How do you feel during the Christmas season? We Christians certainly know that the story of Jesus’ birth is what Christmas is “all about”, but do we actually live and act that way during the weeks leading up to Christmas? Just take a few minutes to think about your life last week, and what you have planned the next 2 weeks.
Are your thoughts and actions flowing from a sense of gratitude, joy and excitement about the amazing story of Jesus’ birth? Do you marvel that God loved us so much that he came down to earth as a tiny baby in obscure Bethlehem? Do you remember when we sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, that this means “God with us”, and that not only did Jesus walk among us as God before his death and resurrection, but now God lives within his followers as the Holy Spirit? Do you share the good news of this season that God in his amazing grace (unmerited favor) sent Jesus to die for us and rescue us from the deadly bondage of sin, exchanging his life for ours so that we can be forgiven and actually live brand new lives before God, empowered by His Spirit?
OR, do you (like me), often find yourself filled with stress and anxiety over Christmas preparations and all you have to do to “get ready”? After all, there’s shopping, office parties, school pageants, church services galore, decorations to be hung, cards to be sent (and maybe your “family Christmas letter” sharing with the rest of the world how utterly amazing your kids are?), Facebook memes to share, food preparation & cookies to make, figuring out who is going where in the family, and whether you really want to see them that much?

Does it seem odd to you as we celebrate what GOD HAS DONE in the most simple, beautiful, world-altering event in human history, that we get sidetracked, exhausted, stressed and even angry with all the stuff that WE THINK WE HAVE TO DO to make this all somehow more significant and special?

As a retired Pastor, I must confess that most Christmas seasons I found myself preoccupied with getting the church services & presentations in order and done well so as to please those in church and make an attractive presentation to visitors. After all, we want to make great presentations of the Christmas story so that those who haven’t heard it will respond and believe! That’s all good to a point, and there is much fun and fellowship in doing Christmas preparations in the right spirit. However, I recall too many times when even church events became times of stress and even anger: parents arguing with other parents or teachers about the Sunday school pageant and why their child didn’t get to do this or that, why the adult “prima donna” members get to come home at Christmas and do a solo on Christmas Eve, while faithful choir members are ignored, why only certain people are designated to decorate the Christmas tree & it must be done their way, and on and on and on… And we pastors are often guilty of poor attitudes as well! Often on Christmas Eve we would have a late candlelight service at 11PM, but there was so much time between that and the earlier service that we would go home, relax, eat cookies, have our family Christmas Eve devotions, watch a little TV, and then return to church. I admit I did not want to go back out in the cold at night to “do another service”, even though it was usually enjoyable once we got there! And, I felt somewhat guilty in feeling great relief at getting Christmas “done” at church!

So, what are we supposed to do about it?

1) Chill out, relax a little, and try to enjoy the real story as though you were hearing it for the first time!
Remember, the original event starred God Himself, and no church or school presentation can ever come close. I recall a powerful dramatic presentation of the Christmas story at Northridge church in Novi area, and they actually had people flying like angels on wires! But in the REAL story, the powerful angel Gabriel, who stood in the very presence of God, spoke to Zacharias, Joseph, Elizabeth, and the shepherds, and then the heavens opened up before the shepherds and they saw a glorious display of heavenly beings singing praise to God! The shepherds were filled with fear, but the message of the angels was what we ALL need to hear: “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you this day on the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!” (Which presentation would you rather see in person?)

2) In the midst of events, preparations, & busyness, remember to focus on people and relationships, and especially a new relationship with Jesus!
I’m sure Jesus may enjoy our church pageants, decorations, & cookies, but I think he might say something like this to us: “Hey look, I didn’t come just so you could have an annual party with great decorations & great food. I came for so much more that that! I came to save you from sin and free you from its devastation in your life. I came to love you and offer to establish a personal relationship with you as a real friend and Savior, and actually live within you every day through my Spirit and share every aspect of your life. I came that you may have real, abundant life in my presence that will last not only in this life, but forever in my Kingdom!”

3) See Christmas not as an annual event, but as a catalyst to inspire you throughout the next year to live a life filled with God’s peace, joy, and power!
Those of us who have accepted the gift of salvation should live with a certain inner peace and joy, no matter what the outward circumstances. Jesus said,
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
How much better of an influence could you and I be in this next year if we tried to let Jesus lead our lives each day, having our souls rested, whole, and healthy? What if we lived with a gentle and humble confidence that emanated from God’s grace and overwhelming love for us? What if people saw in us not stress, anxiety, and exhaustion, but peace, joy, and a humble attitude toward others, even those who are difficult to love?

I wish you all a blessed and merry Christmas! I really hope you have great pageants, food, decorations, and even gifts. But I also pray for so much more than that! I pray for you a heart and soul that has been touched, forgiven, healed, loved and empowered by God so that you can truly live the abundant life that God has for you in this next year. I hope your words and actions will be so joyful and loving that others will say, “WOW! What got into you?” And you humbly will be able to say “JESUS!”