Tag: Dwell Bible app

Christmas in July: Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas During Summer

“Christmas in July” is more than just a humorous reference to early holiday merchandise. According to Hallmark, it’s a genuine mid-year Christmas celebration. The event mirrors the festive spirit of Christmas, but with a summery twist. This includes enjoying outdoor fires, family time, and joyous gatherings. The passage from Isaiah 9:6 is often associated with the birth of Christ, and Handel’s Messiah further popularizes this connection.

Updated June 20, 2025.

I thought “Christmas in July” made a joking reference to the Christmas merchandise appearing in stores during the summer. But according to the folks at Hallmark, who ought to know, it is a holiday in its own right.

On the Hallmark website, they tell us

Christmas in July is your once-a-year chance to celebrate all the things you love about Christmas: the fun, the family, the parties, the cozy fireplaces.

Now, think about all the things you love about summer: the fun, the family, the parties, the cozy firepits.

Replace the inside fires with outside fires and you have Christmas in July, a “Half Christmas” celebration that just makes July jolly.

There is even a rather old movie about Christmas in July available to buy on DVD

And a new Christmas In July movie available to stream on Amazon Prime.

The Christmas Story in July

When I originally wrote this piece, I was listening to the Daily Audio Bible (DAB) Chronologic version and this was the reading for July 13.

For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6, ESV
© 2001 – 2018 CROSSWAY

from the English Standard Bible 

Although Isaiah is in the Old Testament, many Christians believe this passage refers to the birth of Christ, which we celebrate at Christmas, so it is common to hear this verse quoted in sermons and readings.

Lightstock.com, stock photo site ( affiliate link)

George Frideric Handel and Messiah

The best-known use of this scripture for Christmas is in Handel’s Messiah.

George Frideric Handel used this scripture from Isaiah in his famous work, Messiah, first performed in 1742, performed or heard by millions of people since then. Although it’s usually performed at Christmas, Handel wrote it for Easter.

“Messiah is a fixture of the Christmas season. Woe to the concert hall in the United States or Britain that fails to schedule the piece around the holiday.

For many amateur choirs, the work is the heart of their repertoire and the high point of the year.”

HANDEL'S MESSIAH COMPLETE ALBUM ART
HANDEL’S MESSIAH COMPLETE LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (affiliate link)

Handel’s father was a barber-surgeon. Barber-surgeons were physicians in medieval Europe, who as the name suggests performed surgery, often treating wounds from war injuries. Eventually, surgery and barbery became separate occupations.

Exploring the HEART of health

Do you plan for Christmas year-round, wait til the week before, or somewhere between? What does Christmas mean to you and your family?

Thank you for reading this post. Please follow this blog and me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

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Please follow the links below to learn more about Daily Audio Bible and George Handel.

Dr.Aletha 

Another way to listen to the Bible

5 Steps to Manage Stress and Strain

This post reflects on the need for coping mechanisms for life’s stressors, sharing five essential steps to manage stress and strain. These steps include maintaining a routine, seeking social support, focusing on the positive, staying active, and nurturing one’s inner self.

updated October 9, 2026

As a college graduation gift, I gave a friend’s son a bookstore gift certificate. He has earned a mechanical engineering degree and will work as a rocket structural engineer.

He sent me a nice handwritten thank-you note (which few people do these days) and said he plans to use it to buy a book that other structural engineers recommend. The book is Roark’s Formulas for Stress and Strain.

Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain- a book
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a “formula” for handling the stress and strain of life?

Many health issues would resolve or be easier to manage if life stressors would just go away.  Three-fourths of the patients treated by primary care physicians have problems aggravated by emotional, social, or behavioral issues.

No quick fix to stress and strain

Life’s interruptions and disruptions won’t disappear, but you can make them less of a strain on your time, energy, and resources. There’s usually no quick fix but 5 steps can lessen their impact.

I learned the value of these steps when I dealt with the stress of a foot fracture that required surgery to correct and a longer convalescence than I expected. For someone who is used to being active, the prolonged inactivity stressed me both physically and emotionally.

These 5 steps were already part of my life, but consciously choosing them helped me cope with what would otherwise cause frustration and sadness.

