recognizes there is only one name that saves, obeys immediately and completely, and sacrifices personal desires and agenda.

How do we find real joy this Christmas season? We realize that the light of Jesus is for everyone. We are not surprised when people are indifferent to or intimidated by Jesus. We worship what is true, use our gifts to honor God, and walk in a new direction.

How can we be truly grateful this Thanksgiving? We must remember: There is nothing we can do that will ever stop God from loving us. The faithful love of the Lord protects us when we are fearful, guides us when we are lost, and strengthens us when we are weak.

How can we have an attitude of praise and thanksgiving? We connect with God's people, meditate on God's works, and rejoice in God's character. God is our gracious, merciful, powerful, just, good, trustworthy, generous, holy provider. That's why we respond with gratitude.

How can we have gratitude in our darkest hour? We celebrate God's goodness, knowing we lack nothing and we are filled with the joy of the Lord. We call on God's power, knowing He frees us from fear and saves us from trouble. We desire God's peace by speaking well of others and doing good to others.

How do we prepare for the end times? We must know the signs, prepare to live somewhere forever, place our hope in Jesus, not in man, and focus on relationships.

Courage is not an act; it is a habit. What are the essentials to developing a lifestyle of courage? Reject jealousy, choose integrity, live prayerfully, and trust God always. We cannot control the outcome, but we can choose to surrender control to God.

In a culture of compromise, people fail to recognize the warning signs of God. If we want to stand firm, we must learn from the sins of others, honor the holiness of God, and realize the brevity of life. The writing is on the wall: If we don't get our lives in balance, we will lose what matters most. Stand firm.

What can we learn from the life of King Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4 of Daniel? A life of pride leads to a life of chaos ... when I rely on what I have, give myself the credit, and focus on what is temporary. But a life of humility leads to a life of sanity ... when I look up to heaven, acknowledge that God's ways are always right, and exalt Jesus as the King.