Celebrate Christmas With a Birthday Party

I have found that reading other people's Christmas memories give me other ideas that I would like to do as a tradition.  I might as well start some new ones while I find out my true-self.  "The Purpose of Christmas" by Rick Warren is very insightful.  When he was a young boy of 4 years old he wanted to have a birthday party.  His mom threw a birthday party for Jesus.  Thinking that this would be a one time deal.  However, year after year, the Warren family threw birthday parties for Jesus. 

These are the insights that they have found while celebrating Jesus' birth:

1. Personal Growth
2. Spiritual Growth

Why would this simple little birthday party have such growth potential to us?  The Warren family had everyone answer two simple questions.  "What, from this past year, are you thankful to God for?"  "Since it's Jesus' birthday, what gift will you give him this next year?"  "...because of today's pace of life, we quickly forget the good things God does for us, and we move on to the next challenge.  That's why I recommend that you establish an annual celebration, a birthday party for Jesus in your home with family or close friends.  Scheduling a once-a-year time to pause and review for God's grace in your life and to recommit yourself to knowing and loving him better is a great way to make Christmas more meaningful."

Take the focus off of YOU and give the focus back to GOD and JESUS this season.

CHALLENGE:
Have a party.  Get a cake, cupcake, or sugar cookie; a light, candle, flashlight or starlight, and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  Along with singing carols, what other types of things can you do for Jesus this year?

Answer these questions.  Ask YOUR family, children or YOUR closest friends these questions. 
1. What, from this past year, are you thankful to God for?

2. Since it's Jesus' birthday, what gift will YOU give him this next year?

Post the answers by a mirror where you get dressed in the morning to remind YOU of YOUR answers.

Matthew 1:18-25
The Birth of Jesus Christ

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" — which means, "God with us."

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Matthew 2:1-12
The Visit of the Magi

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the eastand have come to worship him."

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.


Have a very Blessed Christmas!

In Christ's Enduring Love,

~Lynn
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