Some weeks ago, I was shopping in Hobby Lobby. This is one store that can rapidly bring on ‘needs’ that we were quite unaware we had before entering. The store also has a sly way of bringing on discontent, if we’re not careful. (Yes, discontent, not discount as my auto correct thought I wanted!) Although they have that as well, which tends to increase the ‘needs’!

I wasn’t looking for much; I wanted to browse their Christmas decor and look for placemats  to make pillow covers for the couch. I was pleased to find some on sale with a touch of Christmas color.

To transform from placemat to pillow cover, simply rip open one of the narrow ends, zigzag the two edges to keep from fraying, sew velcro at the opening, insert pillow and voila’, you’ve got a new look for your pillow! 

As I strolled the aisles, the Christmas grinch was all over in the decorations. How disgusting. As if Santa and the reindeer, trees, ornaments and socks aren’t enough to distract from the real reason of Christmas, now there’s the ugly, old grinch yet too! Ok, he was around before, but this is the first year I noticed him. I can certainly make do quite well without him!

Satan doesn’t care what distracts us from Jesus. As long as he distracts us, he’s pleased. Maybe we don’t have all the fanfare of Christmas displays as our neighbors do, but what about the fanfare of overloaded schedules and dining tables? The overload of gifts, the stress of baking every single kind of cookie because that’s just how we’ve always done it!

For far too many people, Christmas has become a god of pleasure seeking, inordinate gift buying, (and may I say inordinate food making and eating?!) stress, discontent, hurry and worry. Certainly, we can enjoy special foods we only make for the holidays, but we don’t need to make every kind of special food every year, do we?!

It’s not my intention to cause guilt for anyone. There are circumstances that we can not control. But there are things we can control, and one of those is the issues of our own heart. Guard your heart with active intentionality! Cut out unnecessary activities and senseless decorating. If you’re feeling irritated at the overloaded schedule, ask Jesus what you could cut out. What is most important to Him? He will give wisdom and direction if we ask.

It saddens me how much Santa, gifts, lights, trees and festivities have become the focus of Christmas more than that of Jesus’ birth!

Christmas is Jesus leaving His heavenly throne; coming to earth through the miraculous virgin birth, as a tiny, helpless babe, to save His people from their sins!

Jesus is the Redeemer of hearts! He’s the Bringer of peace, the Healer of the sick, the God of all Comfort! There’s no greater gift than the gift of Jesus, our Saviour, redeeming sinful man! Praise to God for this gift of all gifts!

Is Jesus your Redeemer?