Putting God back in the Holidays

On the subject of keeping CHRISTmas honoring to Christ, I was recently blessed with a free copy  of Putting God Back In The Holidays by Bill and Penny Thrasher thanks to Moody Publishers.

I felt the main theme of this book was "If you have a better relationship with the Lord at the end of the holiday celebrations, you have had a very successful holiday".  I completely agree with that statement!

While this book covers many holidays (everything from birthdays to Arbor Day, 17 holidays total), I really want to focus on the 8 chapters regarding Christmas.



In Putting God Back In The Holidays the authors compare our Christmas celebrations to the story of Mary and Martha.  

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42



"What is the trait of the attitude that we observe in Martha? It is revealed in her words to our Lord,'Do you not care?'. This attitude leads to doubt in God's goodness and care. When we are doubting God's care for us, it is probable that we are carrying a burden that He has not asked us to carry. Have you cast all the burdens of your holiday plans on the Lord?" (page 126)
" 'Then tell her to help me' shows us Martha's demanding attitude. It is an example of pride, that God opposes (James 4:6). A point of pride is any area in my life where I am resisting God. When we act independently of God-pride-and look to something or someone other than God to meet the thirst of our heart, we are following Satan's scheme, and the result is always vanity." (page 138) God honors repentance of this resistance and desires to draw near to us (James 4:8). As we humble ourselves before Him, He can give us grace for every demand of our life during the holiday season. (page 128)


"Mary's action is 'abiding in the Lord' (John 15). Her attitude is one of truth and loving devotion. As she sat at the Lord's feet she was willing to do anything He would ask her. True faith always involves a genuine submission of one's will to Christ. The Lord commends Mary for choosing "the good part which shall not be taken away from her"(Luke 10:42). It produces works of eternal value, and the failure to abide in the Lord produces a life of vanity. (page 133) Take some time to dwell on these words-

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5


"Holidays can be a self seeking time that is the antithesis to the life of our Lord who 'did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many'(Matt 20:28). Any attempt to  honor Christ in a holiday should include asking how He desires to use you as a channel of His love. There is a difference between simply doing acts of service and being a channel of Christ's love. The former can be done in the spirit of accomplishing a spiritual checklist and in an attitude of superiority and pride.  (page 149)

Are your Christmas celebrations producing eternal value?