Count Down to Christmas

So, I pray everybody is having a joyous CHRISTmas Season. We are strategically getting things done so there are some surprises on Christmas day. The kids are getting excited about Jesus' Birthday Party.

I feel I need to talk about an issue though. See, our family does not entertain this fella called Santa Claus. The real man, St. Nicholas was a kind and compassionate man that wanted his charitable deeds to go unknown. He wanted the glory to be given to GOD not himself. This is why we have a devotional in our family on December 6th specifically about St. Nicholas and giving.

This year I feel stronger than ever about it, perhaps it's because of the "War on Christmas", perhaps not. Maybe it's just because I want all 6 of my kids to know that I won't lie to them and I won't give them the false hope that the guy in the red suit will give them everything they ask for. Or you know, maybe it's because the reason we celebrate CHRISTmas is because we are celebrating CHRIST'S birth.

It really bothers me to see the same Christians that go on and complain about Target or Lowe's or Walmart or whoever not including the word Christmas in their advertising gladly bring in Santa Claus and inadvertently teach their kids that Santa and gifts are what Christmas is about.

Exodus 20:3-6 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Now, I really want you to think. All of those Christians out there that put Santa Claus before Jesus... you are essentially making Santa a god. So, what are you doing to those children that you just want to have a little fun in getting gifts at Christmas?

So then, you ask what does my family do? We have a birthday party for Jesus. We have a large dinner just like most people on Christmas, then we read the scripture of Jesus' birth. Once that is done we have a birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday Jesus. Once that is done, then we open the presents that are from Jesus. We also use this as an opportune time to explain that God gave the greatest gift to us when He sent His Son, Jesus to earth.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

May you have a blessed CHRISTmas and a joyful New Year.
~ Faith

posted by the Johnson Family at 1:34 PM