Keeping Christ in Christmas

 

By: Sarah Phillips, crosswalk.com

“‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight…’ ” Mark 1:3

Here in America, Christmas is almost over. We only have a few more days before the radio stations switch to their normal mix and abrubtly stop playing the same five Christmas carols over and over again. How do you feel about this year’s preparations? Do you feel ready? Do you feel stressed? Do you wish it was easier to focus on the reason for the season?

For me, this year held a lot of firsts – firsts that forced me to reflect on how I celebrate Christmas and why. I got married this November, so melding family holiday traditions was the first project we tackled as a married couple. It’s been a pretty fun process, but also a learning experience. Here’s lesson #1: You can be the same religion and still experience that religion very differently!

Although we haven’t decided exactly how we’ll celebrate Christmas every year from here on out, a friend shared an article with us that outlined the traditional German Christmas centered on Christkind (“Christ child”). We are definitely considering implementing some of these ideas in the future because it seems to combine the joyful festivities with the sacredness of the season so well. Here are the basics:

In this tradition, it is not Santa Claus who brings gifts but the Christkind himself. Now, many families who celebrate Christkind still have a version of jolly, ol’ St. Nick, but he arrives on his official feast day, December 6th, bearing gifts more modest than our American Santa Claus.

The miraculous Christmas day arrival of Christkind requires a slow build-up throughout the month of December. Advent is observed carefully; Christmas decorations can wait. Family members take turns lighting the Advent candles as the entire family sings O Come, O Come Emmanuel every evening before dinner.

Children also focus on developing virtue to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christkind. Throughout December, every time a child acts virtuously, he or she can place a piece of straw into the humble, empty manger. In this way, children can tangibly participate in “making the paths straight” for Christ’s arrival.

When Christmas finally comes, the family participates in prayer and the youngest child places a replica of baby Jesus into the manger filled with loving acts performed by the children. Then the parents reveal the stunning glitter of Christmas decorations and gifts left by the Christkind. The celebration of Christkind‘s arrival continues through January 6th – the day marked to commemorate the arrival of the Magi.

Doesn’t this sound peaceful? Doesn’t this sound focused? Doesn’t this sound appropriately paced? I certainly wish we had more than 24 hours to celebrate Christmas here in the U.S.! And I can practically hear the hushed Advent prayers leading up to the glorious unveiling of Christkind’s arrival.

If your holiday season has been harried, scattered and stressful, it’s not too late to make some changes. Set aside some time in the next couple of days to regroup and refocus on the Christ child. Reflect on His first coming – not only in the world but in your heart. And ask Him what He’d like you to do to prepare for His special day.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

 

December 20, 2020

Kenneth W. Osbeck, author, cbn.com

In the same way that God’s “wondrous gift” came to Bethlehem, silently, so Christ comes into our lives today and casts out our sins and fears if we are willing to have Him abide in our lives. Then “the dear Christ enters in.” How beautifully the glorious message of Christmas is told in this well-phrased hymn by Phillips Brooks, one of America’s most outstanding ministers of the 20th century.

During a trip to the Holy Land in 1865, Brooks went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and worshiped there. He was deeply moved by this experience. Three years later, while pastoring the Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia, Brooks desired to have a special carol for the children to sing in their Sunday school Christmas program. Recalling the peaceful scene in the little town of Bethlehem, Brooks completed the writing of the text in just one evening. He gave a copy of the words to his organist, Lewis R. Redner, and requested him to compose a melody that would be easy for the children to sing. On the evening just before the program was to be given, Redner awakened suddenly from his sleep with the present melody in his mind — and he quickly wrote it out. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” has been a favorite with children and adults around the world since that time.

“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by; yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light-the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary — and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n. No ear may hear His coming, but, in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in — be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Don’t Hold It In

 

 

Daphne Delay, author, cbn.com

“The Mighty Angel with the Little Book” — that’s the subtitle in my Bible in Revelation, chapter 10. It’s catchy enough to be a movie title but it’s not fictitious. It’s prophecy.

