1. Our tree is fake and oh so easy to set up.
2. Most of the ornaments are plastic. A few, a very few are handmade.
3. I'm not a decorator type the remaining 364 days of the year, so other than tinsel garland on the mantle, the tree is it for decorations.
7. My main reason for celebrating Christmas is to reflect on the Incarnation and the gospel.
8. A quote from Grace Gems led to an internet search which led to Christ's Incarnation: The Foundation of Christianity by C.H. Spurgeon. According to Craig, there is a chapter for every day from December 1 through Epiphany. Reading these meditations reminds me why I love Spurgeon's sermons/writings so much. The only way I can describe them is that they are fueled by such a super abundance of praise to God that it overflows from his mind and heart and then runs out of his pen.
9. Rather than trying to write something profound on the Incarnation, I will be sharing quotes from this devotional by Spurgeon when it's my turn to post at Out of the Ordinary this month. If I had a choice, I'd rather hear from the Prince of Preachers than me any day.
2. Most of the ornaments are plastic. A few, a very few are handmade.
3. I'm not a decorator type the remaining 364 days of the year, so other than tinsel garland on the mantle, the tree is it for decorations.
4. We have a tree because it's pretty, not for any Norse rituals as my ancestors came from a different continent.
5. We skip the gifts to each other and give elsewhere.
6. We have no holiday traditions (gasp!) probably because there was a long gap in my life not celebrating Christmas. My parents had convictions about not holding one day above another, and my ex- and I continued in the same vein. There was a certain amount of smug superiority (in me, not my parents) for being spiritual enough to not celebrate Christmas. That changed when we started attending Grace and the gospel was recovered in my life. Which leads to...
7. My main reason for celebrating Christmas is to reflect on the Incarnation and the gospel.
8. A quote from Grace Gems led to an internet search which led to Christ's Incarnation: The Foundation of Christianity by C.H. Spurgeon. According to Craig, there is a chapter for every day from December 1 through Epiphany. Reading these meditations reminds me why I love Spurgeon's sermons/writings so much. The only way I can describe them is that they are fueled by such a super abundance of praise to God that it overflows from his mind and heart and then runs out of his pen.
9. Rather than trying to write something profound on the Incarnation, I will be sharing quotes from this devotional by Spurgeon when it's my turn to post at Out of the Ordinary this month. If I had a choice, I'd rather hear from the Prince of Preachers than me any day.
My confessions would be similar. My mom grew up in a tradition that didn't celebrate Christmas. I grew up with a more traditional Christmas, but I didn't know what advent was until I was in high school.
ReplyDeleteI think it frees me from a lot of guilt. Since I don't feel like there's a "correct" way to do Christmas, I don't ever feel like I'm doing it wrong. :)
We don't do much for Christmas either. We get together with family and the kids get small gifts, but I don't have any Christmas decorations and we don't really have any traditions. This year I've started reading Luke 2 with Jojo since he is old enough to start to understand now, so maybe that will be our tradition.
ReplyDeleteIt sure makes keep the focus on Christ a lot easier!
I am wichya (with you) as they say! Not a fan of the Mass, we don't do "Christmas" around our house. It is a holiday and we try to make it a "happy holiday." That is about the only time the PC Police may have gotten something right. I wish Christians would stop going around saying Merry Christmas. Now I will probably get banned for that comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to say 'Bah humbug" to you, Gregg, Instead I'll say "Merry Christmas!" :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun post, Persis, and I like getting a glimpse of how you celebrate this time of year. I love Advent and Christmas and celebrating the coming of Christ! And yes, we have a fake tree, too. I also love to decorate, including lights outside, and I love giving gifts. I don't think any of this detracts from worship and focus on the Incarnation (and I don't think you're saying it does). I'm excited to read Doug Wilson's new book about Christmas, especially as he addresses topics such as gift giving and the Puritan perspective on Christmas.
And thank you, Persis, for the link to Spurgeon's writings on the Incarnation.
I know believers who eschew Merry Christmas because of the "mas" part of it. I also know believers who have a tree in almost every room of their house from October onward. Both sets love the Lord and rejoice in the gospel. So no banning for you, Gregg. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm of the belief that regardless of what we do or don't do this time of year, let it all be for the glory of God!
I liked reading about what you are doing this time of year. We have a fake tree too. I love to decorate, celebrate and give gifts though. It's always been a favorite time of year for me and I've only grown to love it more since Christ saved me :)
ReplyDelete