November 20, 2023 • 24 mins
Feeling overwhelmed or weary by the holiday season? What if we told you that there is a way to find simplicity and truly savor the Savior amidst the Christmas chaos? When we went back to the first Christmas, we saw that it centered around three things: a family, a message, and a Savior. What if we embrace those things this Christmas to make our season simple, meaningful and memorable? In Part 1 we look at how to savor Jesus all through the season and not just aim at celebrating on Christmas Day.
Let's explore the heart of Christmas, as share personal experiences, and offer ways to keep Jesus as the focal point during the season. We dig into different Advent traditions that are not just fun, but also help to cultivate a deep connection to savoring Him. Join us as we share tips on age-appropriate devotionals, creating joy-filled traditions, and incorporating the nativity into daily activities.
Additionally, we delve into the powerful hymn "O Holy Night," and how it continues to remind us of the true spirit of Christmas. Together, let’s make our Christmas celebrations meaningful and Jesus-focused, taking a step back from the holiday rush to cherish the reason for the season.
Prophecies of Jesus, 25 Prophecies and Jesus’ Fulfillment #1 Find all 25 on Called To Shine’s Instagram Feed ( Scroll down to Dec 1 2022
NBS2GO’S Advent Bible Study
Children’s Christmas Books/ You Tube : The Crippled Lamb, Song of The Stars, Christmas in the Manger, 25 Days of the Christmas Story, A Christmas Story of Light, The Jesus Story Book Bible Christmas Collection, The Tale of Three Tree’s
The Star From Afar
The Kindness Manger Options: The Giving Manger, Filling The Manger
Redeeming The Season Podcasts with Pam McCune and Kim Wier on Revive Our Heart ( 5 Different episodes)
SOCIAL MEDIA: @called_toshine Instagram.
Follow us on Instagram and enjoy the community as we spur each other on through inspiration, encouragement, and equipping.
And always you can find resources to help you connect to the people around you at NBS2GO! (nbs2go.com)
— A ministry of NBS2GO: Neighbor Bible Studies to Go and Cru
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Pam McCune (00:04):
Hello, Jesslyn here and Pam, welcome to the
community where we explore howJesus is our light.
Jesslyn Adams (00:11):
And we are here to spur each other on to love
God and others, right where welive.
We are called to shine.
Pam McCune (00:18):
You know the song oh Holy Night that says the words
the weary world rejoices.
Have you wondered what ismaking life weary?
The answer can be different foreach person, circumstances,
people, health issues and maybe,for some, it's even the season
of Christmas that is making usweary.
(00:40):
As women, we wear many hats,from decorator to gift buyer to
organizer of the calendar events, maybe even chauffeur, cook and
, yes, weary is a good word todescribe what we are.
After we wear all those hats.
Jesslyn, is there a part ofChristmas that makes you
overwhelmed or stresses you out?
Jesslyn Adams (01:00):
Yes, Pam, there is, and one in particular is
buying gifts.
Although it sounds fun, Isomewhat get immediately
stressed.
I think sometimes we havefamily members asking for
Christmas lists, like rightafter Halloween, and I'm
thinking, oh my goodness, it'snot even November, thinking
through family and teachers andrelatives and nieces and nephews
, like I love it.
(01:20):
But at the same time it's justan ongoing list and I want to
get the best deal and sometimesthe ads are telling you do it
now or it's going to run out.
I get kind of stressed aboutthat.
Typically I panic a little bitand then remember it's all going
to work out.
But during the Christmas seasonmany things can be fun, joyful,
beautiful and delightful, buttruly some parts are stressful.
We want to encourage lessstress and simplicity.
(01:43):
Pam, you told us aboutredeeming Halloween in episode
three, but first came your bookRedeeming the Season Simple
ideas for a memorable andmeaningful Christmas.
So how do we simplify thisseason so we don't end up
overdoing, overspending orovercommitting?
Pam McCune (01:59):
I can say that I'm an expert because I did it all
wrong and being very teachableto want to learn to do things
differently.
Have you experienced one ofthose Christmases where you rush
from those hats that you'rewearing, from the decorating,
the gift buying, the attendingevent after event?
That can be so fun, but maybeyou're exhausted and then, after
(02:20):
all, the gifts are unwrappedand you're throwing out the
wrapping paper and all the boxesand you feel like you threw out
Christmas with it and allthat's left are the bills that
need to be paid and it feelsempty and you feel depleted.
Jesslyn Adams (02:36):
So true, there have been Christmases for me
personally that by the time thekids are done opening up their
gifts and which I think is goingto take an hour and it takes
five minutes I just want to liedown and take a huge nap.
It almost feels like a huge letdown, because I was so focused
on getting the right gifts andwanting the right reaction when
they opened them that I didn'tstop and just savor all the
(02:56):
moments leading up to thatmorning.
I was more focused on the giftsrather than the gift of Jesus
himself.
Tell us more about how we canmake this Christmas season
different.
Pam McCune (03:05):
So, as Kim and I my co-author thought about
Christmas.
We decided to go back to thefirst Christmas and see what can
we glean from the originalChristmas, to find how we can
make it memorable, meaningfuland simple.
We came down to three thingsthat it centered around.
First, it centered around afamily, and it wasn't just any
(03:25):
family.
It could have been today'sdysfunctional family a teenager
that finds out she's pregnant,that she's betrothed and engaged
, and he's contemplating divorce.
Here they are in the midst ofsaying will we say yes to God,
right where we are.
And then we found out that itcentered around a message.
It was a message about theSavior is coming.
Six months before, the angelcame to Mary and to Joseph to
(03:49):
say you're going to raise God'sson.
He went to Zachariah, the angel, and said you're going to have
a child and it is going to bethe forerunner to Jesus, to tell
everybody he is coming, theMessiah is coming.
It is about pointing people tohim and about saying, yes, the
Savior is here and he's comingback.
And then the third thing thatwe found is that first Christmas
(04:12):
, it centered around a baby thatwas worthy to be worshiped
because of who he was, that wecould stop and savor the Savior.
