Merry Christmas!

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him." 1 John 4:9, NLT

Yes, sometimes it seems cliche. Sometimes it's just easier to pay lip-service and move on about the holiday season. But, seriously, stop. Collaborate and listen. Jesus came with a brand new invention.

Yes, Christmas originated as a pagan holiday. But, it was started in the church as a way to reach the world. Instead of leaving to be strictly pagan, the church reached out, into the world, to bring the celebration into the church, using the event to spread the Gospel.

Christmas is when Christ followers choose to honor and remember the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world. When we honor God, praise Him for His Wonders, show thanksgiving for His love and mercy, and we do so as part of a celebration of His Son's arrival into the world, it does not matter that the holiday was taken from the pagans to create interest in the Gospel. He honors that.

When the holiday season is a time of giving, love, and grace, He honors that. Yes, He does ask us to give and care and love year round, but when we make it a celebration to honor Him, and we do it in the spirit of Christmas, which is the spirit of Christ, it is a great and glorious thing. We cannot earn salvation through works. But the change in us through the salvation purchased by Christ is proven by our works. We prove our love for Him by the way we live.

Jesus is truly the reason for the season.

God bless you and Merry Christmas from the HaHaMen!