Keeping Christmas in 2018

Two weeks ago, millions of people around the world celebrated Christmas. People adorned Christmas trees with family heirlooms, prepared lavish meals to be savored by family and friends, and shared personally selected gifts with loved ones. For some people, Christmas preparations began months in advance, ensuring that every single ornament was hanging on the precise branch, while simultaneously making sure the cookies would have the perfect ratio of sprinkles to frosting. Yet for many of those who once looked forward to this splendid holiday, they were disappointed on December 26th. Why? Christmas did not live up to their high expectations. For others, the idea that the holidays were over was a letdown of monumental proportions. But as someone once said, all good things must come to an end. But does Christmas truly have to end? Is there a reason we cannot keep Christmas in our hearts all year long?

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. My Dad and I leave our Christmas decorations up until after February 7th, my Mom’s birthday. She always loved Christmas and wanted to enjoy the decorations a little bit longer. Although she passed away nine years ago, we continue this tradition in her honor. As much as I love the warm, inviting glow of the Christmas lights in our living room, keeping our Christmas tree around a little longer is certainly a welcome sight.

Over the holidays, I love the fact you can go into almost any store or restaurant and hear the classic carols of Christmas sounding forth on the loudspeakers. Christmas garland adorns most every window frame and beautifully decorated trees seem to sprout from nearly every corner. It seems like nothing can dampen the Christmas spirit, as individuals smile a little wider, give more generously, and love even deeper. Even so, there is one aspect of Christmas that makes everything else seem insignificant. The most important part of Christmas is the birthday of the King.

Through the years, Christmas has taken on a myriad of definitions. There are nearly as many Christmas traditions and ideals as there are stars in the sky. There’s the Giant Lantern Festival in the Philippines, the Yule Lads of Iceland, the Christmas Markets in Europe, and so many other holiday celebrations around the world. From Frosty the Snowman to Santa’s reindeer, people have been creating Christmas characters for many a decade. Not to mention the traditional sugary treats, such as gingerbread houses, Yule logs, and candy canes. Although these things are all very festive, the real meaning of Christmas often becomes lost in the holiday shuffle.

Instead of keeping Christ at the center of Christmas, the baby Jesus figurine in the manger repeatedly gets placed on the proverbial shelf, if you will, with everyone and everything else. But if we focus on the true reason for Christmas, it will become clear that baby Jesus does not belong next to the Elf on the Shelf. Once we begin to grasp the magnitude of the birth of Jesus Christ, we will realize the First Christmas is not just another story. The birth of Jesus changed the world forever.

A little over two thousand years ago, an angel appeared to shepherds in a field and said, “‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger’” (Luke 2:10-12). This great joy for all people extends to you and me. Without the birth of Jesus, we would never be able to realize true joy. This kind of joy is not to be compared with the happiness of purchasing a new car or sitting down to a delightful meal. The joy the angels spoke of is unspeakable joy, a kind of joy that will last eternally. The birth of Jesus brings everlasting joy, unending peace, and eternal hope.

Jesus did not come to earth, so we could wish him happy birthday once a year and pack Him away with the glass ornaments and table linens. He came to earth, so we could have a road to redemption. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). God knew it would take a perfect sacrifice to wash away our sins. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, grew up to be crucified for our sins (see John 3:16). Because of the sacrifice He made on Calvary, we can receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus came to give us abundant life, so shouldn’t we worship and adore Him 365 days a year?

Granted, many people have already taken down their Christmas decorations. Their fragile ornaments have been carefully wrapped and the lights have been painstakingly and strategically placed in a box, with the hopes that they will not come out in one tangled bundle this coming holiday season. Most of the Christmas goodies have been eaten, save a few stray cookies, boxes of candy, and leftovers in the freezer. Christmas apparel is stowed away until it is deemed “close enough to Christmas” to wear them once again. While someone may call the fashion police if we wear our fancy Christmas sweater during the spring or summer months, there is no reason we cannot wear Christmas in our hearts all year through.

Will you join me in keeping Christmas all year long in 2018? Let us thank God for His indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15). He sent His only Son to be born in humble beginnings, so He could reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As the new Christmas song my Dad wrote says, “If it wasn’t for that baby, forever we’d be lost.” Jesus Christ brought salvation to the world. Christmas is not just another date on the calendar, but the birthday of the King. Let us spend every single day of the year, glorifying the name above all names, Jesus Christ!

