My Christmas Birthday is next year in 2025, and I am so excited! Since I was born on the First Day of February in 1973, I never imagined I would have a Christmas Birthday. But GOD promises to give us more than we can ask or imagine, and so He has once again, in a very fun and meaningful way! How do I have a Christmas Birthday on February First? Well, if you write the date down with the day ahead of the month, it reads 1.2.25, which looks just like Christmas Day, 12.25!
When I made this discovery in September 2023, I was not only delighted, but I also intuitively knew that since I have a Christmas Calling on my life, and since my ministry business operates out of the Cozy Christmas Cottage, having a Christmas Birthday to anticipate surely is strategic to GOD's plan and purpose for my life!
As you surely know by now, I love Christmas! Along with the Christmas Story, recorded in 180 verses of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, my favorite poet, Longfellow, and my favorite author, Lewis, showcase the beauty and strength of Christmas in their writings.
Longfellow's 1863 Christmas Hymn, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day brings me to tears every time I hear these words:
And in despair I bowed my head, "there is no peace on earth", I said;
"For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead! Nor doth He sleep! The Wrong shall fail! The Right prevail! With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Lewis also heralds the joy and triumph of Christmas in his 1950 book, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. The land of Narnia was gripped by evil, which was evident in part, by a spell which had made it "always winter and never Christmas" but when ASLAN was on the move, Father Christmas appeared with a tray and 5 Christmas Cups of Tea, and gifts for Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, and gifts for the Children, not play toys, but tools they would need in the battles ahead, weapons for warfare, to overcome and destroy the evil and bring back peace to Narnia.
Christmas according to Matthew and Luke and Lewis and Longfellow ring out the joy and hope and peace and promise of the Good News that GOD so loved us that He gave us His Son, who came to earth, was born a baby, lived, died, and was resurrected again, to pay for our sins! The Good News that Jesus came into the world to destroy the works of the devil! The Good News that LIFE overcomes death! The good news that rings out in the beloved hymn, God rest ye merry gentlemen! Let nothing you dismay! Remember Christ our Savior was born upon this day! To save us all from satan's power when we were gone astray! O tidings of comfort and joy! Comfort and joy! O tidings of comfort and joy!
Comfort and Joy! Life conquers death! Jesus Christ is RISEN! Just as He said! This is why I love Christmas! Christmas stands as a reminder that evil will fail, that right will prevail, that there will be peace on earth, that the works of the devil have been destroyed, that Jesus has come to give us abundant life. That no matter the despair, there is hope! No matter the darkness, there is light! That love will have the final word. That perfect love drives out fear, and that the promise of peace, the Prince of Peace, holds the power to calm the storm, when we look to Him. Joy to the world! The LORD is come! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing!
