May I be honest again? I despise what Christmas has become. I dread it because my financial situation does not allow me to purchase gifts like others expect. Our gift exchange is modest, to say the least. I would rather do away with it and somehow find the real meaning of Christmas again.
I am normally in a funk during this time of year. Seasonal depression hits, my checking account and bills are extremely unbalanced, and everything seems to go wrong. Does anyone else feel like this?
I probably shouldn’t break my blogging silence with this, but I believe that at least one reader out there feels the same way. Your Christmas cheer is shot because you don’t have the money to keep up with the expectations. I also don’t have the credit (and I think it’s a shame that people put Christmas gifts on credit and spend until next Christmas paying it off).
Just know that you won’t be getting an iPhone from me for Christmas. I might have an old box or case somewhere. Take that and give me Jesus!
Matthew Winters (Honest Thoughts from a Pastor) 
I don’t understand what’s with all the gift-exchange culture too. Isn’t Christmas all about Christ? Haha. Why pressure yourself with the gift-exchange bit?
With the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, it’s time we live out the life we’re supposed to live out.
And in the words of Peter in Acts 3:6, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, ______________ (fill in the blanks)!”
This Christmas, let’s give people Christ. God bless you pastor.
I really appreciate your comment here. Very on point!
I’m glad you posted this. For most, Xmas is the worship of Mammon/money/stuff. As Christians we mustn’t forget that it’s all about God’s greatest Gift of Jesus. Thanks for the reminder!
I pray you have a joyful, worshipful season as we praise our Lord and Saviour for being our all-sufficiency!
Thank you, Robert! You too!
The meaning of CHRISTMAS for me is:
Creating
Healthy
Realizations
Instantly
Securing
Trust-in-God
Meeting
Angelic
Standards
CHRIST for me stands true all year round, regardless of the day we’re told to celebrate. And so at all times I take my love of God and His Son and the Holy Spirit and I share the profound way in which I am moved. In sharing how deeply touched I am by God’s presence, I am able to demonstrate exactly what relying on the Divine to provide for my needs looks like in the modern world.
Come MAS time, it is the season for sharing and caring, thus taking my CHRIST standard way of being and upping it to Angelic Standards of God’s Love. And so during this most blessed of holiday season, I give my heart to give the love God downpours in my being to any who cross my path in need of the light of God amidst their darkness.
This holiday season is about so much more than any one gift, it is all about LOVE, the essential element of our nature that keeps us happy, healthy, and whole.
Much love in your holiday season and may you find the happiness that is abundant in our Favorite Son’s birthday celebration. My thoughts are with you.
Christmas definitely isn’t what it used to be . We live in such a materialistic culture , it’s sad. I wish it was different because I’m not really into christmas this year for that reason. It’s supposed to be about giving what we can because we can, not feeling forced to give because everyone is so desperate to receive instead of give what people truly need..
I’m with you on the gift giving and lack of funds to do so. Working in retail killed what little joy I did have for Christmas. But even as a child it was never how did you celebrate Jesus while we were out of school but rather what did you get for Christmas.
We need to figure out a better way of remembering His birth despite the fact I doubt Jesus wanted us to celebrate it. I believe He would much rather His celebrate our salvation.
I like making gifts and spending time with people. It’s an adjustment I’ve made the past couple of years. But it’s freeing from the world, too. *Now, I just work on making gifts starting now so I can focus on more people and praying as I make them gifts.
That’s a great thought! We definitely need to redirect our focus during the Christmas season.
Yes! I really want to work on keeping Christmas all year and focusing on what that means.