What is a real present?

This morning I watched the most disturbing Christmas video ever.  It was about Jimmy Kimmel and a challenge he gave to viewers to give their children the worst Christmas present ever.  Now, the premise of this challenge was to see the reaction of little children to bizarre and wrong gifts.  I was appalled at two points.

My first problem was with the parents who were willing to do this challenge.  Why would a parent offer an early Christmas present that they did not intend to give.  These were rotten food, onions, and other strange items.

The other issue is to what we have made our children into over the years with Christmas.  Not one of the children were appreciative of the gifts.  They were all upset.  Some of the children through a fit.  If you have not watched this, I do want to warn you of a few negative words from a child at the end.  Please listen and watch with out the kids in the room.

All of this may seem like a rant on modern understanding of Christmas.  True, I do not like the commercialism of this sacred day.  What is truly appalling is the fact that this is being passed around Facebook and YouTube as humor.  We are willing to ridicule our children to get them on the television for a few brief moments. 

I admit I have not finished all my Christmas shopping and still looking for something special for some people in my family.  I hope I will not find a reason to make fun of them this year.  If I do, I do not think I will make a video for on Facebook.  But, no matter what I give to others, I hope they revive it with gratitude.  After watching this, I want to have some gratitude for every gift. 

Why Scrooge Might Have Been Right

I turned to my wife last night and said, "I now remember why I hate Christmas." 

She was quick ot come back, "You don't hate Christmas."

I replied, "I guess your right, I just hate Christmas for what it has become."  With those words I reflected on just how full this season of preparation has become.    We have Christmas parties and activities to attend, but on top of all those extra parties, comes the preparation for those parties.  This week I have spent getting ready for a parade which our church sold treats at along with practice for the children's service.  This is on top of the other functions I have with my family with Christmas Concerts and other parties this weekend.  So, I hate what Christmas has become. 

As a kid, I remember the excitement of getting ready for Christmas.  There were special oppertunites in school to purchase gifts for parents and grandparents.  Special crafts were made in art class to decorate the house and the tree.  Those days seem long gone.  Even my son does not bring home decorations for the house this time of year.  I just get another invitation to a celebration of the season, not Christmas any more either (but that is a separate topic).

But, it is what it has become.  At the end all I can do is keep a focus on the season.  So, what are you doing to get ready for the birth of Jesus?  Have you taken on too much for the time of year and are starting to hate Christmas also?  If this is so, what are some ways to keep the reason for the season in perspective?

I am asking myself these questions to keep the joy of Christmas in my life and in my families life.  How about you?  If you would like some help with these and other questions, visit my web site www.christfocusedcoaching.com.  I would like to help you discover God's place in your life right now. 

Advent

 “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness

a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level,

the rugged places a plain.  

Isaiah 40:3-4 (NIV)

Yesterday in church I was talking with the children about all the stuff we do to get ready for Christmas.   There is the decorations we put up, the extra cleaning because we have moved items in the house that do not typically get moved around.  Then we have the Christmas cards or letters that need written with addresses and sent in the mail.  The presents that need to be purchased.  Then we add on top of all these items extra services at the church, cooking for special events and the Christmas parties.  There are a lot of stuff to get ready for Christmas.  So, it is kinda fitting that we call the four weeks leading up to to Christmas as Advent, a time of preparation.  We do fill it with all sorts of preparation.

The preparation we think of I do not think is the preparation thought of when the season started years ago by the church.  There was an Advent prior to Thanksgiving and there was Advent prior to "Christmas Sales."  So, I think there is a little different idea of preparation being called for.  This time of year was a time to remember how Jesus came the first time as an infant child and that He has promised to come back.  Advent should reflect something more like the time of John the Baptist in the wilderness than it does of the mad house of shoppers at the local store. 

John was calling the people of his time back to following God and to look towards God as the promised messiah, savior, was to come soon.  John did not realize at the start of his preaching just how soon the messiah was coming, but we know from reading the New Testament Gospels that John got to baptize the messiah.  John's message had an immediate impact.  He was the foundation of the Advent, making the way ready for Jesus.

The words John spoke to the people coming out into the wilderness have a meaning for us today.  We need to take some time and make sure we are turned towards Christ.  This is a great time of year for us to focus on this.  Not that we should only focus on coming back to Christ this time of year.  This is a focus all year round, but a great time now to make a central point of looking towards Christ. 

In all the ways you prepare for Christmas, will you make Christ a central part of those preparations?  What are some ways you can make Him central in the season and in your life?