The true meaning of Christmas

Hi everyone, I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted on here my life has just been crazy these past few months with school, church, spending time with friends and family just different things going on in my life. I decided to write about the true meaning of Christmas because I feel like this is the time of year that everyone gets so caught up with buying presents, taking kids to see Santa, going to Christmas parties for a lot of people traveling either home for Christmas or going to see family in South Carolina, Texas etc. That we lose track of what Christmas is all about because Christmas isn’t about the things that I just mentioned it’s about being with those we love and for a lot remembering those we have lost whether it be through suicide, heart disease, cancer, age anything really and celebrating Christ’s birth and just like Thanksgiving it’s about being thankful for the things that we have and the relationships that we have and I’m not just talking about boyfriends ,girlfriends, husbands and wives I’m also talking about friendships that we have made over the years whether it be 10 years,20 years and even 5 months I have a friend that I just met back in April that is one of my best friends. Because to me it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known the person there are just some people that you connect with right off the bat even if at first you just talk about random things at first then connect because of similar life experience’s or talking about theology anything really even writing this it just makes me smile just thinking about it. Matthew 2:10 says ;”When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” This verse right here is exactly how we should react around Christmas time. I know life can be pretty hectic especially around Christmas time. That’s honestly why I’m slowly learning to slow down some which is why I decided to start writing in the first place. Now I know for you it might not be that way maybe there is something else that you like doing to relax like my 17 year old sister for example she is really into art so she tends to do a lot of drawing, sewing etc. Or all three of my younger siblings they’re all into gaming to where whenever all 4 of us are home which at times isn’t very often because my 19 year old brother and I are living in Ottumwa, Iowa for school currently but whenever my brother and I are home back in Des Moines, Iowa I usually am relaxing, spending time with my family and or friends and my brother( the one that I just mentioned that we go to the same school). I’ve seen him playing Minecraft which is a very popular game for as far as I know 14-19 year old’s to where my 14 year old brother is pretty much always gaming or talking to his friends. Which brings me to a challenge for all of you through this Christmas season even after. I want to challenge all of you to not spend too much time on your phone’s and computer and this is for all age groups and actually talk to someone in person and get to know that person because while social media is a good way for people to stay in contact. I personally feel like there are some things that are better kept off of social media because with social media there are a lot of people including me that would rather keep certain things off social media which is why I like talking to someone in person more than talking to people through social media and I feel like with the holiday season in full swing it’s even more crazier than normal and sometimes you just need someone to talk to about what’s going on in your life. Isaiah 9:6 says ; “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Basically what this verse means is when Christ was born he made a way for us to be saved and Christ really is wonderful counselor and mighty God because he is our shoulder to cry on throughout the year. I’m speaking from personal experience because there have been many times these past few years that I have cried because of different things going on in my life sometimes all at once and I’ve been led to different scriptures through those times like Psalms 23,Psalms 18 and Jeremiah 29:11 there have even been times that I’ve been led to different verses in my quiet time with Christ to where I’ve written them down in a journal that I have, some of which I’ve shared in my blog posts. Corrie Ten Boom once said “Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” Corrie’s right the perfect motive to celebrate Christmas is that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that’s the main reason that I personally celebrate Christmas and another reason we that all have is that we have the freedom to celebrate Christmas because way before I was even born there was human slavery to where people were forced to work even now there are a lot of people that are in the military that can’t come home to be with their families which from what I’ve seen is very hard there are even people at my school that became they came here they were homeless which is hard especially during the holiday season because of messed up situations. Which I why I’m very thankful for programs like salvation army, goodwill and food pantry’s that help people in need even around the world there are people who are in worst poverty then we are to where there are a lot of kids around the world that don’t get Christmas presents which is why I’m thankful for programs like operation Christmas child which is a ministry through Samaritan’s purse which is an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization that provides aid to people in physical need as a key part of Christian missionary work. I remember growing up I would always ask my mom if I can help pack a shoe box for it which is probably why I have a big heart for missions to where I want to go to school to be a music teacher overseas even a year from June my plan is to go to Uganda, Africa to reach out to the kids, teens and adults. Philippians 2:8-10 says;” And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth .” Basically what this verse is saying is Christ came down to earth and was obedient the whole time he was on earth and as Christians we’re supposed to have a yahoo kind of attitude what I mean by yahoo attitude was this morning my family and I went to Oakwood United Methodist Church and one of the Pastor’s said that we need to have a yahoo attitude basically where we follow God’s plan for us with a positive attitude no matter what life throws at us. I don’t remember if someone told me this or if I read it in a book but something I have kept in mind since I was 13 was if life throws you a fire ball just throw it right back with a ice ball basically calming the fire down. That’s what we’re supposed to do I know life can be pretty crazy and just hard at times but I always try to stay positive through it all and I encourage you to stay positive as well even if it means keeping quiet when needed and talking to someone about what happened later on because something that I have had to learn the hard way is that if you keep everything to yourself then it can affect your health for me personally it has caused me to have headaches because I’ve been around negative people a lot recently which is honestly why I’m thankful to be back in Des Moines, Iowa until January 2nd. I’m going to finish up by saying; I want to challenge all of you to really take what I’ve said to heart and this year well remainder of this year to be positive no matter what happens and this goes for next year as well. If you have any questions comment below or for those of you that are friends with me on Facebook message me. Merry Christmas!