Ways to celebrate Christ as the central focus of your heart this Christmas season.
1) Give God one very special gift just from you to him:
Let this gift be something personal that no one else needs to know about, and let it be a sacrifice. David said in 2 Samuel 24 that he would not offer a sacrifice to God that cost him nothing. Maybe your gift to God will be to forgive someone you've needed to forgive for a long time. You may discover that you've given a gift back to yourself.
Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian who survived extreme brutality in a German concentration camp after rescuing many Jews from certain death during the Nazi Holocaust, was later able to say, "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you." Perhaps your gift will be to commit to spending time with God daily. Or maybe there is something God has asked you to give up. Make this your most important gift of the season.~Mary Fairchild - about.com
2) Take the time to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20.
3) Christ IS Christmas!
This world simply cannot spell CHRISTmas without Christ, though it keeps trying.~Dr. David Jeremiah
Without Him, there would be no Christmas! Prepare your heart to celebrate the joy found in that reason alone! Other than what He has given me, I have nothing worthy to offer Him. I offer my heart and He takes it - sin-stained and broken and makes it white as snow. (Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10) What a reason to celebrate!
4) Be just like the wise men...
Seek Him. Find that special place in your home, open His Word. Pray. Give thanks. Be joyful. Take the time to listen. Be aware that in the midst of all our busyness - He's that quiet peace that we need every day. We would never put the relationships that we treasure (such as spouses, children, grandchildren, best friends) on the back burner for a month or two. Seek out the One who loves us more than any other and spend time with Him.
5) It's okay to say no.
So many times we are over-scheduled, over-worked, shopped-out, wrapped-up that at the end of the day we have nothing left to give. It's okay to say no. Even to something that's good. Sometimes, saying no means we get to keep our homes peaceful and our hearts full of love.
6) See your traditions in a whole new way.
The Christmas tree: an evergreen tree symbolizes God's everlasting love. The lights represent stars of the heavens, and a big star on top represent the one the wise men followed to see Baby Jesus.
The Gifts: giving a gift is an act of love like God's love for us in sending Jesus. Each gift, as beautiful as we can make it, reminds us of the perfect gift, Jesus Christ as our Saviour.
The Candles: as we light candles during the Christmas season, they remind us how we are to be a light unto the world.
The Wreath: the circle, which has no beginning or end, reminds us of God's unending love for us as He offers us salvation.
The Candy cane: made by a Christian confectioner as a reminder of the Shepherd’s staff. Red and white - red for the blood shed by Jesus Christ, white for His purity.
The Holly: the holly's thorn like leaves remind us of Jesus' crown of thorns, and the berries symbolize the drops of blood He shed for us.
7) The whole Santa thing...
The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in 4th century Turkey. He was a devoted Christian. He was known for his generosity and for his love of children. Saint Nicholas was known for taking to heart Jesus' words about almsgiving. "But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you." (Matthew 6: 3-4)
Saint Nicholas was very generous to the poor, but most often anonymously. The most famous story concerns three young women whose destitute father was going to force them into prostitution in order to survive. To prevent this heinous crime, Nicholas, on three different nights, anonymously went to their father's house and threw a bag of gold though an open window. Saint Nicholas's generosity was transferred to the "jolly old man" who delivers gifts anonymously on Christmas Eve.
This year, I'm asking God for the spirit of generosity that Santa Claus possessed. To do good things for others - not for my own recognition - but for His.
I'm praying that your heart and home are both ready for Christmas this year! And from my heart to yours... Merry Christmas! Love to you! sm <3
