Merry Christmas (+ Why You Should Celebrate!)

Dear Friend,

Merry beautiful Christmas! *all the hugs*

I always enjoy asking people how they celebrate. I'm the girl that wants to hear all the unique family traditions and memories and differences and try to invent my own to make the day that much more special!

Because that's the word I keep thinking of: celebration

Christmas is a celebration. That means my job - no, my joy - is to celebrate.

I love the stories of celebrations in the Bible! I read of Esther, the victory God gave, and how they set aside that day to exchange gifts and rejoice and remember! Stories of battles won, enemies defeated, and God had His people set up monuments to remember.

When I see trees and lights sparkling in the early nights, I remember. When family gathers together in air scented with apples and cinnamon and Christmas dinners, I remember. When we open gifts and laugh and tell the nativity story one more time, I remember.

I remember as I turn on Bing Crosby and sing about snow and how it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas (I can't even write that without my heart singing).

There's this cheer in the air like at no other holiday, and it's most beautiful when it all flows from Him, from this God who came down to change the world and grant us a Kingdom because He loves us.

Even if 2020 was hard. Even if you don't deserve it. Even if you messed up today and are so distracted and feel so far away. Even if celebrating feels just too difficult for you.

Friend, your joy is to celebrate. To remember what God has done and praise!

Like it says so often in the Psalms, let's praise Him! With instruments, with song, with silent prayers in our hearts, by giving gifts, when you see your breath in the cold air where lights twinkle.

And to praise, it takes us switching our perspective off ourselves and this world and to a Kingdom and a King more eternal, fathomless.

Praise Him, my friend! Let every moment remind you of His praise!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD!

- Psalm 150:6

And two little things I'm excited about this season:

A Lyric Video!!

My brother created this song, and it's one of my favorites. He just released it around the Christmas season; what better way to celebrate Jesus' birth than by rejoicing in His ultimate purpose and sacrifice and how that changes life forever?

Click the cover to listen!

And one more:

A Giveaway!!

My friend Victoria is hosting a beautiful Christmas giveaway that I get to be a part of, along with other wonderful creators. I'm excited to gift a copy of The Torch Keepers to someone this Christmas season along with the other great prizes. Click the picture to enter!

So merriest of Christmases, friend! May this time of remembrance continually point you to Jesus as we rejoice together! He is so good and worth all. And yet He chooses to give us another Christmas, another time to celebrate, and He gave us His all so long ago because He loves.  *more hugs*  ♥

Your turn! How do you celebrate? What's your favorite Christmasy song or tradition? I'm eager to chat in the comments!

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,

My soul shall be joyful in my God;

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,

So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

- Isaiah 61:10-11

~♥~