Merry Christmas!
It has taken me a long time to get past the “bah humbug syndrome “. It use to be my favorite time of the year when the kids were small. All the hustle and bustle and cutting down the real tree every year. Darrell and I started a tradition of buying a small tree to plant every Christmas but we moved and downsized about 10 years ago and we have no space to plant anymore. I guess with changes to traditions and no family close I didn’t even want to decorate. Guess what this year we put up a tree. I know I always have access to joy, no matter what life looks like when I know God, because GOD IS JOY!
I’m making this a season of joy! So a few years back I started a new tradition. We get together for food and games with a group of friends that are in the same boat we are, no family close.I try and share some of the joy God has shared with me. It has grown to about 14 people in my almost 1200 foot square house. No one seems to mind the closeness. Many adults have misplaced their priorities when it comes to this time of year. Everyone pitches in and it fills my heart to have the house full of laughter. Christmas is a beautiful story about how God came to earth as a baby and lived among us.Why would He want anything to do with the messy world we live in? But God does live here in the mess. We like to think of Christmas as this beautiful scene, but really it was a stinking barn, with a pregnant teenager, isolation and exclusion. Life is a mess, but Jesus entered the mess to save us from our sins and provide us a way to Heaven. So instead of getting all stressed out during the Holidays go out and be The Light in the World. Be the Body of Christ. Share Him this Christmas. He is the reason for the Season BUT should be the reason all the time.
Christmas is the time to pause, ponder, and praise the gift of Jesus. We now just share his love with others. Christmas is promoted and marketed to buy “stuff” you think will bring happiness to others. Regardless of what we spend there’s an enemy dedicated to destroying and stealing our joy. Gifts are not the only way to bring joy. Let’s set our hope on God, the only reliable source of joy. God’s plan is different from the world’s and is more fulfilling. So my celebration this year will be centered around the Savior. The most lasting and memorable of gifts are those of true love and appreciation. Celebrating with gratitude is a great way to bring joy into our lives this Christmas.
Jesus joined people at feasts because He wanted them to join Him in Heaven. Having Christmas- one marked with joy and peace- is a way to find Jesus’ secret to joy. I’m going to make this one a season of joy.
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