8 Ways to Make Christmas About Jesus

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"Jesus is the reason for the season." We hear that phrase everywhere, don't we? Here are 8 ways we can truly make Christmas about Jesus.
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"Jesus is the reason for the season." We hear that phrase everywhere, don't we? Here are 8 ways we can truly make Christmas about Jesus. #Jesus #Christmas #hopeatChristmas


Jesus is the Reason for the Season.”

We hear this everywhere, don’t we?

Yet, so often, we rush our way through the holiday season with little thought about Jesus, the gift of His life, or the significance of His love.

The wise men responded in immediate worship to the King. Matthew 2:10-11 says, “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh gifts.”

We are called to “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness,” as it says in Psalm 29:2.

I don’t mean to cover you with guilt or shame.

I hope to do the exact opposite!


I hope to spur you on in your Christmas traditions so that Jesus is glorified first & foremost. Click To Tweet


8 Ways to Make Christmas About Jesus

Remembering Christ does take diligence and awareness.

The season is busy, fast, and fun!

So, set aside time now to develop meaningful traditions for the entire family.


The season is busy, fast, and fun! So, set aside time now to develop meaningful traditions for the entire family. Click To Tweet


Here are 8 Ways to Make Christmas About Jesus:


1) Choose to give one less gift to everyone in the family & put the extra money toward fulfilling a need

Many companies offer the opportunity to fulfill a need in this way.

Compassion and World Vision (link these ministries to their respective websites: http://www.compassion.com/donate-to-charity.htm & http://donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give/gift-catalog) come to mind.

This type of tradition shows thoughtfulness, sacrifice, and love. Gospel love will flow through your family.

What a meaningful tradition!


2) Write a Christmas letter instead of sending Christmas cards (or include a letter with your card).

At the end of the letter, include a paragraph about the gospel, or a list of each family member’s favorite Scripture passage.

Encouraging others to open the Bible and read about the Christmas story for themselves points them directly to Christ.

This will also allow a quiet reflection of your own heart as you prepare the letter to send to family and friends.


3) Celebrate Jesus with an actual cake.

Before eating it, have each family member pray out loud with thanksgiving to Jesus for the gift of his life and its meaning.

Oftentimes we bake a cake – I’ve heard of this tradition many times!

However, rarely do we take the time to think about the meaning of the cake before eating it.

Try it this year and encourage conversation among your little ones about Jesus’ birthday and its meaning in our lives.


4) Play Christian Christmas music throughout the day.

Let each family member pick a favorite they turn up loud for the whole house to hear.

Sing along in your head, or out loud.

Dance with your kiddos.

Enjoy the day for what it is – a celebration of Jesus!

What better way than blasting praise music throughout a warm house that smells like cookies?


5) Take a walk through your neighborhood several days before Christmas. (Don’t forget the hot cocoa!)

If you run into friends and neighbors, ask if you can pray for their holiday. Then, follow through as a family.

This allows others to be reminded of Jesus and his power during the holiday season.

It also models healthy prayer and fellowship to your children who might be watching.


This allows others to be reminded of Jesus and his power during the holiday season. Click To Tweet


6) Several weeks before Christmas, add a special stocking to the fireplace.

Give each family member $5-10 depending on your budget and let him or her buy fun goodies to put in the stocking.

Deliver the stocking to someone in need on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

This is a practical way to show kiddos the beauty of gift-giving – and the fun that it can be!

You might also add some handwritten Bible verses, or even a Bible, to the stocking.


7) If you have a fireplace, make a Christmas Eve fire and sit around with hot cocoa.

Share stories of God’s faithfulness over the past year. Or, for younger children, read some stories from a children’s Bible storybook.

Orient your mind to the true meaning of Christmas the night before with a cozy celebration of God’s goodness.

Wake up with stories of His faithfulness fresh in your mind.


Share stories of God’s faithfulness over the past year. Click To Tweet


8) Before the stockings are opened or the gifts unwrapped, before breakfast starts cooking or coffee is brewed, before anything happens on Christmas morning – start the day with family prayer!

What a way to align the mind with the true meaning of Christmas!

We’re quick to the gifts and the breakfast traditions, but we don’t seem to be as quick to pray or study the Bible.

Try something different this year and start with prayer. You could even look up some Scripture passages to include in your prayer that specifically praises Jesus for the gift of his life.

Dear readers, I am not saying that we must forego the secular traditions, or wait until noon to open the first gift.

Rather, I am suggesting that we do some small things to include Jesus in each part of our day. Our lives have purpose and meaning because of his gift of love on the cross. This means our holiday has great meaning, too.


Jesus is the reason for the season. Click To Tweet


Remind yourself of that in big and small ways this holiday, especially in the traditions you choose.



About the Author:

Alison Tiemeyer is a wife, mom, blogger, and Jesus follower growing in grace and truth Alison Tiemeyerdaily.

She loves coffee in the morning, experimenting in the kitchen, camping with her husband, playing with her children, and reading in a hammock just about anywhere.


