Taking the Me out of Christmas

[rizen1]

Should Christians celebrate Christmas well that's a personal choice.

I love the season, it's the only time of year you can talk openly about Jesus and not get a puzzled looked.

It's the best time to go into the malls and give out tracts. People are more likely to accept , they might think its coupon you're handing them. Dress up your tracts be creative. Stick a candy cane on it.

Then we have those who get depress while walking the malls because they have no money to shop, no money to make that fancy dinner, no money for the mortgage or they just got laid off.

Christmas is the season for us to replace
" I want " with the question
what do others want ?

"I need this " with the question
What are the needs of others ?

We already got the perfect gift. That gift was wrapped in blood, that gift was a sacrifice, that gift is our salvation.

Do we really need those things on our gift list?
Can those material gifts we have for friends and family satisfy their spiritual needs ?


This Year lets make the sacrifice and take '' Me'' out of Christmas.
When your unsaved loved ones or friends ask..what do you want for christmas ?
Your response can be " For you to go to church with me for a month and attend at least 2 bible studies. "

I'm buying christian books as gifts...

If you buy 10 you'll be $1.79 each....Thats 10 gifts for only $17.90

$1.99 each

buy 10 or more and pay only $0.79 each...WOW $7.90 and you get 10 gifts

Christmas - Christianbook.com

Read the menu on the left to choose the price category.
This is not going to hurt your pockets. Put your pride away and give the people you love the word of God in their hands.
Plant that seed in their lives. If you're afraid of people's opinions on this gift selection you need to check yourself. Because there is no shame in being a child of God.

Your gift to yourself, why not take the money and bless someone else.
The following organizations stand out the most for me, because the greatest gift we can give a hopeless person is love.

Angel Tree at Christmas - Prison Fellowship
Southern California Teen Challenge - Southern California Teen Challenge

Teen challenge is a christian rehab, and sending them letters of encouragement would help. It's international so check the website to find a location near you. Call the cordinator and ask if they are in need. They survive on donations not government funds. The men and women there have families with needs. Lets try to make a difference.

Volunteering at a soup kitchen is nice but inviting a family you met at the kitchen makes a difference. To go a step further if you can, create a job around your house for them to do so they can make some money, be of service to them when they are in need.

If you can afford it sponsor someone the chance to an education, pay for them to get their GED. The continuing education department in most colleges offer certified workshops under $100-300. If you give a man a skill, he won't go hungry.
This is not all talk, I can honestly say this Christmas is not about Me.
I'm hoping to go to an ophanage, or elderly home and bless them with some entertainment. Visit those at the hospital and sing carols.

Jesus was the first Christmas gift.
This year lets remove ourselves and try to put others first.
Just like God put us first when he gave us Jesus.

 

[Witness4Christ]

Wow, Thank for sharing that rizen1.. That is such a good idea.
† Witness4Christ †

 

[rizen1]

I have a new one.

Look through your local newspaper and ask God to direct you to help someone who is a victim or suffered a lost.

Imagine how lifted they will be to know you took the time out from your busy day, to find them and send a word of encouragement.

Just call your local newspaper and get the persons contact details. Don't forget to tell them what you're going to do, so you're not looked at as a stalker.

 

[bruren777]

Friendship!

I have a new one.

Look through your local newspaper and ask God to direct you to help someone who is a victim or suffered a lost.

Imagine how lifted they will be to know you took the time out from your busy day, to find them and send a word of encouragement.

Just call your local newspaper and get the persons contact details. Don't forget to tell them what you're going to do, so you're not looked at as a stalker.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[rizen1]

Your welcome.

To God be the glory, we need to get creative.
The devil is creative when trying to make people slaves, we need to get creative in setting people free.

Amen.

 

[bruren777]

Christmas!

Commercialism has taken Jesus out of Christmas, many don't know what Christmas is about. They only think of gifts and special meals and parties and what they can get!

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

 

[TheWidowsOffering]

thanksgiving and family's day

this December our church would be celebrating God's love through thanksgiving and bringing our families to the Lord. Hope this activity would make sense in God's sight as we bring to Him our unsaved love ones as a gift.

Others do not believe in Christmas and even to some other Christian group. (Hope i would not offend anyone here.. hehe)

One man once ask one of my mentors in the Church "do you believe in Christmas?"

My mentor ask the man, "can u tell of a worldwide tradition practice by man that is being found in the Bible?"

If we recall the main story of Christmas, is all about the Birth of a Savior by a virgin. Well that makes sense no matter what the issue may be about Christmas...

God bless you every one!!!!

 

[Truehearts]

Thank you sister... this is a very nice reminder... God just gave me the perfect idea on what I can give on Christmas...both for my brothers and sisters at church and my unsaved friends... the perfect gift is time.... spend a time with each of them for God.

 

[TheWidowsOffering]

Thank you sister... this is a very nice reminder... God just gave me the perfect idea on what I can give on Christmas...both for my brothers and sisters at church and my unsaved friends... the perfect gift is time.... spend a time with each of them for God.

Amen sister gen.. May God bless your time with your family and friends..


I'm praying i could bring my whole household that day!!!

 

[rizen1]

We serve an awesome God.

 

[LatterDays]

Should Christians celebrate Christmas well that's a personal choice.

I agree. I don't celebrate Christmas mainly because of its pagan roots. I would disagree that Jesus has ever really been the reason for the season.

However, for those who celebrate it, I think reminding people of what it is supposed to symbolize is great! It is a wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel and a great reminder for us to show the charity and thoughtfulness we should live out each day.

If nothing else, Christmas gives people cause to consider the types of persons we should be (and can be) in Christ.

