Where is Christmas?

What happened to the spirit of Christmas? 

I am forced to watch commercials while I exercise because we don’t have TIVO in that room.  I hate commercials.  Especially during the Christmas season.  The ones that bother me the most are the ones that change the words to well known holiday music to try and sell me products which claim to make me thinner, prettier, younger, more active, sexier, healthier…the list goes on and on. 

Every commercial tried its best to convince me that I needed to buy their product this “holiday season”.  They are targeting Christians but leaving Christ out of their advertisements because they don’t want to offend anyone.  Well, I’M OFFENDED and I’m the Christian they are targeting.  Who else is going to buy their “holiday items”?  

Christmas has become an excuse for over consumption and over indulgence.  The marketing experts have known  this for quite some time now and take full advantage of our need for more stuff. The store displays for Christmas go up the day after Halloween, completely bypassing Thanksgiving. The only significance Christmas holds for most retailers is that it’s their busiest time of the year ($$$$).  I wonder why????

I’m afraid if we (Christians) don’t stand up and make our voices heard that in the not too distant future the meaning of Christmas will be lost completely.  Christmas is not the celebration of stuff it is the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world.  From this day until December 26^th will you please join me in saying “Merry Christmas” to everyone you encounter?  Whether you deal with them in person or on the phone end your conversation with “MERRY CHRISTMAS”.  

Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Scripture

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."  Matthew 1:21

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."  Matthew 1:1-2