Entering the Next Chapter

Finding the meaning of Christmas can be difficult when society views the meaning of Christmas as a very materialistic day. Christmas has become about fairy tales, music, baking, family, and presents. I am not saying that any of those things are terrible but when the purpose for celebrating is forgotten what is the rest really worth? So many people have become like those acquaintances who send you birthday wishes on Facebook not because they remembered your birthday but because they saw it posted and saw that everyone else was writing on your wall. They were being kind and were jumping on the band wagon out of convenience not out of true care. I don't want to be an acquaintance of God, I want to be a friend of God or even better yet a child of God. I want to celebrate the birth of Jesus because I have a relationship with Him and am thankful for Him.  As I have been reading through the scriptures that tell of the birth of Jesus I have been a little convicted, sad, and than

I don't need to envision the warmth of the sun and the cool waves washing up from the ocean. The soft sand between my toes. No thank you... my happy place is a place of inner warmth. The cool crisp air outside with the scent of leaves. The oranges and reds of the leaves floating onto the ground from the trees. Until I have that, I will make believe by turning my home into my happy place.  The slight crackle of the needle brushing along the Vinyl's surface. The smooth voices of the past serenade filling the room with a presence unlike modern music. Christmas songs transforming the room into a time and a place of peace and family warmth. The soft pulsing glow of the candle and the scent of a fresh evergreen tree bring back memories of childhood. This is my happy place.