My Merry Christmas

By Jeff Westover

Santa Claus is real. And this is his true story.

Born nearly 2000 years ago, not too long after the days that Jesus Christ walked the earth, Nicholas was born to wealthy parents in a tiny village in the country we today call Turkey.

Though Nicholas was a child of privilege, he was raised a Christian and at a very young age was devoted to the faith.

Nicholas' parents died while he was yet a boy. And not knowing what to do with himself or the fort... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

There is a saying common amongst Christian believers:

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human exerience."

This saying speaks to the eternal nature of the soul and that thought is at the very center of Christmas.

In countries around the world Christmas is observed with diverse tradition. There are family gatherings, parades, secret gift giving, church services, prayers, parties and sometimes even toke... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

It is the story of two babies.

These two babies are uniquely tied to the events that transpired before the creation of the world. This story is known by many simply as The Christmas Story.

But this story is often over romanticized and watered down with critical details missing. The story of the Nativity is often related with strict emphasis on Deity. Important as that is, it is the humanity of the story that makes it such a compelling part of yearly Christm... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

No doubt these were men of a different culture. Their description as "wise men" means they were highly regarded. They must have had a striking physical appearance and the very way they portrayed themselves left a lasting impression. To some of the more learned in Jerusalem's society their very appearance must have been shocking because the scriptures had long foretold the arrival of foreign kings and dignitaries bearing gifts of gold and frankincense for the promised... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

Many assume that Joseph chose a stable for their housing while in Bethlehem because the village was over populated with visitors. But the scriptures do not indicate that was the fact. The scripture says "...because there was no room for them in the inn."

Why? Was it merely because Mary was "great with child"? Or was it because of the fact that Joseph and Mary may not have been known to be husband and wife? What was the great exception "for them"? Were they in som... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

As receivers of heavenly messengers, Mary and Elisabeth had much in common. As faithful students of the scriptures, their shared condition meant the literal fulfillment of prophecy. While society shut them out, together they found support and love as their babies grew closer to maturity.

For Elisabeth, birth brought forth more miracles. The fact that she had hid her condition made the birth of John a very public miracle indeed. As they prepared to circumcise the... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

Zacharias emerged from the altar and faced the other worshippers in the temple. As a high priest in the function he was performing that day there was an expectation by the crowd that Zacharias would address them. In fact, to the waiting crowd, the length of time Zacharias spent at the altar signaled that something of great import had happened.

But try as he might, Zacharias could not speak. The people suspected that Zacharias had had a vision. But what had transp... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

In today's world, many think of them only as the Wisemen. They are also known as the Three Kings who were eyewitnesses to the Nativity and bringers of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Infant Jesus. Their story is well known and widely celebrated. Though documented in just a few scant verses of Biblical text - and recorded in just one of the Gospels that tells the story of the Nativity - nations nevertheless celebrate their exploits and revel in the symbolism their... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

The Bible records a natural wonder -- a sign in the form of a miraculous star -- that was visible in the heavens at the birth of Jesus Christ. But beyond that singular miracle, the scriptures are silent on the other elements of nature participating in the Nativity.

Nevertheless, fantastic tales abound of animals speaking, of plants miraculously blooming and of rivers flowing with wine as signs of the arrival of the Messiah. Even modern popular culture has kept so... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover
Editor, My Merry Christmas.com

Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

That is the seeming dilemma when discussing how Christmas began. Most define Christmas as the celebration of the birth of Christ. Historians tie the tradition of a December holiday around ancient celebrations of the Winter Solstice that pre-dates Christ. Theologians claim Christ was celebrated and predicted long before he was born into the world.

Which came first then? Christ....or Christmas?... [Read More]