Christmas Is Coming

The signs are everywhere and all around us. Twinkling lights, glittering decorations, carols on every station and piped into every store. And there’s no denying that certain sense of excitement that fills the air as surely as the scents of peppermint and pinecones.

No doubt about it . . . Christmas is coming. Whether we’re ready or not.

Ready or Not?

I find myself thinking about that phrase, though. “Ready or not.” Because Christmas has become something of an event. (How’s that for an understatement?) There are feasts to prepare and festivals to attend. We’ve got gifts to buy and wrap and give. We’ve got cards to mail and cookies to bake. It can all be, well, a lot. And we just might not be ready. (Raising my hand here!)

But the Real Christmas . . .

Oh, but the real Christmas—not the “event” Christmas with its tons of to-dos—but the real one that began so long ago with a promise made and then kept by God, that’s the one I’m always ready for.

It’s the one Isaiah spoke of hundreds of years before Jesus’s birth:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

It’s the one the angels sang about as it happened:
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11).

And it’s this Christmas that I can’t wait to celebrate!

It’s Not About Packages and Bows

The truest celebration of Christmas isn’t about packages and bows. And it’s not only on December 25. This is the Christmas I want to celebrate every day, every moment of the year. It’s the one I want to sing about every morning and praise God for every afternoon.

Because the Christ the King has come! He’s come to rescue (John 3:17). He’s come seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He’s come to take away the power of sin and death and to give us life—rich, full, and abundant life (John 10:10).

I don’t know exactly what life forever with Him will look like, but I know it will be wonderful beyond anything I could ever imagine. I also know that I don’t have to wait for heaven to start living that wonderful life with Him. And neither do you.

The Real Celebration

So, let’s celebrate Christmas this year. I mean really celebrate in the best possible way. How? Well, here’s a few tips I’ve learned along the way. Let’s . . .

·  Trust God’s love and His plans for us even when our own holiday plans are hijacked.

·  Take a fresh look at the old stories and bask in the wonder of a God who came down.

·  Be a friend, an encourager, and someone who welcomes others in.

·  Follow God without question, complaint, or delay.

·  Worry less about interruptions and be looking for His for divine appointments instead.

·  Empty our days of unnecessary things so that we can make more room for Jesus.

·  Forget about perfection and be present in the moments.

·  Stare up at the stars and stand in awe of the God who can count them.

·  Make a habit of accepting God’s invitation to come to Him.

·  Never be so busy that we don’t run to worship our Savior.

·  Be still and know that God is God and that He is with us every step of life’s way.

Yes, Christmas is surely coming. Because He came. And the very best news? He’s coming again.