Now, when we tell this, westart with setting apart your
family time, and then aboutseasoning your surroundings, and
the third one is usuallysavoring the Savior.
But I've decided we need to dothings differently.
(04:33):
If we don't start with savoringthe Savior, it is really hard
out of overflow to set apart andcelebrate with a family and to
point other people to Jesus.
So when we went to that firstChristmas about savoring the
Savior, luke 2.
There were shepherds living outin the fields nearby keeping
watch over their flocks.
At night, an angel of the Lordappeared to them and the glory
(04:54):
of the Lord shone around themand they were terrified.
Have you noticed?
Every time an angel appears,people in Scripture are
terrified.
They're not the little cutelittle chair of kids, they are
angels, the warrior angels.
And the angel said Do not beafraid, I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for you,for all the people.
Today, in the town of David, aSavior has been born to you.
(05:17):
He is Christ, the Lord.
This will be assigned to you.
You will find a baby wrapped incloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly, a great company ofheavenly hosts appeared with the
angel praising God and sayingthis is the first scantata.
They were saying Glory to Godin the highest and on earth,
peace to men on whom his favorrests.
And when the angels had leftthem and gone into heaven, the
(05:40):
shepherds said to one anotherlet's go to Bethlehem and see
this thing that has happened,which the Lord is told us about.
It says that they ran off Idon't know if they got a sheep
sitter or if they just picked uptheir sheepies and they ran
into Bethlehem to go on thisscavenger hunt To find this baby
wrapped in swaddling clothes,lying in the manger.
And the shepherds found him andthey bowed down and worshiped
(06:03):
the baby.
And it's amazing because itsays afterwards they ran and
told everybody about this thingthat God had done.
They were glorifying andpraising God for all these
things and hurried off and toldeverybody else.
But they weren't the only onesthat stopped and worshiped the
baby, simeon and Anna when theytook him to the temple to be
dedicated and to be circumcised.
(06:24):
Simeon had been praying andwaiting for the coming Messiah
and the Holy Spirit impressedupon Simeon that this is the
baby and Simeon held the babyand worshiped the baby.
And then Anna was a widow andshe had been living at the
temple waiting night and day forthe coming Messiah.
That is great expectation andthat is dedication.
(06:45):
And God showed her this is thebaby and she praised God and she
worshipped the baby.
Now the Gentiles got there.
It took them two years we knowthem by the name, the wise men
but they followed that star thatthey had heard the prophecy
that the Messiah was coming andthat the alignment of stars.
And they followed it and theygot their scholars think it was
(07:06):
probably when he was two.
But imagine that they praisedand worshipped a toddler.
I mean, how does a toddler beperfect?
And Jesus was.
Did he just never say no?
Did he just say yes, yes, yes.
I don't know what he was likeas a toddler.
They bowed down and theyworshiped, they brought gifts
and they celebrated as Gentilesthe coming Messiah.
(07:27):
And you and I, in the midst ofwhatever life looks like, we
want to stop and savor theSavior.
Now, the reason we say savor ismy husband loves food and he
has one of his principles isthat you save the best bite till
last.
So if you start eating off ofhis plate, you better not eat
his best bite because he's movedit over to the side so that he
(07:48):
wants to savor the best flavorsof that last bite, because he
says it tastes good.
Well, when we're savoring theSavior, he is good and he is
worthy to be savoring.
So we don't want to just aimfor one day, the Christmas day,
because who knows what mighthappen that day?
One day my mom woke up with amigraine and we were like who's
(08:10):
going to cook the food?
Another Christmas we hadextended family time and it
ended up being chaos.
We spent the day trying to getsome extended family members out
of jail and it was not the daythat we had planned.
And as we went around goingwanting to say, oh Lord, we love
you, we were saying, oh Lord,but it sounded much different.
All I can say is don't put allyour stock in one day.
(08:31):
Use the season, use the adventto build up to anticipate the
arrival.
I love babies.
I love celebrating babies.
Babies are something that I'veprayed for a long time.
As I went through mymiscarriages and I wondered if I
would ever hold a baby on earth.
And as we had our first born,madison Shae, be born, we had
(08:51):
much to celebrate.
And then we went through a timeof infertility and I wondered
will I get to hold a second born?
And so when Connor ClarksonMcEwen was born, we celebrated
and we told Madison all the timehow precious a baby he was and
how much he was wanted andprayed for and how special he
was.
So as I was telling theChristmas story one year and
(09:14):
talking about Jesus being themost special baby, she
interrupted me and said I know,mom, he was special, but not as
special as Connor ClarksonMcEwen.
Well, deslyn, I had a problem.
I had not taught the difference.
I had told him about howspecial babies were, but not why
Jesus was different, why he wasdifferent than every Sunday
(09:34):
school teacher that we reallylove and honor, every other
religious leader Buddha,muhammad, why he could be worthy
of worship because he was God.
And we decided to look at theprophecies Now there's over 300
in Scripture.
So we just took 25 propheciesfrom the Old Testament of who
the coming Messiah would be andwe paired them up with the
(09:55):
verses in the New Testament thatshow how Jesus fulfilled that.
So each day in December thatwas our advent is that we would
pull out this card.
Now we also had boxes withtreats.
Inside each one I gave him aprophecy saying you're going to
get a treat today, and then itcame true.
I was explaining what prophecymeant, and then they would read
the Old Testament verse and thenthe New Testament fulfillment.
(10:17):
We were building anticipation ofwhy we could celebrate this
baby and why he is differentthan any other religious leader
because he is God.
And I'll be honest, there weresome days we're so busy we
forgot to do one of the cardsand my kids would usually run to
me and remind me and say weneed to read the prophecy and as
they got older they wouldalready know the New Testament
(10:39):
fulfillment as I read the OldTestament verse and I love that
they were learning.
Now we have on the Instagramaccount all 25 down of the Old
Testament prophecies in the NewTestament fulfillment, so you
can go to call to shineInstagram and scroll down just a
little bit and you'll see anadvent one through 25.
