Psalm 33:1

     Let’s have a victorious Christmas season! We hear about or even experience so many challenging or frustrating things all the time. Let’s make the decision to rejoice and be glad. When we really think about it, we always have a lot to be grateful for. 

  Seasonal activities that are either traditions passed down to us through generations, or things that we have made into traditions in raising our own families, help us to cherish the Christmas season. One of ours that we added as we raised our children is to read part of the Christmas story in Luke 2 every year to help us remember why we celebrate Christmas.

  The angel said to the shepherds in verses 10 and 11, “do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ The Lord.”

  This is the most awesome news ever given – what does it mean in our own lives?

  What fun things does your family do as Christmas traditions? One of ours growing up was, our parents would put either a stuffed toy elf, reindeer, bear or doll at the foot of our beds on Christmas Eve after we had fallen asleep. In the morning, this told us that Santa had visited our house! I admit that was really fun; yet, my husband and I decided not to teach our children that Santa is real, and we had other great traditions instead. We wouldn’t decorate our Christmas tree unless we had already baked home-made Christmas shaped cookies and decorated them with icing and sprinkles, so we could eat them as we worked on the tree. 

  We also did lots of things that many people do, such as wrap both regular presents as well as stocking gifts. We would open the gifts under the tree first, take a break for a wonderful Christmas breakfast of eggs, potatoes, breakfast meat and our must-have Pillsbury orange cinnamon Danish. (Even though I am a baker as a hobby, my family insisted on these store-bought sweet rolls, a tradition passed down from their grandparents. They never come with enough glaze to spread on top!) After breakfast we would open our stockings to see what candies and small presents we had received.

  God our Father gives us the best directives in His Word for us to live by. This has to be one of the best Christmas traditions to have: Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

  1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And Merry Christmas !