MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

A very wise apostle has said: There is a special spirit, an actual spirit that envelops the earth at this time. However much it may not differ from the spirit that is available at any time of the year, at this time of the year it seems to be prevalent and present in an intensity not known at other times of the year. It becomes so forceful as to have real, tangible, noticeable effect on people who otherwise seem to avoid, or at least disregard, the Spirit of the Lord…”


Please understand, that I haven’t been immune to this persuasive spirit. I do believe that such a spirit does envelops the earth at this time. I just think Im longing to feel it more deeply.

This GREAT book will be the instrument in helping me ‘work through’ and better understand what’s happening in my head as far as Christmas is concerned. Im going to share with you, in this post, what Im trying to learn.

Jeffery Marsh has differentiated 3 levels of Christmas. You may be interested in what they are. I know that I was.

1st Level- The Santa Claus Level
This is where you find Christmas trees, food, fun, and bright shiny packages and decorations, shopping and parties. Its where I eat too much and spend too much money and probably do too much, but enjoy every minute of it!! ( Did I EVER go through this stage??? With the exception of too much food, Im not sure I visited this level.) But… when the Santa Clause mentality is over, and there’s a mess to clean up and pine needles in the carpet to deal with, and Im recommitting to dieting once more, this would be when I notice that things are still the same. People(and sometimes me) are still hungry and lonely.

2nd Level- Silent Night Level
This is where one finds great joy in the beautiful Christmas Carols and we feel some wonder and awe when gazing on the Nativity, with the shepards and star and think of the wise men that headed towards Bethlehem. Angels are singing!! But… there is still worry and sadness about the world and its fallen state.(there just has to be more!) There is so much sorrow. The problem here is that we're keeping Christ in the manger, and not finding the mature Savior, and thus still feeling disappointment and empty in the end.

3rd Level- is the level of the adult Christ
(Im going to quote right from the book) “It is here we find lasting joy, lasting hope, and lasting peace. This level teaches us of charity, of love for the unlovable and of forgiveness for our enemies. It is the adult Christ who gives us a perfect example and asks us to follow Him. Accepting that invitation is the way- the only way- to celebrate Christmas all year and all life long.”

So there you have my Christmas thoughts.
*If each year I attempt to practice charity and love...
*If I can picture my Savior, not the infant, as the centerpiece of my Christmas...
*If I find the symbolism in the trappings of Christmas…. (heck, Santa himself is a symbol of love and joy and kindness of Christmas and the Christmas Spirit!!)
*If I could understand what I get in exchange for giving up the Santa Level of Christmas, I could then look forward to the greater discoveries!!
*If I do these things- I think I know, that even at my age, I can find and have the “little kid’ feelings again about Christmas.
*If I understood Christmas at all, I would find that in exchange for Christmas past or that “fantasy” Christmas, the right Christmas will be the most excellent of all gifts. My eyes will be opened wider, my understanding greater for the things that my Savior has done and what I may do for Him.
Then the true spirit of Christmas can envelop me and my family and friends whom I love.
That is my wish. (for what it is worth)