The HolidaysAs the battles arise louder each year, as the day marked to celebrate His birth are filledwith selfish desires and really degrading and awful things cast upon it, it comes to mindthat we as believers, need to make a more unified front to take on the world’s attempt atpulling another event away from God and onto worldly hopes and desires. To do that, thereare steps we as believers need to take.First, we must be taking time with Him daily. We cannot expect to win battles if we go inill prepared. Studying His Word, conversing with Him, taking time to listen to Himespecially during this time of year is vital to any call to arms. For me, at this time, it’sstudying again, the story of His birth, and digging deeper and learning something new fromHis Word about His Son coming to earth.For instance, when just looking at the journey they took from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Isaw it was no easy task. It was walking through rough terrain, and through unfriendlyterritory. It is around 100 miles, and it likely took them roughly 10 days to make the journey. That could not be comfortable walking or even riding when pregnant. Look at themap on google, and you can see some of the territory they’d have walked through. Some isvery hilly, rocky, and not at all easy to walk. There isn’t a straight line to Bethlehem. Theroad was likely crowded with others on their ways because of the census. They likely sleptout in the open... no Holiday Inn on the way.Then, when they finally arrive to Bethlehem, there’s no room for them. The tiny villagewas already full because of the census forcing people to return to the place of theirfamily tribe. Whether in the basement with the animals, in a cave outside of the village,or somewhere else, hardly the place for the King of kings to be born. There were noattendants, doting on Mary’s every need. There were no fancy cloths to wrap Him up in tokeep Him warm. What I often think of, is if I had been in their place. To know you werepicked by God to be the earthly parents of His Son. Talk about a weight!So, now that He’s arrived, it’s time to bring Him to the Temple for the naming of Him.This has recently taken on new meaning for me, yet another detail revealed to me.Because Mary was pregnant before their marriage was completed, going through thenaming ceremony, Joseph was telling the world that this was indeed his son. That’s quitethe act of responsibility on his part. It shows Joseph’s faith in God, that he believedMary’s story of how she became pregnant. He willingly took on the responsibility of beinga father to Yeshua. Quite an act of love and obedience to God!In looking at Mary, likely a very young woman, being away from family when giving birth,the responsibility and overwhelming thought of that just makes me realize that God knewwho He was choosing, and how much He must have built them up, provided for their needs

by Fran P.

Christmas & Chanukkah 2009/5770

as they dealt with the tasks assigned to them. All this in place, as a gift to the world, achance at salvation, a chance to be saved.Then for them, as they prepared to raise this very special Child, they receive a visit fromwise men, who followed a star. All to honor their Son. What an awesome experience thatmust have been! I can’t imagine what that must have been like! Then, they got to have yetanother journey. To be awoken in the middle of the night, and be told, get up and get out,because Herod wants to kill their Son, the fear they must have fought! That journey too,was no easy task. This too, was likely a trip of about 100 miles, and likely took themroughly ten days to make.Each year, as I study these events, I realize something. They likely didn’t have othershelping them on their journey. They were on their own, except of course for God. Thefirst time that realization happened, it shook me pretty good. Here I was at that time,fighting depression during that time of year. What did I have to be depressed about? Ihad a warm place to live. I didn’t have to worry about soldiers in my life, making life hardfor me. I didn’t have to worry about getting up in the middle of the night to save my childfrom the hand of a jealous king, wanting to make certain no child challenge his throne.Then too, that the angels came to the lowest of society, the shepherds, to announce thebirth of the Messiah - what an awesome thing to do! Of course it would be easy toannounce it to other kings, to the rich people of the world. But God knew where themessage was most needed and would be accepted best. God knew that announcing it to theshepherds also was telling of Who was born - our Great Shepherd.I know my knowing His story has given me the strength to persevere through any struggleI might have. Here is my Savior, born in humble beginnings in a world sorely in need ofHim, yet ready to reject Him from His birth (King Herod) through His death on the cross.My problems somehow just don’t measure up when set against His struggles.So, once I am centered on Him, the next step is to shine that light out to my immediatefamily. That means in discussing with my husband how to keep our focus right throughoutthis time, how our household will celebrate the holidays- what will we do to keep Christalive during this time.For our family, this means merging two holidays together - Christmas and Hanukkah. Nowfor us, this has been a natural progression as God takes us to a deeper understanding each year. For us this means having a Menorah behind one of the Nativity scenes we have. Itmeans preparing for the Festival of Lights with the children, and helping them understandwhy we celebrate it. It reminds us to remember that He provided the light not only in HisTemple, but in us- another of His temples.

There are all kinds of ways to bring the two holidays together. For us, we look atHanukkah and Christmas as equivalent holidays. They are both celebrating God providinglight. Neither are mandated in Scriptures to follow. For us, each are important when keptin the proper light. Our job as believers, is making sure the light of all our activities putsHim first, and our desires are way off the list. So, if you came and visited us duringDecember, you would find both a Christmas tree and a Menorah in our house. You wouldfind them together, celebrating the miracles of the lamps lit in the Temple, and themiracle of God becoming man.Now too, for our family, it’s making sure the kids are clear what this season is all about.Yes, we give and get gifts, but God still comes first. When we go to the family gatheringswhere there are mostly unbelievers, we prepare for the battle there, that is bound tocome. We know in some manner, we will either be mocked or our belief ridiculed. Weexpect it. Therefore, we prepare. I go through the armor of God on our way to thegathering, and ask God for the ability to shut up when He wants me quiet, and for mytongue to be loose should He desire me to say something directly. Now my brothers andsister, this is most likely the only time the whole year that we will have face to facecontact with each other. Most don’t want to hear about Christ and all the blessings He’sgiven us throughout the year. Most don’t want to hear His message of hope and salvation,and of their desperate need for that gift. But, that doesn’t mean I cannot share His light.It often shines better when I say nothing. When He prompts me to share, I do share.Often, because the celebration is not in our home, I respect the rules of the house I amin, and some is left unsaid. But, with God, I know that if we continue to shine His light atthose family gatherings, those who do not yet know Him, will see it and wonder what isdifferent. There are so many times that I want to just stay home and avoid all holidayswith my family. But, when God says “Go”, I go. I choose how I go... do I go with a willingspirit, ready to shine His light, or do I go with my own selfishness.Before we go to the Christmas celebration, we read through the story in Luke of His birth.It helps us get grounded before going into hostile territory. If God is first, the rest willwork out. Now, if it were at our home, we could lead it far differently. Hmm... maybethat’s why they don’t want to do it at our house! Could be...As the scope widens, it is brought to mind that we are to be accountable to our fellowbelievers. Now having said that, I realize that many believers do not do as we do. Manydon’t do Christmas. Many don’t do Hanukkah. What we need to remember is God is leadingus all, and as believers, we are all trying to seek His will. We need to give each other abreak about which holiday we celebrate and how we choose to celebrate it. Because ofhow our family celebrates it, we get it from all sides.Those who celebrate Christmas alone, wonder why we bother with Hanukkah. Most often,they don’t even understand or know what the holiday is about. When I ask them if they