 

[ushalk]

i celebrate christmas but i will have nithing to do with santa clause or the tree thing or any of that garbage. christmas is the lord jesus day of birth or as close as we know. the pagan roots came out well after the holiday came about to take christ out of CHRISTmas. it was backed up by the catholic church.

 

[LatterDays]

i celebrate christmas but i will have nithing to do with santa clause or the tree thing or any of that garbage. christmas is the lord jesus day of birth or as close as we know. the pagan roots came out well after the holiday came about to take christ out of CHRISTmas. it was backed up by the catholic church.

Yeah, I think that the whole Santa Claus commercialization is horrible.

It may be interesting reading if you desire to look into it, but that is not the closest timeframe of Jesus's birth as we can know it. There is much evidence around when this likely occured, which is no where near December.

Nonetheless, this was established by the Catholic Church, but they in fact took it from pagan celebrations around the winter solstice. There were already a number of pagan celebrations at this time regarding the rebirth/birth of other pagan gods and the church apparently thought it made for an easy transition for converts to celebrate Jesus' birth at that time as well (since they were used to doing so).

 

[ushalk]

wow that is interesting. i think i will check that out. you are right as far as the catholic stuff though.

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings,

I think the point being made in this thread is not about what sort of roots are in and or behind the celebration of Life found only in Christ Jesus... but about using this opportunity to reach out in His name to the lost and perishing in this dark world.

Most folk on the street or even tucked away in their homes, are not aware of the in's and out's of how it all started, and even though this might be a valuable topic to those interested, the Light must shine in the dark places for the lost to see Jesus, and if by doing good at this time, a heart is comforted, a soul refreshed in the Love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord... a hungry mouth fed, a lonely soul given some lodging, a naked body clothed, a sick or imprisoned person visited... or even a thirsty tounge quenched.... we are doing His will.


Matthew 25:31-40 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall he sit upon the throne of His glory:
And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in:
Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.
Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink?
When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee?
Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.



Bless you ....><>


Br. Bear

 

[ushalk]

br. bear, while i agree with you greatly i also disagree with derailing what all is being discussed. in order for us to successfully reach out to others in any part of this world with the gospel we need to be fully prepared. this means to also counter act the enemys tactics and show where and how these lies of satan came about. we need to be ready for the ?'s and know what we are talking about and be able to show the people these proofs and ask the lord to open their hearts up to these points of truth that they know we are of him and not of the devil.

 

[bruren777]

Taking the meaning out of Christmas!

Christmas has become commercial, it's all about the amount of sales stores can make. It seems like every year the stores start putting up decorations earlier every year.

Many children don't know the true meaning of Christmas, to them it's time for parties, candy and goodies. Then waiting for Christmas day to come...all the presents to unwrap. No one has told them about Jesus' Birthday...that's the fault of their parents. For some families, the tradition of "what can I get?", goes back for generations.

They truly don't know...some know, but they couldn't care less!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

 

[ushalk]

well it sounds as though 1 timothy 6 is in need for people in the stores.

 

[LatterDays]

Most folk on the street or even tucked away in their homes, are not aware of the in's and out's of how it all started, and even though this might be a valuable topic to those interested, the Light must shine in the dark places for the lost to see Jesus, and if by doing good at this time, a heart is comforted, a soul refreshed in the Love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord... a hungry mouth fed, a lonely soul given some lodging, a naked body clothed, a sick or imprisoned person visited... or even a thirsty tounge quenched.... we are doing His will.

Yes, surely! Isn't the light to shine in dark places every day? Shouldn't good be done at all times? I am sure you would agree.

I stated earlier that I think it is a great thing if people can use this time of year to put the focus on Jesus Christ; we are in agreement here.

However, I think the "ins and outs" of how and why we honor Christ is important. It has not been my intent to derail this conversation by any means. I only was intrigued by the original poster's comments that celebrating Christmas is a personal decision, so I added my perspective on why this is the case for me.

 

[rizen1]

Easter , Christmas and so many other things we do day to day innocently have tides to some pagan ritual.

Do you enjoy the scent of a lit candle in your house ?
Well pagans used candles for witchcraft, and still do today. Should we stop buying candles ?

In the Jewish tradition if the first born was a boy they celebrated.
why ?

It was a sign that God was granted them another generation. Therefore the family name was going to live on for another generation. Also the Boys kept and determined the families wealth. So it was important that the Father groomed his son the proper way. Having a son was a blessing to a family. A cursed family was one without a son.

And so it was when Jesus was born. God was telling the Jews I grant you another generation through the messiah, but this new blood line would be for non Jews also.

The bible said in Genesis 3:15 "the seed of the woman would bruise the serpents head "

1 John 3:8
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."...

The devil has more rights to hate Christmas than any. His hatred explains the new phrases like " happy holidays " and " Xmas ". The word Christ does not belong in his vocabulary, he's not going to have it.

I've read the pagan roots, but I've also read what the meaning of the '' first born son " meant to the Jews and the message God was sending to them. I believe God came before the pagan roots, his promises overrides any pagan tradition.

The church is a family, and if a family without a son is cursed. Man Christmas gives me more reasons to celebrate his birth. The date might be off and the devil enjoys putting distractions to take our eyes off Jesus. He always want us to get technical, so technical we forget Jesus and debate stuff thinking we're doing God a favour.

There is power in the Gospel, and you can not celebrate the resurrection without acknowledging the birth.
The birth, death and resurrection.

The birth of Jesus Christ was the confirmation that God kept his promise. The creation of Santa Claus, Frosty the snow man and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer are all sorry attempts to destroy the story of the birth of Jesus.

The devil failed with Heord, so he’s trying to distract us.

"16: Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men" (Matt. 2).



Christmas is what we make of it.

"If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with the other, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin". (John 1:7)

John 3:16 needs a birth to make sense.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.