I have not updated lately and I really don’t have all that much time to do so even now. Yet I just wanted to stop by my blog tonight and wish all of you a very, merry Christmas. May the joy of the season and the life of the Son overwhelm you today and throughout the coming new year. Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

I am not the grinch.

I am NOT a curmudgeon.

I am really NOT a bad person but…

I can’t wait until 12/26/08.

Shocking huh?

I am just not a Christmas person.

Thanksgiving? You betcha!

Easter? Absolutely!

Both can easily be celebrated sans all the commercialism. With Christmas this isn’t as easily done. But I’m working on it. I’m trying to find my own way and not follow the way of the marketers or secular world. I refuse to be told how to celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by people who love Him not.

What I’d really like to do is figure out a way to take a family mission trip the last two weeks of each year. I know I’ve said this before and didn’t manage to make it happen this year. But my prayer is that next year the Lord would make it possible. Actually not only possible but a reality.

In my heart of hearts I think that would be the perfect way to celebrate Christmas. Well that and 8 dozen Christmas cookies.