Today in my 90-day devotional study by Beth Moore, Jesus, 90 days with The One and Only, Beth asked this question:

“What would you say to those who think this holiday is somewhat sacrilegious, that mingling something so sacred with something so increasingly secular cheapens our worship?”

To which I answered this:

“I would encourage them to do what I have done just this year, actually. I have studied many of the different decorations and traditions we see at Christmas. They may not be observed for religious reasons, but they appear to have Christian roots. We carry the real meaning of Christmas in our hearts. As we see the various aspects that seem to make it secular, we can carry in our hearts their true meaning as well.”

In that same vein, I thought it might be fun to spend a few days exploring the meaning behind some of the decorations we see at Christmas. I did this last week with my children’s choir, and we all really enjoyed it. It was truly enlightening and gave some of the traditions we observe new meaning for me.

Let’s start with the Christmas tree.

(Credit for this photo goes to http://www.darien.org)

According to David Bruce at hollywoodjesus.com, it was the Christian reformer, Martin Luther, who began the tradition of the Christmas tree. Another site, Allthingschristmas.com, verifies this. According to All Things Christmas, Martin Luther is held to have been the first to adorn a tree with lights. The story goes that “while coming home one December evening, the beauty of the stars shining through the branches of a fir inspired him to recreate the effect by placing candles on the branches of a small fir tree inside his home.”

Other facts I found concern the triangular shape of the tree, which is said to represent the Trinity, with the tip of the tree (triangle) pointing heavenward to God.

Its evergreen color represents eternal life.

One of my favorite aspects of the Christmas tree is this; its needles grow upward like hands raised in praise to our God.

While it is hard to say for certain whether or not these facts are true, I am choosing to believe that they are. It brings me great joy to think that the seemingly secular traditions I observe actually coincide with the real reason I celebrate Christmas.

May you see your tree this year in a whole new light.

Christmas Blessings,

I finished the 90-day devotional by Beth Moore on King David last week. I admit I was sad to see it end. However, I have moved on to another of her 90-day devotionals called Jesus, The One and Only, based on her Bible study by the same name. Her latest book in this series is based on John, but I just knew I had to do Jesus next. After all, He truly IS the One and Only. (Just so you know, I would have done the Jesus devotional first, but when I was looking for a devotional book in Walmart, David was what they had. :->)

I finished Day 4 today, but Day 3 is what I actually want to talk about in this post. As usual, God totally knows what He is doing. How else would it be that I would start this book during the Christmas season, and the beginning starts with Mary being told she is going to bear the Savior of the world?

Beth pointed out something in yesterday’s post that I thought was really cool; it was something I had never considered before.

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[c] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God.” 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Notice verse 36. Beth pointed out that even in the midst of being given news that would forever change mankind, God also knew the ramifications for the young girl whom He had chosen to be the mother of His Only Son. She was already betrothed to Joseph. In those days, a betrothal was the same as if the couple were already married. A divorce would have to take place for the betrothal to be broken. By law, Joseph could have had her stoned.

God loved Mary so much, in the middle of the greatest news ever given, He had Gabriel tell her of the pregnancy of her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist way beyond her childbearing years. Gabriel was not only confirming for her that nothing is impossible with God, which he told her, but God gave her someone in whom she could confide, someone to talk to about this momentous thing that had been told her.

How like our God! He loves us so much! He sees to every detail. My heart is so full knowing that just as He did for Mary, He also does for me. How can I not love Him?

Sweet Blessings,

I’m sorry I have been out of commission for the past week. What a whirlwind! I will be back, hopefully, in a day or two posting again. Thanks for hanging in with me.

Blessings,