Christmas season brings blessings and gifts. It’s a special time to reflect on Jesus, his birth, and what he has meant to the world. His words resonate even more deeply during Christmas.
Unfortunately, the reason for the season gets lost in commercialization.
Black Friday, Cyber Monday and endless holiday shopping are fun, but they blur the story of Jesus’ birth.
How can you intentionally keep Christ in Christmas in your life?
An article on Christianity at about.com listed 10 ways to keep Christ in Christmas.
Three of the best ideas:
- 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. 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.
- Set aside a special time to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20: Consider reading this account with your family and discussing it together.
- Take a group Christmas caroling in a nursing home or a children’s hospital: One year, the staff at the office where I worked decided to incorporate Christmas caroling at a nearby nursing home into our yearly staff Christmas party plans.
Every year around Christmas, a debate rages over the use of “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” in public places. A Texas law was passed in summer 2013, removing the legal risk for anyone who says “Merry Christmas” or other traditional holiday sayings in a public school.
A poll last year by Public Policy Polling showed 47 percent of Americans believe there’s a “War on Christmas.” Those who prefer secularization have encouraged holiday celebrations rather than Christmas celebrations.
Efforts have begun nationwide to keep Christ in Christmas. Web sites and Facebook pages have been created. Marketing campaigns have been launched.
But at the end of the day, the bottom line is what’s in your heart as an individual. It has everything to do with your thoughts and feelings.
Honor the holy day of Christ’s birth. Don’t be worried about non-religious institutions like the big box store or the public school. Think more about what Christ asked you to do.
Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
Intentional ONE THING Challenge
If you could do ONE THING and know that it would make a significant, lasting, possibly life-changing difference in your life, would you do it? Dr. Carlson shares the power of ONE THING and why you should get started doing your ONE THING today.
Tell Us
Does it bother you when someone says “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas?” Do you feel there’s a war on Christmas? Post your comments below.
