We Did Christmas Different This Year

We Did Christmas Different

As the 2013 Christmas season approached my heart began to break for the traditional way we celebrated it.  I deeply felt that it did not truly glorify our Christ Savior.  I dug deep, prayed hard, and even considered not celebrating traditional Christmas at all.  But every time I imagined the Glory of the Lord shining over the Shepherds, announcing Christ’s birth, my eyes filled with joyful tears and plead to celebrate His birth.

 

The Shepherds and the Angels

Luke 2:8-20

⁸ There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, ¹⁰ but the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people.¹¹ This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! ¹² And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When the shepherds saw him, they told them what the angel had said about the child. ¹⁸ All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said. ¹⁹ Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them.²⁰ The shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen; it had been just as the angel had told them.

Through prayers and The Word the idea of celebrating a more biblical perspective was born. 

Matthew 2:11

¹¹And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

 

Gold represents kingship.  Jesus is a King. (Value)

Frankincense represents Jesus as our high priest.  (Spiritual)

Myrrh represents the prefiguring of Jesus crucifixion—used for embalming.  (Need)

We chose to give each of our children three gifts representing: value, spiritual, and need. 

Carrie - 13 years old  

Loves music  

Has an eye for photography

* Spiritual gift - supplies to design and create a scrapbook to give away as a gift.

* Value - 1967 phonograph (in working order)

* Need - records 

Galatians 5:13

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Not very many 13 year olds have a record player that actually WORKS! 

Hannah - 12 years old

Loves the animal kingdom

Is a bookworm

* Spiritual gift - supply of donations for the local animal shelter (along with donation of her time)

* Value - a reading nook complete with a papasan chair she doesn't have to share

* Need - MORE BOOKS 

Romans 12:4-6 

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith;

 Enjoy your book nook! No more mama fussing at you to get off the couch that way.  It's all yours!

Hallie - 9 years old

A beautiful keeper of the home

Loves to get lost in imagination

* Spiritual gift - All the necessary supplies to host a tea party of her very own

* Value - antique vanity (that she can refinish anyway she'd like)

* Need - princess clothes

Psalms 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

You are a daughter of the King of Kings--a princess! 

Lane - 6 years old

A boy child, growing into a man

Loves to work

* Spiritual gift - A handmade by Dad workbench

* Value - Dragon Castle Form 

* Need - Tools

Ecclesiastes 9:10a

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength

Never lose your imagination! 

Although deep down I knew that non-traditional way we were choosing to celebrate Christmas was in line with my convictions, I couldn't help but worry that the kids would feel a little let down.  But, I had nothing to worry about.  It was the best Christmas ever.  

May you all be richly blessed!  Merry Christmas

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:16