How to get the most out of Christmas

Good article from Reform Worship about enjoying Advent and Christmas.  I have to admit that the difference between the two was one I only understood a few years ago.  Advent is the the time of anticipation as we get ready to recieve the Christ child again into our hearts.  (Maybe just another way of saying, “Pick up your cross and follow me”?)  This starts on November 29th.  Christmas is the season after December 25th when we work to understand what it means in our daily life that Jesus came as a man to live with us.

Anyway, this year we are celebrating the Jesse Tree as a church, which meant that Ryan’s musings here struck a chord with me.  He has three main points which I’ll summarize…

1. Honor the Season.  Hold off even thinking about Christmas until Advent, which begins November 29th.  And when Advent rolls around, dive into it with your whole heart.  Experience the emotions of anticipation, expectation, confession, and hope as you wait anxiously for the coming Christ.

2. Do not listen to Christmas music until Advent!…When Christmas day is here, scream “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” Bask in the wonder of Jesus, our God, coming as a baby…

3. Do not fall prey to the ploys of consumer retailers, who play their Christmas music and decorate all Christmasy this early in order to manipulate your feelings into buying all kinds of stuff that most assuredly will not fulfill the life of the recipient.  Give out of a generous heart.  Give creatively, not obligatorily.  (This is what the Advent Conspiracy last year was all about!)…Generosity is the key, especially in its truest form, birthed out of the same kind of pure generosity with which the Father sent His Son to save the world.

So I’m NOT listening to Christmas music yet even though I want to!  I’m focusing on Thanksgiving this next week and remembering that God loves me even though I’m not worthy of His forgiveness and love.  And on November 29th I’m going to CRANK THE MUSIC AND SING REALLY, REALLY LOUD!