The Gospel of Santa

In America, you are taught at an early age to believe in that loveable fat guy in the red suit, Santa. I've always loved Christmas, and everything that Christmas brings, including Santa Claus. While I've long ago learned that Santa isn't real (which I learned a bit late, I believe), Christmas has always been magical for me. When I was younger, our whole family would sing Christmas songs in the living room at night by our fake Christmas tree, I preferring the vocals of O Holy Night and other classics, while the little ones would hum here and there and then suddenly burst "JINGLE BELLS!" when they recognized the song (finally). Then there would always be Christmas morning, where we would rush with wild hair and red plaid pajamas to tear open presents and peek inside our stockings to see what Santa had left us.
While my parents always reminded us that Christ's birth was the reason for the season, many other families skip the real meaning of Christmas altogether. How does America cover this up? I think Santa must take the blame. For people like me, he just adds to the excitement of Christmas, but for some people, he is Christmas.
Santa has become a replacement for Christ. We gave him a kind spirit, a bag full of gifts, and wrote dozens of songs about him. In movies, such as The Polar Express, we are told to have "faith" in Santa and to "believe". It's the Gospel of Christ stripped of Christ and decorated with our media-saturated tinsel and holly. In Shrek the Halls, the message of Christmas is to be with family and friends. While family is special, is that really what Christmas is about?
It's all a mask, like putting concealer over flawless skin. Why mess with a good thing? Our country cannot stand to be led by Christ, so we do everything we possibly can to minimize Christ and maximize profit. That's all Santa really is. That's what "happy holidays" really means. Profit. Consumerism. Buy, buy, buy. Sell, sell, sell. Let's take Christmas, strip it of its worth and beauty, and create our own holiday, worshipping America's consumeristic culture. You can have your happy holidays, I'll have a Merry Christmas.

All I Want for Christmas is Jesus

You’ve probably heard the song “All I Want for Christmas is You”. The singer says that presents and Christmas decorations are nice, but she doesn’t need those things to make her Christmas complete. While the song is meant to be for a lover, what if we sung it to Jesus?

Can you stand before Jesus and say with all honesty, “All I want for Christmas is You”? I’d be stretching the truth a little bit.

You see, when I was younger, I would have detailed wishlists every year labeled “101 Things Melissa Needs”. No kidding. All sorts of things would make that list: computer games, dolls, play makeup, and, I must admit, a Jesse McCartney CD, which I thought would make me the coolest person ever, even though I knew nothing about him except that he had a CD. Gift cards didn’t mean much to me until a few years later, when I realized I could actually put that plastic to work for me. Clothes were another thing that never made the list until much later – but I didn’t want anyone to buy clothes for me…how could they possibly have better taste than yours truly? The biggest flaw of my “101 Things” list was the simple fact that nobody ever asked me for it. They either got me something of their own creation or asked what the one thing I really wanted was. Well, how should I know? I don’t have one thing I want – it says right here: ‘101 Things’! That’s 101, baby! Not one. This year, I had no list. Sure, I mentioned gift cards or the last two Twilight books which will of course make my life so much better, but I was blank with ideas. So, the year I had no wishlist, everyone asked me what I wanted. Well, you’re a few years late, I’m afraid. Even so, presents have always been exciting to me – the shiny new toy (or vampire book with fold-out poster) has always gotten me a little more giddy about Christmas. I think Jesus is slowly prodding me to focus on Him as I’ve gotten older, but He needs to keep prodding.

So, as of now, I am almost to the point where I can say, “Jesus, all I want for Christmas is You.”
Then again, what about Christmas breakfast? Christmas brunch? Christmas lunch? Christmas dinner? Christmas second dinner? What about family, red plaid nightgowns, fake trees, ornaments, hot chocolate, and last but not least, what about Santa? (And if you don’t believe in Santa, it’s been scientifically proven that reindeer can fly. I think.) Does Jesus want us to ditch all of that?
Christmas traditions are fun and a great way to spend time with family and get you hyped about the season, but it all comes down to Jesus and His miraculous birth, life, death, and resurrection. So, I ask you – what do YOU want for Christmas?

Fake Holly

A hurricane of a sigh escapes my lips. My head is dizzy, my hands numb as I type.

Yes. I'm sure you are feeling the same way, or will be feeling so soon.

School has come back to haunt the houses and schools of millions of children across the world. Christmas break has come and gone. Which brings to mind a song by Alabama, called "The Little Boy's Prayer".

