The last couple of months seem to have gone by as a bit of a blur, not much time to do anything outside of work, including, unfortunately, posting here on the Deliberate Disciple!  I have been away a few times, and when I have been at home I have found myself working long hours.  On top of everything, the recent snow has meant that most of the seasonal festivities at our church have been cancelled or postponed.

As a result, I find myself on Christmas Eve not feeling very Christmasy.  So I thought I would wish you all a blessed Christmas and take some time to allow myself to focus on this annual celebration of the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, the Christ.

I was in Newcastle shopping a few weekends ago and heard the Salvation Army Band playing Christmas carols – Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful – and found myself in tears of wonder at the glory of God shown through the birth of His son!

The thing is, and this is what impacted me during my consumer-fest that Saturday afternoon, I think we get Christmas all wrong.  We spend so much time getting ready to celebrate, sorting out the party, that we miss the awe and wonder of the Christmas season.  We get things back-to-front.  We party at Christmas and we get all solemn and sad at Easter.

But think about it.

At Easter, we should be reflective, but isn’t it also a time when we should celebrate.  After all, Jesus died and rose again to give us life for eternity.  If that isn’t something to celebrate then I don’t know what is….

And yes, we should celebrate Christmas, but most of all we should worship and be in awe at what God has done for us in Jesus.

Light of Light.  King of Kings.

Becoming like you and me.

Word made flesh.

Emmanuel.  God with us. 

How wonderful is that?  No, literally, how full of wonder are you when you celebrate Jesus’ birthday?

Today is the day to get excited again about the true impact of Christmas, not just for now or this year but for eternity, and not just for you and yours but for all who believe.

Do you feel it?  Does it make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up?  Because it should!

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come.  Let earth receive her King.  Let every heart prepare Him room.  And Heaven and nature sing. And Heaven and nature sing.  And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing”.

Wake up and take notice of the birth of the King of Eternity who came in human form to die so you might live through Him.

That is incredible.  Unbelievable love.

Worthy of glory and thanks.

Worthy of our full attention.

Worthy of our worship.

So please be blessed this Christmas.  Enjoy the celebration and join in the party.  But don’t forget to focus on Jesus and worship Him with true awe and wonder.  He deserves it.

Bless you and yours.