We want to use advance theirarrival so that we can build and
(11:01):
anticipate celebrating Jesusall through the season In
episode five.
Jesslyn Adams (11:06):
We gave you a taste of the Advent Bible study
that you can do personally, withyour family or in a group of
friends.
Pam McCune (11:12):
And if you miss that , give it a listen Absolutely is
such a treat and you'llactually just experience getting
to deep dive into one of thepassages, and it's fun to do
that with other people as well.
There are other ways toanticipate and to do advance.
Justine, do you do this?
Do you do pajamas each year?
That family matching pajamas?
Yes, much to dad's chagrin.
(11:32):
I agree, jerry is a good sportabout it.
As we pull out those new PJs,maybe you do it for a whole
season.
Maybe you're just doing itChristmas Eve and Christmas
night.
I also like to pull out a newdevotional for each member of
the family and I like to thinkof the age appropriate when
they're little.
There's nothing better than theJesus storybook Bible to start
(11:52):
with.
I love that for teens we sayshort and sweet and full of meat
.
Don't beat them over the head,don't give them too much.
Give them some bite size chunksthat they can experience
success on.
For adults, there's a plethoraof options.
There are many free onlineAdvent studies that you can do.
You could do our study or youcan do a devotional with 25 to
(12:14):
aim at, because when you aim atnothing, you hit it every time.
So I say, give yourselfsomething to aim at, but give
yourself grace for when you missit as well.
My daughter and I, the last fewyears, have done.
She reads truth.
There's an app, there's apodcast, there's an Advent study
that you can get.
We're each doing it and we cantext each other and we can talk
about the Advent season.
(12:35):
Of what stood out to us thatday when she was in college and
we were separated, there's abook that we love very much for
Lent and you know what she didfor me she recorded herself
reading it each day and wouldsend it to me so I could feel
like I was with her.
So, wherever your family's at,think through what it might
delight them and bring them joythat you could give them not to
(12:57):
put them under the pile, but toaim at and get to experience the
taste of Jesus.
Jesslyn Adams (13:01):
Pam.
Those are wonderful ideas, somany ways to be creative and
interact with others and bringthem in God's word together.
I love the idea of being ableto hear one another's voice even
though you're afar, because alot of times we're not spending
time with God at the exact sametime in the day, but we can
continually mutually and spurone another on.
Pam McCune (13:19):
Another idea read a children's book each day in
December.
Now I've seen some people wrapthem up and make them a surprise
in the wrapping paper with thebow on with a number on them,
and then each day they pull themout and, no matter where your
kids are at, hit all thedifferent ages and I've learned
that older kids love to own it,to read it to the younger kids
(13:39):
and as adults, we enjoy thethemes in the Christmas books.
Now, justin, this works for usbecause we collected Christmas
books.
Every year we would get a newone, we would write the year and
we would write a dedication.
You could do 25 books in abasket or you could wrap them up
, and it's also a sweet time tohave family time together.
Jesslyn Adams (13:59):
You know I was thinking, pam.
What I love is I'm seeing moreand more stores sell advent
things together.
In fact, my sweet mother-in-law, Marcy, gave our kids a couple
years ago an advent calendarthat already had a book wrapped
up for each day, and they wereso eager they were wanting to
jump days.
It was really fun, but the ideaof doing 25, something to look
forward to, something to getexcited about, and I like the
(14:19):
intentional of it beingChristmas and reading those
together.
I think even in our time ofliving in Louisiana, someone
gave us the Cajun night beforeChristmas and, though it's a
tongue-tie thing to read, wetried reading it to our kids
every year and we die laughing,more so than they do, to be
honest.
Pam McCune (14:35):
I think that's a fun tradition, just laughing
through that book.
Traditions can be reallymeaningful, but they can also
just be something you happenedupon that brought you laughter,
that you want to keep doing Oneof the things to know about
traditions they can change.
You can have a tradition that'sbeen passed on from family
members, but don't be afraid totry new ones and to let go of
(14:56):
some, because different yearsyou don't want to just keep
adding and end up with 25traditions that you're just
trying to checkmark and getthrough.
That will make you stressed andcrazy.
Oh, so true, pick the one thatworks for this year and that
your family might need.
Maybe it's a season that youneed more laughter.
Maybe it's a season that youneed more serious.
Both are important.
Now, one of the ones thatbrought us much laughter it
(15:19):
didn't start this way but ournativities.
Now I collect nativities.
Before we had children, I had avery precious moments nativity
set.
I loved my precious momentsnativity set and I caught myself
one day yelling at my threeyear old don't touch baby Jesus.
It didn't sound right, likewhat is wrong with me.
(15:41):
I should be delighted that shewanted to touch baby Jesus, so a
new tradition started and thatI found the non breakable
nativity pieces.
We started with Mary Joseph andbaby Jesus so wise, and then
every year we added a new pieceand my kids each had their set
that they played with and Iloved it that they were
(16:01):
interacting with baby Jesus Nowwith my daughter.
I mean you wouldn't believe ifyou listen to the conversations
of how sweet Joseph was to carryMary when the donkey got tired
while she was pregnant.
I loved reliving it through hereyes.
Now for my son it was like warwar one going on at the first
nativity.
You have no idea the animalsthat were fighting over who got
(16:23):
to lick baby Jesus clean.
I mean it was crazy, but I lovethat they were telling the
story.
So maybe you bring out a newpiece each year that you add to
theirs, or maybe you do itthroughout December and you add
a new piece.
We've also done it where thewise men travel throughout the
house.
We don't wait two years, wejust let them arrive Christmas
Eve Either way, let them touchand let them play with baby
(16:45):
Jesus.
Jesslyn Adams (16:45):
You reminded me of something that our family
does when you were talking aboutmoving the wise men closer to
baby Jesus each day.
You know the elf on the shelf.
That's quite popular over thepast several years.
