With a bit of preparation and forethought, your Christmas celebration can be both simple and meaningful. Small details, like the ones here, go a long way in creating a home full of peace and joy.

We love the idea of handmade gifts for friends and family. Inspired by this season's lacy fashions, we pressed the delicate fabric into soft clay to produce graceful designs. These simple DIY projects let you create custom keepsakes and joyous gifts that will be used for years to come.

This holiday season give to others. Here are some ideas.

Corporate parties, family get-togethers and other holiday gatherings mean lots of festive food and cocktails that can put a damper on even the most-seasoned dieter’s efforts. By taking a different approach this season, you can enjoy your favorite foods.

The radical changes and new status we gain at the moment of salvation are not often understood. The simple act of believing in Christ changes more than we comprehend or can truly appreciate. It literally changes our eternity. Read these truths to transform your mind (see Romans 12:1, 2).

Activities to celebrate cool days and colorful vistas of fall.

Release the desire to control your own life and you will finally be able to breathe with ease.

Grow herbs indoors on your kitchen counter or anywhere with good drainage, ample light and reasonable air circulation. Snip the fresh flavor-enhancers for dishes or preserve them for later.

You don’t have to make a grand sweeping change to start impacting your life for the better. Focus on micro goals with clear and easy steps and let the results snowball. As you strive for progress rather than perfection, ask God for wisdom and guidance.

When the world’s troubles and sins overwhelm you, look to God for the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Typically, we think of hymns as belonging to a formal worship service—they’re church songs. But the truth is that hymns are for everyday life. The words and tunes provide a way to strengthen our relationship with God. Singing hymns is a way to draw close to the Lord as the words direct our thoughts and minds to Him. As you learn hymns, you’ll discover that some are a perfect fit for specific situations in life. They’re a prescription that can lighten burdens, bring peace to stress, stir joy in pain and lift our souls to heaven as we sing praises to God. Check out these hymns to help build your faith.

After years of suffering constant bleeding the woman reached out and touched Jesus’ robe believing she would be healed, and she was. Jesus responded, “Daughter, your faith has made you well ...” (Mark 5:34). God is the same today as He was then and His grace is sufficient for your needs. You can have strong faith—if you choose.

Jesus’ promise for a rested soul comes through a close connection to Him and His ways. In Matthew 11:28–30 He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (ESV).

Do you ever get so excited about payday that a few days later you find yourself wondering: Wait, didn’t I just get paid? Where did my entire paycheck go? If so, you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way! You can master your income. And it’s a lot simpler than you might think.