The following are some ideas we can incorporate to get back to an old-fashioned Christmas that will enrich our lives with His peace and joy. Read or re-read the Christmas story in the gospels asking the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh revelation of the mystery and miracle of His birth. Attend a Christmas pageant or cantata this season that portrays the real meaning of Christmas. Read a classic book involving the Christmas story. One of my favorites is Ben Hur by Lew Wallace. Watch a video with your children or grandchildren that describes the real Christmas. I like “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. Discuss the theme with them.

Do a service project with someone and show the love of Christ in a practical way. Worship the Christ of Christmas with your family at church. Sing Christmas carols with friends or family to shut-ins or a nursing home. Give some true holiday cheer. Instead of overwhelming your children with gifts galore, consider giving a couple of meaningful gifts and teach them to give a gift to Jesus. After-all, it is His birthday. Give a gift to a family in need or a worthy ministry, charity, or missions project. Start a new family tradition that will help you focus on the true Christmas.

To help focus on an old-fashioned, meaningful Christmas, reflect on an acrostic spelling Christmas. The following is an example. Add your own to each letter.

C – CHRIST the Lord was born this day. The long awaited prophesied Messiah. (Luke 2:8-12) Christmas carols are full of great meaning and the theology of Christ.

H – HOLY was He. “So the baby born to you will be holy and He will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35 NLT). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. That makes Him unique, supernatural, God. He came to make us holy and right with God. (Luke 1:74-75)

R – REDEEMER is His name. He came to redeem us from our sins. (Luke 1:68) His Royal Red blood purchased our redemption. (I Peter 1:18-19) Red is, therefore, a color of Christmas. Rejoice in God our Savior. (Luke 1:46)

I – IMMANUEL He is called . . . “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He illuminates our darkness. (Luke 1:78) Let the lights of Christmas remind you of that.

S – STAR of David is He. Jesus Christ is the prophesied root of David. As a star in the east guided the Wise Men to Christ, let the Christmas star guide you to Jesus. Wise men still seek him. “Silent Night, Holy Night” has been a favorite carol over the years. Think on the words of that song. The Savior of the world still shines for troubled souls and a troubled word.

T – The TREE of Christmas for many is an evergreen. Why? Because Jesus came to die on a tree to give us everlasting life. (Romans 5:8) Take TIME to give thanks for His sacrifice on the cross. TELL the Christmas story to someone who needs hope.

M – MERCY is the theme of Christmas. God’s tender mercy broke upon our darkness as a great light. (Luke 1:78) To have a true Merry Christmas we must first experience the mercy of God. MIRACLES still happen when Christ is born in our heart. Expect a miracle. (Luke 1:37)

A – ANGELS announced and attended the birth of Christ. Angels are still present wherever Christ is worshiped and adored. Announce His birth to someone who needs hope.

S SHEPHERDS were the first to see the Babe of Bethlehem. At the announcement of the Angels, they ran to Bethlehem to see and worship Christ. The gift of salvation is for all who, like those humble shepherds, bow before the Savior and receive Him as Lord.

May you have an old-fashioned Merry Christmas this year. “For as many as received him, gave He the right to become sons of God even as many as believed on His name” (John 1:12).