Christmas Kickoff!!!

Though I’m far from finished, The Christmas Decorating Kickoff has begun. And I have several really good excuses to justify my actions.

It’s getting darker earlier.

I moved my chair to the music area which is rather dreary. I need light!

I need to clean out some more boxes. Who knows? I may be able to consolidate a box or two by the end of next week. Since I gave away so much of my Christmas decorations during the last two years, I don’t have anything left except the bare essentials. Probably still too much, but I’ll try my best to use what I already have and try my best to stay away from Hobby Lobby. I really doubt that resolve will last until the end of the week, but I’ll try. Mostly. Sorta. Maybe just a wee bit. Shoot! Probably not at all!

I could feel guilty about starting this project before finishing one already started, but Christmas is just around the corner. It’s a long walk to the corner and since it takes me longer to do things these days, I am perfectly justified in starting now. I’m trying to remember what excuses I have used for early decorating for the past 50 years. I had some good ones, most of which revolved around getting ahead of things before the Christmas program prep, rehearsals, and the costuming would begin each year. It made sense.

A critique by others is my preference for using blue decorations with the greenery without a red / green combination in sight. It makes perfect sense to me.

Of course, in my book, Christmas always makes sense. Celebrating God’s love for undeserving humanity is always appropriate.

As I read through some of my past Christmas blogs, I see that I am still amazed Mary got an angelic visit for the big reveal telling her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’ Awesome, right?

That the lowly shepherds would be granted seeing not just an angel, but have the glory of the Lord shine around them is mind boggling. They received ‘the good news that will bring great joy for all the people,’ They were told exactly where to go, what to find – a baby in a manger – ‘the Messiah, the Lord.’

At that point, heaven could no longer keep its praise hidden. A multitude of the heavenly hosts appeared with the initial angel and praises rang out. ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, and good will to men!’

The shepherds’ instant obedience was commendable and also a challenge for me. Even though I have the Truth from Scripture, do I obey right away when I know to do what is right? Not nearly often enough!

I am always stunned as I read of the shepherds sharing their story of finding the greatly anticipated Messiah. ‘All who heard it were amazed,’ but did the people do anything with the truth of it? Or did they just shrug off the story and miss the blessing of meeting the Son of God in person?

Yeah. I maybe early in decorating for Christmas but all the while, I’ll be thinking on the meaning of Christmas and the reason He came to earth.

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.’ John 3:16

Selah

Blessings

Kara Beth