It’s Christmas Eve and I’ve got to tell you—I love Christmas. For me Christmas is a blessing, but I know that for many folks today Christmas is a huge burden. If you polled those who say that they are burdened by Christmas you would come up with lots of different reasons why they feel this way. For some, Christmas is a financial burden. They feel the pressure to buy things for their kids and family members that they really can’t afford and that will burden their credit cards for months to come. For others, Christmas is a burden because loved ones who were around the table and tree last Christmas will not be there this year. For some Christmas is a burden because of family issues like divorce or tension between extended family members that will make Christmas get-togethers difficult. Last of all, for some in our society Christmas is a burden because they don’t want to be bothered by the Christmas story. They don’t mind the merchandising and marketing, the days off work, or the family get-togethers, but they would prefer that Jesus be left out of the celebration.
Archive for December, 2004
The Blessing of Christmas
Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-23
Friday, December 24th, 2004
He’s Coming To Town!
Daniel 7:13-14
Sunday, December 19th, 2004
There is a rumor going around that the big day is just a few days away. I have been listening closely over the past several weeks and the rumors have grown louder and louder. It all started before Thanksgiving as I watched the folks on television begin to announce the countdown to the big day. With each passing day more and more voices have joined the choir announcing the coming day with joy and expectation.