John saw what he described as an

“extremely powerful angel coming out of heaven, robed in a cloud. There was a halo over his head like a rainbow; his face shined bright like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire” (Revelation 10:1 TPT).

The angel had one foot on the sea and one foot on land.

We can only imagine the sight of such a powerful (and intimidating) angelic creature. But I’m grateful God has given us a glimpse of these things through His Word. Unlike the porcelain cherubs people collect and set out in their home as “cute” — the angels of God are mighty. In fact, David described them as those

“who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His Word” (Psalm 103:20 NKJV).

These are not miniature beings with wings flitting about with bows and arrows. The angels of God are powerful and radiant.

As John watched this mighty Angel descend, he noticed he had a tiny book in his hand. A voice from Heaven instructed him to take the book and eat it. I can’t help but picture the vast difference between this angel and a book that must have been the size of a cracker in his hand for John to be able to take and “eat” it. After he took the scroll, the angel said,

“It will be sour in your stomach but sweet as honey in your mouth.” So John “took the little scroll from the hand of the mighty angel and ate it. Indeed, it was sweet as honey to taste, but after [he] had eaten it, [his] stomach turned bitter” (Revelation 10:9-10 TPT).

This description of the tiny book seems contradictory — something that tastes sweet and then turns bitter. But without being too descriptive, I imagine you’ve eaten something delicious to the taste that unfortunately, was later thrown up unexpectedly. I have. And although this imagery isn’t pretty, it’s quite accurate.

I have tasted God’s Word. It has been sweet to my soul — bringing comfort, joy, healing, and peace. But it couldn’t stay there. To hold it in would’ve been tormenting. It had to come out — I had to tell others. Jeremiah described it this way:

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts… But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not” (Jeremiah 15:16 and Jeremiah 20:9b NKJV).

Jeremiah couldn’t hold back what God had put in his heart. Neither could John. The angel said to him,

“You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings” (Revelation 10:11 NKJV).

In other words, John had to tell forth God’s message and proclaim His truth.

Jeremiah and John couldn’t hold back, but truth is, neither can you and I.

In these last days, the Bible says God will pour out His Spirit on His sons and daughters and they will prophesy. This means those who are sensitive to God can’t be any more quiet than the prophets and apostles of former times. But the good news is, God has made it easy for us — daily consume His Word and it will naturally come out!

Keep eating.

Keep partaking.

Enjoy the sweetness of every bite.

And don’t hold it in.

When Your Tinsel Is in a Tangles

 

Beth Duewel, author, cbn.com

I’d spotted the must-haves while my husband and I drove the kids around town to look at Christmas displays. I poked the car window. “Oh my gosh,” I wheezed, “Wouldn’t our eaves look perfect wearing those, honey!”

All seemed merry and bright, but Jerry knew what waited ahead. Okay, maybe I’ve had some other bright ideas, like: “Let’s hang Christmas lights in -2 degrees and slip and slide on the roof.” But this idea was golden. Shiny bling on a string, sparkly perfection. Who can resist?

Never mind that when we put the lights up, we knocked real icicles off the gutters to hang fake ones instead. Never mind that it took 260 attempts to stick/clip/glue the tinsel strands to the gutters. Never mind I’d added one more thing on a long string of to-do. Or that the house glowed like day at night! Still, I thought, we’d go big—at home.

Until the icicle lights burned out three days later.

Because not only were the lights horizontally tangly—but vertically tangly too. With Christmas lights testy by definition, all the hype was gone. I’m ashamed to say I got my tinsel in a tangle over, of all things … Christmas lights?

Despite the house adornment disaster, I maintained the possibility that a house wrapped in lights could illuminate out-and-out joy. Even outshine the tangles in life. And it can. But I had a vision of what I wanted Christmas to be, shiny and perfectly bright, and that December my glistening ideal unplugged with my father’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Moody and bright—Christmas didn’t look, feel, or happen that year even close to how I’d envisioned it. But you know what happened?

