Tag Archives: Christmas

Victor Indeed-The 39th Day of Christmas

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On the 39th day of Christmas my true love gave to me a promise of Satan’s defeat—Genesis 3:15.

I love watching movies where the underdog wins: the homely girl becomes the most popular; the wimpy guy saves the sports team; the guy from across town is smarter than his private school classmates; the girl on the other side of the tracks gets THE GUY. The underdog winning always makes for a good storyline. Though I know the Lord Jesus Christ has never been the underdog, he placed himself in that position, one of humility, for the love of mankind. When I read the gospel accounts of his rejection from man, the cruelty he experienced at our hands, I grieve but soon remember the end of the story, that the seeming underdog wins; he defeats death, nixing Satan’s plan to destroy mankind’s savior, the prophecy of his coming we first see in Genesis:

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.—3:15

The ‘he’ in this verse refers to Jesus Christ and the ‘you’ refers to Satan. The ‘bruise’ symbolizes the fight between good and evil, one that Christ’s descendents and Satan’s descendents will also engage. The woman was directly referring to Mary, the woman who would carry and birth Jesus Christ’s physical body, but, like Mary, you are a descendent of Eve. As Christ’s descendent, how then how have you handled your struggle between good and evil? As Eve’s descendent, a woman, how have you specifically handled those struggles between good and evil that uniquely affect women? Have you successfully carried Jesus in you and then allowed him to manifest in your life?

I know in the heat of daily moments I feel like the underdog: I may snap at my kids for doing kid stuff, begrudge my season after changing what I believe is too many diapers or lament over my bulging belly that I have yet to get back in shape since having my baby. These are my present women’s struggles between good and evil. I can choose to snap, begrudge and lament or I could choose to speak life, be satisfied and think on good things. Instead of trying to conjure up some strong black woman spirit to help me, I choose to remember that I have Jesus in me through the power of the Holy Spirit; I am not the underdog.

On this 39th Day of Christmas, I hope you join me in remembering who you are and that your Savior was slated for you thousands of years ago. You may look like the underdog, but you are a victor indeed.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

THE CHRISTmas Gift

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Jesus was born to die for the sins of mankind.
If you haven’t, please

Accept His sacrifice.
Know that He paid the price.
Say yes to His love.
Confess Him as your Savior.
Make Him your Lord.

I accepted Him (Romans 10:9-10) and am His. If you know Jesus, celebrate with me His birth which enables us to have a new birth, a new life.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

CHRISTmas Traditions

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We didn’t decorate our home for Christmas this year and almost didn’t buy any gifts, partly because I’ve been recovering from surgery and partly because every few years I feel like a hypocrite. As one who is often counterculture, most certainly when it comes to things anti-Jesus Christ, I have a hard time participating in traditions that have distorted the meaning of Christmas. While I love seeing family, smelling fresh pine and spices, eating tasty treats, hugging happy children and hearing trash talked during card games, none of these is the meaning of Christmas.

Though I rid my home of decorations this year, I don’t plan on discarding all the merriment the season brings. I do, however, hope to add Christmas traditions that put Jesus Christ at the center. I think this is what ALL Christians should do. Jesus was the reason Christmas began. So in addition to our family reading the biblical account of Jesus’ birth in Luke, we plan to either:

1. Serve the community by serving meals at a soup kitchen, distributing blankets to the homeless or adopting a family.

2. Watch a movie about Jesus, like “The Nativity Story.”

3. Make crafts or treats to commemorate Jesus, like cookies in the shape of a manger.

4. Give something to Jesus, like our worries and bad habits so we can give birth to a new life.

5. Share thoughts about how Jesus’ life has impacted each of our lives.

6. Give gifts that reflect Jesus’ life in our lives, like a picture of an empty tomb.

7. Write then share with family all the ways we’re thankful for Jesus.

8. Host a prayer meeting thanking Jesus for His life.

9. Sing only Christmas songs that are about Jesus.

10. Read stories that reflect the gospel of Christ.

I encourage you to adopt one of the above. If you don’t think you have time to coordinate one of these ideas but still feel compelled to refocus your Christmas on Jesus Christ, you can always attend a local church service or watch one on the Internet. I like getting gifts as much as the next person, but a designer bag, pajamas or perfume haven’t a thing to do with celebrating the life of the one who has given me life and the reason for Christmas, Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

Covetous Christmas

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Tis the season to be covetous. . . I know you thought I was going to say “to be jolly” because that’s how the song goes, but as I really paid attention to this season I recognize that Christmas has become a season of covetousness. Covetous is from the root word covet, which means to desire, want, long for, yearn for, crave. I have seen magazine covers advertise dresses to “lust for.” I’ve heard commercials say that if you buy this people will envy you. And many of us have heard the saying “you will be the talk of the town” if you have this. With the promotions to buy has come the targeting of man’s base nature. We all are vulnerable to our fleshy desires.

Many Christians recognize that Christmas has become commercialized, where the emphasis is on buying things and not recognizing the gift, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have combated that by sending out Christmas cards with the message of Christ and limiting the amount spent on and the number of Christmas gifts given. But even with these limitations, we have to make sure that we still are not guilty of covetousness. Sure, it is okay to desire certain things, but are the things you desire the things God would have you to desire? Let’s check our heart against the following scripture:

    You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor (Deuteronomy 5:21).

Do you want a new coat, car, clothes and toys for the children because your neighbor (sister or brother in Christ, co-worker, nieces and nephews, etc.) has those things? Do you want certain items because you believe obtaining them will give you the status of your neighbor? Do you sacrifice to buy because you want people to covet after what you have? Would having the things you want make you haughty? Answering yes to any question makes you guilty of covetousness.

But God tells us to covet the best gifts and to prophesy (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:39). Of all the gifts from God we know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is right at the top. Let us covet Jesus, a relationship with him, deep fellowship with him, and an attitude like his. Let us covet to prophesy about his goodness and what the gift of Jesus means to the entire world. Truly let us go beyond rejecting commercialism to also rejecting covetousness. Let not “remember the reason for the season” simply be an adage from our lips but love from our hearts that shows in speaking and teaching about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what his gift to the world provides, which is redemption for all those who receive him.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith