Stop the insanity, Christmas! December 21, 2009
Stop the insanity, Christmas!
I absolutely love Christmas time. Nothing like sitting in the dark around a lit Christmas tree, driving around looking at Christmas lights. Getting all inspired by going to church and hearing the Christmas story again, sometimes in a new light. Spending time with family and friends, going to Christmas parties. The magic of Christmas is so special. It can be a wonderful feeling but it can also be a very emotional time.
Then add in the other side of Christmas. The dark side. It seems like it is always a struggle in our world of light and dark, good and evil. This is a time of year especially that we miss those who are no long with us, the one that made our Christmas’s so bright and we wonder how we can go on without out. What we would do just to have another Christmas with them. Also for the family are friends that aren’t close enough to us to enjoy this time of year with. Then you have the commercialization of Christmas. Every where you go, stores are packed, lines are long, people are grumpy having to deal with it. It’s just too much. Then you have the financial issues. It cost quite a bit to celebrate the commercialized Christmas. If you have children you want to get them what’s on that Santa’s list, then all the family, then you never know who might stop by so you better get those extra gifts as a just in case measure. Oh wait, that all takes money, and if you don’t have the money at the time, what do you do, credit cards (I am convinced that industry is fueled by the devil, but that will be an upcoming devotional). Then when those bills come due, the depression starts all over. We have just commercialize Christmas so much and that is the dark side of it.
I’m saying all of that to remind us a few things:
John 3:16
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
I just wanted to send you a few verses today to help us remember what is really important about Christmas and not to stress ourselves out on the fact we might be alone or having 35 people to our house for Christmas. That we don’t have the money to get what we would really like to buy for Christmas or we realize that we bought way to much for our ungrateful family. Or how will we pay our bills in January because of all of this. None of this really matters, what does matter is that this is the Celebration of the Birth of Jesus, and remember what each part of his story means to us. God delivered to Mary and Joseph, the promised virgin birth in a time that his people were so desperate and beat down by their world. God made good on his promise and that perfect child was born in a nasty stable, which is another promise for us that no matter how bad things are we always have God’s perfect love. The dark side couldn’t win out and hurt Jesus, he was protected by angels in that little stable, just like God protect us and wants us to turn to him. God sent his angels to spread the good news of the birth. His angels are still among us and we are his workers on earth to keep spreading the good news of Jesus. People from near and far brought gifts to the baby Jesus. As we give our gifts to one another this Christmas, remember that you too have a gift to give to Jesus, you can serve him and learn more about him to help others. Remember the true Christmas spirit. Yes, it is ok to celebrate this commercial Christmas but just remember the real meaning, teach it to our family and friends. Don’t allow the dark side to take away the joy and promise of Christmas.
Well, Almighty Chicks, Here is my gift to you, a prayer. I pray that you all will feel the love and comfort of God during this Christmas Season. No matter what your emotions are, please keep the promise of God’s perfect love in your heart and don’t let anything get you down. Pass along your Christmas gift of God’s love to someone else. Don’t keep it wrapped up in a pretty box and just let it set.
Keep your head up, faith strong and make every minute count. Lot’s of love, AMY!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
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