"Can we have Christmas
all the year long?
Tell stories of Jesus
and sing all his songs.
Something is special in our home today.
Can we ask Jesus to stay?"

Christmas comes to the world as an explosion of great things. While the Christian Christmas is even more spectacular and meaningful, even non-believers have fun (unless Santa is broke, due to the North Pole's failing ecomomy and recession crisis. The elves aren't good with money, you see). Almost everyone is willing to extend an extra dose of love to the world, whether it be cookies for a neighbor, supplying presents for the needy, or making a casserole for the hungry -- Christmas is the season of love. (After all, Jesus is love.)

Now, however, all of the Christmas decorations are gone. The tree, the fake holly, the wrapped presents, the unlimited supply of toffee and sweets -- they've vanished and we don't see them again for a whole year. (Of course, that stubborn mistletoe is still in our tree in the backyard. The only one I'll be kissing is my dog. I know, I'm such a scrooge.)

Yet there is one thing...ONE THING...that still lingers in the chilly air. There is something -- someone -- who will last longer than the presents, longer than the non-existent snow (welcome to Texas), longer than the frozen casserole and even longer than the candycanes. That someone is Jesus. He's still here, whether you believe me or not. And he's going nowhere.

Ok, so if Jesus is still here, why is he now unwelcome in our homes and hearts? Why have we closed our doors to him? Why have we forgotten him, as if he were that little chocolate Santa you devoured last week? Would you throw a splendid celebration for someone's birthday and then kick him out of your house before he can say "Happy New Year"? Hopefully not!

So, friends, would you celebrate Jesus all the year long with me? Can we tell the world of everything he's done and the love that he's offering? Would you help me to help the needy? Can we spread love throughout the nations together? Are you with me?

Let's ask Jesus to stay.

2009 Resolutions

It’s that time again. Nana is babysitting us while mom and dad are out on a date. So, not only do we get to stay up till midnight, us kids also get to be filled with this really yummy Peanut Butter Snickers ice cream that I found at Braum’s.

What time is it? It’s time for the same-old New Year’s resolutions. We always want to start the year off being “better”, whatever that means. Stronger. Prettier. Nicer. Cleaner. Cooler. Fashionable…er. Closer to God. Here were some of mine from last year:

▪ Paint nails different color every week (I failed within the first week)
▪ Drink more water (my body is lucky if it gets a single sip)
▪ Eat healthier (hehe, yeah…)
▪ Get One Voice off the ground (hmm…)
▪ Read my bible cover to cover (sorry, Lord)
▪ Start a cosmetics company (kinda forgot that one)
▪ Get in a horse show (forgot that one too)

The list goes on. The terribly cliché American resolutions may consist of the following:

▪ Lose weight
▪ Exercise more
▪ Stop smoking

I’m sure you’ve noticed how resolutions always die – within a month, usually. You get so revved up and excited to do this – it’s natural. But then you decide to skip just one day, just one time. And then BANG. Resolution is dead. And next year you may try to revive it, but….

Hey, remember when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? Only Jesus can raise things from the dead, whether they be people, animals, or…or resolutions.

Do you see where I’m going with this? Make this year’s resolutions count. Don’t let them die. But how are you going to do this?

Trust in God. Pray. Read your bible. These are resolutions in themselves, but they are definitely worth keeping up. With God, you can conquer anything. With God, last year’s resolutions CAN be accomplished! God wants you to be happy, and he wants you to be a “better” person, so of course he’ll help you, if your heart is in the right place.

PRAYER TIME:
Dear God,
Please help me to start the New Year off with a new me. Help me to desire to be with you. Help me to grow stronger in you. God, help me to reach my resolutions this year. I know I can only do them with you. Thanks for loving me and for giving me this New Year. 2009 is gonna be great!
Your child,
______________________________

JOURNAL JOTS:
Tonight, with me and millions of others, make a list of resolutions and promise you – and God – that you’re going to keep them. Then pray the prayer above.

The Gift that Lasts Forever

When you think of Christmas, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Is it a tree? Ornaments? Tinsel? Peppermint bark? Mistletoe? Holly? Hot chocolate? A fireplace? Santa? Stockings? Snowflakes? Snow? (Shoveling your neighbor’s driveway?) There’s a good chance you immediately think of the presents you’ll get.

I know, the presents are really cool, right? I mean gift cards are awesome, presents are a surprise, and I even know a girl from play practice who would be thrilled to get socks for Christmas. Presents are awesome, there’s no doubt about it. And when people give you presents, it’s one way of saying they care about you.

