Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. I love the decorations, the music, the hustle and bustle and the joyous feeling that seems to be everywhere. I especially love the family traditions we have established with our family. My family is so important to me and I love the closeness our family shares.
But this time of year can also be very hectic. We have been so busy lately with choir concerts, school activities, my preschoolers program and Jeremy's daily rehearsals for the upcoming Beauty and the Beast musical. The busyness has caused me to think about a couple of things.
Most of the world celebrates the birth of Jesus at Christmas. If your like me though, the C of C world has not celebrated His birth at Christmas because no one really knows the exact day He was born. And we have sometimes done that to the extreme. At this stage of my life and hopefully much more mature stage of my life, the precise day of Jesus' birth is not my main concern. The fact that He Was born is! I am more concerned, actually very thankful, that at least at Christmas, the rest of the world is acknowledging Christ and talking about His birth. The "day" we celebrate His birth is not as important as making sure we "Are" celebrating His birth and more importantly, His resurrection.
We have sometimes been so concerned with not celebrating His birth on Christmas, that we don't celebrate it at all. We don't celebrate Jesus' birth on Christmas, but are we celebrating it at any other time? I have grown to believe that Christmas is an opportunity. People are more open to Christ at Christmas than perhaps at any other time of the year. We should be celebrating that opportunity. The fact that Jesus was born is reason to celebrate! What day we choose to do it is really irrelevant.
We get so busy with the Christmas rush, that I'm afraid those of us who are Christians may sometimes put Jesus on the back burner while the rest of the world is celebrating His birth. We should take Him off the back burner and get on fire with the rest of the world.
The world offers the saying, "Jesus is the reason for the season". Jesus is the reason for Every Season! So I say, Let's Celebrate!! And Merry Christmas to All!!
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Praying with New Partners
2 months ago
8 comments:
This is test. There have been some problems posting today.
Liz,
This is a test of the emergency broadcast...nevermind.
It was so good to see you and Chris Tuesday night. I loved your post and you are so right. So many people in the CofC say all the time, "Jesus wasn't born on December 25th!" I know that, you know that, everybody knows that. I have often asked/said the same thing you have. If this is not a time to celebrate His birth then when is a good time? We have taken this to an extreme. We need to seize the opportunity while people are focused on Jesus.
By the way, I am not so sure about the "more mature" comment you made. I'll think that one over and get back to you! I love you!
Lizabeth,
I think I broke the code. I've sent you about nine responses this week and have been rejected everytime.
So, for now, I'm showing up on your doorstep. All my thoughts have left me, but my joy of being found is thrilling!
I love you today!
This is a test from the front door!
Ahhhh, I'm back!
Yeah Terry!!! I'm so glad you are back!!!
I love you today!
This is good Liz. I personally get more and more disgusted with the worldly application of Christmas. I don't care about people having Christmas trees and shopping etc. But I do not want my kids growing up thinking it is about "what I get!"
If it were up to me, we'd buy our kids 3 gifts--one representing murr, silver and gold--and we would tell all of our relatives and close friends--that anything left over--we will be giving the poor and those without. Of course, my wife is not quite there yet.. :)
The other thought I have, is that I believe in using what the world has made Christmas as a tool for evangelism. While I believe we should have Christmas spirit year round (living like Jesus), we can use the holiday season to show kindness to many people who may be more receptive to that kindness and build relationships that may produce fruit down the road.
Blessings,
Bruce Archer
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