Want more Christmas Hope?

MARKS OF A CHRIST-CENTERED HOME

HOW TO FIND CONTENTMENT AT CHRISTMAS



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32 Comments

MHP · 11/25/2019 at 7:11 PM

Jesus Christ died, buried, and ressurected to give us The HOLY SPIRIT with the ability to speak and worship Him that completely pure and aligned with GODS’ WILL and be absolutely certain of Eternal Life with Him forever.
If you don’t do witchcraft, sorcery, or any other types of devil/occult worship/practices ask Him today for The Baptism of The HOLY SPIRIT (the ability to worshipping in The Spirit). If you are involved in those things mentioned above, Repent / make yourself ready for Him as your Guest of Honor first and then ask. There are several video on YouTube about Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT. I recommend Joseph Prince , Andrew Wommack, or say this prayer with me; Thank you Heavenly Father for sending your only son to suffer, die on a cross and resurrect for remission of my sins once and for all past present and future. I believe The LORD Jesus Christ is my Righteousness and there us nothing else I need to do in addition to His perfect work.
I ask you now for The Baptism of The HOLY SPIRIT and in trust
I receive The HOLY SPIRIT and am now going to begin speaking/singing in a new unknown language to me and because I understand you require all believers to worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH. (This will sound like bake talk at first then the HOLY SPIRIT will help and enable you to speak and sound more fluently in this new prayer language.) Congratulations! You have just received The Kingdom of Heaven and you now have the Blessed Hope of Eternity there with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the long awaited Promise of Rest for souls since the fall of Adam and Eve. God will never be upset with you and you will never be judged by Him. He will help and comfort you and teach you how to find Jesus Christ in every book in The HOLY Bible.

Brenda Nelson · 12/04/2018 at 1:00 AM

I love your suggestions to have a family prayer first thing on Christmas morning and to share personal stories about Jesus effecting each family member’s life, on Christmas Eve! I have started a few new traditions to focus more on Jesus at Christmas too. Instead of putting our gifts under a tree we put them under (and around) a tall Christmas Gift shelf. On the top shelf is a large decoration that looks like a beautifully wrapped gift. Printed on the gift is the verse, “Every good gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly Lights”. It sits among palm branches, olive branches, grapes and a pomegranate, to resemble the roof of a sukkah. The other shelves are decorated with stars, little framed prints depicting various moments in Jesus’ life, a large Bible open to the book of Luke, male angel figurines, candles, and other ornaments that bring glory to God, like a little gift ornament that says “Jesus is the best gift of all”. Our nativity scene is set up in a stack of crates next to it. And instead of stockings, we have treasure chests with bags of treats and small gifts inside, to commemorate the wise men’s visit. The kids love opening the treasure chests! We still have a beautiful Christmas tree. It’s just a little smaller than the Christmas gift shelf, and it is not set up right beside the shelf. I don’t want the tree to be the center of attention. I want the focus to be more on how glorious Jesus is. I actually celebrate Jesus’ birth during the Feast of Tabernacles, but I still enjoy celebrating it again, when most everyone else is, a few months later. If Jesus was born when I think he was, he would have been conceived somewhere around Christmas-time, so it’s pretty close to the same theme- “God became flesh and tabernacled among us” starting in a virgin’s womb. Thus I also have a mini print of a painting of a baby in a womb in a star-shaped frame-ornament on my Christmas gift shelf, along with a pregnant woman figurine made by Willow Tree. I don’t use any Santa, elf or reindeer decorations, but I still use a few other winter decorations like snowmen, snow skis, bears, foxes, and a little Christmas village. When we look up into the starry night sky on Christmas Eve, we think about how someday we will see Jesus riding through the sky on a white horse. His robe will be red and His hair will be white and He will have His reward with him. He is the only one who can see us when we are sleeping and during every moment we’re awake, and He knows if the love of Jesus is truly in our hearts. I hope you can use some of my ideas and that they help to make your season bright!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 12/05/2018 at 2:55 PM

    Thank you, Brenda!
    And, I love all of your suggestions. What wonderful ideas.
    I especially like the idea of treasure chests to commemorate the wise men’s visit. Excellent idea.
    Sure am blessed by you~
    Melanie

Michele Morin · 12/05/2017 at 8:13 AM

This struggle is so very real. Thanks, Melanie and Alison, for devoting this space to practical tips for making our celebration truly sacred and Christ-focused.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 12/06/2017 at 8:55 AM

    Thank you, Michele!
    I thought Alison did such a wonderful job of finding the balance for Christmas.
    Hope you and your family will have a joy-filled holiday season.
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Marie · 11/13/2017 at 9:41 PM

It’s so refreshing to read a post about the true reason for the season. Be blessed. Merry Christmas!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/14/2017 at 5:18 PM

    Thank you, Marie.
    I hope you and your family will have a blessed holiday season.
    Appreciate your kind words,
    Melanie

Lil at Just a Lovely Day · 12/02/2015 at 12:03 PM

It’s all about Him and His gift to us! So thankful for that!

