Holiday
The line snaked around the inside of the building. Angry voices raised in protest as people jostled to maintain their spot. An argument broke out over a popular toy down one of the aisles. This did not feel like the Christmas holiday.
Music blared overhead, and I stopped as I heard the words of the John Lennon song, “So this is Christmas.” I deeply sighed as I realized this is what Christmas has become for so many of us, it was no longer a Holy-Day.
- Anger
- Frustration
- Dread
- Waiting
- Wanting
All of these negative feelings now dominate this season of joy.
What happened to change our hearts from celebrating Christmas as a sacred event into a commercialized experience? How did the day go from a Holy-Day to just a holiday.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 NIV
Holy Day
Isaiah prophesies about the birth of Jesus in this verse above, and his words hold such beauty within them. They offer a glimpse of the real meaning of Christmas as it describes Jesus.
Christ will be called –
Wonderful
Mighty
Everlasting
Peaceful
These words provide such a contrast from the chaotic holiday season we experience today.
Reread the Bible verse – does calmness settles over you? Do you sense a change in your spirit? I do.
[bctt tweet="Christ offers hope and peace for a Holy-Day instead of just a holiday."]The Wonderful Counselor
This descriptive term echoes a peacefulness, which is lacking in our Christmas season today. My vision of a wonderful counselor sees a loving God sitting next to me as He listens with a caring heart. His presence offers comfort. This babe in the manager will be the eternal hope as His wisdom guides our steps on the path of life.
“This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in
Isaiah 28:29 ESV
counsel and excellent in wisdom.”
Mighty God and Everlasting Father
When Isaiah wrote these words, unrest, and wars filled his world, much like our world today. The Jewish people of that day looked for a mighty warrior to come and save them from those who sought to destroy them.
[bctt tweet="I want to make memories that will last longer than any gift I could buy for my family.Give your family peace this Holy-Day."]Instead, the King of Kings arrived as a tiny baby. His true nature lay hidden under the swaddling clothes in the lowly manger.
This Mighty God, Creator of the universe and every living thing, left His throne in heaven to come to earth. He came to teach us love and peace.
Much of the world missed His message because they looked for a warrior God. Jesus offered life eternal with Him. A gift to those who accepted His message. He calls us to love and live in peace with our neighbors. It is still a radical message today.
“But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
Luke 22:69 NIV
Prince of Peace
Ah, peace! My soul longs for God’s peace in my life and world this Christmas season. I long to spend time in a church lit only by candles, sing the old, traditional carols, and feel God’s presence settle the busyness of my heart.
I want to make memories that will last longer than any gift I could buy for my family.
Peace is the thing the entire world desires but does not know how to find.
Jesus gives lasting peace to His people.
He gives peace for today, peace for Christmas and peace for all eternity.
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7 NLT
Making the Holiday a Holy-Day
Make time for the Peace of Christ to invade your Christmas season this year.
- Schedule quiet family time.
- Read the Christmas story as a family.
- Share the Love of Christ with a lonely neighbor.
- Give back to your community.
I wish you a Merry and Peace filled Christmas.
Blessings,
Yvonne M Morgan, #Blogger, #Speaker, #Writer
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
100% of the proceeds from sales of my book, Turning Mountains Into Molehills, go to help the orphans at Orphan Relief Effort, Inc
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Such a great post and so very needed this time of year. The idea that a holy day can cause so much pain, anger, frustration, etc., is heartbreaking and completely opposite of the very point of the occasion. And yet so many of us struggle with this. Here’s to keeping the HOLY in the holiday.
Amen and thanks Jessica. Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
Great message! Christmas has become less about Christ and more about consumerism and commercialism. May we get back to the first Christmas when the Prince of Peace came!
Amen Karen. Wishing you a blessed Christmas
“Christ offers hope and peace for a Holy Day instead of just a holiday.” Enough said! Jesus is the reason for the season. If we reflect on Him during this season it will change our whole perspective. Thanks for this reminder.
Thanks S. A. Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
Yvonne, this message is so very beautiful. Thank you for sharing and reminding us to step back, pause and experience the joy and peace of Christmas, the birth of our Savior. It was soothing just to read your words, scriptures and real-life application ideas. May God bless you and yours with the peace of Christ!
Thanks Melissa. Wishing you a blessed Christmas
A timely and helpful message!
Thanks Ava. God bless and Merry Christmas
The enemy certainly does a good job of distracting us this time of year, doesn’t he? It’s my goal to focus on Jesus every single day and meditate on these different characteristics you have written about. Thanks for the reminder!
Yes he does. Thanks Emily and wishing you a blessed Christmas.
it is sad that people are missing out on the true meaning behind Christmas. They long for hope, peace and love, but by rejecting Jesus, they live without. Great article!
Amen Marcie and God bless
All great ideas! We’re entering this holiday season with so much change in our lives, sickness, and strife. I want to find a quiet place to recover and to sit in God’s presence. Thank you for sharing this, Yvonne!
Thanks Melinda. Wishing you a blessed Christmas
Amen Sister great post and so very important. We will definitely be doing as you suggested this Christmas Season and beyond. God Bless You and Yours
Thanks Stephen. Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
A beautiful message. Yes, let’s turn the holiday into a Holy Day. 🙂
I agree and thanks. Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
It’s so sad how Christmas can get lost in the negative aspects of busy-ness, materialism, and rushing around. Thanks for these reminders of how to keep Christmas holy. God bless!
Yes it is sad Nancy. Thanks and wishing you a blessed Christmas.
Good suggestions, Yvonne. I’ll be trying to keep it holy this year.
Great. Thanks and wishing you a blessed Christmas
Oh, it’s so easy to ignore Jesus at Christmas time, even though we know it’s about Him. Four is, we enjoy refocusing on Him fore a moment, then move right along into opening gifts. I will do what I can to keep our focus this year. Thank you, Yvonne.
Wonderful Stephen. We are trying to keep Christ in our Christmas too. Thanks and God bless.