Advent began yesterday. Advent is an antidote to the distractions of the busy Christmas season. Often we get distracted from the significance of the holidays in all the preparation. And the day itself (and eve) comes and goes without focusing on it.
Take time this year to prepare in a signficant way for Christmas. Observe the four weeks of Advent by reading relevant Bible passages that reveal God's ancient plan to send His Son as the key to His salvation plan. Observe customs that will focus your mind and heart. There are lots of resources to do this, but I recommend these highly. I'm using them this year.
We like to act out the nativity in our family. We have 5 kids, so there's plenty of people to take parts. One of us reads the story in Luke, and the rest dress up and act the parts. It was especially enjoyable when our youngest was a baby boy and our oldest daughter played "Mary." Now, they all want to be the donkey. Goofy kids. :)
Posted by: Daughter of Eve | November 16, 2011 at 12:47 PM
@ Daughter of Eve -
That sounds so fun!
Posted by: Mo | November 16, 2011 at 09:29 PM
We're looking for a decent advent calendar. Anyone know of any?
Posted by: JT | November 17, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Observing Advent certainly helps, but your statement of the problem ("And the day itself (and eve) comes and goes ...") exposes a different issue: Christmas is not just a day. Christmas is a season that begins on Christmas day (well, the evening before ...) and runs the twelve days until Epiphany. Reducing it to the first day and omitting celebration of the rest of the season is as unwise, in my opinion, as neglecting Advent.
Posted by: Jonathan Lovelace | November 17, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Christmas is the Roman Catholic 'christianization' of the pagan practices of the Feast of the Saturnalia', and has since incorporated many other pagan practices along the way. I don't celebrate christ-mass solely because I am a Christian.
Posted by: Renee Miller | November 30, 2011 at 03:59 PM
Renee,
What specific pagan ritual is practiced by Christians on Christmas day?
Posted by: Libra | December 04, 2011 at 03:08 PM
Only when we give are whole lives to god. And live in his truth. Then will the truth set use free from the lies of Christmas. I can see why so many do not want to give up Christmas, thier heart are not 100% sold out to the Lord.
Posted by: Robert Plouffe | December 25, 2011 at 06:35 PM