Well it’s that time of year once again. Some would say it’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Decorations are going up in and on houses, and towns are lighting up the night sky with beautiful Christmas lights. People are shopping to buy the latest gifts for their loved ones, filling angel trees, dropping money into red buckets, and filling toy drive bins across the nation. Some are making plans to serve; others are making plans to connect with family and friends. So, whether you are a fan of the season, or a Mean One Mr. Grinch, or just indifferent, Jesus’ birthday can present us Christian disciples with plenty of opportunity to share the story of Jesus.

For years I have watched Christians debate whether or not it’s the right time of year to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Some would argue that we celebrate all the time, why take a special time to emphasize it more? Others have been frustrated by the Happy Xmas and feel as though it’s an overt attempt to remove Christ from his birthday celebration. Still others have tried to label the Christmas season using an old word, Advent, in hopes of bringing the original focus back to a season now seemingly lost in Jingle bells, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, the red-nosed Reindeer, and Santa Baby.

My fellow believers, it is our responsibility to be reconcilers of the world. We can’t control the world, or legislate it in a direction we want it to go. We can only do what God has asked us to do: Love Him, and Love others. We are in the ministry of reconciliation and in the ministry of pointing others to Jesus and ultimately to God. We should use every opportunity to tell others about Jesus, not beating them up for having the wrong focus. Whether people know it or not they are celebrating Christ’s Birth, and we should be the best at celebrating it. After all, we have the most practice.

So Come, All Ye Faithful and celebrate the First Noel. Remind people through song, through love, and by listening to them that this time of year is time to remember the Holy Night. It’s also a time to pass on the tradition of telling the kids about the real Jolly old Saint Nicolas and the meaning of Christmas. We should sing the Christmas Song, Joy to the World, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. We should pray Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel as we anticipate His second coming. We should begin teaching our kids that Christmas is more than just to Deck the Halls, it’s more than just wanting a Hippopotamus for Christmas. It’s really about that Silent Night, that Holy Night Away in a Manger in that Little Town of Bethlehem.

How many Christmas song titles did you count in the above blog? Post your response below and list your favorite song of the season. Have fun and Merry Christmas!!!