Merry Convictmas

In a community group my wife and I visit on Sunday mornings we were discussing Christmas. From pre-Christ winter solstice celebrations, through His birth, to original Mardi Gras-like Christmas celebrations, to Santa, to the Americanization. And even covered the financial impact of the Christmas Holiday in America—I believe it was said to be $30 Billion industry—that's just Christmas stuff, not even the gifts!

After we'd looked at the timeline of historical Christmas, the question was posed to the group. "What are you going to do to celebrate the birth of Jesus?". The room was silent for a bit. Thoughts were swirling through my head.

Christmastime causes me to think a lot, and I have been quite intentional with some thought in this blog (Wack Friday and Holiday Obligations). This time of year I am whelmed with thoughts of overcommercialization, focus on the needy, helping your fellow-man, giving and serving, and sharing the Gospel.

That said, I was convicted pretty heavily in two areas:

1. What am I going to do to celebrate the birth of Jesus?
2. Why does this others whelming come so much only at the Thanksgiving/Christmas Season?

Regarding #1, clearly I/we get focused on getting a lot of the Christmas Holiday "right". Doing the right things. Finding the right gifts. Running around to parties. Creating time to celebrate with family—to give and share.  Now my own household has diminished a lot of the extravagance of the season but we continue to figure out which Christmas Eve service we are going to attend to that will play into our other plans for the Eve.

Conviction #1, I truly want to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  And celebrate we should. Perhaps not Mardi Gras, but we really ought to celebrate THIS occurrence which perhaps Simeon summed it up best in Luke 2:30-32 "For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” THIS occurrence need celebration—through praise and honor, through warmth and family, through joyful telling of stories and song!

Regarding #2, perhaps its the "feel good" stories, Christmas Carol, etc. that can bring a focus toward fellow man and redemption. The cold weather as we're nestled in under our blankets with cocoa vs. the thoughts of the homeless on the street. The Holiday and the loss of loved ones. Or the lonely.

Conviction #2, this consideration and attitude needs to take place year-round. We do our best, but we all lose the vision. The priority of reaching, communicating with and reforming others—through the redeeming power of Jesus—needs to be our #1 focus 365 days a year. Not just around the 25th of December. Now, a lot of folks may be good at this. I just know I should always try to do better than I have.

I hope this makes sense. There is a lot on my mind and heart about this....