Let them have joy

   This is the time of year that a lot of people start listening to Christmas music, and eying the Christmas decorations in their basement, attic, or shed.  It is also the time of year that people start complaining about those people. 

 It happens every year without fail. "Thanksgiving gets skipped over because we rush Christmas." Sad that other people celebrating Christmas early makes you un-thankful.  "It is too early for Christmas music." According to who? (Or is it whom?)

  Here are a couple of points:

1) We have no idea when Jesus was born, so it should be OK to do Christmas-y stuff any time of the year.

2) We should be thankful 24/7, 365 days a year, 366 on leap year. 

3) Thanksgiving is an American holiday. Being thankful daily is a Biblical thing.
 Christmas is for everyone.

4) The most important event in history was Jesus coming as a baby. Yeah, Easter is important, but you can't have it without the birth of Jesus. And we should only celebrate that event on month of the year? Nah. Belt out Joy to the World in August if you want.

Confession: I actually like All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. The rest of her Christmas CD sucks. And probably all her non-Christmas songs too. Maybe it is weird, but there are singers who I only like one Christmas song by. Except Elvis. I don't like anything by him. 

Serious confession: I deal with depression. It has been really bad lately, even affecting my reading. I am 18 books behind in my reading goal for the year. 18! There have been some things said and that happened that have made it worse, plus I fear SAD is setting in already - Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is a real thing. A lot of people tend to be more depressed during the Fall and Winter months. And yay me! I get that.

There are a lot of sad and hurting people in the world. I believe anyone who struggles much with depression battle thoughts of doing some things they shouldn't do. There are days the ER is flooded with people depressed, suicidal....it crushes me when someone brings in their teen and even younger who is feeling suicidal. And of course, a lot of adults.

Depressed and down people need to do what they can to have joy. One of those things we do is listen to Christmas music early, and even decorating for Christmas early. Another confession: The last few years I had no desire to decorate, but in early November when it really starts getting cold, the urge to decorate hit me, so I did it while I actually felt like it. To be honest, if I waited til the "approved time", I would most likely not do it at all. 

I love Christmas music. I am already listening to it. (I just listened to Mariah's song!)  And who has the right to say I should not? If it is giving me some joy, then who has the right to steal that joy? Should I stop listening to it early, should I not decorate early if the urge hits me, because there are people out there whose Thanksgiving will be ruined because of it? 😀

Seriously, if there is nothing morally wrong, why discourage people from doing things that give them joy?

I love to make people laugh and smile. I enjoy telling jokes to people, and at least making them smile at it. I was helping an elderly couple check in on a kiosk in the ER and something said reminded me of a joke, so I told it to them. I looked over, and my friend Lisa from security was standing in the doors to the back with a wheelchair looking at me. I go "What?" She replied, "Did you just subject those poor people to one of your jokes?"😀
There have been many times people have thanked me for making them smile. And though a lot of my jokes may be groaners, it gives me joy to make people smile. 

So if you are one of those who gets joy from doing Christmas-y things early, go for it and ignore the joy thieves. 

And you scrooges who gets their underwear in a bunch over Christmas rushing in to ruin your Thanksgiving....there really is no polite way to say this: Mind your own business, and stop being a joy thief. Oh, and Merry Christmas!

One of my Facebook friends shared this, and I then shared it. It came from a page titled Vacationland Mama:

If someone’s Christmas lights in October make you mad… maybe the problem isn’t the lights.

Maybe it’s that someone else found joy

in a world that’s made it really hard to feel any.

Because here’s the thing 

some people are just trying to hold it together.

And if hanging a wreath or plugging in twinkle lights helps them breathe a little easier,

who are you to judge that?

You don’t have to understand it.

You just have to let people have their joy.

So yeah, if someone’s blasting Mariah Carey before Halloween, (I did that and Halloween isn't here yet!!)

maybe it’s not that they’re rushing Christmas…

maybe it’s that they finally found a reason to smile again.

Let them glow.

Let them find their light.

Because joy doesn’t need your approval to shine.

Celebrating Christmas too early

 Every year there is something a lot of people like to voice their opinion about: people starting the celebration of Christmas too early.  I am one who usually starts early. I mostly start listening to Christmas music at least in October, sometimes September. It depends on when I start buying new Christmas CDs. And I have a lot, so I need to start early. I have well over 200. 

Early November is when the decorating starts most years. And the tree is often up before Thanksgiving.

But is it shortchanging Thanksgiving to start Christmas early? I don't believe so.

My family gets together every Thanksgiving, and we observe Thanksgiving. Although sometimes the nieces and nephews.....prepare yourself for this -  put up my parents' tree. The horror! 😊

Here's a couple of points:

1) We are to be thankful every day. Not just one day in November, but 365 days a year, 366 in leap year. And...brace yourself...you can be thankful and still celebrate Christmas. Wow. That is deep. 😉

2) We should somewhat observe Christmas everyday also. Huh? No, I am serious. The greatest event in history was God coming to earth as a baby. Do you really think we have to wait til the day after Thanksgiving to observe that. Nope. Sing Joy to the world in July if you want. (By the way, that wasn't intended to be a Christmas song).

3) Someone celebrating Christmas does not affect your Thanksgiving. If it does, you need help.

4) There is a lot of sadness in  the world. I have depression and battle sadness, feelings of worthlessness, etc daily. If putting up Christmas decorations early or playing Christmas music in the middle of summer gives me joy, what right does anyone have to criticize that? 

My youngest niece, who has dealt with depression at times posted something back on October 25th that showed she was listening to Christmas music by Michael Buble. Great album, by the way....though it was kind of weird for him to record Santa Baby. (Really weird! Dumb song anyway.) There were several comments, I think all positive. One lady commented that Christmas music should be played all year round.  Caitie replied "Any time I need cheered up, that's my go-to." And why not? If Christmas music gives you joy and cheers you up, then by all means listen to it any day of the year.

