Some Christmas throwbacks

This week I’m pushing the easy button and throwing back to some previous Christmas posts that I wrote in years past. I thought some of you might like to go back and revisit a few of these older posts and some of the newer readers might like to see some relevant posts from previous holiday seasons.

My Addiction to Hallmark Christmas Movies

I wrote this post when I realized how it can be easy to develop unrealistic expectations of what a Christmas holiday should look like. My real life had a tendency to pale in comparison to these fictional films. Additionally, Hallmark Christmas movies can offer an escape from an often stress-ridden and drama-filled holiday season. However, I decided that I don’t want my only Christmas memories with my family to be watching Hallmark Christmas movies. I wanted to “live” them out instead.

Read this post to learn more about making your own moments and memories during Christmas time. Also get a few tips and read a few funny stories about not overlooking the imperfect memories.

“Make the most of every opportunity…” Ephesians 5:16 (NLT)

Keep Christmas All Year

I actually wrote this post after Christmas one year during one of my post-Christmas funks. The Christmas season is my favorite time of year with the build-up, the anticipation, and the ongoing celebration.  Unfortunately after it is all over, I often get a little sad.  This post was about my attempts to try to prolong the Christmas season by learning about different cultures and their celebrations such as Epiphany, the12 Days of Christmas or Christmastide, and Candlemas.

If you, like me, also get a little down after Christmas, go read this post to get some ideas of prolonging the season, the feeling, and the true meaning of Christmas throughout the year.

“Remember his covenant forever–the commitment he made to a thousand generations.” 1 Chronicles 16:15 (NLT) 

Whether Happy or Hurting Remember Immanuel

I wrote this post reflecting on the reality that the Christmas season isn’t always a happy one for some.  It can bring painful reminders.  In this post I discussed that part of Christmas should not only be to celebrate the human birth of Christ but to recognize and remember his deity as well.  It reflects on Jesus’ name “Immanuel” which means “God with us”. God came to be with us. We are not isolated and alone. In a lonely, hurting and isolated world God said, “I want to come be with you. I want to help you. You’re not alone.”

If Christmas brings memories of loss or is a time of pain in your life, go read this post to get some encouragement that you are not alone.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” Matthew 1:23 (NIV) 

The Story of Christmas

This post contains a video with one of the most amazing retellings of the story of Christmas that I have ever heard along with some beautiful Christmas songs.

“The Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:11 (NLT)

 

Enjoy your last week before Christmas! Make memories and don’t forget the reason we celebrate—Jesus!

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If you have benefited from this post or if you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward and share this post with them via the sharing links below! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 1 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)