But, I have to break it to you. Stuff doesn’t last forever. Those cool jeans that Nana gave you will eventually become too tight. The CD your best friend got you won’t be so hot twenty years from now. Those cute notebooks that your great Aunt May gave you will soon be filled with scribbles, doodles, and ideas. The gift cards will be spent before you can say, “Merry Christmas”, and the candy may last ON you, but if you’re anything like me, it won’t live to see the morning.

In today’s secular culture, Christmas (or, as a group of scrooges call it, “the Holidays”), is about getting together with family, about giving, and about some dude named Santa. So, let’s look into that. Yeah, presents are fun, but what about family?

God loves it when you get together with your family and have a good time simply being together. God loves it when you love others. Sadly, family won’t last forever, either – your big sis gets married, you go to college, your great grandma passes away. So what really lasts?

I know! Giving! God absolutely LOVES it when you give to others. It’s not your money, it’s not your stuff – it’s God’s money and God’s stuff that he’s letting you use. He loves you so much that he’d give you all that – why not show other people (and animals!) his love? God has given you money so you may use it wisely. Often, it’s more fun to give than to get. Unfortunately, the stuff you give (like presents, money, or candy) will go away. Is there nothing in this world that lasts?

Ooh, what about mistletoe? Did you know mistletoe is made by a bird called the Mistletoe Bird? It eats the mistletoe seeds, swallowing them whole, then flies to another tree and – um, excretes the seed. The seed it still whole and as if it had never been eaten. The bird then rubs its bottom on the branch, making the plant stick. It will grow to be mistletoe. But, mistletoe is a living thing. It will die. And, though it makes me uber sad, the mistletoe bird will die, too, and fly away into that big birdbath in the sky.

Ho, ho, ho! I’ve got it! SANTA lasts forever! The big guy is a LEGEND, I tell you! Everyone knows who he is! Even Martha Stewart believes in Santa! So old Claus here MUST last forever. Or does he…? Warning: this is not for the young at heart. We know that Santa, well, is just…. Aw, I hate to break it to you, but, he’s not real! There, I said it. It’s a great story, really. And maybe there was some fat guy in a tacky red suit who gave presents to kids. And maybe their was a Rudolph, and his nose just got scraped so it turned bright red and thus he became a legend as well. But all living bodies must come to an end.

This is really discouraging, isn’t it? Well, I guess I’m done writing now; my search for the meaning of Christmas has ended. Nothing lasts in this world. Gotta go muck the barn.

Whoa, hold on. Barn. Stable. Angel. Virgin. Carpenter. Manger. Baby. Savior.

Do these words mean anything to you? Well, barns certainly don’t last forever. Angels – hmm. Probably. Virgins? No. Carpenters? No. Mangers? No. Babies? (Those things turn into adults, who don’t live forever, btw.) But a Savior? Maybe…just maybe….

Jesus came to earth to save you and me and everyone who has ever lived and anyone who ever will be. He had a body, just like me (well, I’m guessing he didn’t look quite like me…). He was human.

So, bodies don’t last forever – we’ve figured that out by now. But Jesus wasn’t just human. Jesus is also God’s son – yes, an eternal, forever, everlasting being. Eternal. Savior. Cool, huh? Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas, because Christmastime is a symbol of his birthday. And nobody’s birthday has ever been more celebrated than his.

This year, though, I’m celebrating something else, too. Can you guess what it is? I’m celebrating ME. I’m celebrating YOU. Not because we’re destined to save the world. I’m celebrating US because WE are also God’s children! Jesus is God’s son, I’m God’s daughter, and you may be a son or daughter of God, too. WE are AWESOME! WE are created in God’s image. WE have a reason to celebrate because WE are special. Why are we so special? If you’re a Christian, you are my family. You are either my brother or sister in Christ. (I always thought I had an evil twin – JK!) And we are Christ’s family – HIS family! Nothing could be cooler!

At Christmas, though you may have never thought of it before, we are celebrating Jesus and each other. Because Christmas is a symbol not only of Jesus’ birth but of our own birth – our second birth, our real birth, when we entered God’s family. We’re celebrating the gift that God gave us – a SAVIOR!

So, there you have it. A gift. The gift of life. Of salvation. Of eternal, forever, everlasting, never-fading, new, wonderful life. A gift that won’t ever go away. Perfectly wrapped. It’s in your hands right now, because God has given it to you.

Well, what are you going to do with it? What do you do with a gift?

Open it.