I rather marvel at all of the things that we read as we go about our Christmas shopping. "Seasons Greetings", "Happy Holidays", "Merry X-mas", and many others. What is this "Holiday" and why should I be happy? Who or what is "X" and why am I wishing him/her or it a Merry time?

Well "Duh" you might say...."of course we're talking about Christmas". But considering people go to great lengths and spend lots of money on legal fees these days to take "Christ" out of Christmas, I figured it was worth mentioning just in case you had forgotten which "Holiday" we were talking about here. Yes, CHRISTmas in cased you missed it again.

And while most Christians run around saying "keep Christ in Christmas" (and of course I agree,) there is really something that I feel goes deeper than that. Something that most don't want to express anymore. The truth of the matter is that Christ IS Christmas.

Have you ever thought about the fact that if it wasn't for Christ, there wouldn't be a Christmas at all? Regardless of what your traditions are or whether or not they have anything to do with Christ or Christianity in any way, you still wouldn't be doing any of them if it wasn't for Christ.

Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. Most theologians agree that Christ wasn't born on December 25th, but that is the day we celebrate it. And regardless if you hang stockings, or have a tree, or make sure your kids are in bed before jolly old saint nick arrives, you are still celebrating your traditions around a day that is only celebrated because of Christ.

If Christ wasn't born, Christmas would not exist. This really is the simple truth.

And I don't bring any of this up to detract anyone from doing the traditions that they love. In fact, my family and I have many that we love. Including decorating the house, hanging stockings, singing Christmas carols, reading "The Night Before Christmas" to our kids on Christmas eve. We do these things and we love them.

But one thing we do, on Christmas morning, before any presents are open...we sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and we pray together to the Lord thanking Him for coming to this filthy, stinking earth to live and to die for a lowly person like me.

So as you are hanging your lights, decorating your tree, and buying presents...please, never forget that the whole reason you are doing what you are doing is because a loving God, sent His only begotten Son to this earth to stand in each of our places and to pay for our sins because He loved us just that much.

So yes...keep Christ in Christmas...but never forget...Christ IS Christmas.