Laulima Volume 5, Issue 2, December 2005 (New Day issue--Laulima Vol
5 Issue 1), RETURN
This issue:
How to have a M.E.R.R.Y. Christmas
Come Let Us Adore Him
IBC Youth on the March
In the Stars His Handy Work I See
HOW TO HAVE A M.E.R.R.Y. CHRISTMAS
It certainly seems like the holidays bring added stress, starting at Thanksgiving time and not ending until after the New Year. There are so many plans to make, items to purchase or make, food to prepare, and events to attend. The word “merry” can just about be taken out of the words Merry Christmas.
What can be done to keep the word “merry” in Merry Christmas? Perhaps you will find the following acrostic helpful to you.
M – Make new memories with Jesus Christ being the reason for the season. It seems like those who hold a world view today are willing to leave the words merry and happy alone during the season, but want to exchange the words “Christmas” for a so-called ‘politically correct’ term of “Holiday”. There is a battle brewing among retailers today. Some using Happy Holidays while others in reaction are making it clear that it is Merry Christmas! Which I for one am very glad to keep it Merry Christmas. Yet we must remember even more important than what term to use, is the fact that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. After all Christmas should be all about Jesus!
E – Enjoy what you already have by developing a spirit of contentment with what Christ has given you. Have you noticed how the Christmas retailers work hard to create a manufactured “need” for what they are trying to sell. And the world quickly picks up on it and responds with an “I want it” and “I gotta have it” attitude of either discontent with what they have or a false sense of feeling they will be more content if they have (fill in the blank). But for us who know Christ as Savior and are keeping Christ at the center of our life and thus the center of the season, we will be content with what we have in Christ. Yes we will enjoy what gifts of thoughtfulness we receive from others. But it is not that we “have to have” it in order to have a Merry Christmas!
R – Relax, say “no” to over-commitment and only do what you know the Lord wants you to do. Now this will take great finesse to navigate through so many invitations to do, to go, and to get and the host of other requests on your time. But keep things in perspective. First, expect this time of year to be busier, so put off what you absolutely do not have to do until after the Christmas season. Second, remember this time of year is especially about building relationships, not maintaining relationships. So don’t allow anything to hinder you from building a relationship with Christ. After all it is His birthday…and helping others build a relationship with Him. Then work on building relationships with your immediate family, extended family, faith family, friends, associates, and neighbors. Just prioritize. No one can do it all!
R – Reduce or eliminate your expectations and accept by faith and love what happens. Almost nothing happens exactly as you planned. We need to under-expect what will happen and over-expect the unexpected will most likely happen. All of this reminds us to keep our eyes on the Lord knowing the only "thing" we can control is ourselves and how we are to respond when the unexpected occurs. And believe me, it will!
Y – Yield your rights and put others first because the Lord loves you and will meet all your needs. This is probably the most important principle in having a Merry Christmas. We love the Lord because He first loved us and gave Himself for us (He being the perfect Christmas gift of all). After we receive Him as Savior by faith in Him alone, we should give ourselves back to Him as our gift to Him. His gift to us was the most expensive because it cost Him His life and it was given to people who would never deserve it. It was the true act of love. On the other hand, when we give ourselves to Him, compared to what He did for us, it costs us nothing. And while we do not deserve His gift to us, He deserves our very all for Him.
By applying this acrostic to your life, I trust your will have a very
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
With Much Merry Christmas Aloha…
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