As a child growing up in a pastor’s home, Church, God and The Bible were always topics of conversations and a way of life. I can remember, maybe being 13 years old, and one summer a project our church undertook was creating & giving Christmas gifts to missionaries who served in various occupations & locations globally. This was a fun time for all of us and it got us all thinking about people around the world who may celebrate Christmas at different times than we would in America. What a great teaching lesson.
As a believer in Christ, I am aware that Christmas is more than just a day on the calendar. Christmas is more than gifts under a tree decorated with lights & colored ornaments. Christmas, to me, is not just a day full of partying or feasting. Christmas is about a God who loved His people on earth so much, He gave us His son Jesus. Christmas IS Jesus and He is the GIFT of Christmas. With this gift of the birth of Jesus, there comes a bright hope for living today and tomorrow; if we choose to believe in who Jesus claims to be.
So, for me, Christmas in July is a great reminder that Gods’ promises, in His Word The Bible, is true. God’s character can be seen in one of the many names that define Him for us ; Emmanuel, God with us. What does Christmas in July mean to you? Is there any hope or joy in the meaning of this to you? For more answers read, John 3:16, The Holy Bible.
Love that, Christmas in July. I remember our church doing something like that because our mission conference was always in the summer. We were all ask to bring something from a list handed out and it was put on tables and the missionaries could take what ever they wanted from the tables. Good memories and little did I know someday my and my family would be the missionaries.
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Betty, thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Your time and words are so encouraging to me. I found your blog site as well and enjoyed your thoughts on that retreat you and friends took earlier in the year; what blessings huh?! God is so very good. 🙂 Please stop by again. I would love to keep in touch with you as well.
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Christmas in July, a great idea especially with all the craziness this year. Something to celebrate
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You have a great idea here Yvonne! 🙂 It is something to celebrate in all of this craziness!
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Very interesting! I grew up in Miami, FL, so the traditional “trappings” of Christmas as a holiday (snow, etc.) never applied to me. Maybe because of that, understanding how other people celebrate Christmas is really appealing to me!
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Sorry you have missed out on snowy Christmases and hot cocoa by a warm fireplace! 🙂 We can gain a lot by learning from others’ experiences of this lovely holiday!
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What a wonderful message! Christmas in July encourages us to remember the true meaning of Christmas. We shouldn’t celebrate for only one day a year. We should celebrate the birth of Jesus every day. 🙂
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I love your enthusiasm! Thanks Melissa!
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Christmas in July sounds like a wonderful project. Like you said, It’s not just a day on our calendar, but something to remember all year long,
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Thanks for taking the time to read my blog Karen! I appreciate your comments.
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I’m one of those crazy people who listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas movies year-round (Hallmark definitely enables my addiction! 😉 ), so Christmas in July sounds perfectly normal to me!
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Ava, I celebrate Christmas year round too! I left my counter top tree up this year with clear lights. It reminds me of the love of God. 🙂 I may do this next year too!
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I love celebrating the Christmas story all year round even without the festivities. I think this is especially true for those who receive Jesus as their Savior throughout the year. I received Him in a February, and I celebrate Him daily.
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you are so right, Stephen! To celebrate Christ’s love for us each day is a remarkable gift to give to yourself. 🙂 Thanks for taking time to read my blog.
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This is such an appropriate time of year to offer this post. Before the mad rush of the holiday season. Thank you.
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I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. I remember marveling at the words to Christmas carols I’d sung my entire life the Christmas after I said yes to Jesus: Did they suddenly change the lyrics? God and sinners reconciled? To save us all from Satan’s power when we had gone astray? I continue to love and celebrate Christmas and the gift of Jesus year round.
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