We found something years ago alittle bit different but a
similar idea of something youhide at night and the kids have
to discover it the next morning,but the focus is on Jesus.
It's called the Star from afarand it comes with the book, a
(17:07):
little devotional to read, andeach night you move that star
after the kids go to bed and inthe morning the kids come
looking for it and once theyfind it, then they go grab the
wise men and then they bring itover to the star for the day and
then you repeat it each nightuntil you get the.
You know the star over thenativity set over Jesus and put
the wise men there greetingJesus.
I love the idea of a nativityset and you're right, it's
(17:29):
interactive, it's a visual.
I love that.
It's each day, because I got tobe honest, a lot of times I
forgot to move the stars.
But you're right, they remindyou.
I love it.
They're built in accountability.
It became something they wereeager to get out of bed for even
before Christmas morning, sothat's kind of fun.
They understood the point and Ithink even my sweet
sister-in-law, jennifer.
Pam McCune (17:48):
They usually do a happy birthday Jesus cake on
Christmas, celebrating hisbirthday One thing I can do is
bake, so I could bake a cake,let the kids decorate it saying
happy birthday Jesus and add itto the meals.
The thing I love about the Starfrom afar, it sounds like it
would be easy to travel with.
Yes, I love the idea of thekindness manger, where you put
(18:11):
straw in the manger all throughthe month of December by the
kind deeds that you do forfamily and friends and you are
preparing the way of Jesus to bea soft entry.
In that you're part of livingout Christ-like characters.
That will make it even easierto celebrate, and so each time
you would do a good thing.
You put your straw in.
Well, I loved it so much that Ihad my husband build a
(18:34):
three-foot manger so that wecould put real straw in it.
I never thought about it.
We travel every single timewhile the kids were growing up
for Christmas to either myparents' house or my in-laws'
house, and it got old having totravel with that three-foot
manger.
So the Star sounds like that.
Maybe traveling with yournativity set is not as big a
(18:54):
deal as a three-foot manger.
Jesslyn Adams (18:56):
No, it's easy.
It comes with a box you can putit back in, and you're right.
We always take it with us.
Portable, not breakable, arethe ways to go.
Pam McCune (19:04):
The main part is being with each other and
getting to talk about what we'regetting ready to celebrate and
focusing on Scripture truthsabout who Jesus is.
Some have done attributeornaments that you put character
qualities of Jesus.
You can put them on your ownstars and put them on the tree,
(19:24):
whatever it is.
There are so many differentoptions.
There's not one perfect one.
The perfect one is the one thatfits into your family.
That'll help you stop and aimat talking about Jesus and
celebrating him throughout theseason, and not putting stock
into that one day of December25th, but of building up and
celebrating, pointing your kids,pointing yourself, but
(19:47):
marinating on who he is and whyhe's worthy of worship, so that
we really can overflow withloving other people because we
love God.
Jesslyn Adams (19:56):
So true, pam.
Thanks for sharing that.
Please do not try all of theseideas.
Pick one or two that would workfor you personally and for your
family, and ask God to show youwhat you need this year and
savor the Savior throughout theseason On.
Pam McCune (20:11):
Christmas Eve in 1906, reginald Fessenden, a
33-year-old university professorand former chief chemist for
Thomas Edison, did somethinglong thought impossible.
Using a new type of generator,fessenden spoke into a
microphone and for the firsttime in history, a man's voice
was broadcast over the airways.
(20:31):
And it came to pass in thosedays that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus thatall the world should be taxed.
He began in a clear, strongvoice, hoping he was reaching
across the distances he supposedhe would.
Shocked radio operators onships and astonished wireless
owners at newspapers were amazedas their normal coated impulses
(20:53):
, heard over tiny speakers, wereinterrupted by a professor
reading the Christmas story.
To those who caught thisbroadcast it must have seemed
like a miracle to hear a voicesomehow transmitted to those far
away.
Perhaps they may have thoughtthey were hearing the voice of
an angel.
Fessenden was probably unawareof the sensation he was causing
(21:14):
on ships and in offices.
He couldn't have known that menand women were rushing to their
wireless units to catch thisChristmas Eve miracle.
After finishing his recitationof the birth of Christ,
fessenden picked up his violinand played O Holy Night, the
first song ever sent through theair via radio waves.
O Holy Night was first sung ata small Christmas Mass in 1847.
(21:40):
The song has been sung millionsof times in churches in every
corner of the world and sincethe moment a handful of people
first heard it played over theradio, the carol has gone on to
become one of the most recordedand played spiritual songs.
This incredible work, requestedby a forgotten parish priest,
written by a poet who wouldlater split from the church,
(22:00):
given soaring music by a Jewishcomposer, and brought to
Americans to serve as much as atool to spotlight the sinful
nature of slavery as tell thestory of the birth of a savior,
has become one of the mostbeautiful, inspired pieces of
music ever created.
The Lord can work in amazingways to his word to proclaim
(22:21):
Pondering the baby that came toearth, who left heaven to do for
us what we couldn't do forourselves, to pay the penalty
for our sin, for our separationfrom God, and being thankful
that he came.
And stopping and worshiping theSavior, to bow down and to
praise him, means that we stopand ponder and think on, think
(22:44):
and we delight in Jesus theSavior.
It doesn't mean that we don'twear those many hats that we
have, but it means that as wewear them.
We want to keep our prioritiesright, to remember why we're
celebrating, why we're going toevents, why we're getting to
have fun with family and friends, why we're buying gifts.
(23:06):
It's all in honor of the onewho is worthy to be praised.
Here are the words to oh HolyNight.
Oh Holy Night, the stars arebrightly shining.
It is the night of our dearSavior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin anderror pining till he appears in
the soul, felt its worth, athrill of hope.
(23:28):
The weary world rejoices foryonder breaks and new and
glorious mourn fall on yourknees.
Oh, hear the angels voices.
Oh night divine.
Oh night when Christ was born,oh night, oh holy night.
Oh night divine.
Let all within us praise hisholy name.
(23:48):
Christ is the Lord.
Oh, praise his name forever.
His power and glory evermoreproclaim.
Christmas can be wearing.
But if we listen to those wordsof oh Holy Night, we are
reminded of the answers.
Jesslyn Adams (24:03):
We have so much more to explore together, so be
sure to subscribe to our podcast, and if today has inspired or
encouraged you, you can helpothers find us by taking a
moment to give us a review onyour favorite podcast streaming
site.
Pam McCune (24:16):
And as our thanks for joining us here, we invite
you to follow us on Instagram atcalled to shine.
As part of our called to shineInstagram community, you will
get encouragement and ideas tohelp you connect to the people
around you.
Jesslyn Adams (24:31):
And, as always, you can find resources to help
you shine the light of Jesus atmbs2gocom neighbor Bible studies
to go.
In our next episode we willlook at how to set apart family
time during the Christmas seasonas well as point people to the
Savior.
You don't want to miss part twoof having a meaningful and
memorable Christmas.
Pam McCune (24:50):
Thanks for joining us today.
We are called to shine.
Hello, Jesslyn here and Pam, welcome to the
community where we explore howJesus is our light.
Jesslyn Adams (00:11):
And we are here to spur each other on to love
God and others, right where welive.
We are called to shine.
Pam McCune (00:18):
You know the song oh Holy Night that says the words
the weary world rejoices.
Have you wondered what ismaking life weary?
The answer can be different foreach person, circumstances,
people, health issues and maybe,for some, it's even the season
of Christmas that is making usweary.
(00:40):
As women, we wear many hats,from decorator to gift buyer to
organizer of the calendar events, maybe even chauffeur, cook and
, yes, weary is a good word todescribe what we are.
After we wear all those hats.
Jesslyn, is there a part ofChristmas that makes you
overwhelmed or stresses you out?
Jesslyn Adams (01:00):
Yes, Pam, there is, and one in particular is
buying gifts.
Although it sounds fun, Isomewhat get immediately
stressed.
I think sometimes we havefamily members asking for
Christmas lists, like rightafter Halloween, and I'm
thinking, oh my goodness, it'snot even November, thinking
through family and teachers andrelatives and nieces and nephews
, like I love it.
(01:20):
But at the same time it's justan ongoing list and I want to
get the best deal and sometimesthe ads are telling you do it
now or it's going to run out.
I get kind of stressed aboutthat.
Typically I panic a little bitand then remember it's all going
to work out.
But during the Christmas seasonmany things can be fun, joyful,
beautiful and delightful, buttruly some parts are stressful.
We want to encourage lessstress and simplicity.
(01:43):
Pam, you told us aboutredeeming Halloween in episode
three, but first came your bookRedeeming the Season Simple
ideas for a memorable andmeaningful Christmas.
So how do we simplify thisseason so we don't end up
overdoing, overspending orovercommitting?
Pam McCune (01:59):
I can say that I'm an expert because I did it all
wrong and being very teachableto want to learn to do things
differently.
Have you experienced one ofthose Christmases where you rush
from those hats that you'rewearing, from the decorating,
the gift buying, the attendingevent after event?
That can be so fun, but maybeyou're exhausted and then, after
(02:20):
all, the gifts are unwrappedand you're throwing out the
wrapping paper and all the boxesand you feel like you threw out
Christmas with it and allthat's left are the bills that
need to be paid and it feelsempty and you feel depleted.
Jesslyn Adams (02:36):
So true, there have been Christmases for me
personally that by the time thekids are done opening up their
gifts and which I think is goingto take an hour and it takes
five minutes I just want to liedown and take a huge nap.
It almost feels like a huge letdown, because I was so focused
on getting the right gifts andwanting the right reaction when
they opened them that I didn'tstop and just savor all the
(02:56):
moments leading up to thatmorning.
I was more focused on the giftsrather than the gift of Jesus
himself.
Tell us more about how we canmake this Christmas season
different.
Pam McCune (03:05):
So, as Kim and I my co-author thought about
Christmas.
We decided to go back to thefirst Christmas and see what can
we glean from the originalChristmas, to find how we can
make it memorable, meaningfuland simple.
We came down to three thingsthat it centered around.
First, it centered around afamily, and it wasn't just any
(03:25):
family.
It could have been today'sdysfunctional family a teenager
that finds out she's pregnant,that she's betrothed and engaged
, and he's contemplating divorce.
Here they are in the midst ofsaying will we say yes to God,
right where we are.
And then we found out that itcentered around a message.
It was a message about theSavior is coming.
Six months before, the angelcame to Mary and to Joseph to
(03:49):
say you're going to raise God'sson.
He went to Zachariah, the angel, and said you're going to have
a child and it is going to bethe forerunner to Jesus, to tell
everybody he is coming, theMessiah is coming.
It is about pointing people tohim and about saying, yes, the
Savior is here and he's comingback.
And then the third thing thatwe found is that first Christmas
(04:12):
, it centered around a baby thatwas worthy to be worshiped
because of who he was, that wecould stop and savor the Savior.
Now, when we tell this, westart with setting apart your
family time, and then aboutseasoning your surroundings, and
the third one is usuallysavoring the Savior.
But I've decided we need to dothings differently.
(04:33):
If we don't start with savoringthe Savior, it is really hard
out of overflow to set apart andcelebrate with a family and to
point other people to Jesus.
So when we went to that firstChristmas about savoring the
Savior, luke 2.
There were shepherds living outin the fields nearby keeping
watch over their flocks.
At night, an angel of the Lordappeared to them and the glory
(04:54):
of the Lord shone around themand they were terrified.
Have you noticed?
Every time an angel appears,people in Scripture are
terrified.
They're not the little cutelittle chair of kids, they are
angels, the warrior angels.
And the angel said Do not beafraid, I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for you,for all the people.
Today, in the town of David, aSavior has been born to you.
(05:17):
He is Christ, the Lord.
This will be assigned to you.
You will find a baby wrapped incloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly, a great company ofheavenly hosts appeared with the
angel praising God and sayingthis is the first scantata.
