Christmas is not your birthday

Given the last four or so posts were about all the celebrating we did for Christmas with family and friends I feel compelled to state my case for the fact that Christmas really isn't about us.  Christmas is a celebration honoring Jesus and why God sent him to earth to walk and talk among us.  It is easy to get caught up in the hoopla and hype our consumer world wants us to turn Christmas into - and, sure, all that is fun and perpetuates family traditions and togetherness, but we worked hard this year to also talk with and teach the boys about the importance of giving to others, being thankful for our blessings and showing genuine love and generosity to others during the holiday season and throughout the year. 

The boys helped us choose toys to donate to children who wouldn't receive toys otherwise.  Brayden and I visited a local teen shelter to donate clothing, hygiene and food items.  Brayden even donated special Christmas treats he received.  Rather than giving trinkets to teachers and colleagues we opted to make them a nice card, small homemade treat and made a donation in their honor to a local charity that packages meals for starving people around the world.  We explained to the boys what the plan was and why it was important.  The more we talked the more ideas we generated together to do even more next year.  Even though they are young, Brayden and Grayson are staring to "get it".

Our church had a series of sermons entitled Christmas is not your birthday.  The sermon series was phenomenal and filled with insightful ways to think about the season of giving and to authentically and practically share our gifts and services.  I'm fortunate to be part of a group of writers who submit weekly devotionals related to the sermon series and shared with our congregation.  I wrote the devotionals for Monday's during this series and wanted to summarize them below for reference in the years to come. 

First up:

Week 1: "Christmas is not your birthday."
Read Isaiah 7: 14, 9:6, 7, 42: 1-9
These prophecies from Isaiah help us focus on God’s purpose in sending his son to restore our lives. God sent his one and only Son to bring justice and peace on earth. Keeping Christ in Christmas requires we understand what Jesus came to do.

Life Application
How would you feel if no one acknowledged your birthday or only did so as they rushed on to other, more important, things? Our culture makes it so easy to get caught up in the materialism and over-indulgence of Christmas. Children begin their wish lists long before the leaves have fallen, advertisements lure us, and we indulge our wants and desires with elaborate parties, feasts, gift-giving and celebration. At the end of the celebration we feel anything but peace and joy because those celebrations overshadowed the one true reason for this blessed Christmas season – the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Below, write down three changes you can make to your regular Christmas activities to more fully experience the joy of knowing that God is with us?

During His time on earth Jesus was a humble servant. Today, He serves us from heaven with His abiding love, care and guidance. How can you serve others sacrificially and selflessly? What steps can you take to help a friend, family member, child or stranger to know the love of a Savior that gave His life for us?

To read more see, Matthew 1:18-25.

Week 2:  Jesus' Wish List
Read Matthew 25: 31-45
As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, we focus on what is important to Him. Christ doesn’t value fancy new electronics, the coolest new toys and beautiful new clothes. He values our devotion and trust in Him. He values the love and kindness we share with others.

Life Application
If someone were to ask you what the top five things on Jesus’ wish list were, what would you say? Moral kindness? Peace on earth? Goodwill to men? The words and music to the song Little Drummer Boy were composed in 1958. As this musical story goes, the Little Drummer Boy was beckoned to the manger. While he watched the wise men lay fine gifts before the newborn King he was saddened because he had no fine gifts to offer. When he humbly offered to play his drum for this new King he gave all that he had. He gave Jesus is heart. What does it mean to give Jesus your heart? How do you put that love and trust in Jesus into action?

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (NIV vs. 40). An indifferent attitude towards the people around us is an indifferent attitude towards Jesus. Jesus wants us to bless others with the gifts we have received. Consider your gift buying list. Does it include anyone you don’t know personally? What are three things you could incorporate into your gift list to share Jesus, show love and do for “the least of these brothers and sisters” this Christmas season?

To read more see, Proverbs 19:17.

Week 3:  Giving up on perfect
Read Luke 1: 26-38
Mary teaches us what it means to be humble, available and obedient to what God wants to do in our lives. She teaches us how to experience the peace of knowing that God is with us, the joy of giving, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us.

Life Application


Jesus was born during an imperfect time of great oppression, to a poor mother, in poor and unsanitary conditions. People were suspicious of this parentage. Yet in this same Jesus we find a Savior sent into the world that we may one day live eternally with him. Say a prayer asking God to search and know your heart that you might be humble, available and obedient to the plans He has for you.

To read more see, Luke 1-39-45.

Week 4: The World is in His Hands
Read Psalm 90
Several prophecies predict 2012 will bring an end to the world. Jesus says only the Father knows when the world will end. A faith-filled response to the earthly challenges of 2012 requires godly wisdom. When we put our faith in God and realize that our life is about praising and serving God, not about us, we find wisdom.

Life Application
We each have unique insights and knowledge, but the extent of our wisdom is limited to our areas of influence. Compared to the wisdom of an all-knowing God, our wisdom amounts to nearly nothing. Where and how do you seek wisdom? How would you respond if someone told you the world was coming to an end? Is your response faith-filled, fear-filled or ambivalent? “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” V. 12. Few things in life are permanent, but we can take comfort in knowing God’s presence never leaves us. Even in the darkest days and challenges in life, God has a divine purpose. When we commit ourselves to God through prayer for grace and mercy, we find peace and can use our days to glorify God in every way. Consider a difficult time in your life. Looking back on it now can you identify God’s purpose or the blessings that developed as a result? Make a list of those blessings.

To read more see, Psalm 39: 4-13.

Week 5: The Ultimate G*ft
Read John 1: 1-18
The word became flesh and lived among us. Jesus was human. Jesus was God. Jesus is available to all who will receive him and believe in his name.

Life Application
In life we desire to earn special rights and privileges almost from the moment we are born. With the birth of Jesus, we are given all the rights and privileges of being children of God. We don’t have to earn God’s love and grace like we do every other privilege. He offers it freely. We simply must seek to know God’s son, Jesus, and follow His example. Do you offer rights and privileges freely to others or believe they should be earned? Should privileges be conditional?

The word and God are timeless for eternity. Through Jesus we receive an inextinguishable supply of grace and truth. We don’t have to wonder about the nature and personality of God. Jesus has declared it with both His teaching and His life. While we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, we, rather than he, receive the ultimate gift of a lifetime. By seeking Jesus and trusting God we receive the gift of eternal life. How do you seek to know Jesus in your daily life?

Week 6: By a Different Way
Read Matthew 2: 1-12
Just as the wise men returned by another route, the New Year presents an opportunity for each of us to reroute or lives to focus our faith in God by worshiping Him and by loving and serving others.

Life Application
The precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were not presented to Mary or Joseph, but to Jesus. Undeniably, the infant Jesus had no use for these gifts. His parents, however, used the gifts wisely on His behalf and towards His benefit. When we give to Jesus we do not give to Him directly, but we give to His people by sharing our gifts. His people, in turn, use those gifts toward His behalf and benefit. How will you use and share your gifts differently in the New Year?

“Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way” (vs. 12). The wise men were obedient to a heavenly dream when they followed a new path rather than returning on the path to Herrod. What lessons have you learned in the past year to reroute your life as you enter into a New Year? How can you cultivate your relationship with God in the year to come?

To read more see, Micah 5:2.

Side Note:
Life gets busy and I - like so many others - get caught in all the things I think I should or am expected to do to celebrate special holidays.  These scriptures and thoughts - as well as those submitted by the other writers - helped our family stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas.