NOVA is a space where all women are celebrated, no matter their beliefs or journeys. As the founder, I deeply believe in living authentically and shining in every element of who we are. One of my most significant elements is my faith as a Christ follower, and I’m honored to share it with you as part of my story!

 

The modern Christmas tradition and story have become more about giving material things and less representative of what Christmas is about: love. Jesus, Yeshua, came into this world to show us what love is, should be, and can be and how it can change anyone, everything, and anything, but somehow, we’ve forgotten that. The very act of Jesus coming into this world is entirely about love—love from God. From that love, Jesus is born, and all is given to us.

 

(An aside: Jesus’s birthday is not December 25, but we’re rolling with it here… Most scholars believe Jesus was born between 6-4 BCE, probably in the spring or fall, based on the shepherds’ activities and other contextual clues from the Bible. See below about how Dec. 25 came about.)

 

How many memes and viral videos have you seen this year about expectant family arguments over the holiday or not having enough money to satisfy everyone’s desires? Have we stopped to ask ourselves how those “norms” are the complete opposite of what we should actually be demonstrating on Christmas… given that Christmas is to celebrate Christ’s birth? I admit they are hilarious, and yet it is time to get back to the true meaning of this day for the sake of all. I genuinely believe that love in its purest form – that from Christ – can transform the world. We can keep the jokes, but let’s add back and prioritize God's love, joy, and peace, not humanity’s (if that still exists).

 

RADICAL LOVE

Jesus brought a revolution in every way. Most notably, Jesus favored the outcasts, the lowly, those society frowned upon, the marginalized, the sick, and the poor. My favorite part of his most famous speech, The Sermon on the Mount, is the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). In these blessings, Jesus flips the script on how we measure value. Those who mourn, those who are meek, those who hunger for righteousness—these are the 'last' in worldly eyes but 'first' in the eyes of God.

Jesus’s birth in a manger highlights His humility and connection to the marginalized. The King of Kings was born not in a palace but in a place meant for animals, emphasizing that His mission was for everyone, not the elite.

As we celebrate His birth, it’s worth asking ourselves: Are we prioritizing what matters most to God or what matters most to society? The world may tell us to climb the ladder, but Jesus invites us to step down and lift others up. That’s the kind of love He brought into the world.

Moreover, when Jesus said, 'The last shall be first,' He reminded us that greatness in God’s

Kingdom is found in serving others and reversing earthly values (Matthew 19:30; Matthew 20:16; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30). What better way to honor His birth than by embodying this radical love? Whether giving to someone in need, offering time to those who feel forgotten, holding the door and saying, “Have a nice day,” or simply sharing kindness, every act of love reflects the treasure Jesus came to teach us about.

 

PEACE

Jesus didn’t just come to show us love; He came to bring peace—the kind of peace that doesn’t depend on our circumstances. In John 14:27, He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” This peace isn’t about avoiding conflict or stress but about finding rest in the middle of it. It’s a gift available to us, especially when we let go of the endless striving for material things and focus on what truly matters. (Isn’t it amazing how many gifts Jesus has given us? 😊) 

I think of the angels announcing Jesus’s birth with, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). True peace begins when we shift our focus from the chaos around us to the stillness that Christ offers. It’s not about everything being perfect because it never will be, but about knowing that God’s love is perfect—and that’s more than enough.

Jesus's birth was announced as bringing "peace on Earth" (Luke 2:14). This peace wasn’t about the absence of conflict but the restoration of humanity's relationship with God through Him.

This Christmas, we can all ask ourselves how to share a little of that peace with the world. Sometimes, the best gift you can give is to live out God’s peace in your heart because what’s in your heart is reflected in all you do in the world.

 

TREASURES

Jesus also reminded us, time and again, to avoid storing up treasures on Earth (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:33-34; Matthew 19:21; Luke 18:22; Luke 14:13-14). Instead, He called us to focus on treasures in Heaven—those acts of love, compassion, and generosity that build up the Kingdom of God. He even challenged a wealthy young man to sell everything and give to the poor, not because wealth itself is terrible, but because pursuing it can blind us to the needs of others and what truly matters. What if, instead of measuring our Christmas joy by the number of presents under the tree, we measured it by the number of lives touched by God's love through us?

We are all made in God’s image. We all have God in us. We all create something in this world. We all have treasure in this world. Ask yourself: “Is what I’m creating reflective of what Jesus created here on Earth? Am I shining in the way that God wants me to? What does my treasure say about me?” I know I’ll be taking these questions to God this holiday season to ensure what I put forth in the new year is made in His likeness.

 

THE REAL GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

So, let’s focus our hearts on what truly matters. When we align our lives with God and Jesus’s teachings, we glimpse heaven on Earth, experience joy amidst any storm, and love deeper than imaginable.

Jesus came to show us what a treasure defined by love can do—create peace and joy in our hearts and the world. That’s the real gift of Christmas. His birth gave us salvation and love. 

And that’s why I say, “Happy Birthday, Jesus!”

 

EXTRAS

 

THE STAR AND THE ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS GIFTS

The Star of Bethlehem is a fascinating element of Jesus’s birth. The Magi (wise men) who followed it were likely scholars or astrologers from Persia, symbolizing that Jesus’s birth was significant for the whole world, not just Jewish people.

The gifts of the Magi—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—had symbolic meanings:

• Gold for kingship.
• Frankincense for divinity and worship.
• Myrrh for His future suffering and death.

 

I’m biased, but I strongly believe the star was a supernova, not a conjunction of planets or a comet. What else would The Magi been able to follow for so long? Let’s take a look.

Biblical Clues About the Star's Timing

1. The Star’s Appearance:

• In Matthew 2:1-2, the Magi explain to Herod (Jesus was born during King Herod’s reign.): "We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
• This indicates the star was a celestial sign that first appeared around the time of Jesus's birth.

2. Duration of the Star’s Visibility:

• By the time the Magi arrived in Jerusalem, they had been traveling for weeks or months. The star remained visible during their journey, guiding them to the child in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:9).

3. Herod’s Calculation:

• Herod asked the Magi when the star had first appeared (Matthew 2:7). He later ordered the massacre of boys two years old and under, based on this information (Matthew 2:16).
• This suggests the star had been visible for up to two years, aligning with the Magi's travel timeline.

 

Could the Star Have Been a Supernova?

My hypothesis that the star might have been a supernova is plausible, and here’s why:

1. What is a Supernova?
• A supernova is an explosive death of a star, which creates an exceptionally bright point of light in the sky. These events can remain visible for weeks or even months, making them noticeable to ancient astronomers.
2. Astronomical Theories:
• Some researchers suggest that a supernova or nova (a less intense stellar explosion) could explain the prolonged visibility of the "star."
• Ancient Chinese records document a possible nova or supernova event in 5 BCE, which some scholars think could align with the timing of Jesus’s birth.
3. Significance to the Magi:
• The Magi were likely skilled scholars and astronomers. A supernova's sudden appearance would have been interpreted as a divine or significant event, aligning with their knowledge of the heavens.

 

 

WHY DECEMBER 25?

The date of December 25 was chosen centuries after Jesus’s time by the Roman Church to coincide with pagan winter solstice celebrations or the Roman festival of Saturnalia. This integrated Christian celebrations into existing cultural traditions.