Christmas

Christmas arrived and was more wonderful and beautiful and memorable than in years past. It came without fanfare, fuses, and fixes which meant more time to enjoy each other. To focus. And to pray. Christmas was shiniest that year because we stared at the limelight of Jesus’ joy.

Because while a few dark days can try to tie our thrill up in knots—our shiny reason to celebrate has never burned brighter. Although, I’ll admit, two lights can try to sparkle in this world: my own idea of larger-than-life, perfect light, and the One who actually is that larger-than-life, perfect light. But maybe it’s good when life loses some of its luster. It seems that when things “outshine” they light up spaces not really intended for them. Perfect joy is so easily overlooked that way. A close but distant mix of both the light of elation and the shadow of sorrow, joy isn’t typically flashy or showy. But man, can it light up a room!

I admit, sometimes I let my big ideas capture the spotlight, even the Christmas light. But God’s plan for everlasting joy is already illuminated:

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4: 4-5 ESV).

The perfect gift of Jesus can untangle our lives. Also, this verse is a beautiful reminder that it’s the Father’s job to be perfect—not ours.

In fact, Isaiah addressed flawlessness when he talked about what Jesus’ kingdom accomplishes:

“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:7 NIV).

Jesus’ perfect holiness outshines our sin, and His blinding love invites us into relationship despite it. Forever. What shiny relief. And because temporary tinsel tangles too, we need this perfect hope. The light and promise of Christ’s reign brings merry with it. Grace too, as God’s love accomplished what we cannot, the calm and bright of forever.

There’s just no need to get our tinsel in a tangle. With our spotlight on Jesus, we can have the quiet confidence that Christmas brings. Maybe, perhaps, possibly the new rope lights too, because … “Honey, can’t you just see those hanging on our house eves?!”

The Christmas Stocking

 

Gene Markland, author, cbn.com

Every year my family, like many families around the world, hangs stockings on our fireplace mantle, one for every member of the family. It’s a wonderful tradition that brings childhood memories flooding back. Though nobody knows precisely when the tradition began, it is said that originally, children would put out a regular sock or a shoe in hopes of receiving a gift from Saint Nicholas, or in some countries known as Father Christmas.

I remember my Grandfather saying that if we weren’t good we would get a lump of coal or an old piece of cornbread in our stocking. I had no use for a piece of coal but the consolation prize of cornbread never bothered me. I thought that as long as I could put it in a glass of milk, it would be just fine. Ha.

When I was a kid, the Christmas stocking was the only present we were allowed to open before our parents got up. So before dawn, my brother Chris and I would get our stockings and crawl back in the bed. With only the glow from the streetlight beaming through our shared bedroom window, we would hurriedly empty our stockings of everything. Sifting through our new found treasure, we whispered to each other:

“I got a car.”

“I got hard candy.”

“I got a tangerine.”

“I got a set of Jax.” And so it went.

Eventually, we tired and dozed back to sleep, stockings in hand. Later we awoke to open the “real” presents. Stockings were all but forgotten as we ripped open our presents with parental supervision and joy. Forgotten, that is, until next year when the Christmas stocking was the most important gift of early pre-dawn Christmas.

Even today as I hang the stocking for my family, precious memories flood back. Sadly, one stocking won’t be hanging on our mantle this year. It still remains with the others, carefully packed in our decorations box. Our family pet Buzzy, the most beautiful Collie I’ve ever seen, passed away after battling a long illness. Three times she was at death’s door and the Vet sent her home to die. Twice, our prayers were answered and God miraculously spared her life.

Even the Vet was amazed at her incredible recovery two times, several months apart. But on the third time, we had to finally release our good friend to the Lord.

With the passage of time, sorrow weakens and the joy of fond memories grows strong. As we hang our family stockings on the mantle with care, the one with Buzzy written in glitter brings a smile to our faces and warms our hearts, as we remember her and how we used to fill her stocking with chew toys, balls, and treats. Then we carefully place it back in the decorations box.

If you have lost a loved one, friend, or even a beloved pet, and are facing the Christmas season in grief, remember the good times, just for Christmas. Treasure the precious memories with an inner peace. Depend on the Lord Jesus, whose birth we celebrate, to fulfill His mission to you. The mission that this season proclaims, peace on earth, good will towards men.

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:14 NLT)

Jesus gave us encouragement in the Bible where these words were recorded:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT)

The Real Meaning Of Christmas

 

 

Martha Noebelauthor, cbn.com

It’s that time of year again. December has come and with it all the joys of Christmas. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of “Merry Christmas” to those who pass us in the streets? Is this really Christmas?

For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don’t have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some.

Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

Luke 2:4-19 says:

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (NIV)

Why did He come? Why did God send His son to this sometimes cruel and hard world? He sent Jesus to us so that one day, He would grow up to become a very important part of history. His story (history) is one of truth, love, and hope. It brought salvation to all of us. Without Jesus, we would all die in our sins.

Jesus was born so one day the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. The Bible says that all have sinned. We are all born with a sin nature. We do things that do not please God. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed. The only way is through Jesus. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for ALL of our sins. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we can ask Him to come into our hearts and forgive us. Then, we are clean and made whole. We can know that heaven is a place where we can go to when this life is over.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9 NLT)

We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. We then become sons and daughters of God. Heaven will be our home one day.

Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a “Merry Christmas.” The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met.

Jesus Is the Reason for the Season! Rejoice!

The Christmas Yearbook

 

 

Alisa Hope Wagner, author, cbn.com

When I was a junior in high school, we had a spirit week that led up to homecoming. During this week, every day was a fun dress-up day. On mismatch day, I went all out. I wore the tackiest, most uncoordinated outfit that I could imagine. In fifth period, a yearbook photographer came to our classroom looking to take spirit-filled photos. She took one look at me and asked if I would come out in the hallway for a photo-op. Of course, I jumped out of my seat lickety-split and headed to the door. Since it was mismatch day, I gave her my craziest pose – hands up in the air, head tilted to the side and mouth formed into a wide, goofy smile. I walked back to my seat knowing that my photo would be an awesome tribute to spirit week and mismatch day.

The following semester when the yearbook came out, I couldn’t wait to see if my photo made it into print. I instantly flipped through the pages of the large book, looking for my much-anticipated mismatch day tribute. When I finally found it, I was shocked! My photo was everything I wanted. It was wild, fun and uncoordinated. However, the only problem was that there was absolutely no mention of mismatch day. In fact, the caption listed my name and that I was showing off my particular, crazy style sense.

The photo now took on an entirely new meaning that had little to do with the realities of mismatch day. The photo was taken completely out of context and reconstructed within an alternate motive. I’m sure the photo was selected with mismatch day long forgotten, and the yearbook students were simply trying to capture a unique story. However, I still found the departure from the initial intent to be misleading.

If Christmas were a yearbook, it would be filled with many such mismatch stories. Our culture today produces a plethora of unique variations of the Christmas holiday, but sadly most of them have been taken completely out of context and reconstructed within an alternate motive. The true meaning of Christmas is quickly being forgotten, and individuals flip through the pages of today’s Christmas Yearbook both entertained and confused by all the variations of a single reality.

Laying aside the countless twinkling lights, reindeer, and Santas; Christmas is about a perfect God becoming flesh to save a creation separated by sin. God created a flawless world and flawless people, but He gave us free will. We chose to leave God’s righteousness, so sin penetrated our world, corrupting the earth and the hearts of people. Our sin formed a chasm between fallen humanity and their perfect Creator.

God knew we would fall short of His holiness, but instead of disregarding us altogether, He created a Redemption Plan: He would set aside His glory, enter our corrupted world and exchange His righteousness for our sins. The Creator of the Universe chose the name Jesus and took our mistakes, ugliness, and guilt because He loves us that much. He became a helpless baby in a manger, so we could have a personal relationship with Him.

This Christmas, let us enjoy all the fun holiday traditions that we hold so dear but let us also reflect on a Creator who loves us so much that He would die for us. True Christmas joy comes from a place of being loved, accepted and adored by our Heavenly Father. Thank Him today for His amazing gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:23 NIV)