Do you really want to say my niece shouldn't do something that causes her joy because you don't think anything Christmas should happen before Thanksgiving? If so, shame on you!

5) We don't know when Jesus was born. What if....gasp! - what if He was born in early November, and we are encroaching on Christmas with Thanksgiving?!

6) Christmas celebrates the birth of our Savior, something observed all over the world. We have been celebrating it since 386 when Constantine instituted the celebration, though it may have been even earlier. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln instituted the day Thanksgiving, an American holiday and observance. Jesus' birth takes precedence over that.

I did a sarcastic post on Facebook today:

Ok...you people who think starting anything Christmas in November ruins Thanksgiving.... 

Once December starts, you'd better stop this thankfulness stuff. Jesus deserves the whole month of Christmas. No November thankfulness sneaking into his birthday celebration...

I WAS kidding, as I believe we should be thankful all the time. But I was trying to make a point. 

If you want to start decorating for Christmas and/or listening to Christmas music, do it. We all need more happiness and joy in our lives, and if that makes you feel happy and gives you joy, then do it. Don't let the naysayers put a crimp in your joy and celebration.

And you naysayers...don't be stealing people's joy and happiness by telling them they shouldn't be doing anything Christmasy before Thanksgiving. To put it bluntly (and not in good English), it ain't none of your business. 

Shall I tell you naysayers this....can you handle this....I listened to Christmas music while I was working on this blog post. Now don't hyperventilate. Your Thanksgiving is safe from my early Christmas stuff. 😀

There are two songs that came to mind as I was working on this post. The first is for you Scrooges: The Day After Thanksgiving by Brandon Heath. Lyrics below.

The second song is for we who start celebrating Christmas early: I Can Still Celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Thanksgiving!

The Day After Thanksgiving by Brandon Heath. (Video at the end of the blog post).

There's still plenty of leaves

Golden on the trees

Hoodies, blue jeans and football

Bonfires and school nights

Scarecrows and hay rides

It's fall everywhere except the mall

I don't want to hear about Santa Claus coming

No silver bells or a dozen drummers drumming

I don't want to see an inflatable nothing

Till the day after Thanksgiving

(And not a day early)

Don't plug in those electric candles

Or dangle those stockings from the living room mantle

Those tangled up lights are more than I can handle

Till the day after Thanksgiving

Then, oh, let it snow

Go and tell everyone you know

That Christmas is here

Every day between now and new year

Don't deck the halls with the tinsel or the holly

You can make me grumpy, but you can't make me jolly

Elves don't even make curly-head dollies

Till the day after Thanksgiving

Then, oh, let it snow

Christmas card, everyone you know

Then pour on the cheer

Every day between now and new year

I want the cookies and the mistletoe kissing

Angel on top of a tall tree glisten

Wrap it all up in a pretty red ribbon

The day after Thanksgiving

As long as it's the day after Thanksgiving

I Can Still Celebrate Christmas by Legacy Five (Video at the end of the post)

The lights are unplugged

The candles snuffed out

The tree's lying out in the street

The mistletoe's gone

But the memories live on

Like the rush of tiny little feet

The hustle and bustle

The long checkout lines

Won't be seen til Christmas next year

But the man who understands

The real reason we celebrate

He can have 12 months full of cheer

I can still celebrate Christmas

For the light of the world is the light of my life

I can still celebrate Christmas

It's much more to me than lights on a tree

It's the gift that gives life to me

So turn on the lights

Put a wreath on your door

Show the world that you can sing too

Try Joy to the World in June or July

Ask a friend to sing along too

Ring the bells loud

Stand up and be proud

Tell the world the truth that you know

That the tiny little boy

Brought happiness and joy

More than gifts tied with ribbons and bows

I can still celebrate Christmas

For the light of the world is the light of my life

I can still celebrate Christmas

It's much more to me than lights on a tree

It's the gift that gives life to me

Blue Christmas

  

A few years ago, I saw a church sign advertising a Blue Christmas service. I was curious, and looked it up:

"Blue Christmas Service is a Western Christian tradition that happens on or around the longest night of the year, usually December 21 the Winter Solstice. It is about comforting fellow Christians who are grieving and struggling to find joy and hope during the season."

  I love Christmas, but have been struggling this year to get in the mood. I was late listening to Christmas music - and I usually start in late September or early October. I didn't feel like decorating, and wasn't going to....but that didn't set well with my nieces. The youngest and oldest with her baby (my great niece!) came over last week and put my tree and other decorations up while I babysat. That kind of kick-started me, so I have decorated more and have gotten into the mood more. And finally did my Christmas shopping.

 My depression has been really bad, and seasonal depression seems to be jumping on also. I work Christmas day. Again. The Buzard family Christmas is going to be crammed into a few hours Christmas Eve between Sunday dinner and the Christmas Candlelight service. I am still not extremely in the mood.

 But I have my whole family. And I am thankful for that. So I really don't have it that bad. There will be a lot of people facing Christmas for the first time this year without a loved one. And others still grieving from other years.

  I have a friend at work - she actually works in my doctor's office, which is in the hospital. She is a great person, and one of my favorite people at the hospital. Five years ago, her husband passed away suddenly. She isn't one of those people who remarried before the grass grew over the burial plot. She is still sad a lot of days. I give her a hug once in a while when I know she is having a bad day with it. She told me recently that it is really hard on the yearly occasions. Holidays, his birthday, their anniversary. Thankfully she has two little great grandkids that help, but she and many others struggle with grief at this time of year, missing someone who will not be at the family gatherings. There will be no gift under the tree to or from them.

