Making the most of Christmas

After yesterday's suggestions on how to get it wrong - here are a few suggestions on how to get it right! Let's take our lead from the message the angels gave to the shepherds:

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." Luke 2 v 10

1. It's Good News…

People will be scurrying around and fretting to get everything done - you may be one of them. But let's keep Jesus at the centre of what it is all about. How about:

• Make Jesus part of Christmas conversations. In answer to the question: "What are you doing for Christmas?" start your reply by saying - "I'll be celebrating the arrival of Jesus into the world" - before you go onto the detail of where and how you'll be spending Christmas day.
• Read, tell, and remember the Christmas story. Is there a moment when you could read the Christmas story? perhaps in the gap between Turkey and Pudding? Or what about first thing in the morning before stockings are opened. Or perhaps you could turn present giving into an opportunity to talk about Jesus? Instead of saying "This is from me to you" you could say: "This is from me to you to remind you about God's greater gift of Jesus to us." The gospel will get squeezed out in all the activity if you allow it. So plan to talk about "The reason for the season."
• Invite others to hear the Good News. Be thinking and planning now who you will invite to a Christmas event. It's the easiest time of year to do it - so make the most of the opportunity.

2. It's for All people...

Most of us get to focus on family and friends at this time of year, but Christmas can be a lonely horrible time for many, many people. Not just the elderly shut ins or single people, but there are huge numbers of couples, immigrants or migrant workers and foreign students who would love an invitation to share a family Christmas with a family.

• Could you invite someone to share your family Christmas?
• Could you encourage your church to organise a group gathering?
• Could you put together people who have no plans for Christmas, but who might be able to work something out together?

3. It's great joy!

Yes - you're supposed to enjoy it! I know it's a lot of work, and it's easy to get in a flap about things. It's easy to give into the worldly pressure to "have a perfect Christmas" - and define perfection by the high quality of the food, the excellence of the gifts etc. But Christmas is already "just perfect". Tap into the perfection of God's plan to save sinners. Remember God's perfect gift to you and me. Rejoice that the Lord Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sins, and now reigns the perfect King forever.

Because making the most of Christmas is about rejoicing in Jesus.