Jesus- MERRY CHRISTMAS

It has been a crazy year with this volatile election, a strained economy and moral battles being fought everywhere.  The year has also flown by and no sooner did we throw away the Halloween candy, than Christmas decorations filled the retail stores and ads for Black Friday filled us with anxiety.  Thanksgiving was nearly overlooked in the hustle and bustle, but I hope you had time to take a deep breath and give thanks for your blessings.  Now that Thanksgiving has officially passed, I officially start celebrating Christmas.  I love Christmas.  I'm sure some of it has to do with childhood memories of Christmas past, but as I've matured spiritually, I've gained new eyes of understanding.

I walked into a large retail store the other day, and I saw a big sign, saying "Merry Christmas."  This same store, in the past, would only go as far as to say, "Happy Holidays" in a politically correct way.  It was refreshing to see Christ make His way back into the Christmas greeting.  It is good to remember that this country still celebrates a national holiday called, "Christmas."  The word, "Christ" refers to Jesus and means, The Lord's Anointed and the suffix "mas" means festival.  So, collectively, as Americans, we pause to celebrate a Festival of the Lord's Anointed One.

As I think about all the debates in this country about what we believe and some of the ideology that is so contrary to Christian beliefs, I am thrilled to know that this country still honors Jesus Christ with a holiday.  Or do we?  Has the "Name Above Every Name" become only a syllable that is glazed over and missed in our revelry?  I want to spend this week honoring Jesus.  He is my Lord and my Savior and the King of Kings, and He is the Spirit behind Christmas spirit.

We have a tradition in our family where we hide a special ornament on our Christmas tree and on Christmas morning, the first one to find the ornament gets to open the first Christmas present.  Similarly, Jesus may be hidden in the midst of your Christmas celebration, and I want to help you find Him so you can discover the greatest gift ever given.