Merry CHRISTmas
And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.Luke 2:7
Even just last year just saying Happy Holidays was no big deal. I've said it my fair share of times. In my opinion, saying happy holidays covers Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. But this year, everyone is making a big deal out of it. Taking Christ out of Christmas is like taking the cream out of the Oreo. It's not any good and it wouldn't be an oreo without the cream. Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas. You have heard the cliche Jesus is the Reason for the Season. It's so very true. Christ's birth was prophesied years before in Isaiah. Isaiah said that the Messiah would be coming. It's even prophesied that Bethlehem would be the place where He would be born. I think that the story of Christ's birth is one of the coolest around. Every year we read Luke 2 just to remember that one special night when our Savior was born. Did you know this? Christ really wasn't born on Dec 25. He was probably born some other time maybe in the spring. We have just set aside that day to observe it. But what has become of Dec. 25? It's become so self oriented with people wanting people to buy them certain gifts. I myself have even made out my Christmas list. Sometimes, I wonder why I even deserve a Christmas.
Recently, our youth group went to Charlotte, NC to go and prepare the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas child. That one shoebox that a child receives will be the only gift he gets that year. Man, here I am asking for a digital camera, movies, money and there will be millions of kids around the world who may get just a shoebox full of coloring books, legos, dolls, and whatever can fit in that little tiny box. Humbles me and makes me thankful for what I do have.
Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love to decorate the Christmas tree, get presents for my friends and family, see all the wonderful musicals at my church, hear all those great Christmas songs, get in the car and go look at all the lights, go into the mall and just watch all the busy shoppers go by, and spend time with my family. Most importantly I love to look back at that night when my Savior was born. If I had been the only one in the world he would have come for me because He loves me that much. I still don't understand why years later he hung on that cross and died for my sings. The best part of all is that He is alive again. He is Risen! He is Risen INDEED!!
So this Christmas, stop and remember why you celebrate. Is it because you love to get gifts, go to all the wonderful Christmas parties, see all the lights around the house, or watch the shoppers with their packages. Hopefully for you it is all of that but so much more as you remember that Christ is the reason for the season. Remember to tell everyone Merry CHRISTmas.
Even just last year just saying Happy Holidays was no big deal. I've said it my fair share of times. In my opinion, saying happy holidays covers Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. But this year, everyone is making a big deal out of it. Taking Christ out of Christmas is like taking the cream out of the Oreo. It's not any good and it wouldn't be an oreo without the cream. Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas. You have heard the cliche Jesus is the Reason for the Season. It's so very true. Christ's birth was prophesied years before in Isaiah. Isaiah said that the Messiah would be coming. It's even prophesied that Bethlehem would be the place where He would be born. I think that the story of Christ's birth is one of the coolest around. Every year we read Luke 2 just to remember that one special night when our Savior was born. Did you know this? Christ really wasn't born on Dec 25. He was probably born some other time maybe in the spring. We have just set aside that day to observe it. But what has become of Dec. 25? It's become so self oriented with people wanting people to buy them certain gifts. I myself have even made out my Christmas list. Sometimes, I wonder why I even deserve a Christmas.
Recently, our youth group went to Charlotte, NC to go and prepare the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas child. That one shoebox that a child receives will be the only gift he gets that year. Man, here I am asking for a digital camera, movies, money and there will be millions of kids around the world who may get just a shoebox full of coloring books, legos, dolls, and whatever can fit in that little tiny box. Humbles me and makes me thankful for what I do have.
Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love to decorate the Christmas tree, get presents for my friends and family, see all the wonderful musicals at my church, hear all those great Christmas songs, get in the car and go look at all the lights, go into the mall and just watch all the busy shoppers go by, and spend time with my family. Most importantly I love to look back at that night when my Savior was born. If I had been the only one in the world he would have come for me because He loves me that much. I still don't understand why years later he hung on that cross and died for my sings. The best part of all is that He is alive again. He is Risen! He is Risen INDEED!!
So this Christmas, stop and remember why you celebrate. Is it because you love to get gifts, go to all the wonderful Christmas parties, see all the lights around the house, or watch the shoppers with their packages. Hopefully for you it is all of that but so much more as you remember that Christ is the reason for the season. Remember to tell everyone Merry CHRISTmas.