Slideshow image
----Submitted by Ashton Linney
“The Reason For The Season”
Isaiah 9:6-7
As we draw closer to the holiday that the world celebrates as “Christmas.”  A day where we give and receive gifts. It is so easy for us to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of buying gifts for other people that they don’t even need most of the time. People work overtime and pick up side hustles all to make sure that they have the money to buy gifts for their loved ones. While this is not a bad thing, it can take the attention away from the whole reason we celebrate Christmas, which is the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. We often times take such pride in our gifts and we get so eager to open up gifts, that we fail to even take a moment to recognize and thank our Savior for His birth. For without this event taking place years ago, we would have no Christianity, and we would have no reason to celebrate the man-made holiday, Christmas. Christmas would be all about gift giving and receiving and spending time with family. However, this isn’t the case, because God sent His one and Only son that came as fully God and fully man and experienced life, died on the cross for our sins that we may have a reason to celebrate. Not only during Christmas but every single second, minute, hand hour of our lives. 
Christmas isn’t about putting up lights to make our house look pretty, getting/receiving gifts and making gingerbread houses. No. We have a true reason to celebrate because those Christmas lights, those gifts, and those gingerbread houses are only temporary. However, our Savior lives forever and because of that we also get to live forever if we have a PERSONAL relationship with Him. So as the holiday approaches don’t lose sight of the whole reason for Christmas which is to celebrate the birth and life of our Savior. Take time to read the story of the birth of Jesus and thank Him for His life and the eternal life He gives you. You can still enjoy the gifts and festivities of Christmas but always keep in your heart and mind the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Many people say that Jesus is the reason for the season but I believe that Jesus is the reason for every season and every day of our lives. For without Him, Christmas and life would have no meaning.
Prayer: Father, as we approach Christmas, help me not to get caught up in the gift giving and receiving. Rather, allow me to be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving because of the unfailing hope I have in You, through the life of Your Son, Jesus Christ. For every day, season, and holiday, is all about You. In Jesus name, Amen.