I am so very thankful that this year we are hearing “Merry Christmas” so much more than in the past few years.
I understand the right people have to say they do not believe in the birth of Christ. That is their choice. God created us with a free will, and for those of us who are privileged to live in the USA, we have the freedom to say what we feel as long as it is not “hate speech”- something that would lead to bodily harm.
I do NOT understand why those of us who choose to believe the Word of God, sing songs of the Love of God, put up scenes of a birth in a manger, and celebrate that birth with a birthday party of love that we call Christmas are brought to a court of law, and told we cannot do that because some do not believe it, and it offends them.
We are told that Christmas cannot be celebrated in public Schools, or Government properties of any kind. We are told we should say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” without regard as to why there is a Holiday. Merry Christmas means “God is Love, and that He has shown His love by His gift of Jesus Christ.” But we are told that is offensive to some.
Sadly Many of our children in today’s society have never read or even heard of the birth of Christ. That He was born of a Virgin, by the name of Mary, because this was the sign of the miracle of God’s Love for mankind foretold over 700 years prior by the Prophet Isaiah, and because this means His Father is God Himself. As written in Matthew: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us”. (Matthew 1: 21-23.) That is Love. That is reason for CELEBRATION!!
In two verses in the Bible we are told that a child would be born through a miracle of God, that He would actually BE God, and that He would save His people from their sins. However, many do not know what sin is and what it has done to mankind. So, they cannot give thanks and praise to a loving Heavenly Father for the wonderful gift of Love because they do not know what it is. They cannot give thanks and praise for His mercy and grace because they do not know what it is. With the laws as they are it is difficult to get the truth to them.
We cannot reverse the laws overnight. But we can work in the future to have laws that allow us to freely tell others that Merry Christmas means God is Love, and why. Where the word Christmas comes from. Laws that will allow us to freely tell what Christmas really means. In the meantime, let us do now what we can through words and actions to demonstrate that love. Let us show it in our smile, in our tone of voice, in our words, and in our actions. Merry Christmas means God is Love. Let us rejoice and be glad in that wonderful, and beautiful truth. Let us say it; let us show it.
You are greatly loved, God’s Beloveds. I pray that the Holy Spirit is bringing the joy of Christmas and what it means to you, and through you, to those in your life. Merry Christmas!!
Poppa B.