What Is Christmas

What is Christmas?

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 1. CHRISTMAS IS REMEMBERING!

As I think about Christmas remembering.

I see again the candles my grandma put in the windows bringing warmth within.

I remember the home made garlands by my Grandma. The fresh cooked popcorn & cranberries seasoned by little fingers & threaded with laughter as we would help her. The bright eyes as we looked as it went on the tree.

I remembered the tree that was topped with the angel. Grandma telling us the story how the angels were all around the manger the day Jesus was born, & how they were all around the cross the day Jesus died for us.

How the star was hung over the door way. Grandma telling else it was a reminder that we are to be a light just as Jesus was the light of the world.

I remember all the pretty lights on the tree. So bright & shinning, & the glass bulbs placed on the tree just right for all to see.

I remembered the taste of snow as it fell from the sky. We would all be outside with our tongue out to taste the new snow falling from heaven. (For me not all was good)

Christmas to me is remembering the Good & not the bad. Christmas to me is remembering a promise from God in Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. That through this little Baby Jesus the world would be saved from their sins.

2. Christmas is Listening!

To the Christmas songs being sung every where you went.

It was in the streets, at the stores, in the homes. In every ones heart was the sound of Christmas.

To the satisfying grunt of the snow worn out by the sliding of boots. From sodden gloves as we crushed it to make snowballs.

The sound of laughter as we hurled snowballs through the air form our snow fronts that we built.

Listeng to the sound that came from lying on the ground as we would move our legs & arms to make a snow angel.

The sound of shoving snow from the driveway & sidewalks.

The sound of the city trucks coming through to clear the roads of snow.

Listening to the Church Bells at midnight ringing in the night air. How it filled the air. The story of the star & the shepherds in the field.

The story of the manger how there was no room for God in the inn. The story of the 3 kings & their gifts to the Lord.

The story of a little town of Bethlehem & the baby Jesus was born there.

Luke 1:26-35 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Yes Christmas is Remembering.

It is Listening.

3. Christmas is Giving!

Mot only the gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh that were laid at the feet of Jesus.

It was more than the gifts on Christmas morning. (Which many a time I never got due to being poor.)

As a Christian it was more about being an encouragement of sympathy & understanding. (As I would find families in need & give)

As a dad it was seeing the faces light up as my children would open up their gifts.