Click here for a free mp3 download of my Dad's new Christmas song, "From the Manger to the Cross."

Faith Makes All Things Possible!

When was the last time you heard someone say, “I can’t?” Or perhaps you recently heard someone remark, “That’s impossible!” Many times in life, we find ourselves faced with challenges that truly seem insurmountable. Our family may have unreasonable expectations of our abilities, our boss may ask too much of us, and our friends may become disappointed if we cannot be there for them every single time they need us. God may often give us a task that seems impossible. But it is in these moments when we feel so unqualified, so insignificant, that God reminds us that He makes all things possible. In our own strength, we can do nothing, but with God’s strength, we can do anything! By putting our faith in God, all things become possible!

One of the prime examples of the impossible becoming possible comes from the book of I Samuel. A young man by the name of David finds himself in the midst of a battle. Completely unprepared for the encounter, he is pitted against the largest man on the opposing side: Goliath. Now Goliath is a giant, both literally and figuratively. The Bible calls him a “champion” and says that he stood at a height of 9’9” or 3 meters (I Samuel 17:4). Compare Goliath to David, the youngest son of Jesse, one of Saul’s servants. David does not spend time on the battlefield, but spends most of his time tending his father’s sheep. When David says that he will fight the Philistine, even King Saul himself is doubtful of David’s ability to conquer the giant. Saul said, “‘You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth’” (I Samuel 17:33). Even so, David has something that Goliath does not have: faith in God.

David knows that God will protect him from all harm, just as He promises in His Word. He said, “‘The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine’” (I Samuel 17:37). David is offered Saul’s very own tunic, as well as a bronze helmet, coat of armor, and sword. But he wasn’t used to all of that heavy equipment. Instead, he goes down to the stream and collects five smooth stones. He didn’t use special armor. He wasn’t carrying any high-tech weapons. He did not even wear a helmet. He had a slingshot, some small stones, and faith that could move mountains. Most importantly, he knew that the true and living God would be his shield in battle.

David wasn’t acting out of naivety or inexperience. He was acting on faith. Goliath approaches him with his shield bearer going before him, taunting David as he sees this inexperienced warrior bringing “sticks” into the battle (I Samuel 17:43). But David was not deterred by Goliath’s unfavorable commentary. David simply states, “‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied’” (I Samuel 17:45). David had faith that God would carry out His plan. Although he may have been scared or worried, he remained faithful, confidently relying on God’s power to bring him to victory.

What if we had such great faith? How would our lives be different if we had faith that a few small stones would slay a giant standing in our way? David did not have any superpowers. He was just an ordinary human being whom God used to accomplish something truly extraordinary. Through faith, David became a high ranking officer in Saul’s army. But his greatest accomplishment was that he obeyed God and God honored him because of his faithfulness.

God will do the same for you. Whatever you are going through, God is looking out for you. He wants to be your shield in battle, your rock that you can stand on, your shelter from the storm. Have faith that God will make all things possible. Matthew 17:20 says, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Have faith that God will be with you, every step of the way. With faith in God, the impossible becomes possible!

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer

Jesus Gave His Life For Love

My dad is one of the best examples of Christ’s love that I have ever known.  He loves me so much that he would truly do anything to ensure my well-being, safety, and health.  That’s how fathers and mothers are.  They would run into a burning building, or dash in front of a moving truck, in an effort to protect their children.  So how much more did our Heavenly Father love us?  So much that He gave His only Son to show His love for us.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  God didn’t just give His Son’s life for one or two people.  He gave His only Son for every man, woman, boy, and girl on this earth. 

When was the last time you said, “I love you,” to someone you know?  Was it this morning at breakfast?  Or last night before you went to bed?  Sometimes, we just get busy.  Before you know it, a day, a week, or even a month may go by before we realize we have not recently told our loved ones how much we love them.  Funny, isn’t it?  How can we become so busy that we do not tell the ones we love that we love them?  Sure, they know this already; however, we all have an inherent need to be loved.  We all need to hear those three little words every now and then.  Of course, sometimes love is shown in a different way and requires no verbalizing whatsoever.