 I stopped at the local grocery store after work last night, and asked the lady ringing me up "Are you ready for Christmas?" She made a face, and said "well, I haven't really celebrated the last few years since my dad passed away around Christmas." I made some sympathetic comments, and then told her about these Blue Christmas services some churches have. She seemed interested and said she might check it out.

  As so many of us celebrate, make merry, and get into the season, it doesn't really occur to a lot of us that not everyone feels merry this time of year. Many are sad and grieving because of losses of loved ones this year, or other years. There is no time limit on grief. Some people seem to move on more easily, and others never seem to. And there is nothing wrong with that.

 These last few years have been tough on a lot of people. Covid has affected so many so differently. My entire family has had it twice. I had it bad enough the first time that I was admitted to the hospital I work at for 5 days, but no one else in the family had it very bad other than me the fist time. But others lost family members to it. And many of them are still grieving over their loss.

 There is something we all need to remember at this time of year. The celebrating, gift giving, decking the halls - that is all well and good, as long as you keep Christ in your Christmas. But, to use a much overused phrase - remember the Reason for the Season. All of these people grieving and sad....they are part of the reason Jesus came. He came for us. God sent His only Son to this earth as an innocent baby that would grow up and die for the sins of the world. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."(ESV)

 That is Christmas. Not the lights, parties, gift exchanges. It is about the Savior who can save, heal, comfort. One doesn't need all the celebrating to observe Christmas. We can all kneel at the manger, worship the Savior, and seek his comfort and help.

 There was sadness and grief the first Christmas. When the wise men came seeking Jesus all those years ago, King Herod had all the babies in the area of Bethlehem killed.

 So let's be considerate of those grieving during the holidays. Do something nice for them. They may not feel like attending a Christmas party or service, but a small gift, supper dropped off, a gift card, etc. might help them a little.

A Christmas to remember

   Christmas 2021, my 53rd Christmas. No, I am not 53......my first Christmas I was 7 months old. I obviously don't remember that Christmas so long ago, but there are some that stick out to me.

Christmas 1981

  Christmas 1981, the most memorable Christmas of my 52 years. In January of that year, our house had burnt to the ground leaving us with only the clothes we were wearing on our backs, 2 cars, and anything we had in the barn and garage. We lived with my paternal grandmother from January 21 of that year til August, when we finally had enough to start out again, something my parents never thought they would have to do a second time.

  That Christmas of 81 was our first Christmas in our new home. My parents always gave my sisters and I a nice Christmas, and spent far more on us than they should have. But that Christmas, it seemed they went all out. Ever since January, we had been given tons of clothing and toys, most of it used. But now we had a ton of brand new gifts in our new home. I think that was the year we all got new bicycles. I can't remember anything else we got, but that Christmas stands out among the many I have celebrated so far.

Christmas 1995

  Christmas 1995. Confession: One of my deepest longings was to be a dad, and it is one of my greatest regrets I was never able to have kid so of my own. However, one of the greatest joys of my life is being an uncle to 6 of the greatest kids I know. They will never know how much I love them, and how much better my life has been because they are in it, and are such a big part of my life. 

  When my sister Vicki announced she was pregnant in 1995, I was over the moon excited about becoming an uncle. I had always wanted a brother, and never got one, so now I set my hopes on having a nephew. I even announced if it was a girl, I was not going to have anything to do with her. Stephanie Marie Giles, now Sanders as of June of this year, was born October 25, 1995.....and everything I said about not wanting a niece went out the window. That Christmas was more special than previous ones because we had a new little baby in the family, and I went all out buying gifts for this adorable little person who had grabbed my heart from day 1. Two more girls followed, and I finally got my nephews after my other sister got married, but by that time I loved all of them equally.

  This may be a morbid thought, but for the last several Christmases, I have looked around and had the thought that this might be the last Christmas all of us are there. That day will come at some point. No one lives forever. Every year, there are families who have a loved one with them for the last Christmas. Sometimes they know it is happening if the person is gravely ill, but most of the time we have no idea someone we love will not be here for the next Christmas.

  That has happened this year. Covid has taken some people I know, and their families are going to have a giant hole in their Christmas celebrations this year. Christmas for so many is all about family and revolves around Christmas, so Christmas will never be the same again for so many. Loss is felt especially during holidays. That person you loved so much isn't there to buy gifts for anymore, nor will there be gifts from them to you under the tree.

  We should make every Christmas a Christmas to remember. It doesn't have to be all about the amount of gifts. I love giving. Every year, my mom talks about how we need to cut back and scolds us for spending so much on her and Dad, but I love buying for my family. I don't have a wife and kids to buy for, but I do have my parents, siblings, their husbands, and nieces and nephews to buy for. I had the thought that I wouldn't want to cut way back, and then lose one of them after the Christmas I cut back on buying. Yeah, another morbid thought.

  Gifts are great. I love to give and receive too....might as well be honest.......but I do enjoy watching family open what I got them. Our family is big into gag gifts, or white elephant gifts as some call  them. I may have started it. Ok, I did start it....and I usually buy the most and get the most. And this year, I got a couple of great ones. :) They are fun, and are usually something really cheap picked up at a used store or after holiday clearance. There are some that make a yearly appearance, as they get re-gifted. It has become a fun part of our family Christmas. We have had a lot of laughs when gag gifts are opened. We take turns opening gifts, so everyone gets to see what everyone got.

   Christmas is a time when families should come together and put aside differences, and just love each other and spend time enjoying each other and having fun.

