Acknowledge

'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, 
one came from the Father, full of grace and truth'

~John 1:14~

Context can complicate the simple question of 'what does that mean?'. Here, Hosea brings up the acknowledgement of God in Hosea 6:

'Lets us acknowledge the Lord;

let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth.' (verse 3)

What does it mean to acknowledge? Well, first off, it's a verb in every sense... to verbally recognize authority, to admit the truth or reality of something, and five other definitions that have one expressing and realizing the validity of something. 

Think about the distractions of today's society. These distractions, ironically, come at us tenfold around the holidays... when family time and slowing down are the most emphasized. So, in the midst of baking, shopping, channel surfing,... and baking... and football games and ugly sweater parties... and baking... let's not forget to acknowledge the reason that Christmas is the time of comfort and joy.

'For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called, 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.'

~Isaiah 9:6~

(Now excuse me while I go bake my third batch of cutout cookies and caramel-chocolate oatmeal bars.)