Did you have a nice Christmas?  I pray you did.  I pray your heart was flooded with a brand new awareness of His love for you and the complete victory that you have in Him.

It’s weird to have Christmas over, don’t you think? 

I remember a Boxing Day several years ago, when I was in high school.  My sister and I awoke unthinkably early to go capture all the good sales.  As we were driving around, waiting for a particular store to open, we switched on the radio.  Christmas music was playing.  My stomach bound itself in knots.  Christmas is over!  I shouted at the radio.  Stop playing Christmas music!  My sister agreed.  For weeks, we’d been inundated with finals in school, Christmas shopping, Christmas get-together after get-together.  We were ready for it to be over.  All we wanted now was a bargain.

Tags: antiques, Christmas, clean desk, day after Christmas, limoges

Today, I’m placing a new stake of celebration into the ground.  In contemplating what really happened on this day so many hundreds of years ago, I gain a surpassing victory.  What I’ve neglected to realize for so many Christmases has robbed me.

Thankfully, whether or not I celebrate this day with the awareness of what really took place 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem doesn’t change what actually did happen.

Christmas is not a day to celebrate the birth of a good man.  Or a good teacher. Or the most compassionate heart that ever lived.  Or an agent of change.  Or a reformer.  Or a revivalist.  Or a miracle worker.  Or a million other things that Jesus was.

Tags: Christmas, true meaning of Christmas

What were your family’s holiday traditions when you were younger?

Tags: Christmas, Christmas traditions

Today is November 25th.  Do you know what that means?

One month until Christmas!

The Christmas season is about to officially begin.  The Christmas commercials are starting to appear here and there.  Hallmark’s starting to play Christmas movies.  I’m getting emails from all my favorite places to shop, inviting me to buy $100 worth of clothes, for which they will give me 25% off.  Yes, our culture is preparing for Christmas as it always does.

Tags: born in a manger, Christmas, countdown to Christmas, Jesus, Mary, Matthew 1:21, one month until Christmas, presents, sales, Saviour, shopping