IT is THE most wonderful time of the year..so says the famous song ! It is somehow RIGHT! I just love the way that suddenly seems the whole world is celebrating, decorating, carols singing, waiting for THE Christmas day. Amazing how almost in all the shops you feel, see (sometimes smell) and hear the Christmas mood! I remember our special trip to Prague during that period few years ago, the city was vibrant with Christmas markets, colourful lights everywhere..choirs in each square, crowds filling the streets, warming big smiles on the faces, shopping for gifts, food stands, the snow was charming and the mood was so...CHRISTMASSY!
All went fine until the 2nd of Jan...we just woke up in a totally different city...silent, cold, strict...and GREY! Strangely, we were still in the same city..the same hotel..on the same street..but just the lights were taken out, small markets dismantled, no more jinglling bells on radio...back to the SERIOUS world, the holly jolly ho-ho-ho mood just disappeared.. poooof..Christmas is Gone!!! Only then, we felt how cold the snow is, how strict the people seem, and how Gloomy we were deep down! And by the way..you dont need to be in Prague to know Christmas is gone! In your own home..you will just feel it when your lovely christmas tree sleeps back in its box waiting for next December!
That's exactly what happens when we depend on the Christmas "from outside"...when all it represents is the mood rather than a deep down rooted source of joy. Strangely enough, this mood cant be recreated anytime of the year....imagine being invited to someone's house on a hot August day..and suddenly over hear "We wish you a merry christmas" in the background, to find out that his living room is fully decorated with a tree and lights! You will probably run out of that place thinking this person is totally out of place, time..and may be mental balance! And the lovely carols will be rather creepy than heart warming! Thats the outside chritmas! Quite seasonal!
I am 100% sure God has a different plan for this great time of the year. It just cant be so temporary! Back to basics, I checkef the original first Christmas and realized that it was all about one thing "Spreading THE good news that a Saviour is born". Just read again this part of the nativity story in Luke 2, you will find that the "kick-off" of celebrations was when the angel said to the shepherds,
“Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. (Luke 2:10)"
Yes, all the prophecies were about about this piece of great news..receiving a heavenly gift, a Son, a King, a Deliverer. Prophet Isaiah 800 years before Christ wrote it with the Spirit perfectly:
لأنَّهُ يولَدُ لنا ولَدٌ ونُعطَى ابنًا، وتكونُ الرّياسَةُ علَى كتِفِهِ، ويُدعَى اسمُهُ عَجيبًا، مُشيرًا، إلهًا قديرًا، أبًا أبديًّا، رَئيسَ السّلامِ. (إشَعياءَ 9:6 AVDDV)
This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 ERV)
Despite how charming it is, I then realized that I dont need the "outside mood" to bring me back to Christmas. I know that I can live my "Everyday Christmas" every morning..when i read about This celebrated Born King..about His deliverance, His Love, His Power, His Peace..and much more! I just relive this moment of Original Christmas in me when I read and live the Good news all over again..same Joy the Shepherds felt, i do feel..yet I am even luckier knowing the whole story and seeing it revealed from thousands of years till our day..what a Joy to know that THE real gift IS year-round not only under the tree!
Live your "Everyday Christmas" in you, my Friends!
All went fine until the 2nd of Jan...we just woke up in a totally different city...silent, cold, strict...and GREY! Strangely, we were still in the same city..the same hotel..on the same street..but just the lights were taken out, small markets dismantled, no more jinglling bells on radio...back to the SERIOUS world, the holly jolly ho-ho-ho mood just disappeared.. poooof..Christmas is Gone!!! Only then, we felt how cold the snow is, how strict the people seem, and how Gloomy we were deep down! And by the way..you dont need to be in Prague to know Christmas is gone! In your own home..you will just feel it when your lovely christmas tree sleeps back in its box waiting for next December!
That's exactly what happens when we depend on the Christmas "from outside"...when all it represents is the mood rather than a deep down rooted source of joy. Strangely enough, this mood cant be recreated anytime of the year....imagine being invited to someone's house on a hot August day..and suddenly over hear "We wish you a merry christmas" in the background, to find out that his living room is fully decorated with a tree and lights! You will probably run out of that place thinking this person is totally out of place, time..and may be mental balance! And the lovely carols will be rather creepy than heart warming! Thats the outside chritmas! Quite seasonal!
I am 100% sure God has a different plan for this great time of the year. It just cant be so temporary! Back to basics, I checkef the original first Christmas and realized that it was all about one thing "Spreading THE good news that a Saviour is born". Just read again this part of the nativity story in Luke 2, you will find that the "kick-off" of celebrations was when the angel said to the shepherds,
“Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. (Luke 2:10)"
Yes, all the prophecies were about about this piece of great news..receiving a heavenly gift, a Son, a King, a Deliverer. Prophet Isaiah 800 years before Christ wrote it with the Spirit perfectly:
لأنَّهُ يولَدُ لنا ولَدٌ ونُعطَى ابنًا، وتكونُ الرّياسَةُ علَى كتِفِهِ، ويُدعَى اسمُهُ عَجيبًا، مُشيرًا، إلهًا قديرًا، أبًا أبديًّا، رَئيسَ السّلامِ. (إشَعياءَ 9:6 AVDDV)
This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 ERV)
Despite how charming it is, I then realized that I dont need the "outside mood" to bring me back to Christmas. I know that I can live my "Everyday Christmas" every morning..when i read about This celebrated Born King..about His deliverance, His Love, His Power, His Peace..and much more! I just relive this moment of Original Christmas in me when I read and live the Good news all over again..same Joy the Shepherds felt, i do feel..yet I am even luckier knowing the whole story and seeing it revealed from thousands of years till our day..what a Joy to know that THE real gift IS year-round not only under the tree!
Live your "Everyday Christmas" in you, my Friends!
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