Merry Christmas, dear people! Oh, how I pray that you are filled with God’s love, joy, and peace this day and always! This is a joyous celebration—a light has dawned on our darkness!
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:2 & 6)
I celebrate Christmas because …
Why not dedicate a day to pondering and celebrating the birth of the Light of the world?
Pretty lights and gifts and candle-lit services and decorated trees and sweet family time can all point to the greater meaning of Christmas.
Some people choose to celebrate this day in a worldly, perhaps even pagan, way. Some people choose not to celebrate. But as for me, I believe that every day is the Lord’s. And I have the freedom to celebrate and make merry and rejoice in Him … just as I may on any day.
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters. (Psalm 24:1-2)
And just because pagans celebrate pagan things on this day, doesn’t mean that I can’t celebrate Christ on Christmas! If He is the almighty, powerful Creator and Lord of the universe, then all belongs to Him. Even Christmas Day. I don’t think we have to be afraid of the pagan traditions that happen on certain days … we can overcome that evil by celebrating good and right. Because all was made by Him and for Him.
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17)
So whether you celebrate Christmas, eat chocolate cake, go to a dance, work a job, attend a church service, clean your house, read a book, prepare food, wear a pretty dress, write a blog post … DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. Every day, every moment, every happening is an opportunity to make much of His name. It’s all about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:30-31)
In the book of Acts, Apostle Paul takes a saying used by pagan poets, and uses it, instead, to speak of the one true God! Indeed, I believe that all the world – words, days, all food, and the starry hosts – belong to God and can be used for His honor and glory.
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:22-31)
We should delight in Jesus Christ every day! Christmas is just one more opportunity to make much of His holy name. I can say: Today is the day I reflect on my incredible Savior’s birth. His awesome life. His death—sacrifice. His resurrection. This day, I specially dwell on and celebrate the day my Hope was born and my salvation made possible. This day I rejoice in the fact that the Lover of my soul chose to descend to earth, be born of a virgin named Mary, live a perfect life, and shed His blood for my sake. Oh, what a beautiful, powerful reason to celebrate.
So, I celebrate.
Dear readers, may you grow in His love and breathe in His grace each and every day! Blessings to you!
Lady Grace ❤
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation. (Luke 1:46-50)
41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:41-45)
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:9-20)
Lady Grace ~ a quiet & gentle spirit 