5 Steps to Manage Life’s Stress and Strain

 

1. Create and maintain a routine and schedule.

Having a plan for your time helps you feel more in control.  Resist the tendency to become socially isolated or avoid activities you usually enjoy. 

a smartphone lying on a calendar page with a planner and cup of coffee
from Lightstock.com (affiliate) stock photo site

Times of crisis, loss, or illness may leave you feeling disconnected and adrift, but having a schedule provides structure and connection. When you are busy, you are less likely to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. 

2. Identify and reach out to social supports

Your family and friends are your first line of support during times of stress and duress. It’s nice if we don’t have to ask for their support, but their lives are busy too, so don’t be hesitant to ask for help if you need it. If they don’t call you, call them.

2 women talking over coffee with open bibles
Conversation over coffee can be therapeutic. graphic from the Lightstock collection( affiliate link)

Other sources for help include your healthcare professionals;  don’t be embarrassed to share that you need social and emotional support. Your doctor can help you identify and get connected with community resources.

Look for help from your or your spouse’s job, your religious community, organizations you belong to, your school, and online resources for support- educational sites, forums, and support groups.  Although not as personal as face-to-face support, these are helpful if you are physically isolated or mobility is difficult.

3. Focus on the positive rather than the negative.

Choosing the positive in life makes problems less overwhelming and distressing. Look for something to be grateful for, or that brings joy into your day.

It may be as simple as flowers blooming in your yard, your favorite tea and sweet, or a funny story in a magazine.  

balloons-get well IMG_2269.jpg
Balloons are nice, too.

Remembering and observing happy events, occasions, and celebrations can also be sources of renewed joy.

Norma, a woman facing terminal illness, reframed her crisis by finding joy in small things, like jigsaw puzzles, new foods, and a “good perm”. Read more about her at

 

4. Stay active mentally and physically

Physical activity doesn’t have to be a chore, boring, or expensive. You can do many things at home or in your neighborhood, walking, bicycling, cardio, yoga. If exercise isn’t your thing, try dancing, gardening, and swimming. 

If your physical mobility is limited, try something mentally stimulating; sewing, crafts, games, puzzles, writing, and cooking are just a few possibilities.

checkerboard

 

5. Nurture your inner self

woman with hands bowed in prayer

Sometimes we need to withdraw from outward activities and stimulation for times of quiet rest and reflection.

You may find help from mindfulness, meditation, prayer, devotional reading, music, journaling,  or a combination of these approaches.

Breathing exercises can lessen anxiousness and tension.

I use the breathing exercises on my Fitbit App to relax and unwind after a long day.

Many people find using their phones a convenient way to read and meditate on the Bible. And it’s easy to do so with the Dwell Bible App.

With Dwell you can listen to and read the Bible and special devotional offerings for Advent, Lent, and throughout the year.


These affiliate links may help you deal with stress and strain. (At no extra cost to you, purchases through this link help me fund this blog.)

Your Next Step

What are the sources of stress and strain currently in your life?

Pick the most important source of stress in your life. What will you gain by managing this better?

What can you do this week that will get you closer to its resolution? How will you celebrate when you feel less stressed and strained?

You are a smart and resourceful person, and you will find the best answer for your life. Why not start now? I’m cheering you on.

My Reader Rewards Club is a great way to earn free books and Bibles for yourself, friends, and family! Your journey to earning free faith-based products starts HERE.
(When you sign up through these links, I can earn free books too.)

Join my Reader Rewards Club
READ.REVIEW.REDEEM myReader rewards club

As a member, you’ll have access to inspiring literature, Bibles, special promotional offers, and much more. Earning points is easy—you’ll receive 25 points just for signing up!

RoboForm Password Manager.

You’re likely reading this post on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, so you visit sites that require a password. How do you remember them all? You don’t have to if you use RoboForm Password Manager.

a sketch of various electronic devices
RoboForm Everywhere to manage your passwords

My husband introduced me to RoboForm years ago and I am glad he did. I have used it continually to remember my passwords so I don’t have to. It syncs to both my computer and my phone so my passwords are always available. It will even generate passwords for me.

Go to this link to try RoboForm Free; if you like it you can upgrade to RoboForm Everywhere version with all the features I mentioned above. With Roboform, you will have one less thing to feel stressed about.

Help with tech stress

If computer problems cause you stress, you may find help from my husband’s tech blog. He’s a computer guy with years of professional experience and he’s now sharing tips at

a woman's hands typing on a laptop keyboard

Tech Savvy Life

Exploring the HEART of Health

Thank you for reading this post. Please follow this blog and me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha