Is Jesus your reason for celebrating Christmas?

As you wrap your last gifts, run your final errands and participate in your Christmas Eve church services, I want to encourage you to remember – really remember – why you’re doing all this.  We all say “Jesus is the reason for the season” but, if Jesus – his birth, death, resurrection – is actually the reason we celebrate, then his presence should be felt in everything we do.  For example:

• Take him with you as you patiently wait in line at the grocery store for those forgotten items
• Remember his gift of love to you as you wrap your gifts of love to your loved ones
• Share his story with your children on Christmas morning (Luke 2)
• Remind each other to be thankful for every gift under the tree (even that gift from your auntie Helen)
• Try not to complain when the stress of the day begins to eat away at you (turn your mind back to positive things)
• Mend a relationship while preparing Christmas dinner with family
• Acknowledge that this precious child - the baby Jesus – brought peace to the world in the palm of his hand (his crucifixion)

These and many other evidences are part of the experience of a Jesus-filled, Jesus-inspired holiday.  Don’t get caught up in the world’s idea of Christmas.  Make Jesus the real reason you celebrate this year.