Celebrate Jesus Christ's Birthday on December 25th

The prophet Isaiah, in The Bible at verse 7:14 states, “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel”. I think this broadly translates to “God Is With Us.”

On Christmas Eve, as part of our family’s celebration of the birth of Jesus, we all attended the 8pm worship service at our church. It was a very beautiful, moving service. Because I sing in the choir, I also took part in the 11pm candlelight service. I don’t consider my faith to be “religious” in nature, however, I would describe my belief in God as a spiritual relationship and I freely admit that I use music to help me connect with God. One does not have to go to church to experience it.

Thank you, Doris, for inviting me to take part in this goal here on 43Things. Yesterday, Christians around the world celebrated the birth of a King of the people, Jesus Christ. Praise be to God!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel

I agreed with Doris that it might be a good idea to write an entry about celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ.

I celebrated Jesus’ birthday about 24 hours ago, at a beautiful midnight candlelight service, with a sanctuary half-full of people, and with beautiful, inspiring music, with recitation of the familiar Christmas story of Jesus’ birth in a manger in Bethlehem, and with singing, praying, and eating bread and drinking wine. (Well, actually grape juice instead of wine.) That service and celebration last night was the culmination of a month of Advent worship and meditation and preparation.

I was thinking just now that at most birthday parties we don’t focus on the story of a person’s birth, but we do focus on the story of Jesus’s birth in celebrating his birthday. I like what author Ron Rolheiser writes about this in his Christmas entry dated 2007-12-16:

Christmas is about much deeper things than Santa and the birth of Jesus is not just some delightful fairy tale meant to warm the heart. We measure time by this event. Christmas is about God being born physically and historically into this world and, among many other things, we have some stunning lessons to learn from the manner in which this happened.

As virtually all of our iconography around Christmas makes clear, God is born, not as some superstar whose earthly power, beauty, and muscle dwarf us. No. God is born as helpless, vulnerable, thoroughly under-whelming baby who looks out at us quietly even as we look back at him and he judges us in that way that vulnerability forever judges false strength, transparency judges lies, generosity judges selfishness, innocence judges over-sophistication, and a baby, gently and helplessly and disarmingly, calls forth what’s best in us.

Christmas is meant to bring us back to the crib so that our hearts can feel that freshness that wants to make us start living over again.

I wanted to take this time to honor Jesus Christ on this day. Only 2 more hours left in this day and I should’ve done it at the very beginning of the day, as I was up until 4:30 am or so this morning.

Jesus Christ means the world to me literally. I have staked everything I have, my reputation on who He is in my life. I am grateful that though I do walk through the valley of shadow and death, I do not need to fear. When I listen to lies and take my eyes off of Jesus Christ and look to my circumstances, that is when the fear begins.

I learned yesterday that swaddling clothes were for people that are being prepared to die. Jesus was put in swaddling clothes at birth, so He was destined to die for the sins of mankind.

Sometimes we think we have faith, but it’s not until we are in situations where true faith is required, actions, to test whether we believe we say we do. My faith has wavered and that makes me feel ashamed to admit that, but it’s the truth. The circumstances I’m in are the worst I’ve ever faced, but I know God’s Word, which cannot be a lie if God is Truth, that He does have a plan for me and that is a plan for good and not for evil.

But, it does not preclude me from being in the wake of those who do make bad choices and suffering. That is unfortunate.

I don’t know what 2008 will be for the kids and I, but God has a destiny for us and I want to continue to step into it and do it more boldly, praising Him.

As a child, I wholeheartedly not only believe that Jesus Christ came to die for my sins, but I put my faith and trust in Him, to accept Him as my Savior. The commitment there is an everlasting one, unlike commitments even like marriage that can be severed, my relationship with Christ cannot be.

Right now, however, it’s going through some deepening, rooting out the ungodly things, so that Christ can truly shine in my life. What I am going through now is walking by faith and not by sight, because in my own eyes, the eyes of this world, I cannot see the outcome of all this.

His sacrifice was so great. It’s unimaginable to me what God, His Father, had to go through to give up His only Son to pay for my sins, which the penalty is death. The pain and the acts of obedience Jesus chose to go through.

I celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago!!!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

I received this as an email and it touched my heart.

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don’t know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates.The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn’t invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn’t remember to send me an invitation.

The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face…...... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn’t surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : “Santa Claus, Santa Claus”... as if the party were in his honor !

At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other ; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and….do you know …. no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ? I then understood that I
was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life.

I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all you heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn’t invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party.

I’m still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don’t answer the invitation, will be left outside.

Do you know how you can answer this invitation? It is by extending it to others whom you care for…

I’ll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year…

See you soon….I love you !

Jesus