: : . Celebrating the Christ of Christmas . : :

BLOGGING: "Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."

*Grin*

So why am I posting? Because it's nearing the end of 2008 and I just realized I haven't posted one solitary item on "A Day In May" this year! :o) That, and we had a wonderful lesson in Olympian Club on what's so special about Christmas. I thought it an appropriate post given the season we are entering.

The meaning of Christmas:

• CHRIST = the Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God
• MAS = "to celebrate"

So, as we enter the Christmas season, we ought to do so with the recognition that we are Celebrating Christ!

How do we celebrate Christ?

1. PRAY to Him! Thank Him for being born as a baby so long ago. Thank Him for living like one of us. Thank Him for not letting the cup pass from Him (Luke 22:42) -- thank Him for His great love, a love that took Him to the Cross in our place. Thank Him for His power over death -- His resurrection and promise to those who trust in Him of their eternal hope.
2. WORSHIP Him! This Christmas season, don't get carried away with the spirit of the holiday; rather, worship Jesus, the reason for the holiday, in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Praise Him. Spend time with Him. Serve Him. Love Him. Honor Him. And remain steadfast in Him.
3. POINT OTHERS to Him! This struck me in particular as Laureen shared the lesson. Do the items I put out around my house at Christmas demonstrate my love and devotion to Jesus? Or are they simply trinkets of a secular holiday? I bought a 3-headed snowman for the top of my tree this year (I know, it sounds odd...but I promise you it was cute in the box!) Something about having it at the top of my tree didn't set right. My star is back in place, and after Wednesday's lesson, I hope I can use it to tell others about the night Jesus came. It's my reminder of God's faithfulness and His great gift. Of the bright Light He sent into the world that very first Christmas night. Dan's small group lesson also struck me as powerful. My girls, we talked about these three points -- Dan went a step further and encouraged his boys to give gifts to Jesus that He would like. What are those gifts? A life surrendered to Him; time given in love and service; an obedient spirit; a humble attitude; all the things Scripture teaches us as followers of Jesus. The wise men brought significant gifts to Jesus, reflecting who He is. We, too, ought to offer up gifts of ourselves that are worthy of our Great Savior.

What a neat lesson! What a powerful reminder of what Christmas truly is about. Not Santa Claus and Rudolph and cookies and caroling and mistletoe. Those are all nice things, but they shouldn't be the motivation for why we stop on December 25th every year and "Celebrate Christ."

May you experience the comfort of His love, the joy of His salvation, and the peace of His presence this Christmas and in the New Year!