A boy named Alex

 I read something last week that made me feel sad. In one of the many book groups I am in on Facebook, a lady was looking for book ideas for a young man she knows that he might enjoy and that would cheer him up. He came out as gay to his conservative.....and I assume Christian family on Thanksgiving Day. They kicked him out of the house and family, and told him they never want to see him again. He does have his own apartment, but now he has no family for Christmas because his family couldn't love him enough to love him for being something they don't agree with and they believe is wrong.

  Side note:  I don't care how you feel about anything gay, if a family.....if a Christian....cannot love someone who is gay and treat them like they are still part of the family, if Christians cannot love gay people and treat them as anyone else, then that Christianity is not at all like Jesus. Should the kid have come out? Should he have done it at a holiday? To the latter, their reactions would have been the same no matter when. I can say personally it is no fun to bottle it up inside and keep it secret that you are attracted to the same sex...so whether or not a person is going to "live the gay lifestyle", or just admit they are attracted to the same sex, I can totally understand it and can totally relate.

  But come on......that poor kid is going to have a horrible Christmas. The very people who should love him unconditionally, failed at that. No matter their feelings on him being gay, or how he will live, they should love him and welcome him in their homes and lives as they always did.

  That is a drastic example, but people so easily hold onto things and let it divide each other. It shouldn't be exclusive to Christmas, but what better time to love each other, forgive, drop grudges, and do all you can to make Christmas special, and make it one to remember?

 Me? I will do my part and not speak out about Trump at family gatherings, since I am the only one who despises him and his presidency. :)

  But seriously, Christmas is such a special time of year. Yes, it is too commercialized, and we can get lost in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday. We stress about making sure we buy the right things, that we don't miss anyone, that we buy for everyone who buys for us. Maybe we do need to simplify things and just relax and enjoy family. We need too focus more on the reason for the holiday.

  I'll be bluntly honest, as I tend to do a lot. Maybe too much. Christmas can be tough at times for me. I have no one special of my own, I have no kids...and so much about Christmas is about romance and family. Merry Christmas, Darling indeed. Though I do like that song. :) It can get lonely. I have spent a lot of days off staying home, reading, having Christmas music playing wall to wall, watching Christmas movies. I have found myself wishing more than once that there was someone here to watch those Christmas movies with, to eat supper with...but it is just me. (Then at other times I am glad I can avoid peopling. Work does really get to me).

  Our Christmas this year is going to be a little different. We have always all gone to my parents for Christmas day for gifts, games, eating, and a lot of fun. This year, we have to do the gift opening Christmas Eve, and most of the family will be back Christmas Day for games and eating. A lot of eating, a lot of snacking: my mom's Christmas cookies, her fudge, her Chex mix..... And I plan to beat everyone in every game we play. I can dream....

  It will be one of the best days of my year. The people I love most in the world, games, gifts, and a lot of fun and laughter. We do laugh a lot. Mostly because of my jokes. (Kidding, they all just groan). No matter what we do or where we are, we have a lot of fun together and get along great, thank God.

  So this Christmas, love your family while you still have them. Hold them close, forgive and let go what you need to let go. Make it a special Christmas to remember, so that when you do have a Christmas with an empty spot, you can look back fondly and know that your last Christmas with that person was a special one to remember, and one with no regrets.

  And at some point in your holiday celebrations, pray for a young man named Alex whose family won't be there for him this Christmas, and won't welcome him into their Christmas celebration.

  

We have it better than the shepherds and wise men

  Have you ever read the Christmas story and wished you had been there? Have you ever gazed at your Nativity scene and envied the shepherds and wise men of long ago who got to gaze on the baby Jesus? I have many times. Imagine how awesome it was to be among the first to see the Savior of mankind lying there in a manger of hay. And as I mentioned in my blog post The unrealistic Nativity scene, it is likely that the visitors held the baby Jesus... wouldn't you have wanted to if you had been standing or kneeling there?

  Thoughts of the Christmas story have naturally been going through my mind a lot this week, and something author and pastor Kyle Idleman said came to my mind:

“Sometimes, I hear people talk about the different men and women of the Old Testament, and there is a hint of jealousy. They may say it, or just insinuate it, but here's what they communicate...'What would it have been like to hear God's voice and see him move in such powerful ways? I wish it was the same for us as it was for those whose stories we read about in scripture. When I get to heaven I can't wait to ask David, Elijah, or Moses what it was like.' But I think it will be just the opposite in heaven. Before we can ask David what it was like to slay a giant, to win the battles, he'll say, Tell me what it was like on earth to have the Holy Spirit inside of you, giving you strength when you are weak. We might say to Elijah, What was it like to call down fire from heaven before the prophets of Baal and to raise that boy from the dead? And I think Elijah might say, yeah, he actually ended up dying again. You tell me what it's like to have God living inside of you. What was it like to live life on earth with the Holy Spirit giving you joy when you're depressed or giving you the power to overcome that sin in your life? We might say to Moses, What was it like to follow the cloud by day and the fire by night? What was it like to meet with God on that Mountain? And Moses might say, I had to climb that mountain to meet with God. You tell me what it was like to have him dwell in you everyday. What was it like to have the Holy Spirit giving you directions when you didn't know what to do or where to go?” 

  What if that is true of the shepherds and wise men? They had no clue when they gazed at Jesus as a baby of what he would do. The shepherds most likely saw Him as One who would free them from Rome and set everything right. The wise men probably thought He would be a great earthly king. None of them knew what we know, that the baby lying there would die on a cross and rise again to save us from our sins. They had no clue that this baby would some day live inside of people and you wouldn't need to go to a certain place to find Him.... that He would be everywhere. They had no clue that "Immanuel, God with us" meant more than seeing Him there in the flesh......it meant we can have Him with us in a way they couldn't imagine. What if when we get to Heaven, they ask us what it was like living our lives this side of the manger and cross? What if they envy us for knowing all of our lives about the cross, Jesus' sacrifice, the resurrection?

  Even if we could step back through time and stand or kneel with the shepherds and wise men, what good would that do us if we aren't doing all we can do here today to know that same Jesus and follow Him with all we have? Sure, how awesome that would be to be there on that night that changed the world, but we have something so much better: we can have Him in our hearts and lives in a way that they had no clue of that night.

 Are we following Jesus the way we can, the way we should......or is He just another of the many facets and areas of our lives? Is He our everything, or does He come in second place to everything else?

 Maybe I am wrong....... but if the shepherds and wise men could see and know what we know and can have, they would switch places with us in a heartbeat..... and they would give their all, not just part of themselves to follow Jesus.

  We truly have it better than those visitors of 2000 years ago. Are we doing as we should with what we know and can have with that same Jesus today?
  

Leave my Christmas alone

  There has been an even bigger rash of posts this year by people pointing out things in the Christmas story that we supposedly get wrong. Maybe it is because a lot of them have been posted in a blogger group I help moderate that I have seen so many, but there are a lot.

 There were most likely more than three wise men.

The Bible doesn't say the angels sang

Jesus wasn't really born in a stable

The wise men don't belong at the Nativity

Jesus wasn't really born in a stable.

And more.

  I don't get why people want to make such a big deal over some of these things. I can't imagine when I get to Heaven that God is going to condemn me to an eternity in hell because I sang "We Three Kings" and had wise men in my Nativity scene.

 Were there three wise men? We have no idea. There may have been, so why waste time trying to make a case for there being more?

 Were they present when Jesus was in the manger? We have no idea. The Bible says they came into the house, but it could still be where Jesus was born.

 Was Jesus born in a stable? Bible experts, my Sunday School teacher among them, make a good case for a courtyard type of place inside a building where animals were kept for being where Jesus was born. Again, does it matter? He was definitely laid in a manger so it was pretty much a stable anyway......

 Did the angels sing? Well, the Bible doesn't say they didn't..... and I figure if we ever heard a group of angels chanting a message, it would sound more like singing than our actual singing we do here on earth.

  So refrain from singing We Three Kings, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Angels We Have Heard on High and any other song that doesn't fit into your Christmas narrative. Throw your wise men away that came from your Nativity scene.....or set them way across the room so it looks like they are journeying towards the baby Jesus.

 As for me, I am not going to sweat the small stuff. I'll keep singing those songs, figure there may have been 3 wise men, keep my Nativity figures in a stable - that is better than the box they reside in during the rest of the year - and I will put my wise men in my stable surrounding the baby Jesus. And while I am at it, I'll keep Santa completely out of the house :)

In the mood for Christmas

 I have heard people say before that they just couldn't get in the Christmas spirit, that they weren't in the mood for Christmas, that Christmas wouldn't be the same this year, and other similar statements.

 This year, I can relate. I think it is a combination of things, but I just have had a hard time getting in the mood for Christmas. I still have a lot of disappointment with this election. My views on Donald Trump have not changed, and I have a lot of disgust and disappointment in that area. I feel we will trade one narcissistic, arrogant, unqualified, and horrible president for another........and I have yet to see anything to change that feeling.

 Also, I thought for sure I'd be in my own house for Christmas, and now there is no house to move into since that fell through.

 There may be a few other contributing factors, but the end result has been a very unenthusiastic feeling about Christmas. I wasn't even going to put my Nativity scene up or get our my Christmas movies.

  In the midst of my doom and gloom, a thought hit me, and it has left me feeling rather convicted.  If circumstances can so easily knock the Christmas spirit out of us and cause us to lose the anticipation and joy of the season, then we are celebrating it the wrong way and celebrating it for  the wrong reasons.

  There is so much about Christmas that I enjoy.....family, giving (and getting!) gifts, the music, the decorations, the cookies, candy, and other things that are part of this season. I get that not everyone has a nice Christmas and are experiencing loss and troubles at this time of year.

 However, if this season is truly about the birth of our Savior, we shouldn't have to be in the mood to celebrate. All of  the other things are just extra, and really don't have much to do with the real reason for the celebrating. No matter what is going on in our lives this month, no matter how we celebrate, we who follow Jesus have reason to celebrate. We who serve Him should have a sense of thanksgiving, praise, and worship that transcends everything else.

 The world sees a baby in a manger, but anyone who is a true follower of Jesus sees a Savior who died for our sins. We shouldn't have to get in the mood or the spirit of the season. No matter what is going on in our lives, we should focus on what we are celebrating.

 Now that I have my nativity scene set up and have gotten caught up on my shopping, I have finally got caught up in the spirit of the season........no, not the decorations and the commercialization of it all, but in the quiet assurance that this Jesus came for me and I know Him personally as my Lord and Savior. Everything may not be right in the world or in my world, but I can still focus on the Savior lying in the manger with the shadow of a cross falling across His face. I can praise and worship Him and be thankful even more at this time of year that not only was He born as a baby, but that He was born to die for me.

Keeping Christmas, 2016 edition

  In a Facebook post a couple of weeks ago, I said that I was listening to Christmas music. A Facebook friend I don't know well, commented and said the Bible says nothing about observing Christmas. I replied and said it doesn't say not to observe it either.

  The last visit we had from Jehovah Witnesses at our place, the conversation went a bit like this:
Me: Hi, you're Jehovah Witnesses, aren't you?"
The two ladies: "yes we are"
Me: "Well, there is no sense in going into your talk. I have my own church and you're not going to change my mind, and I am not going to change yours. Besides,  you lost me completely with that no celebrating holidays and birthdays. I love giving and getting gifts. It must really suck to be a Jehovah Witness." (Yes, I said suck)

 After they got the deer in the headlights look off their faces, one of them said they believe in giving gifts every day of the year. Giving me up for a lost cause, they went their way.

  I have always loved Christmas. Even before I came to know the Savior of Christmas  the way I know Him today, I still loved it. It wasn't the gifts - sure I like to give and receive gifts - it is just everything about the season. There is a feeling of goodwill, peace, and love. People's thoughts turn more to things of God, and even those who don't acknowledge Jesus are still celebrating His birth.

 If you look through the Bible, the Jews were big on feasts and holidays. They spent days feasting and celebrating all sorts of things. The idea that this suddenly became wrong after the New Testament ends is wrong and not Biblical at all.

 And who should better celebrate Jesus' birth than we who serve Him?

 Much is said about the commercialization of Christmas, and a lot of it goes on. But we should never let that stop us from celebrating this season better and differently than the world. They should have nothing on a Christian when it comes to celebrating Christmas.

 This is the time of year set aside to observe and celebrate that night long ago when God became a baby, the most vulnerable and helpless of humans. He was born to be like us, and to die for us. Our methods and ways of observing and celebrating that wonderful Holy night may differ, but observe and celebrate it we should.

 Yes, Jesus can get lost under all of the shopping, the gifts, the Christmas tree, Santa, the Christmas cookies and music and everything else that makes up this season.......but it can also help remind us of what - or Who - it is all about, and help us to celebrate His birth with excitement, reverence, and thankfulness.

 At the end of the much-loved Christmas Carol, comes these words: "And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!” 

  Oh that the same could be said of all we who profess to follow this Savior....... that we keep Christmas like no other. We should...... we who serve and follow Him know what it is all about.

My Favorite Christmas songs

  I love Christmas music, and have a lot of it.... and I do mean a lot. There are songs I like to hear more than others, and they are usually among the first I listen to every year. Here are my top 10, in no particular order, that do not fall into the traditional Christmas carol category:

1) It's Christmas by Ronnie Milsap. I don't know if anyone else has recorded this song, but I can't imagine anyone doing it better. He recorded it in 1986 on his Christmas CD "Christmas With Ronnie Milsap" and I have been enjoying it ever since. It is one of many Christmas CDs I own.







2) We Are the Reason by Avalon. I didn't care much for this 2000 Christmas release, other than this song and one other one on the CD. This song has been done by others, but this is my favorite recording of it, and one I listen to over and over.






3) Christmas Wishes by Anne Murray. This song has been around since 1981, and is my favorite of all the Christmas songs she has recorded over the years. It does end on a romantic note, but I still love to hear it.







4) It's Still the Greatest Story Ever Told by the Gaither Vocal Band. In my estimation, this is one of the greatest modern Christmas Songs from a Christian perspective. The Gaithers wrote it in 1979, but as far as I know it was not recorded until the Gaither Vocal Band did it on their Christmas CD of the same name in 1998. If I was putting these favorites in order, this would likely be at the top.






5) Sweet Baby Jesus by The Kingsmen. Released in 1995, this was the only Christmas CD this well known and long-running group ever did, and they knocked it out of the park with this one..... at least to me. I have been listening to it over and over since 1995.







6) Christmas In Dixie by Kenny Chesney, In 1985, Alabama released their first Christmas CD and this song became a classic from that album. Then 18 years later in 2003, Kenny Chesney recorded it on his Christmas CD with some help from one of the guys from Alabama. As good as Alabama did, I like Chesney's version better.







7) Unto You This Night by Garth Brooks. This song became an instant favorite of mine in 1992 when Garth Brooks released his first Christmas CD. Backed up by a choir on part of the song, Brooks does an awesome job on this favorite of mine.







8) I'll Be Home With Bells On by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. This duo did a Christmas CD in 1984 that includes this song that Dolly wrote. I have loved it for years, and it definitely makes my list.... and is currently my ringtone on my cell.






9) I Have Seen the Light by Integrity/Triumphant Quartet. This song came out on Triumphant Quartet's first Christmas CD when they were going by the group name Integrity Quartet. I think it is an awesome song. I can't find the year it was released, but it isn't that old of a song. It has been done by others, but no one else comes close to this version.







10) Come On, Ring Those Bells by Evie. I remember listening to this as a kid. Evie Tornquist - later Karlson after she married - recorded a Christmas album in 1978 when she was 16 (I think). It has been recorded several times over the years, perhaps more than any other modern Christian Christmas song, but I have yet to hear anyone do it as well.







  There are many others that could be on this list, or a longer list..... but I decided to keep it to 10 songs, and try to put my favorite 10 on it. I may look at this list later and think of a few different ones that should make the list, but these are 10 that are definitely way up on my list.

2016 Christmas CDs reviews

 I love Christmas music, and have more Christmas CDs than the average person. Hint: a good time to buy them is after Christmas when most Christian bookstores have them for half off.....

  Every year there are new Christmas CDs released that I am interested in. This year there are way too many for me to buy since I am trying to save money while buying a house, but I still bought a few and was able to use 30% coupons on all of the ones I purchased. As I have done the last few years, I am going to briefly review them:

1) A Canton Christmas by Canton Junction, Southern Gospel

  This is a fairly new group, and is one I listen to all of the time. There are 10 songs on the CD. Most of the songs are traditional ones, with one original and one that I was not familiar with. The songs are done in a country style that I enjoy. Favorites: Angels We Have Heard On High and Joy to the World.

2) Tennessee Christmas by Amy Grant, CCM

  I don't listen to much of Amy Grant, other than her hymns and Christmas projects. On this one, she records a new version of her hit Tennessee Christmas along with 12 other new recordings, 6 of which were unfamiliar to me. This is a pretty toned down album, but I like it... except for Baby It's Cold Outside. I hate that song, and must everyone record it? Favorites: Tennessee Christmas, Christmas Don't Be Late, Christmas for You and Me.

