Faithful Fridays ~ Simply Jesus.

It's so near to Christmas, everyone!  But it's also Friday, which means it's time for Faithful Friday.  :)

Faithful Fridays is a weekly "meme" hosted on my blog.  I made it so that Christians could have one day out of the week (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog.  If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the button from the Faithful Fridays page on my blog (so that it will link back here), and come link up at the bottom of this post!  :)

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It's getting closer to Christmas.

There's lots of hustle and bustle and probably a good bit of stress!

Parties, maybe.  Wrapping presents.  Glittery Christmas lights.  Hot chocolate.

Elves on shelves.  Christmas movies.  Christmas music.  Snowmen.  Santa.

Stockings.  Ornaments.  Trees.  Gingerbread houses.  Stars.  Red and green....

It's all great, and beautiful, and cozy, and wonderful.  

But at the end of the day, these things can be a bit of a distraction and can draw us away from the real reason for Christmas.  And when I say "us," I most definitely mean me included!  It can be pretty hard to focus on the real reason for Christmas.  So, I think it's important that we try to figure out some ways to keep the focus.

Be still and know that I am God.

-Psalm 48:10

Be still and know that Jesus is Lord.  Be still and thank Him for sending His Son to be our Savior!  Be still and know that Christmas is simply about Jesus.  Be still and be quiet, maybe get on your knees, and just take in His blessings and presence and love!

And isn't Jesus all about simplicity?  The pharisees and teachers of the law in Jesus' time were complicated and elaborate and extravagant and rich and ornate.  Jesus was simple and plain and poor and loving.  And I think that kind of reflects what our Christmas should be like: simple.  I'm not saying we shouldn't have trees and put up lights and decorate a tree.  That's great!  But we should also remember Jesus often during our celebration and really make Him the center of it.

Have a Happy Birthday, Jesus! party.  Read the Christmas account from the Bible with your family, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, pray, and have cookies/cake!  Talk about the Christmas account.  Go over it, think about it!

Pray a prayer of thankfulness together as a family before and after you go to open your presents!  This is a great way to start Christmas.

Do something great for someone in honor of what God did for us on Christmas.  Buy groceries or toys or clothes for a person.  Pay for their meal.  Share the love and new of Jesus with them along with it.  People respond when you help them materially/physically and spiritually.

And last but not least, make sure you say, "Merry CHRISTmas!"  :)

Oh, holy night

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night

Of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world

In sin and error pining

'Til He appeared

And the soul felt its worth

God bless you and Merry CHRISTmas!

Joy :)