How Can I Have a Merry (Happy) Christmas?

Answer: Through my relationship with Jesus Christ, the reason we celebrate Christmas. What a profound/simple thought that our world today seems oblivious to! Why? I believe part of the reason is because, in our society today, a fat guy in a red suit is given a lot of the traits that belong only to my God and my Saviour. Santa Clause, as the story goes, is omniscient. "He sees you when you're sleeping/ he knows when you're awake/ he knows if you've been bad or good...". So is Santa really everywhere all the time, and can he read your thoughts? No! 
The only One Who sees everything and knows everything is God. 

"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."~Proverbs 15:3

I know that I celebrate Christmas because Jesus Christ was sent by God some 2,000 years ago. I celebrate His birth. My loving God sent His Son, His sinless Son. He was born to die, to die for my sins and the sins of everyone else in the world. 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."~John 3:16

He was born of a virgin and when I ask my Sunday School kids, "Who is Jesus' Father?", they confidently answer, "God". 
Jesus humbled Himself, left Heaven, and gave His life in my place, so I don't have to spend an eternity separated from my loving Creator in hell. I have been forgiven all of my sins~past, present, and future. I was born a sinner, whereas Christ was born sinless. I deserve to pay the punishment for my sins, an eternity in hell. 

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"~Romans 3:23

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."~Revelation 20:14-15

My name is written in the Book of Life. I am confident that I have been saved from my sins, I am 100% sure that if I were to die right now, I would be in the presence of God immediately and remain there for eternity because I have done this,

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."~Romans 10:9-10

You want to experience true joy at Christmas (and all year round) instead of loneliness, bitterness, hurt, fear, doubt, anger, resentment, disappointment, guilt, emptiness, tears, etc? Christ is the answer. I can say this because I have personally experienced a life with Jesus Christ. 

(Mini rabbit trail: I was trying to find a Christmas card for Scott tonight at Wal-Mart and I got to chatting with a lady. She was frustrated because she couldn't find any cards addressed to "parents", they were almost all either addressed to just "Mom" or "Dad". She and I agreed it was a sign of the times, broken marriages. We talked a little about how sad that was until Scott came up and when we showed him, he said, "That's a testimony to the state of today's society". She was about to walk away when I noticed one card addressed to both parents. On the label it said, "Religious to both". The lady said, "Oh, religious. Neh. Well, you have a Merry Christmas!" I didn't have a chance to say anything else, to my dismay, because she was walking away while she said it. Case in point, I say....the only card addressed to both parents as a couple was religious) 

I do not have to wonder if it's Santa Clause or Christ who is keeping marriages together these days. I would like to say, perhaps material things don't bring joy, peace, love, etc. at Christmas time especially, but anytime during the year...Of course they don't! Only a person who has a relationship with Christ, being right with God and living for Him instead of yourself, can experience true love, joy, peace, etc.

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."~Galatians 5:19-24

So Christmas isn't about some make-believe figure who takes credit for all the presents you've purchased in love for your children or others. Christmas isn't even about being with family and friends, or Christmas parties and Christmas traditions (though those things are fine and good in and of themselves). 
Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ. He was born to die for you. Think about that this Christmas season and you will be blessed.