3) These Christmas Lights by Matt Redman, Praise and Worship/CCM

  I don't listen to a lot of Matt Redman, but have a couple of his CDs. I figured he'd do a good Christmas CD, and he has. The CD has 11 all original songs that are well done, and different from the usual Christmas fare. It is a fairly mellow album.  Favorites: These Christmas Lights and Angels Singing

4) A Pentatonix Christmas by Pentatonix, acapella

  I am not a fan of acapella, but enjoy this group. In their short career, this is already their third Christmas CD. It has 11 tracks, 3 of them originals. I don't think I like it as well as their other two, but it was still worth buying. Favorites: Oh Come All Ye Faithful and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

My heart would be your Bethlehem

My heart would be your Bethlehem
A shelter for your birth

My body be your dwelling place

A sacred temple on this earth

By holy intervention

An act of love divine

In union with mortality

Make incarnation mine

  One might think Jesus isn't picky about where He stays. On the night of his birth on this earth, He lay in a feed trough. While doing His earthly ministry, he said the Son of Man had no place to lay His head; which would seem to indicate that He had no house. And then upon His death, He was laid in a borrowed tomb.

  So it should come as no surprise that He would want to live in our hearts. Our hearts can indeed be His Bethlehem this Christmas, and all through the year. However, unlike the baby content to lie in a dirty feed trough; He is not content to dwell in an unclean heart. If we are to have Him live in our hearts this Christmas and all year long, He will insist on cleaning up our hearts.

  There is an old hymn that goes like this:

Search me, O God, and know my heart today,

Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;

See if there be some wicked way in me;

Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.

  What better time than Christmas to ask God to do that? What better time to have Him search our hearts and see if we need to have Him do some housecleaning so He doesn't feel out of place there?

 Living the Christian life is not a life where you sit back and relax. There are days, weeks, and even months where it is all uphill and you're in the valley more than on the mountain. Doubts creep in, trusting God seems impossible at times, wrong attitudes, and other things can sneak in and weaken us and make our personal "Bethlehem" not so clean and tidy.

  It happens to me. Amid all of the depression, worry, doubt, and all of the other stuff life and the devil throws my way; Jesus can get lost in the shuffle and my own personal Bethlehem stops being the place it should be.

 Life is speeding by too fast. May this Christmas be a time we sweep out the stable and ask Jesus to show us what needs changed, where we need to improve, and to help us be all that He wants us to be.

My Heart Would Be Your Bethlehem

My heart would be your Bethlehem

A shelter for your birth

My body be your dwelling place

A sacred temple on this earth

By holy intervention

An act of love divine

In union with mortality

Make incarnation mine

My heart, my will, my mind, my all

I consecrate to bring

The Holy Son of God to earth

Oh let the angels sing

My will would bow in wonderment

Struck silent by the awe

Of angels visitation

That wakes my slumbering heart at dawn

With some annunciation

My soul could magnify

Begin in me a holy seed

That I cannot deny

Content at Christmas

 My family is big on wish lists for birthdays and Christmas. They are helpful when family members need ideas of what to buy. As I sat with pen in hand earlier this month to make my wish list, I realized there isn't much that I need or want. I actually had difficulty coming up with very many things to put on my wish list. Granted, I tend to buy what I need and want throughout the year within reason; but I realized as I looked at my rather short wish list that I am blessed.

  My pastor preached on covetousness the last two Sundays and worked Christmas into it. Christmas is the time we celebrate Jesus' birth and have an emphasis on giving, goodwill, and peace on earth. Unfortunately, it has turned into a time of getting and greed on earth. Stores put out ads advertising low prices and people trample each other and act like savages to get a good deal or the one new item that everyone has to have. Every year there is the one hard to find item that everyone wants: Cabbage Patch dolls, Tickle Me Elmos, Furbees, and the endless list goes on.

  A few years ago, Snuggies were popular. A Snuggie is a blanket with arms. I thought they sounded neat and like a good idea, so it went on my wish list..... and I got one for Christmas. Unfortunately, I looked like a pregnant monk with it on; and it was more of a bother than anything.

  Maybe the reason is two fold that I have difficulty coming up with a wish list. As I stated already, I am blessed and am not in want or need. I also believe what is important to us changes the older we get. I still enjoy getting gifts, but I enjoy giving more than I used to and what I want are not things.

  Yesterday, I picked up my three nephews and took them Christmas shopping for their parents and for each other. We met my three nieces at Walmart and did some shopping there and then went to the Dollar Tree (only a dollar store). After they shopped there to their heart's content. or actually until the boys each spent the $5 I had given each of them; we went to a local pizza place where I had ordered two large pepperoni pizzas. We added two two-liter bottles of pop and a bag of Doritos and chowed down.

  I brought the boys home with me so they could wrap their purchases. I discovered I am not the world's worst wrapper after all..... my nine year old nephew beats me in that department. My wallet was a bit lighter, and so were my spirits.

 And what had I gotten out of the day? I had bought iced tea and cheese, and shared pizza and pop with the kids; but no one bought me anything, And yet, I felt an extreme sense of happiness and satisfaction. I had spent time with my six favorite kids and helped make their day better. I had helped my nephews buy some gifts for their parents and for each other. I felt content.

  Christmas is all about giving. God gave His Son so we could have hope and be forgiven. It isn't about getting or being greedy. This Christmas, I want to be with my family and watch them as they open their gifts.... sure, I like to get gifts, and I will be thankful and happy with what I get; but I'll already have what I need most: God and my family.

