What Are We Going To Celebrate This Christmas?

Every year this world celebrates Christmas. Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. At least those who believe in Christ celebrate his birth during this time. Others merely celebrate it as a holiday, as a fun day and a fun time just before the year ends. People come together and have fun. They celebrate their lives. They enjoy themselves. That's Christmas. For many children Christmas is the time when they remember Santa Clause or Father Christmas and the gifts that he brings. It's a time for receiving gifts.

It's a time for singing Christmas carols. It's a time for dressing up like Santa. It's a time for holiday movies. But is it a time for Christ? And who is this Christ? Are we drawn to him? Do we care about him? Do we love him, and more importantly, do we know that he loves us, and has loved us in a way that no one has ever loved us? Do we know that he has done something for us, which no one can do for us? He died for us on the cross. He gave his life for us. He paid for our sins. Jesus Christ paid for our sins, because only he could pay for our sins. There was no other payment acceptable to God. He paid for our sins. Do we know that? Do we know that it was because he paid for our sins that we will enter the kingdom of God? Do we know these things? What are we going to celebrate during this Christmas?

Learn From Mary

It was God who chose Mary. God chose her before he told her anything about Jesus because he knew that she was the right choice. Mary worshipped God and cared about God. She was in agreement with God. Though she did not offer her womb to God before she was told about Jesus we can say that in a sense she eventually offered herself to God. Mary is known for her remarkable words of acceptance. She said, "May it be done to me as how God has willed. I'm the servant of the Lord." She offered herself to God because she was honoured to be considered by God. So Mary received the honour of being the mother of Jesus while she was unmarried. Though it was risky for her to carry a child in her womb in an unmarried state, Mary took that risk for the sake of God. So when I see Mary, mother of Jesus, I see a woman of faith and daring, who was willing to be pregnant before her marriage, because she trusted in God. We must learn from Mary and show faith in God even when he seems to lead us to a dangerous path.

Disturbing Thoughts Regarding Christmas

This is the disturbing feature regarding Christmas -- that a lot of poor people are outside churches and not all of them can be helped. Why are we Christians, why are we called by Jesus Christ? Is it to wear beautiful clothes during Christmas? Is it to attend these churches that look so wonderfully decorated? Is it merely to smile at one another and wish one another that we celebrate Christmas? What about this disturbing picture outside the churches? Who are these poor people? Do we really care about them? What is our relationship with them? What do we intend to do about them? Do we give to them because we would feel better as a result of it? Is that the reason behind our giving? Do we feel better after giving? Do we feel obligated to give? Let's think about it.

Christmas Spirit On The Harmonica

Aunt Mary Helen Indra plays Christmas tunes on her harmonica, as we say goodbye to the Christmas season.

New Year Morning Service At St.John's

A scene from the New Year's Morning Service that I attended with my mother a few days ago

The Mother Of Jesus Christ

She is the most blessed of women. Let us honour and respect the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. And may we remember her and her faith. She said, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord! Here I am, the servant of the Lord!" This is how she received the good news that Gabriel gave her. Though it was good news, it was news that troubled her. She wondered how she could bear a child while she was still a virgin. Finally she accepted the message of God.

Thanking God For This Christmas Season

God blessed me with a rich, event-filled Christmas season. And He kept trouble out of my life in answer to my prayer.

My Many Christmases

Christmas was not easy to celebrate then. Christmas is not easy to celebrate even now.

The End Of Christmas

Trouble seemed to threaten the stability of this Christmas season. But God heard my prayer and did not let this trouble destroy our peace.

Telling The Christmas Story

On Christmas God sent me Tarun and I told him the story of Jesus Christ's birth.

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

My friend Hannah Priyanka sings a Christmas song on Boxing Day at my home.

Jesus, Be Born In Us Today

We invite our Lord Jesus Christ to be born in us on Christmas Day, 2013

Christmas Questions

On Christmas Eve we discussed certain details regarding Jesus Christ's birth.

Decorated With Love

Let every house of every believer in Jesus Christ be decorated not with mere ornaments but with God's light and love during this Christmas season.

Christmas Eve At St.Mary's

I spent Christmas Eve at the brilliantly lit St. Mary's Church, Hyderabad, India

Thoughts On Christmas

The lack of spirituality in Christmas is lamentable. for this is not the way true believers of Christ should celebrate Christmas. Christmas should not be a light, trivial moment. It is not a moment for frivolous and mindless celebration. It is a moment for a serious consideration of our standing with God and our relationship with His Son Jesus Christ.

People are not comfortable with the word "Christ" anymore. The word "Christ” narrows down the scope of Christmas. Christmas has become a festival for all, for even those who neither know nor care about Jesus Christ.

Though I am fond of Christmas cakes and other goodies, the best food I can have during Christmas is Christ himself. I must consume Christ as He told me to always and especially during Christmas. It is His truth that I must consume and His love that I must drink.

Do people really celebrate the birth of Christ during Christmas? Or are they celebrating something else?

Children must know who their Lord is. Parents must teach children that Christmas is no mere holiday but a holy day.

 

 

When We See Jesus We See God

The Christmas Day Message of Samuel Godfrey George, 2013:

We have certain expectations of God. We believe that we know God. Those who have studied God, those who have read about him, have this idea that they can work out God. Jesus proved to everyone that God's mind cannot be worked out. He was an exceptional manifestation, he was a shocking manifestation of God. When we see Jesus we see the one who sent him. We don't know the one who sent him. This world doesn't know God. But Jesus came into the world to reveal God to us.

O Holy Child Of Bethlehem

Asking the Lord Jesus Christ to be born in us today

O Come All Ye Faithful

Let us adore our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, as we celebrate His birth in our hearts.

Silent Night, Holy Night