I love EVERYTHING about Christmas! I love the focus being on JESUS throughout most of the world, HallMark Movies, Beautiful garlands, Christmas lights, bows and ribbons that add touches of red all throughout my home, and the gathering of family.
With that said, Christmas can also magnify the DISFUNCTION and BROKENNESS in a family unit. What if you have family members who have chosen to block fellowship? How do you deal with that?
When you’re a merciful person, it can be hurtful, but choose those who WANT to be around you. Family can look like friends, church family, and neighbors. Family doesn’t always have a bloodline tie that binds us together.
Do not allow someone’s choices (that you can’t control) have any power in your life. Choose JOY this Christmas season. If you are alone, open your home to others.
Read the Christmas Story in Bible together.
Play games.
Laugh.
Create your own family this year. You can always find someone who needs some laughter and joy!
Life is TOO short and life is a gift. Enjoy this beautiful life that you have today.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Luke 2:1-21
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[ Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.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 guest room available for them.
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 that will cause great joy for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, 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 heaven,
and on earth peace to those 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. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before he was conceived.
