Have you seen the face of desperation yet? I saw it twice yesterday: first at the craft store while I was waiting in the one and only check-out line with 12 other anxious Christmas shoppers; and second, at the mall where I ran into a friend who confessed to me with fear in her eyes that it was her first day to Christmas shop.
With only six days left until Christmas, are you starting to feel just a teensy bit desperate? As you contemplate your own Christmas to-do list, is a 24/7, I.V. drip of Starbucks Doubleshot® Coffee your only possible hope of getting everything done?
Despair not, precious sister, and take comfort in this truth: while you may not have time to do everything on your Christmas to-do list, you still have plenty of time to do everything on God’s list. Wanna see His list? Then take a look at Deuteronomy 16:10-17.
Note to those of you who are wondering, “What could Deuteronomy possibly say about celebrating Christmas?” While I realize most Christians don’t celebrate the Old Testament feasts and festivals, I firmly believe God still wants His people to celebrate. By applying the principles found in Deuteronomy 16, we can celebrate Christmas God’s way.
Deuteronomy 16:10-17 (NLT)
10 Then celebrate the Festival of Harvest to honor the LORD your God. Bring him a voluntary offering in proportion to the blessings you have received from him.
11 This is a time to celebrate before the LORD your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his name to be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you.
12 Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, so be careful to obey all these decrees…
14 This festival will be a happy time of celebrating with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows from your towns…
15…Celebrate this festival to honor the LORD your God at the place he chooses, for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will be a time of great joy for all.
16 “Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these three festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters. On each of these occasions, all men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he chooses, but they must not appear before the LORD without a gift for him.
17 All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the LORD your God.
In Part 1 and Part 2 of the Glo Girl Guide to Christmas, I gave you the first four to-dos on God’s celebration list. Today I’ll give you the final two, #5 and #6.
#5 – Celebrate Christmas by remembering.
Deuteronomy 16:12 (NLT)
Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt.
Unlike the Israelites, you were never enslaved in Egypt. But a slave you once were.
In your B.C. life, you were a slave to your own sinful nature (Romans 6). And the truth is, before Christ, you were a slave to Satan himself (Eph. 2:1-3).
With only 6 days left until Christmas, remember: you once were a slave, but Jesus set you free! As you celebrate Christmas — the birth of your Savior and Redeemer — remember.
#6 – Celebrate Christmas with happiness and joy.
Deuteronomy 16:14-15 (NLT)
This festival will be a happy time of celebrating . . . a time of great joy for all.
Merry Christmas! It’s a simple phrase we should say often and practice religiously. Why? Because when it comes to celebrating, happiness and great joy are on God’s to-do list – and that in itself should make you happy.
Christmas perfectionists may get everything on their Christmas to-do lists done, but I’m pretty sure they don’t have much fun doing it. So for the next six days, say good-bye to your inner perfectionist. Laugh. Have fun. Play Christmas music. Sing along. Decorate Christmas cookies with your kids without saying a single word about the mess. You’ll make God (and many others) so happy.
Six simple to-dos:
- Honor God. (Deut. 16:10)
- Give to God first. (Deut. 16:10, 16)
- Celebrate here, in the place He has chosen for you. (Deut. 16:11, 15)
- Include others, especially those who are alone and in need. (Deut. 16:11-12)
- Remember: you once were enslaved. (Deut. 16:12)
- Be happy and full of joy. (Deut. 16:14-15)
That’s all it takes to celebrate Christmas God’s way. Oh, and did I mention that when you focus on His to-do list He’ll even help you accomplish yours? He can even take that desperation-inducing Christmas to-do list of yours and show you what should stay and what should go. And with only six days left until Christmas, you should let Him.
Finally, why is it so important to God that you celebrate this Christmas?
“For it is He who blesses you.” Deut. 16:15
All that you have and hold dear this Christmas is because of God’s blessing upon your life. So for the next six days, celebrate! And have a very merry Christmas, glo girl!
Your sister,
