Christmas

So.... How was everyone's Christmas?

I have to say that mine was half decent, but this year it has not felt like Christmas at all. It is the strangest thing! It makes someone begin to really think about it. Why does it not feel like Christmas? I had to think about this, and I just realized it now. It is because it is no longer about Christ.

Did any of you know the real meaning of Merry Christmas? It is so often misunderstood. So many believe it is about Santa Claus, or about some guy name Scrooge. And the worst part, they are now changing the holiday name. Look around, any store, they will say happy holidays. The signs say the same thing. The trees are called holiday trees, not Christmas trees, and why is that? They are trying to hide what Christmas is really about.

The real meaning of the phrase Merry Christmas means the joyful and anxious return of the savior of the world Jesus Christ. Not some story about wisemen and shepherds and a baby with animals, but the savior of the world. Yes that is a part of the story, but Jesus didn't come so we could say that there was a baby in a manger, he came so we could proclaim to the world that he had saved us through his death. The two parts of the story should be put together. Yes, each season has a specific reason for the celebration, and yes Christmas was about Jesus' birth, but I have even found for myself that I forget the ultimate reason and just say that he was a baby born from a virgin because God decided to send his son to earth. Now I am sorry, but that sounds ridiculous if you don't give the rest of the story.

Now I know that I just talked about not doing this already, but I am going to post the Christmas story according to Luke 2, and I want you to really think about it. I am 17 years old and I have grown up with this story. But I so often forget to really think about this story. Read and absorb. :D

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up form Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which  the Lord hath made known unto us". And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."  - Luke 2:1-20