What are your Christmas Traditions?

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17 NIV)

What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

Christmas Tree decorating AFTER thanksgiving - I love this first official activity of Christmas. This year Stephanie and I got to do this with two of the three daughters and their families.

The countdown - There has always been a countdown to Christmas in my family. My mom used to give special advent calendars for  my kids to countdown the days. I still do it!

Christmas Eve shopping - this has been my tradition for years. I go by myself and enjoy the peace by myself picking out special gifts for the ones I. Love.

Christmas Eve Service - I am saddened that our church does not have a midnight Christmas Eve service. This was such a great tradition of peace and joy leading to Christmas Day. 

Opening one gift at a time - My family still honors this tradition. It stretches out the enjoyment and the fun/fellowship is always more valuable than the gifts.

Christmas Day movie - this started for my family when we lived in New York. I love it!

Egg Nog - I could drink a gallon.

Cinnamon rolls - this started with my grandma Rhoades. Nothing matches hers. Others have tried with only limited success. But, we still love them!

 There are too many more to even list. Christmas is filled with tradition and the most famous story of all time. A miraculous birth is the most precious tradition. I love the peacefulness, the joy and the hope that always comes around Christmas. No matter what your traditions remember to always keep the wondeful savior of the world as the center. Thank you Lord for the gift of Jesus and the traditions we have!

Ancestry.God

Psalm 44 (New International Version, ©2011)  

 ¹ We have heard it with our ears, O God;
   our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
   in days long ago. ² With your hand you drove out the nations
   and planted our ancestors;
you crushed the peoples
   and made our ancestors flourish. ³ It was not by their sword that they won the land,
   nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
   and the light of your face, for you loved them.


I wish I had time to spend researching my Ancestry. I guess it is pretty easy. I have heard of a great website called Ancestry.com . My Dad used to tease that our ancestors were the "Rhoades Raiders from Russia". I am fascinated with family history. I am curious about how I have arrived at where I am today. How did my distant relatives migrate from Europe and how did they finally end up in Indiana? I can't imagine there aren't some great adventurous stories about my ancestors. It's really kind of sad that I don't know. The verbal history of families is not handed down like it used to be.

Just as important as our family migration is the history of our Faith. i am just as curious to find out how the family of my past came to know Christ. There should be a website called Ancestry.GOD. I can look back to my Dad and Mom, their parents, and their parents, and see how God was such a key part of their lives. I am sure they would tell you their survival can be attributed specifically to the "Sword of God". Their victories were not by their own hand, but by the hand of the God of the Universe. I am so thankful for my family and the tradition of Faith they handed down to me. I am also thankful, and praise God daily, for the faith that my daughters have. It is so great to already see them handing down that same faith to their own kids. The Family tree of Faith continues.

The power of God lives on through my daughters. Praise God for that blessing!

14 more days!

Luke 1:48-51 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name. ⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.


14 more days until Christmas. I know, it's kind of childish to still do a Christmas count down. But, Christmas is such an exciting time of the year. I just love the traditions of Christmas. Our Christmas tree is filled with decorations we have accumulated over the years. We have an Angel on top that has been with Stephanie and I for a very long time. Last year the lights finally went out. So, we went to WalMart and got a short set and I replaced the light set. It was not easy without damaging the fragile symbol. We couldn't do without that Angel. We also have a tree skirt that Stephanie made. The girls still argue about which side needs to go up. One side is red and the other side green.  We have the girls stockings that Steph made and all sorts of keepsake bulbs.  Our kids have started  many of their own collections and traditions. They are the next generation!

I am so fortunate to have a wife, daughters, and grandkids that love Christmas and the traditions. I am blessed because they also love the Lord. They are the next generation to know of Mary and her great place in the coming of our Savior. They are the next generation to be blessed by the mercy of God. I also know that the traditions started by my Mom and Dad, and their parents before them, will be continued to the next generation through my kids and grandkids. They will cherish their own angels and decorations because of the memories they bring. They will love the gifts and more importantly the times they shared. They will have a hope because God chose to send his son to us as a tiny baby. They will know and cherish the sacrifice of that Son to save us for eternity. They will have the joy of sharing that story with their own families and friends. I hope and pray they will have a part in bringing others to know our Savior. May that story always be shared from generation to generation.