It’s Christmas! What a wonderful time of the year. I don’t know if it’s the Christmas lights, the music, the friends and family coming together to celebrate and exchange gifts, or the awesome food, pies and parties. There is something almost magical about this time of year.
   
Christmas in Chattanooga has been awesome for my family and me. Just this past week we had snow for about five hours.  It was exhilarating to the spirit just to see it. A lot seems to happen during the Christmas season. People are going to be running frantic looking for that last minute gift. Shopping and running, and running and shopping.  My goodness, just slow down or before you know it, Christmas will be gone and you will have missed it. Receiving and giving gifts are awesome, but there really is more to Christmas than just gifts. But tell that to anyone under the age of 13 on Christmas morning and it will look more like a war zone than Christmas.

So what do we need to do this Christmas that can make it one to remember? Maybe start a new tradition for your family. Every year, my dad hides three crosses on the tree and everyone has to find all three crosses. There are place winnings for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on.

How about sitting down with your family to read the Christmas story out of Luke chapter 1 and 2?  Make it memorable. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a Trans Siberian Orchestra CD on sell for $9.00 and do something you have never done before.  If I can say anything without sounding like a broken record, put Christ first this Christmas. Tell someone how much you love them and how much Jesus loves them. Go to your family’s home with the mindset that this year is going to be different regardless what anyone may say or do because of your faith in Christ and the stand that you have chosen to make. “Go,” Jesus said, “You are the light in a dark place.” Let the Lord use you in a mighty way wherever you are traveling this Christmas. “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward all men.”