They were saying Glory to Godin the highest and on earth,
peace to men on whom his favorrests.
And when the angels had leftthem and gone into heaven, the
(05:40):
shepherds said to one anotherlet's go to Bethlehem and see
this thing that has happened,which the Lord is told us about.
It says that they ran off Idon't know if they got a sheep
sitter or if they just picked uptheir sheepies and they ran
into Bethlehem to go on thisscavenger hunt To find this baby
wrapped in swaddling clothes,lying in the manger.
And the shepherds found him andthey bowed down and worshiped
(06:03):
the baby.
And it's amazing because itsays afterwards they ran and
told everybody about this thingthat God had done.
They were glorifying andpraising God for all these
things and hurried off and toldeverybody else.
But they weren't the only onesthat stopped and worshiped the
baby, simeon and Anna when theytook him to the temple to be
dedicated and to be circumcised.
(06:24):
Simeon had been praying andwaiting for the coming Messiah
and the Holy Spirit impressedupon Simeon that this is the
baby and Simeon held the babyand worshiped the baby.
And then Anna was a widow andshe had been living at the
temple waiting night and day forthe coming Messiah.
That is great expectation andthat is dedication.
(06:45):
And God showed her this is thebaby and she praised God and she
worshipped the baby.
Now the Gentiles got there.
It took them two years we knowthem by the name, the wise men
but they followed that star thatthey had heard the prophecy
that the Messiah was coming andthat the alignment of stars.
And they followed it and theygot their scholars think it was
(07:06):
probably when he was two.
But imagine that they praisedand worshipped a toddler.
I mean, how does a toddler beperfect?
And Jesus was.
Did he just never say no?
Did he just say yes, yes, yes.
I don't know what he was likeas a toddler.
They bowed down and theyworshiped, they brought gifts
and they celebrated as Gentilesthe coming Messiah.
(07:27):
And you and I, in the midst ofwhatever life looks like, we
want to stop and savor theSavior.
Now, the reason we say savor ismy husband loves food and he
has one of his principles isthat you save the best bite till
last.
So if you start eating off ofhis plate, you better not eat
his best bite because he's movedit over to the side so that he
(07:48):
wants to savor the best flavorsof that last bite, because he
says it tastes good.
Well, when we're savoring theSavior, he is good and he is
worthy to be savoring.
So we don't want to just aimfor one day, the Christmas day,
because who knows what mighthappen that day?
One day my mom woke up with amigraine and we were like who's
(08:10):
going to cook the food?
Another Christmas we hadextended family time and it
ended up being chaos.
We spent the day trying to getsome extended family members out
of jail and it was not the daythat we had planned.
And as we went around goingwanting to say, oh Lord, we love
you, we were saying, oh Lord,but it sounded much different.
All I can say is don't put allyour stock in one day.
(08:31):
Use the season, use the adventto build up to anticipate the
arrival.
I love babies.
I love celebrating babies.
Babies are something that I'veprayed for a long time.
As I went through mymiscarriages and I wondered if I
would ever hold a baby on earth.
And as we had our first born,madison Shae, be born, we had
(08:51):
much to celebrate.
And then we went through a timeof infertility and I wondered
will I get to hold a second born?
And so when Connor ClarksonMcEwen was born, we celebrated
and we told Madison all the timehow precious a baby he was and
how much he was wanted andprayed for and how special he
was.
So as I was telling theChristmas story one year and
(09:14):
talking about Jesus being themost special baby, she
interrupted me and said I know,mom, he was special, but not as
special as Connor ClarksonMcEwen.
Well, deslyn, I had a problem.
I had not taught the difference.
I had told him about howspecial babies were, but not why
Jesus was different, why he wasdifferent than every Sunday
(09:34):
school teacher that we reallylove and honor, every other
religious leader Buddha,muhammad, why he could be worthy
of worship because he was God.
And we decided to look at theprophecies Now there's over 300
in Scripture.
So we just took 25 propheciesfrom the Old Testament of who
the coming Messiah would be andwe paired them up with the
(09:55):
verses in the New Testament thatshow how Jesus fulfilled that.
So each day in December thatwas our advent is that we would
pull out this card.
Now we also had boxes withtreats.
Inside each one I gave him aprophecy saying you're going to
get a treat today, and then itcame true.
I was explaining what prophecymeant, and then they would read
the Old Testament verse and thenthe New Testament fulfillment.
(10:17):
We were building anticipation ofwhy we could celebrate this
baby and why he is differentthan any other religious leader
because he is God.
And I'll be honest, there weresome days we're so busy we
forgot to do one of the cardsand my kids would usually run to
me and remind me and say weneed to read the prophecy and as
they got older they wouldalready know the New Testament
(10:39):
fulfillment as I read the OldTestament verse and I love that
they were learning.
Now we have on the Instagramaccount all 25 down of the Old
Testament prophecies in the NewTestament fulfillment, so you
can go to call to shineInstagram and scroll down just a
little bit and you'll see anadvent one through 25.
We want to use advance theirarrival so that we can build and
(11:01):
anticipate celebrating Jesusall through the season In
episode five.
Jesslyn Adams (11:06):
We gave you a taste of the Advent Bible study
that you can do personally, withyour family or in a group of
friends.
Pam McCune (11:12):
And if you miss that , give it a listen Absolutely is
such a treat and you'llactually just experience getting
to deep dive into one of thepassages, and it's fun to do
that with other people as well.
There are other ways toanticipate and to do advance.
Justine, do you do this?
Do you do pajamas each year?
That family matching pajamas?
Yes, much to dad's chagrin.
(11:32):
I agree, jerry is a good sportabout it.
As we pull out those new PJs,maybe you do it for a whole
season.
Maybe you're just doing itChristmas Eve and Christmas
night.
I also like to pull out a newdevotional for each member of
the family and I like to thinkof the age appropriate when
they're little.
There's nothing better than theJesus storybook Bible to start
(11:52):
with.
