Wishing You a Merry Christmas

We've eaten our turkey, loved on our grandchildren, and smiled for our family photo. We even survived a shopping trip in San Antonio on Black Friday, and now we find ourselves officially In the Christmas season.

It seems to come sooner each year, and I love that there is so much attention given to the birth of our Lord. Sadly, the long Christmas season is not due to the fact that we wish to lavish praise on our Savior but rather that there is decorating to do, gifts to purchase, food to prepare, parties to plan, and on and on it goes. I wonder if our private prayer times or Bible-reading times ever suffer because of the busyness of the Christmas season. If so, wouldn't that be ironic!

I know you've heard it so many times, but I'm going to say it again: Don't forget the reason for the season.

One of our daughters keeps the family collection of Christmas books in the same boxes as the decorations. This way, each year when the totes come down from the attic and the familiar ornaments go up all over the house, the books also emerge and are new all over again. Immediately, the kids are curled up on the couch reading about the birth of Jesus or begging Mom and Dad to read them the precious story we have all heard so many times but never tire of. I love this idea because it gives these books a special place of importance. I wish we had thought of this when we were raising our children!

I would like to encourage you to keep Christ in Christmas by reading the story of his birth with your family throughout the holiday season. The Biblical accounts are found in Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke 1:5-2:40.

I love the account in Luke because it is so thorough and links the birth of Jesus to the birth of John. I love the story of Mary going to visit her cousin and receiving the amazing blessing that Elizabeth bestowed. I also love the prophetic words spoken by Zechariah as soon as his ability to speak is restored.

The most well-known and poignant portion of this account, the verses we hear read so often in Christmas pageants, is Luke 2:1-20. This short piece is great for a family Christmas-Eve reading around the fireplace or Christmas tree. It begins with the trip to Bethlehem and encompasses the birth in a stable, the visit by the shepherds, and Mary treasuring these things in her heart. This portion of scripture is so beautifully written and so touching, it bears memorizing and reciting over and over. This year, why not ask one of your children to read this passage before the opening of the gifts?

The passage in Matthew is important as well. You must go there to get the account of the visit of the Magi, which is a very compelling and suspenseful story and must be included as you set the scene for your family to fully understand the backdrop against which the drama of the birth of Jesus is set.

Obviously, these passages of scripture are the most important sources of information about the birth of Jesus. However, there are several beautifully-written Bible-story books that tell this story and bring it to life with pictures for your little ones. I've found that most retailers stock the shelves with books about Santa and snowmen, and the few books about the birth of Jesus are often lacking in accuracy. If you shop for a book for your child at a retail store, I would suggest a Christian bookstore or Hobby Lobby.

For my Christmas story, Gabriel's Big Announcement, I used the account in Luke as my guide and included the birth of John, with the prophetic words of his father rewritten in poetic verse:

"You, my child, will be the prophet proclaiming the Lord Most High.

You will tell the people about salvation by-and by.

The rising sun shall come to us from heaven, you'll proclaim,

Shining in the darkness like a never-ending flame,

Leading us out of the shadow of death and guiding our feet to peace,

Bringing salvation from our sins, and the mercies of God shall not cease!'"

I hope you'll add this book and others to your collection and perhaps find a way to make these a special part of the holiday tradition, as my daughter has done.

You can get Gabriel's Big Announcement from Amazon at the following link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/zgsywepb9n​

Or you can buy directly from me and save by getting all four Rhyming WORD Series Books in a bundle at this link: https://square.link/u/xfsLntRJ. (This offer is only available to customers who have a shipping address within the US.)

What special traditions do you have that help you keep Christ in Christmas? You may reply to this email to let me know. I love to hear from all of you, and I respond to all emails. I may even share your ideas in a future newsletter.

So here's wishing you and all of your loved ones a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.