When did Christmas disappear? Or rather, when did we lose Christmas? What happened to simplicity and meaning? Now, we spend all our time watching holiday movies, lighting exteriors with more illumination than our neighbors, buying the most expensive present we can afford (or not), decorating every empty space – despite visibility, mindlessly singing anything resembling a seasonal tune, and sending out the newest family photo – smiling through painstaking tears caused by pressure to choose just the right outfit and to convince young and old alike we are happy. Gone are the days of live evergreens, cut down from the depth of woods in higher elevations and decorated with red ribbon and a treetop star. Today’s Christmas tree is conveniently found at the local store with all its non-living, no needle dropping, pre-lit grandeur.
What would happen to the way we viewed Christmas if we stepped back from what the world has made it and lived it as the experience it was meant to be? Christmas is first and foremost, a birthday celebration. It is the day set aside to remember Christ’s unusual, beautiful, humble, and perfect entrance into our world. It is His day and amazingly, He shares it with us. Gift giving is precious, making its receiver feel special and loved. God sent His Son into this world to save us, so that our sins would not permanently separate us from Him. God is Holy. He is just and righteous. He is Light, perfection beaming from His presence. In our sinful bodies, we are not worthy to approach Him. We are not able to come into His inner circle, so to speak. But, … oh how I’ve come to love that word, but – He loves us so much that God in his infinite wisdom and planning, put into motion a way for us to not only step inside that circle, but to remain there for all eternity. He sent Himself, in pure perfection, physical form to be the answer. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, lived sinlessly and loved unconditionally, taking the punishment of our sins upon Himself as He hung, nailed to timber in the shape of a cross and died. Our sins, my sins - my lying, selfishness, unholy thoughts were the driving force behind His willing decision to take my place at death’s door. He died so that I might live, so that we all might live with God - forever. Christ died and Christ rose three days later, conquering even death and proving once again, in case we are still unbelieving, that He is God. This is the ultimate gift, the gift of salvation, the gift that if we accept, asking forgiveness of those sins and proclaiming He is Lord, makes us not only feel but know we are special and loved undeservingly, unconditionally, and without comparison.
Rejoicing in the ultimate Gift is priority, leading to lovingly giving to others at Christmastime. Giving in greed, out of an inner desire to show the other person up is not called giving. That is called taking – taking from the receiver his Oh wow, this means so much moment so the giver receives her moment of hearing Oh wow, that’s impressive. I’ll have to step up my game next year. The gift then, is about the giver, not the receiver. Salvation is a gift that is all about the receiver! It is given because of the receiver. God does not need salvation. We do. It is for us and our moment of Oh wow! This truly means so much, God. How can I ever repay You? And thankfully, His moment is not about trying to outdo others or impressing us. His moment is one of quiet explanation. You can’t repay Me. It’s not a matter of repayment. It’s a matter of acceptance.
This year, if only in my imagination, I want to strive to see Christmas as an experience. I have no doubt I will continue watching my favorite holiday movies while eating chocolate covered popcorn and trying to bake goodies because that’s what you’re supposed to do at this time of year. And I am well aware I live nowhere near deep woods in the middle of a mountainous area, surrounded by freshly grown Frasier Firs and that I have children who see the extravagant lights on houses and caroling, whether in true form or in some modern twist, as tradition. But, … there it is again – but in my mind, I choose to experience my Savior’s birth by celebrating His day with a simple tree, and Away In A Manger humming sweetly in the background while wrapping handmade presents by candlelight with my loved ones.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16
Thanks for stopping by! ;)
What would happen to the way we viewed Christmas if we stepped back from what the world has made it and lived it as the experience it was meant to be? Christmas is first and foremost, a birthday celebration. It is the day set aside to remember Christ’s unusual, beautiful, humble, and perfect entrance into our world. It is His day and amazingly, He shares it with us. Gift giving is precious, making its receiver feel special and loved. God sent His Son into this world to save us, so that our sins would not permanently separate us from Him. God is Holy. He is just and righteous. He is Light, perfection beaming from His presence. In our sinful bodies, we are not worthy to approach Him. We are not able to come into His inner circle, so to speak. But, … oh how I’ve come to love that word, but – He loves us so much that God in his infinite wisdom and planning, put into motion a way for us to not only step inside that circle, but to remain there for all eternity. He sent Himself, in pure perfection, physical form to be the answer. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, lived sinlessly and loved unconditionally, taking the punishment of our sins upon Himself as He hung, nailed to timber in the shape of a cross and died. Our sins, my sins - my lying, selfishness, unholy thoughts were the driving force behind His willing decision to take my place at death’s door. He died so that I might live, so that we all might live with God - forever. Christ died and Christ rose three days later, conquering even death and proving once again, in case we are still unbelieving, that He is God. This is the ultimate gift, the gift of salvation, the gift that if we accept, asking forgiveness of those sins and proclaiming He is Lord, makes us not only feel but know we are special and loved undeservingly, unconditionally, and without comparison.
Rejoicing in the ultimate Gift is priority, leading to lovingly giving to others at Christmastime. Giving in greed, out of an inner desire to show the other person up is not called giving. That is called taking – taking from the receiver his Oh wow, this means so much moment so the giver receives her moment of hearing Oh wow, that’s impressive. I’ll have to step up my game next year. The gift then, is about the giver, not the receiver. Salvation is a gift that is all about the receiver! It is given because of the receiver. God does not need salvation. We do. It is for us and our moment of Oh wow! This truly means so much, God. How can I ever repay You? And thankfully, His moment is not about trying to outdo others or impressing us. His moment is one of quiet explanation. You can’t repay Me. It’s not a matter of repayment. It’s a matter of acceptance.
This year, if only in my imagination, I want to strive to see Christmas as an experience. I have no doubt I will continue watching my favorite holiday movies while eating chocolate covered popcorn and trying to bake goodies because that’s what you’re supposed to do at this time of year. And I am well aware I live nowhere near deep woods in the middle of a mountainous area, surrounded by freshly grown Frasier Firs and that I have children who see the extravagant lights on houses and caroling, whether in true form or in some modern twist, as tradition. But, … there it is again – but in my mind, I choose to experience my Savior’s birth by celebrating His day with a simple tree, and Away In A Manger humming sweetly in the background while wrapping handmade presents by candlelight with my loved ones.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16
Thanks for stopping by! ;)