Christmas is upon us. Stores have had decorations out since after Halloween, radio stations have been playing carols since Thanksgiving, elves have been hiding and playing tricks on kids, lights decorate our homes. Kids sit on Santa's lap, families bake cookies, Hallmark plays cheesy movies. Parents rush to send out Christmas cards and get their shopping done in time, kids check the night sky for Rudolph's nose.
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All these things are well and good, but they're not what Christmas is all about. No, it's about much more than that. It's about Jesus Christ, and His birth. Jesus is God's Son, and took human form. He came into the world as a baby, born to a Virgin in a stable.
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The circumstances of His birth alone show how extraordinary Jesus is. Born to a Virgin, in a stable. How many people do you know who can say the same? (Hint: none). A star appeared in the sky that led the shepherds and wise men to Him. Not MapQuest, not a GPS. A bright, shining star. A star that led the way, just like Jesus is the Light of the World, leading us to His Father.
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When babies are born, many parents jokingly say the baby is ruler of the house. Baby Jesus wasn't just ruler of His house - He was, is, and always will be Prince of Peace, King of the Universe. God sent Him into the world for all of us, not just a select few. Thus we celebrate Christmas, the time we celebrate His birth.
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The days and weeks leading up to Christmas are busy ones, filled with last-minute holiday prep and travel plans to see family members. But despite all the hustle and bustle, it's important to take time to slow down and reflect on the true meaning of the season. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season.
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So, this Christmas season, think about it. What does Christmas mean to you? More importantly, are you taking time to thank God for sending His Son into the world? It's Christmas: a time to spend with family, a time to give gifts to those you love. God gave us the greatest gift of all, His Son. It's a gift of love from God, Who is Love Himself. There's no better gift than this.
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Surely, many of us have seen "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Charlie Brown is searching for the meaning of Christmas. It's Linus who tells Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about. Linus had it all figured out, why can't we?
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Sometimes all we need is someone to speak the truth of Christmas. May we all be like Linus, and share the true meaning of Christmas to all people. Keep Christ in Christmas. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
