I can’t believe that Christmas is just a few days away. This year Christmas was pretty easy since we exchanged names and I got the grand-kids only a couple gifts each. Normally they get all kinds of gifts, but I wanted them to have quality over quantity. We will see what they think on that.

I can’t help but think about all those parents who have lost children this year and what their Christmas is going to be like. My deepest prayers go out to them. This year my church family has had more than it’s share of deaths and people returning to be with the Lord. I would like to also remember our troops and their families who are still away or who have lost someone they love.  I hope 2013 is a much better year.

I don’t want this post to be negative, so I’m going to focus on all the good things about Christmas and what it means to me.

Christmas isn’t just a day, but it is a feeling that is embedded in my heart. Without the birth of Christ, there would be no reason to celebrate or to be here. Life would be pointless. Even though Christ wasn’t born on December 25th, we still celebrate. I think Christmas can be everyday because we need to remember that He gave us the greatest gift of all. I’m not talking about keeping the Christmas tree up or the lights up all year. I’m talking about how we need to be thankful and celebrate that we can have eternal life because of Christ. That is so much more to celebrate than what we prepare for on December 25th.

I would love to one year celebrate Christmas at Easter. Wouldn’t that be awesome to be able to celebrate the birth and remember how He died for us all at once? I don’t think my family would go for that, but I would like to do that. To me Christmas and Easter are the two most important observances and holidays. The rest I can do without.

One of the things about Christmas and Easter that seems to confuse my mind and that isn’t hard at all is why some choose to celebrate these days. I guess as a Christian I feel that we need to remember these days are about Christ. But then I know many who aren’t Christian and they celebrate the day. Is it just a day for family and gift giving to them or ? I guess I won’t understand that because I come from a different place. Like with Halloween when people that believe that is the day that is for darkness and such and everyone celebrates it. Well our family doesn’t, but many do. I guess its all depends on the condition of the hearts.

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and I hope that Jesus is a part of your Christmas whenever that would be.

I came across someone asking a question about December 25th not being the real birthday of Christ and I liked how a couple people answered her question about where in the Bible does it say to celebrate the Birth of Christ and the date. I copied and pasted a couple of those answers.

1. The Bible does not record the dates of the birth and resurrection, but historians have a pretty good idea.

There was a astronomical event within a 4 year period of the date we state as the beginning of A.D. time (year 0) that would have looked like what was recorded in the Gospels about the star appearing, the one the wise men followed. The birth of Jesus was likely actually in April.
His death coincides with the Jewish Passover observance, so we know that was in early-late spring.

2. We are told to remember what Jesus did in His death and Resurrection; we do this when we meet as a Christian body at the breaking of Bread.

The Bible doesn’t mention that we are to celebrate Christ’s birthday. Interestingly, the only person in the Bible to celebrate their Birthday, was Herod!…Concordingly, ‘Easter’ is not a festival that Christians are told to follow either. Again as with the ‘Birthdays’, funnily enough, only Herod is recorded in the Bible celebrating Easter (Istar).
Having said that, there is nothing, in itself, wrong or sinful in regarding Christmas and Easter with great joy: not marking the day itself, but remembering and rejoicing in the event it commemorates—the miracle of Christ’s birth and resurrection. As Christians we are free to celebrate these occasions if we wish. if we do so for the right reasons.