Hello Everyone and Merry Christmas!
I love this time of year, being a larger person (haha), I handle the cold a little better then others and enjoy it that much more. More importantly then that, I love Christmas! The music, the gathering of family, the lights and presents under the tree. The most important part of it of all is the real reason for the season. 2000+ years ago, God thought we were worth coming to the Earth as one of us. Now, whether we celebrate on the wrong day or whatever the situation may be, or whatever the origins of some of our traditions, we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. Now, what makes that even more important is the plan that event began, the time, 33 years later, when that same precious baby hung on a Cross to enable us each to have a relationship with Him. Thank You Jesus for giving that awesome gift to us.
Now look at us, so many years later. We are fighting over whether it should be Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays that we great each other with as we interact everyday. I read Randy Alcorn's blog on a regular basis ( I would definitely suggest it, he is a great thinker as well as a wonderful author of Christian books. Here is the link http://www.randyalcorn.blogspot.com/ ) and he is regularly attacked by proclaimed believers for his THOUGHTS and COMMENTARY. Come on Church, is this bickering what we want to show the world that we are supposed to be trying to save? We believe that Jesus is part of the Trinity... God is the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. God the Father, out of Love for us, sent His Son, Jesus, down to Earth, to become One of us and to die for our sins, then, after Jesus went to be with the Father, They sent the Spirit to be our Conscience and Councilor. Through those actions, by God, we are enabled to be with Him in Heaven by acknowledging that we are sinners and accepting His sacrifice for us and inviting the Spirit to dwell in us. EVERYTHING else are matters of doctrine (invented by man and the Earthly church)! The Bible, being the Written Word of God, gives us the wayposts to follow along with the whisperings of the Spirit. The world around us sees our differences that we are so willing to argue and bicker over and laughs at us, with every right. And while they are laughing they are dieing and we continue to argue. We will be held accountable for that some day. Wake up! It is more important 'to be seeing to the least of these' then it is for us to be right or wrong about whether the Rapture has happened, will happen first or last or whenever it will happen. What about the homeless person that you pass on the street? Or are you too wrapped up in whether the government should take care of that demographic group or the church, Just Do It! Maybe Nike has it right! Is Heaven weaping over the unsaved going to Hell or the Saved church arguing about how to go about approaching the unsaved world? I think it is both and our Father is saying to us, "Come on Church, get it together!"
Meanwhile, please remember the real Reason for the season. That little Baby in Bethlehem so long ago and what awaited Him 33 years later. I love you all and hope that you have a blessed Christmas, this is my hope and my prayer. Amen.
Love,
Your Brother in Christ,
Sean
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2 comments:
I too read Randy Alcorns blog and appreciate what he has to say.
Let's just celebrate Jesus every day of the year and not just some random day in December. Lets share HIS love with those in need and by doing that we are loving HIM..."whatever you do for the least of these...."
I enjoy Christmas and giving gifts and seeing my children squeal with delight and I'm sure it gives Jesus joy too, but I think we miss the mark when we celebrate HIS birth without mentioning HIM or mentioning HIM for just a brief time and then begin the commercial part of the Holy Day. Let's celebrate Christmas daily by loving and giving and forgiving by reaching out to those who need to know love and those who need to know Jesus...
We had a neat communion service on Christmas Eve. Two mimes (a pastor and his wife) gave communion silently. They carried a large gift to the communion table with the words God's Gift on it. They opened the lid and one by one lifted the nativity scene characters out and showed the congregation. The last nativity item was a manger and it was empty. Then they took out some contraption (don't want to share exactly what it is yet) with a cross on the back. Then they took out something wrapped in a blanket - definitely too large for the manger and too small to be a real baby, but she carried it and loved it as if it were a baby. Then her husband unwrapped it and laid it on the cross/bread holder. It was a loaf of homemade bread. Then they took out a very large nail and pushed it through the center of the loaf. Then he broke the loaf in half and handed half to his wife. He then picked up a glass and tilted the cross as if to drain the blood into a glass. Then they each took communion and invited the rest of the congration with a hand motion to come forward. The wife held the loaf as we pinched off a piece and then the husband held the glass as we dipped the bread into the juice. It was a moving experience.
Merry Christmas all 365 days of the year! Thank You Jesus for coming and for sacrificing for us!
Hi Sean! Just wanted to say Happy New Year!
Yes Robin, Merry Christmas 365 days a year! I love it~
Have a great evening!
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