Christmas Overload

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Luke 10:38-42. I love Christmas and all the things we do to celebrate Christmas. It is one of my favorite times of year. I enjoy decorating. I like buying gifts for those I love and wrapping them up in pretty paper, decorating them with ribbons and bows and putting them under the tree. I love the excitement of the holiday season. I love watching my children and grandchildren open their presents and waiting to see their reaction. I love fixing a good meal, special goodies, and dessert for my family and seeing them enjoy it.

I love celebrating Jesus’ birth and my love for Him. Sometimes I feel like all the other things we do at Christmas takes precedence over the true meaning of Christmas. The business of the season sometimes causes us to put other, more important things, on the back burner, due to lack of time. This scenario reminds me of the Mary and Martha story in the Bible where Martha is busy running around doing things to prepare for Jesus’ visit while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet enjoying spending time with Him.

We may think that Martha is the industrious one and Mary is being lazy, but Jesus says that Mary chose the more important thing. How often are we busy doing things that are not necessarily the most important thing?

By the time Christmas is over I am usually exhausted from doing all the things that we call Christmas traditions. I have been so busy preparing for Christmas that I have worn myself out. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. Do you ever feel like you’re the one doing everything, while someone else is enjoying the holiday season?

How can we change this syndrome and make it more enjoyable and relaxing for all of us? Maybe if we start earlier and spread the things we need to do over a longer period of time it wouldn’t be so stressful. Maybe we could get most of what has to do done earlier we could really enjoy the Christmas season. Then, we may be able to spend more time with friends and family and reflecting on Jesus and the love that God showed toward us when He sent Jesus to be born as our Savior. Wouldn’t that be better than working ourselves to death right up to the last-minute?

Daily Bible Reading:

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Things to think about:

How do you feel after Christmas? Are you tired and exhausted or are you refreshed and excited?
Have you ever thought maybe we try to do too much for the holidays?
What can you do in the future to change how you feel during the Christmas holidays and after Christmas?
Are you like Mary or are you more of a Martha?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we reflect on the Christmas season and our response to it, help us to do as Mary and choose the good part. Help us to realize the changes we need to make in order not to overwhelm or exhaust ourselves from all the activity that we have made part of our Christmas celebration. Help us to spend more time reflecting on Jesus and the love that God shared with us by sending Him to earth to become our Savior. Help us to show our love and gratitude for all You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and …

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troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. – Luke 10:41-42

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The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman, which takes you through the life of Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew is the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. It begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ and His birth.

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May God bless you and your family during this holiday season.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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PS. I will be taking some time off this week for the holidays. My husband is on vacation and my grandchildren are out of school, so I’m taking some time off so we can have some family time and I can get some rest. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 2:11. It’s that time of year again, the time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I don’t know about you, but as for me, by this time of the holiday season I have about worn myself out. How did we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of it all?

We spend weeks or even months getting ready for the big day. We decorate our houses with Christmas trees, nativity scenes, wreaths, garlands, angels, and other Christmas decorations.

We go all over town looking for the perfect gifts for our loved ones. Then, we wrap all the gifts and place them under the tree and wait for the day when we get to open all the gifts we have purchased and prepared for our loved ones.

We spend hours planning, shopping, and cooking our family’s favorite Christmas goodies and meals.

We do all this and wear ourselves out to the point of exhaustion.

During the holiday season, do we really take the time that we should to reflect on the real reason for the Christmas season?

It is Jesus’ birth we are celebrating. How do you suppose He would like us to celebrate His birthday?

Do you think He would enjoy us spending time with Him?

I know on my birthday I enjoy my friends and family spending time with me acknowledging the celebration of my birthday, don’t you?

In Matthew 2:11 we learn that the wise men traveled to see baby Jesus. When they found Jesus, we are told that they bowed down and worshiped Him. They brought gifts to Him of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The celebration wasn’t about the wise men, or Joseph and Mary. It was focused solely on Jesus.

What are some ways that we can worship Jesus during the Christmas holiday season? We might attend church worship services, Christian Christmas programs, listen to Christian Christmas songs, or read the Christmas story from the Bible and reflect on the glory, majesty, and precious gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

How do you plan to worship Jesus during the Christmas holiday season?

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 2:11

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Things to think about:

In what ways do you worship Jesus during the Christmas holidays?
What are some ways that we can teach our children and grandchildren the true meaning of Christmas?
How can we focus more on Him and not as much on the other things that we have made Christmas about?
What are some ways we can share the love of Jesus with others during the Christmas season?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Him to this world to be born of a virgin and to die on the cross for our sins. Help us during this Christmas season to focus more on celebrating His birth and less on all the other traditions that we have during this holiday season. Forgive us of the ways that we have made this time of year more about us and what we want and less about Him. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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