I love that for teens we sayshort and sweet and full of meat
.
Don't beat them over the head,don't give them too much.
Give them some bite size chunksthat they can experience
success on.
For adults, there's a plethoraof options.
There are many free onlineAdvent studies that you can do.
You could do our study or youcan do a devotional with 25 to
(12:14):
aim at, because when you aim atnothing, you hit it every time.
So I say, give yourselfsomething to aim at, but give
yourself grace for when you missit as well.
My daughter and I, the last fewyears, have done.
She reads truth.
There's an app, there's apodcast, there's an Advent study
that you can get.
We're each doing it and we cantext each other and we can talk
about the Advent season.
(12:35):
Of what stood out to us thatday when she was in college and
we were separated, there's abook that we love very much for
Lent and you know what she didfor me she recorded herself
reading it each day and wouldsend it to me so I could feel
like I was with her.
So, wherever your family's at,think through what it might
delight them and bring them joythat you could give them not to
(12:57):
put them under the pile, but toaim at and get to experience the
taste of Jesus.
Jesslyn Adams (13:01):
Pam.
Those are wonderful ideas, somany ways to be creative and
interact with others and bringthem in God's word together.
I love the idea of being ableto hear one another's voice even
though you're afar, because alot of times we're not spending
time with God at the exact sametime in the day, but we can
continually mutually and spurone another on.
Pam McCune (13:19):
Another idea read a children's book each day in
December.
Now I've seen some people wrapthem up and make them a surprise
in the wrapping paper with thebow on with a number on them,
and then each day they pull themout and, no matter where your
kids are at, hit all thedifferent ages and I've learned
that older kids love to own it,to read it to the younger kids
(13:39):
and as adults, we enjoy thethemes in the Christmas books.
Now, justin, this works for usbecause we collected Christmas
books.
Every year we would get a newone, we would write the year and
we would write a dedication.
You could do 25 books in abasket or you could wrap them up
, and it's also a sweet time tohave family time together.
Jesslyn Adams (13:59):
You know I was thinking, pam.
What I love is I'm seeing moreand more stores sell advent
things together.
In fact, my sweet mother-in-law, Marcy, gave our kids a couple
years ago an advent calendarthat already had a book wrapped
up for each day, and they wereso eager they were wanting to
jump days.
It was really fun, but the ideaof doing 25, something to look
forward to, something to getexcited about, and I like the
(14:19):
intentional of it beingChristmas and reading those
together.
I think even in our time ofliving in Louisiana, someone
gave us the Cajun night beforeChristmas and, though it's a
tongue-tie thing to read, wetried reading it to our kids
every year and we die laughing,more so than they do, to be
honest.
Pam McCune (14:35):
I think that's a fun tradition, just laughing
through that book.
Traditions can be reallymeaningful, but they can also
just be something you happenedupon that brought you laughter,
that you want to keep doing Oneof the things to know about
traditions they can change.
You can have a tradition that'sbeen passed on from family
members, but don't be afraid totry new ones and to let go of
(14:56):
some, because different yearsyou don't want to just keep
adding and end up with 25traditions that you're just
trying to checkmark and getthrough.
That will make you stressed andcrazy.
Oh, so true, pick the one thatworks for this year and that
your family might need.
Maybe it's a season that youneed more laughter.
Maybe it's a season that youneed more serious.
Both are important.
Now, one of the ones thatbrought us much laughter it
(15:19):
didn't start this way but ournativities.
Now I collect nativities.
Before we had children, I had avery precious moments nativity
set.
I loved my precious momentsnativity set and I caught myself
one day yelling at my threeyear old don't touch baby Jesus.
It didn't sound right, likewhat is wrong with me.
(15:41):
I should be delighted that shewanted to touch baby Jesus, so a
new tradition started and thatI found the non breakable
nativity pieces.
We started with Mary Joseph andbaby Jesus so wise, and then
every year we added a new pieceand my kids each had their set
that they played with and Iloved it that they were
(16:01):
interacting with baby Jesus Nowwith my daughter.
I mean you wouldn't believe ifyou listen to the conversations
of how sweet Joseph was to carryMary when the donkey got tired
while she was pregnant.
I loved reliving it through hereyes.
Now for my son it was like warwar one going on at the first
nativity.
You have no idea the animalsthat were fighting over who got
(16:23):
to lick baby Jesus clean.
I mean it was crazy, but I lovethat they were telling the
story.
So maybe you bring out a newpiece each year that you add to
theirs, or maybe you do itthroughout December and you add
a new piece.
We've also done it where thewise men travel throughout the
house.
We don't wait two years, wejust let them arrive Christmas
Eve Either way, let them touchand let them play with baby
(16:45):
Jesus.
Jesslyn Adams (16:45):
You reminded me of something that our family
does when you were talking aboutmoving the wise men closer to
baby Jesus each day.
You know the elf on the shelf.
That's quite popular over thepast several years.
We found something years ago alittle bit different but a
similar idea of something youhide at night and the kids have
to discover it the next morning,but the focus is on Jesus.
It's called the Star from afarand it comes with the book, a
(17:07):
little devotional to read, andeach night you move that star
after the kids go to bed and inthe morning the kids come
looking for it and once theyfind it, then they go grab the
wise men and then they bring itover to the star for the day and
then you repeat it each nightuntil you get the.
You know the star over thenativity set over Jesus and put
the wise men there greetingJesus.
I love the idea of a nativityset and you're right, it's
(17:29):
interactive, it's a visual.
I love that.
It's each day, because I got tobe honest, a lot of times I
forgot to move the stars.
But you're right, they remindyou.
I love it.
They're built in accountability.
It became something they wereeager to get out of bed for even
before Christmas morning, sothat's kind of fun.
They understood the point and Ithink even my sweet
sister-in-law, jennifer.
Pam McCune (17:48):
They usually do a happy birthday Jesus cake on
Christmas, celebrating hisbirthday One thing I can do is
bake, so I could bake a cake,let the kids decorate it saying
happy birthday Jesus and add itto the meals.
The thing I love about the Starfrom afar, it sounds like it
would be easy to travel with.
Yes, I love the idea of thekindness manger, where you put
(18:11):
straw in the manger all throughthe month of December by the
kind deeds that you do forfamily and friends and you are
preparing the way of Jesus to bea soft entry.
In that you're part of livingout Christ-like characters.
That will make it even easierto celebrate, and so each time
you would do a good thing.
You put your straw in.
Well, I loved it so much that Ihad my husband build a
(18:34):
three-foot manger so that wecould put real straw in it.
I never thought about it.
We travel every single timewhile the kids were growing up
for Christmas to either myparents' house or my in-laws'
house, and it got old having totravel with that three-foot
manger.
So the Star sounds like that.
Maybe traveling with yournativity set is not as big a
(18:54):
deal as a three-foot manger.
Jesslyn Adams (18:56):
No, it's easy.
It comes with a box you can putit back in, and you're right.
We always take it with us.
Portable, not breakable, arethe ways to go.
Pam McCune (19:04):
The main part is being with each other and
getting to talk about what we'regetting ready to celebrate and
focusing on Scripture truthsabout who Jesus is.
Some have done attributeornaments that you put character
qualities of Jesus.
You can put them on your ownstars and put them on the tree,
(19:24):
whatever it is.
There are so many differentoptions.
There's not one perfect one.
The perfect one is the one thatfits into your family.
That'll help you stop and aimat talking about Jesus and
celebrating him throughout theseason, and not putting stock
into that one day of December25th, but of building up and
celebrating, pointing your kids,pointing yourself, but
(19:47):
marinating on who he is and whyhe's worthy of worship, so that
we really can overflow withloving other people because we
love God.
Jesslyn Adams (19:56):
So true, pam.
Thanks for sharing that.
Please do not try all of theseideas.
Pick one or two that would workfor you personally and for your
family, and ask God to show youwhat you need this year and
savor the Savior throughout theseason On.
Pam McCune (20:11):
Christmas Eve in 1906, reginald Fessenden, a
33-year-old university professorand former chief chemist for
Thomas Edison, did somethinglong thought impossible.
Using a new type of generator,fessenden spoke into a
microphone and for the firsttime in history, a man's voice
was broadcast over the airways.
(20:31):
And it came to pass in thosedays that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus thatall the world should be taxed.
He began in a clear, strongvoice, hoping he was reaching
across the distances he supposedhe would.
Shocked radio operators onships and astonished wireless
owners at newspapers were amazedas their normal coated impulses
(20:53):
, heard over tiny speakers, wereinterrupted by a professor
reading the Christmas story.
To those who caught thisbroadcast it must have seemed
like a miracle to hear a voicesomehow transmitted to those far
away.
Perhaps they may have thoughtthey were hearing the voice of
an angel.
Fessenden was probably unawareof the sensation he was causing
(21:14):
on ships and in offices.
He couldn't have known that menand women were rushing to their
wireless units to catch thisChristmas Eve miracle.
After finishing his recitationof the birth of Christ,
fessenden picked up his violinand played O Holy Night, the
first song ever sent through theair via radio waves.
O Holy Night was first sung ata small Christmas Mass in 1847.
(21:40):
The song has been sung millionsof times in churches in every
corner of the world and sincethe moment a handful of people
first heard it played over theradio, the carol has gone on to
become one of the most recordedand played spiritual songs.
This incredible work, requestedby a forgotten parish priest,
written by a poet who wouldlater split from the church,
(22:00):
given soaring music by a Jewishcomposer, and brought to
Americans to serve as much as atool to spotlight the sinful
nature of slavery as tell thestory of the birth of a savior,
has become one of the mostbeautiful, inspired pieces of
music ever created.
The Lord can work in amazingways to his word to proclaim
(22:21):
Pondering the baby that came toearth, who left heaven to do for
us what we couldn't do forourselves, to pay the penalty
for our sin, for our separationfrom God, and being thankful
that he came.
And stopping and worshiping theSavior, to bow down and to
praise him, means that we stopand ponder and think on, think
(22:44):
and we delight in Jesus theSavior.
It doesn't mean that we don'twear those many hats that we
have, but it means that as wewear them.
We want to keep our prioritiesright, to remember why we're
celebrating, why we're going toevents, why we're getting to
have fun with family and friends, why we're buying gifts.
(23:06):
It's all in honor of the onewho is worthy to be praised.
Here are the words to oh HolyNight.
Oh Holy Night, the stars arebrightly shining.
It is the night of our dearSavior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin anderror pining till he appears in
the soul, felt its worth, athrill of hope.
(23:28):
The weary world rejoices foryonder breaks and new and
glorious mourn fall on yourknees.
Oh, hear the angels voices.
Oh night divine.
Oh night when Christ was born,oh night, oh holy night.
Oh night divine.
Let all within us praise hisholy name.
(23:48):
Christ is the Lord.
Oh, praise his name forever.
His power and glory evermoreproclaim.
Christmas can be wearing.
But if we listen to those wordsof oh Holy Night, we are
reminded of the answers.
Jesslyn Adams (24:03):
We have so much more to explore together, so be
sure to subscribe to our podcast, and if today has inspired or
encouraged you, you can helpothers find us by taking a
moment to give us a review onyour favorite podcast streaming
site.
Pam McCune (24:16):
And as our thanks for joining us here, we invite
you to follow us on Instagram atcalled to shine.
As part of our called to shineInstagram community, you will
get encouragement and ideas tohelp you connect to the people
around you.
Jesslyn Adams (24:31):
And, as always, you can find resources to help
you shine the light of Jesus atmbs2gocom neighbor Bible studies
to go.
In our next episode we willlook at how to set apart family
time during the Christmas seasonas well as point people to the
Savior.
You don't want to miss part twoof having a meaningful and
memorable Christmas.
Pam McCune (24:50):
Thanks for joining us today.
We are called to shine.
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