Consider the love of Jesus Christ.  He didn’t just send us a card on Valentine’s Day.  He didn’t send us a text message, follow us on Twitter, or befriend us on Facebook.  And He didn’t make a phone call, send a letter, or e-mail us either.  No.  Jesus Christ died to show us how great His love is for us.  I John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is; Jesus laid down His life for us.”  The Bible clearly states that love is the selfless act of Jesus giving His life for us.  He loved us so much that He endured the agony of the cross, so that we might have eternal life in Heaven.  The Son of the living God went above and beyond every gift ever given in the history of mankind.  He gave His life.  Not just for a particular person of a certain race, culture, socioeconomic status, or other demographical statistic.  Jesus Christ died for every single person on the planet.

As Jesus Christ hung on the cross, He thought of you.  He knew you needed redemption.  He knew you needed a friend.  He knew you needed to be loved.  He didn’t die for fame or fortune.  He didn’t die to have His name engraved on a plaque in a prominent place or have His picture on the cover of People Magazine.  Jesus Christ died to cleanse us of our sins.  I am a sinner.  You are a sinner.  We are all sinners.  The Bible says that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  God’s Word also states, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).  It doesn’t say that He was pierced for the transgressions of criminals, murderers, or abusers.  It says He was pierced for our transgressions.  He bore all of the pain and suffering for everyone.  Why?  Because that is how much He loves us.

No matter what you’ve done in your life, there is no place beyond the reach of Jesus Christ.  He can make the vilest sinner clean.  Maybe you have taken drugs to the point where you think life is pointless.  Perhaps you have consumed enough alcohol that you have medical concerns being raised.  You may be abusing your family, whether physically or verbally.  In spite of all you have done, there is forgiveness found through Jesus Christ.  As Christ hung on the cross, one of the criminals hanging next to Him said, “Remember me” (Luke 23:42).  He had likely never walked in the door of a church.  He may have never read the Bible, given to his favorite charity, or even said a kind word to anyone.  But he believed that Jesus Christ had the divine power to redeem him of his sins.  Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Jesus Christ extends the same grace and mercy to you.  Romans 10:9 states, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  There is no special prayer or secret code.  It is simple enough that a child can understand.  Just call on the name of Jesus Christ.  Believe that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who arose on the third day.  Put your trust in Jesus Christ today and you will be saved.  He will cleanse your sins, mend your broken heart, and fill your mind with peace that passes all understanding.  There is hope in Jesus Christ.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine!  That’s why Jesus gave His life: for love.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

After-Christmas Sales

If you’re like me, your e-mail inbox is likely inundated with After-Christmas sales. Take 50% off of this pair of shoes or save $20 on that new smartphone. Just three days ago, millions of people celebrated Christmas and many of them opened gifts on Christmas morning. Yet, the moment after we receive these gifts especially chosen for us by our loved ones, we often rush out to get the latest and greatest items we can afford. While I certainly enjoy shopping, I do find it disappointing that Christmas has become so commercialized. Since when has a holiday meant to celebrate the birthday of a King turned into a holiday filled with questions of “what did you get?” Why should we focus on what we received instead of realizing the overwhelming need to give to others? Giving goes beyond a present tied with a fancy little bow, tucked beneath the tree. We can give love, joy, happiness, and so much more. The very heart of Christmas has nothing to do with something purchased at a store. The very heart of Christmas centers on the One I’m living for, Jesus Christ.

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. I love every part of this glorious holiday, from the cookies that tame my sweet tooth to the trees that are so beautifully adorned. I also like the fact that I can walk into a store, greeted with Christmas music and a friendly, “Merry Christmas!” from the store clerk. But the greatest part of Christmas is not the twinkling lights or the neatly wrapped gifts under the tree. Why, it’s not even the time I was able to spend in New York City with my dad. Without question, the most impressive aspect of this holiday season is the fact that God sent His Son to be born in a manger. This gift didn’t need to be wrapped or sent via UPS. It was a gift filled with love. It was the gift of eternal life.

