My friend, Susan Reinhardt, from Christian Writer/Reader Connection is sharing today's message, a most excellent reminder to keep the main thing, the main thing.
Jesus Is the Reason for the Season
Growing up, my parents and I attended church a distance from our home. I recall waiting for buses and subways in the middle of winter. During December, the long rides never bothered me because my face was glued to the bus window. I’d count all the houses with cheery Christmas lights.
Yet my absolute favorite scene was a beautiful, lifelike nativity in front of a massive church. Every Christmas, my mind still travels that road although I have not been there in many years.
Our church always put on a Christmas Pageant. The tiniest child got a chance to say a one-line “piece” as they called them. Some of the older kids memorized long poems. The icing on the cake was the Christmas play.
While we enjoyed the big family dinners, shopping, presents, and cards, Christmas was about Jesus’ birth. He was and is the reason for the season.
Even back then, commercialization and distraction became an issue. A Christian group put up billboards saying, “Keep Christ in Christmas.” The fact is, without him Christmas doesn’t exist. Christmas without Christ is like a birthday celebration without the birthday boy.
As we spend time with family and friends, let’s make Jesus our first priority. Start a new tradition in your house:
1. Read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve or before the Christmas meal.
2. Play Christmas Carols and sing during the season.
3. Participate in Christmas activities at church.
4. Reach out to those less fortunate. Open your home to an elderly or single friend, who’d otherwise spend Christmas alone. Buy a toy for a needy child.
5. In your devotional time, think about the wonderful gift God sent us: His precious Son.
Stressed with the many details of Christmas? Relax, and have a talk with the One born in a Bethlehem stable over 2,000 years ago.
Copyright 2009 Susan J. Reinhardt
Lord, may we take note of Christ every time we see or hear the word Christmas. May our hearts quicken with Your presence as we contemplate the real reason for the season.
Susan
10 comments:
Great tips, Susan. I hope I raise my kids so they always know what Christmas is really about.
Nice to see Susan here. Looking forward to checking out the other posts here too. Blessings! :)
Thanks, Susan, for the opportunity to guest post today. May the Lord bless you as you point people to "The Reason for the Season."
Blessings,
Susan J. Reinhardt
Susan: Amen to all of the above. I love it that your favorite scene was the manger with Jesus inside. You are a lady after my heart, and the Lord's!
Bless you, both Susans,
Jen
Audience of ONE
Thanks for this, Susan! I do try really hard to focus on the reason for all this insanity, now I just need to get rid of the insanity part! I'm thinking when the kids are older that will happen.
We always read the Christmas story from either Matthew or Luke. I also like to read aloud the first chapter of John to remind us that "The Word became flesh." I also read some of the prophecies in Psalms and Isaiah regarding Jesus' birth. This is a poignant entry! Good job!
Susan, your post is a great reminder of the importance of not letting the busyness of Christmas keep us from celebrating Christ, who is the reason for the season. Without our precious Savior, Christmas wouldn't even exist. I'm so glad He came into our world to save us.
Susan P., thank you for having Susan R. as your guest today. I really enjoyed stopping by.
Thank you for pointing us to the true meaning of Christmas, Susan! Great post!
Susan, thank you for reminding us to keep Christ in our hearts this Christmas.
Susan R:
This sums up how we should feel about Christmas. I try to live this way and sometimes it is hard.
Susan P.
I look forward to reading more of these.
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