Christmas is... faith.

Day 4 of Christmas is {__________} series and it is going to rock.

Hannah from Happy Days is one of my favorite and encouraging reads.

Whenever I head over to Hannah's blog, I am always inspired by her love for Christ and how she shares her heart for the Lord and communicates it to her readers. She has a beautiful spirit and I am thrilled that she is here to share her faith and how Jesus is the reason for the season.

merry christmas! my name is hannah and i blog at happy days.

i am so thrilled that nancy asked me to join her christmas series.

her sweet blog is a favorite, and i am honored to be a part of it today!

thank you so much, nancy!

christmas is one of my most favorite times of the year.

this season overflows my heart with gratitude, joy and amazing warmth.

i seem to weep daily at the most unexpected moments. happy weeping.

these feelings don't come from peppermint mochas

or a new pair of boots under the tree. not even from james taylor's christmas music.

i love christmas decorations to the moon. but they don't keep me in the christmas spirit.

you know the catchy phrase, "jesus is the reason for the season".

that's it.

he is it. what christmas is all about.

even the cartoons know:

jesus came for me. he redeemed me! this is why i celebrate and weep.

he is why i enjoy all the fun christmas-y treats and traditions even more.

so. how do we act like we know this?

how do we make our christmas about jesus?

first thing i'll tell you is you need to intend to make christmas about jesus.

if you don't, the macy's sales, bright colored ornaments, fancy christmas crafting 

and picking out gifts for grandma will swiftly shift your focus.

we look to him:

looking to Jesus, the founder

and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy that was set

before him endured the cross,

despising the shame, and is seated

at the right hand of the throne of God

{hebrews 12:2}

and we set our mind's attention and our heart's affections on him:

 If then you have been raised with Christ,

seek the things that are above,

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things that are above,

not on things that are on earth.

For you have died, and your life

is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ who is your life appears,

then you also will appear with him in glory.

{colossians 3:1-4}

jesus is our treasure. and his return is our greatest good.

he came to our dusty earth, as a man among us.

he became poor so that we might become rich.

christmas is a time to celebrate our promised messiah

and look ahead to his promised return.

i'm encouraging y'all today to gather with your family and friends this christmas.

to get into the word together as you expect christmas morning in your hearts.

as you enjoy cookie exchanges, your favorite christmas movies, and stuffing those stockings...

carve out some time each day to reflect on jesus and his birth over two thousand years ago.

some good places to find appropriate scripture are here and here.

another great read that leads to the christmas story, especially with the kiddos,

is the jesus storybook bible!

we adore this book year 'round. the authors say of it "every story whispers his name".

that really gave me a fresh perspective about not only the word of god,

but that it all centers around christmas.

his coming to earth is the story behind the stories, you know?

anyway, this is just my opinion, but this book ought to be in your hands if it isn't already!

there are many ways to get the family involved in keeping a christ-focused christmas.

beyond readings and activities at home!

whether it's:

preparing meals as a family to take to neighbors

adopting a needy family to buy gifts for

going caroling at your local nursing home

baking cookies for the homeless shelter residents and staff

making christmas cards and delivering them to shut-ins

pray and ask what the lord would have you do for others.

take a look outside ourselves and see opportunities to serve.

reflecting jesus, who came as a servant to save our world.

shout it, go "tell it on the mountain", that jesus christ is born!

finally, i really want to share one of my favorite christmas songs with y'all.

there aren't really any videos available for you to hear the original version,

but the lyrics are beautiful.

Welcome to our World

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting

Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home



Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence

Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world

{Chris Rice}



happy christmas to each of you! may you be drawn closer to the savior

as you celebrate this most wonderful time of the year!
*****************************************************
Thank you, Hannah. What a great reminder what Christmas is really about.


Now, go on and pop over to Hannah and give her a comment hug.
Love on her like she loved on us today.
Have you missed some of this week's posts?
Catch up here.


There are still 2 more guests to come. Stay tuned.
I hope you will join us for the grand finale, link up here tomorrow. 
Nothing beats a party on a Friday!
Grab the button and tell us what Christmas is to you.

<center><a href="http://thegoatandthekid.blogspot.com/"><img border="0"src="http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv65/hamiltonfive/christmaslink.jpg"/></a><center></center></center>