 This song says it better:

My Christmas List:

Verse 1:
Filling out my Christmas list
Just like every other kid
Dreaming big, wishing for a lot
A brand new bike and matchbox cars
A telescope so I could see the stars, a BB gun or a slingshot
Now I can't remember half of what I got

Chorus:
But that's what I wanted, that's all I needed
And I wouldn't ask for another thing
I'd be happy, if only
I could get those few simple Christmas gifts
On my Christmas list

Verse 2:
Before I knew a few years passed
I was wide-eyed and growing up fast
Started asking for more important stuff
A stereo to turn up loud, a new guitar so I could rock out
And maybe a car, if it ain't too much
Back then I thought that would be enough

Chorus:
Cause that's what I wanted, that's all I needed
And I wouldn't ask for another thing
I'd be happy, if only
I could get those few simple Christmas gifts
On my Christmas list

Verse 3:
A few years later, here I am
Seeing the world as a grown up man
My perspective sure has changed
We're nowhere close to peace on earth
But my new wish for what it's worth
Is for the ones I love to be healthy and safe
And all our soldiers come home to stay, I pray


Chorus:
That's what I wanted, that's all I needed
And I wouldn't ask for another thing
I'd be happy, if only
I could get those few simple Christmas gifts
On my Christmas list

It doesn't seem like Christmas

 

I have heard the comment several times in the last couple of weeks: "It doesn't seem like Christmas."  The comment is usually brought on because of the warmer than usual weather with no snow (hallelujah!), how fast the season has rolled around, or other reasons.

  Maybe it is because I have been more introspective this Christmas than I normally am, but the comment bugs me a bit more this year than other years I have heard the same comment. Doesn't seem like Christmas? What should Christmas seem like?

Should there be snow? There most likely wasn't snow at the first Christmas.

Should more of the gifts be wrapped and bought? That wasn't a priority at the first Christmas.

Should we be more in the mood for Christmas? Not many people were even aware of the first Christmas.

   The first Christmas involved God laying in a dirty feed trough. It involved dirty and smelly shepherds being among the first people to greet the newborn King. There were no gifts, no snow covered yards, no decorations, no tree....... just a newborn baby lying in a cattle feed trough.

  We Christians tend to criticize the commercialization of Christmas, all the while commercializing it up to our chins. We like to think we have the corner of the market on the true meaning of Christmas, yet if everything isn't just how we think it should be; we think it doesn't seem like Christmas.

 So the next time you are tempted to think or utter those words "it doesn't seem like Christmas", stop and think of what that first Christmas was like and all about...... and thank God for what Christmas is all about.

Light your world

 

We had our yearly candle light service tonight at my church. It was a very nice service, and I got a lot out of it. The service also helped bring the true meaning of Christmas home to me as we gear up for the rush of the next few days to Christmas Day.

  The lights are turned off for the service; other than the lights in the vestibule, some lighting on the platform, and some candles and Christmas lights up front. You can see, but the church is fairly dark during the service.

  There are songs, a short sermon, a story, and then the moment the service is named for: the lighting of the candles. Everyone has a short candle with a plastic holder on it to catch the wax. The pianist and organist play "O Holy Night"softly as our pastor takes his candle and lights it from a candle on the table behind him. He then lights the songleader's candle. They step off the platform and light the candles of the 6 ushers. The ushers then proceed back the aisles, lighting the candles of each person on the ends of the pews; who in turn light the candle of the person beside them.

  I would guess there was close to 300 people there. The candles are small and don't give out much light, but I noticed that the more candles got lit; the brighter the sanctuary became. It wasn't so dark in there anymore, and yet the light came from small candles. The pastor's candle alone didn't make much difference, and neither did the addition of the ushers' six candles. Yet when most, and then all of the candles were lit; it made a huge difference in the lighting of the church sanctuary.

  As I watched the church sanctuary grow brighter as candle after candle was lit; I thought about that. The world we live in is so dark and getting darker by the day. It seems wrong is glorified and is winning, while right and good are losing and are mocked and in some cases outlawed and/or shut down.

  And there we are: the Christians. Are we letting our light shine? One of us may not make much of a difference in this wicked and dark world we are living in, but if we all let our light shine; then just like the small candles at my church we can make the world a brighter place and show the world that we have the best thing this world can never offer: Jesus.

 There was an article posted recently titled "8 Bands You Didn't Realize Were Christian." I commented with "isn't that a sad commentary on their lives and Christianity if no one realizes they are Christian??" And it is true. It is also true for anyone who claims to be a Christian. If people would be surprised to find out that we are a Christian, something is wrong. We either are not letting our light shine, or we are not living the way we should. May God help us at this time of year and all year long to shine bright enough to light the part of the world we are in: while we are at work, shopping, at home, and everywhere we go. Jesus said we are the light of the world, so let us shine for Him.

Light your world, let the love of God shine through
In the little things you do light your world

Two doors down one rocking chair is rocking
She sits there all alone, her husband dead and gone
The best years of her life they spent together
He was always strong, but now she's on her own

And the telephone never rings
No one laughs, no one sings
It's quiet there, does anyone care?

Light your world, let the love of God shine through
In the little things you do, light your world
And though your light may be
Reaching only two or three, light your world

A knocking at her door breaks the silence
She looks out to see a little boy from down the street
She cracks the door, surprised that he came over
Flowers in his hand like a little gentleman

He said, "I picked these just for you
I hope you like the color blue
Could I stay a while, I love to see you smile"

And light your world, let the love of God shine through
In the little things you do, light your world
And though your light may be
Reaching only two or three, light your world

It only takes a little time
To show someone how much you care
It only takes a little time
To answer someone's biggest prayer

Light your world, let the love of God shine through
In the little things you do, light your world
And though your light may be
Reaching only two or three, light your world

Let the love of God shine through
In the little things you do, light your world
And though your light may be
Reaching only two or three, light your world