Andrew Adams · 11/28/2015 at 1:37 PM

Great post and reminder to stay focused on Jesus, the true reason for the season!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/28/2015 at 1:42 PM

    Thanks, Andrew, for stopping by to leave a good word today!

    Hope you and your family are enjoying some sweet time together this weekend~
    Melanie

Kelsie · 11/18/2015 at 9:19 AM

These are really great ideas! Thanks so much for sharing with us at The Alder Collective! We would love to have you come link up again today!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/18/2015 at 9:52 AM

    Thanks, Kelsie!

    I will try to get by there today!

    Hope you have a blessed day~
    Melanie

Ifeoma Samuel · 11/13/2015 at 5:28 AM

Hi Alison, I enjoyed reading through your ideas.
Simple and practical ways…
Thank you for sharing your heart here.
I am glad to meet you
God Bless Alison and Melanie

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/13/2015 at 10:24 AM

    Thanks, Ifeoma!

    Hope you have a blessed weekend~
    Melanie

    Anissa Hamrick · 11/08/2019 at 2:09 PM

    Thank you for sharing this with all who wants a closer walk with our Lord. I was inspired and I took notes in my journal to keep them near and to use them. Thank you for the wonderful verse Psalm 29:2. This verse spoke to me in volumes! I looked it up and wrote it down so I can study it closer and apply it’s words to my heart. Your obedience to your blog was a Blessing to me. Thank you !

Abi Craig · 11/12/2015 at 12:52 PM

I like the idea of #6 – blessing others who may get forgotten is a wonderful way share the love of Jesus.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/12/2015 at 4:38 PM

    Me too, Abi!

    Thanks for stopping by today to comment!

    Hope you have a blessed day~
    Melanie

Ana (@ANAWINSblog) · 11/11/2015 at 8:36 PM

A friend of ours does a birthday cake for Jesus but we’ve never actually done it ourselves. I think we may need to start! Great ideas!

Victor S E Moubarak · 11/11/2015 at 12:42 PM

In our town and many other places in the UK, the church gives out Christmas posters for people to place in their windows at home so they can be seen from the street. The UK is a secular country, but still, walking down streets and seeing the odd poster at a window sends the message that Christmas is about Christ … and not commercialism.

God bless.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/11/2015 at 4:24 PM

    Hey Victor,

    What a great thing – to see the Christmas posters and know that it is about Christ!

    Sounds like the UK is a very interesting place to live.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Melanie

    Alison [Life of Scoop] · 11/11/2015 at 4:42 PM

    Thank you for sharing that, Victor! What a great idea. 🙂 I love that it brings the community together. Not only does it remind people that Jesus is the reason for the season, but it also demonstrates the love and fellowship of the community of God! I think that would be a very encouraging thing to see – lots of posters in lots of windows!
    Thanks for commenting & enjoy your holiday season!

Valerie · 11/11/2015 at 10:13 AM

Alison, wonderful tips! We love to make a birthday cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday with the kids. Let’s ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name this year! Amen!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/11/2015 at 4:23 PM

    That’s a great idea, isn’t it, Valerie – to make a birthday cake for Jesus!

    Hope you are having a good day today~

    Alison [Life of Scoop] · 11/11/2015 at 4:39 PM

    We always did that as kids, too! I’m sure your kids are being blessed and fed with truth every time they are reminded of the real reason for the season. 🙂 Maybe that will continue to be a tradition in my “new” little family of my husband & I.
    Thanks for commenting! I appreciate you!

helloredds@gmail.com · 11/11/2015 at 10:11 AM

These are some great ideas, Alison!

I think so many people are going enjoy and benefit from reading your post today!

Thanks so much for sharing with us!

    Alison [Life of Scoop] · 11/11/2015 at 4:38 PM

    Melanie, thank you. And thanks for the honor of being included in this special series. I’ve been blessed already!

Randy Redd · 11/11/2015 at 8:03 AM

I really love this series of posts already! Great focus on Jesus and giving! Thanks for these great ideas!

    Alison [Life of Scoop] · 11/11/2015 at 4:37 PM

    I agree, Randy! It is going to be a great series full of keeping my focus on Christ. I’m excited to continue reading each post.

Michellle · 11/11/2015 at 7:28 AM

I just finished my post to go live in a couple of weeks on traditions for Christmas our family does and many of these are ways we have made sure Jesus is in the front of the holiday season. Love the extra stocking idea. A wonderful way for everyone in the family to be included in the giving process. What a terrific way to kick off the holiday season Alison.

    Alison [Life of Scoop] · 11/11/2015 at 4:35 PM

    Thank you, Michelle! That’s great to hear that you’ve already been in the mode of making your holiday traditions about Jesus. It’s encouraging to hear that there are people intentionally planning their traditions to reflect Christ to the world.
    Have a Merry Christmas & enjoy your fun traditions in the process! And thank you for taking the time to comment. 🙂

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