When God thought about what to give us for Christmas, He did not send us the latest technological gadget or fashion forward outfit for Christmas. Instead, He sent us a gift that had eternal value. God gave us the best Christmas gift ever: Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He knew that we didn’t need another pair of socks in our drawer or another dust catcher on our shelf. And while this gift had the greatest price tag of all, His Son’s life, this gift was freely given to the world. God has granted eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, to all who confess their sins and believe. This gift is offered not just on Christmas, but 365 days a year. A relationship with Jesus Christ will change your life. I encourage you to put your trust in Jesus Christ today. For tomorrow may be too late.

Just like those limited-time, After-Christmas bargains, our lives will not last forever. James 4:14 clearly states, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14 NIV). Life is the greatest gift that we have ever been given. We need to use each and every moment to our best ability, ensuring that we do not waste even one millisecond of it. Having lost many people close to me, including my Mom, I can tell you that life truly is a vapor that only remains for a short time. We have no guarantee of tomorrow. So embrace today. Don’t worry about whether or not that new gadget needs new batteries. And that sweater that’s too big can be exchanged another day. Instead, spend time with your family and friends, not knowing how many more dinners you’ll enjoy together or how many more meaningful conversations you’ll have.

Cherish each moment you have with your loved ones, both now and in the coming New Year. Give them something more than a gift wrapped in a box or a bag. Give them more than a once-a-year present at Christmastime. Give them time with you, give them a listening ear, and give them the one thing we all need: love. Even on that first Christmas night, God himself knew that we needed love. God knew what the world needed most of all. He knew that we needed a gift that would carry us through every day of the year, not just in the month of December. And despite the commercialization of Christmas, not one single thing has changed. We still need unconditional love. We still need a Savior. We still need Jesus.

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer

CHRISTmas is Coming!

Christmas is such a special time of year.  I love the glow of the Christmas lights on the tree, the way the stockings hang from the mantle that is topped with a nativity scene and the smell of fresh baked cookies as they are removed from the oven.  And I especially love the aroma that fills the house when I make my mom’s white meringue chocolate chip cookies, or when my dad makes his perfectly spiced pumpkin pie on Christmas Day.  Both of these delectable desserts melt in my mouth with a tantalizing taste that is scrumptiously satisfying to my sweet tooth.  Of course, nothing is better than the warmth in my heart that is borne of filling gift boxes with something special for family and friends.  Every aspect of Christmas is so special, so endearing, so treasured.  But the real reason I love Christmas is because of a precious little baby boy who was born one night many years ago.

Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was not born in a palace, but a stable.  He was not placed in a cradle lined in luxurious plush blankets, but a manger filled with hay.  He was born to a virgin; his father was a carpenter.  He grew up to be the Savior of the world and died for the forgiveness of our sins.  He gave a gift we could never give.  It wasn’t a new pair of tennis shoes, a necktie, or a fruitcake.  Jesus gave all He could possibly give: His life.  That’s the greatest gift of all.  That’s unconditional love.  That’s Christmas.

So this year, I encourage you to look past the list of 101 things to do before Christmas.  Look past the cards to write, presents to wrap, and cookies to bake.  Look past the house to clean, tree to trim, and parties to attend.  Look past all of the things that may worry you or stress you and look to the One for whom this joyous holiday is being held.  Christmas is the birthday of a King.  Jesus is the King who does not require a fancy banquet or an elaborate celebration.  All He requires is an open door inside your heart, so He can come inside.  He doesn’t want you to become frazzled over holiday plans.  He wants you to enjoy the time with family and friends.  He wants you to spend time with Him.  He wants you to feel His amazing love.  And He wants you to love Him in return.

As you trim the tree, wrap the presents, and bake the cookies this Christmas, remember the reason for the CHRISTmas season: Jesus Christ!  Whether or not Frosty and Santa come to town, you can be assured that Jesus Christ IS coming to the celebration.  The lights glisten with a festive glow, the ornaments dangle from the boughs of the tree, and the angel tops the tree with a divine smile on his or her face.  But the most glorious part of Christmas is all about the manger underneath the tree, on the mantle, or out on the lawn.  For the baby in the manger is the Savior of the world.  He is the reason we live, the reason we laugh, the reason we love.  Jesus Christ is the reason for CHRISTmas.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer