Christmas can often be a fun time of receiving silly stocking stuffers, eating cute Christmas cookies, and seeing family you haven't seen in months or years. During all of the hustle and bustle that surrounds the world's most popular holiday, let's remember what the true meaning of Christmas is. Let's remember Jesus came 2,000 years ago with a loving plan for redemption. Last year for my blog post preceding Christmas, I shared five special activities that my family has done to celebrate Christ during the Christmas season. This year, I want to share seven simple ideas of how you can have a more Christ-centered Christmas. I hope this will help you and your family celebrate the birth of Christ, God Incarnate.
1. Attend a Christmas concert at a church or school. Hearing little kids or your close friends play The First Noel, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and Joy to the World is good for our souls. These carols are lyrical masterpieces that create community and remind us of profound truths.
2. Be a blessing to a nursing home and sing classic Christmas carols to the residents there. Music is powerful and singing O Holy Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is sure to bring smiles and perhaps tears to people's eyes.
3. Buy gifts for those who have far less than us. Search through Samaritan's Purse Christmas catalog, and bring clean water to a community, stand with persecuted Christians, or provide life-saving medical equipment.
4. Consider serving at a homeless shelter such as the Evansville Rescue Mission. Volunteers are needed to serve food, organize clothes, and complete clerical work. Display the love of Christ to those who are in need.
5. Elf and A Christmas Story are often at the top of people's favorite Christmas movies, but those movies aren't really about Christmas. Watch The Nativity Story, The Star, or Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night. These movies have their weaknesses; however, they do focus on the greatest gift we have - Jesus.
6. Go on a prayer walk in your neighborhood, at your child's school, or at a local church. Walking near the people and places you are praying for might help you better know what to pray for and can show others that you care.
7. Last, but not least, read about Christ's birth (Luke 2:1-20) on Christmas Eve or Christmas or better yet, both. Get in God's Word and rejoice at the miracle of the virgin birth. Give God the glory and have your most Christ-centered Christmas ever!
"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19
