Count Down to Christmas

So, I pray everybody is having a joyous CHRISTmas Season. We are strategically getting things done so there are some surprises on Christmas day. The kids are getting excited about Jesus' Birthday Party.

I feel I need to talk about an issue though. See, our family does not entertain this fella called Santa Claus. The real man, St. Nicholas was a kind and compassionate man that wanted his charitable deeds to go unknown. He wanted the glory to be given to GOD not himself. This is why we have a devotional in our family on December 6th specifically about St. Nicholas and giving.

This year I feel stronger than ever about it, perhaps it's because of the "War on Christmas", perhaps not. Maybe it's just because I want all 6 of my kids to know that I won't lie to them and I won't give them the false hope that the guy in the red suit will give them everything they ask for. Or you know, maybe it's because the reason we celebrate CHRISTmas is because we are celebrating CHRIST'S birth.

It really bothers me to see the same Christians that go on and complain about Target or Lowe's or Walmart or whoever not including the word Christmas in their advertising gladly bring in Santa Claus and inadvertently teach their kids that Santa and gifts are what Christmas is about.

Exodus 20:3-6 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Now, I really want you to think. All of those Christians out there that put Santa Claus before Jesus... you are essentially making Santa a god. So, what are you doing to those children that you just want to have a little fun in getting gifts at Christmas?

So then, you ask what does my family do? We have a birthday party for Jesus. We have a large dinner just like most people on Christmas, then we read the scripture of Jesus' birth. Once that is done we have a birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday Jesus. Once that is done, then we open the presents that are from Jesus. We also use this as an opportune time to explain that God gave the greatest gift to us when He sent His Son, Jesus to earth.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

May you have a blessed CHRISTmas and a joyful New Year.
~ Faith

Christmas.... what is it?

I was reading an article earlier this morning and it really bothered me.. Mostly, because it is true.

THE REAL WAR ON CHRISTMAS
12/2/05

There is much talk these days of a "war on Christmas." A couple large retailers have banned the word "Christmas" from their marketing, and many folks are upset about it, sounding the alarm and crying out that Christmas is under attack.

Of course, we know why these retailers have made their choice. They want our money. They don't want to offend us by greeting us with "Happy Kwanza" (the invented holiday), because they want our money. They don't want to chance offending the Jew by wishing them a "Merry Christmas," because they want their money. Their motivation is mostly financial. They would have done it decades ago if they thought that they could get away with it.

But it's both sad and somewhat amusing to watch folks beat their chest and wax solemn today about the fact that a couple of profit-motivated corporations have dropped the word "Christmas" and substituted "holiday." More

Christians have been sucked into the hype and materialism of the Pagan Christmas. Am I getting too critical? I don't think it's possible this time of year. How often do you think of what happened that night nearly 2000 years ago when that young teenaged girl gave birth to our Savior? Do you think about it while you are fighting for this years top picked gift?

Christians getting upset about Target and other retailers not using the word Christmas really have issues. The retailers are in it for the money. Flat out.

Both myself and my mother worked for a Furniture company owned by a Jewish Family. They have been around since the early 80s, and not once have they had anything Christmas in their building. So, does that mean we shouldn't have worked for them and shouldn't have bought furniture there? No, we respected the fact that they were Jewish and they respected us being Christians. Why do I bring this up? Becasue more than likely most of the CEO's of the companies that are banning the word Christmas from their advertising scheme, are more than likely no Christian.

I also find myself with a bad taste in my mouth about the critizism that President George W. Bush is getting about the Holiday Card this year. He is geting bombarded becasue he isn't using the phrase Merry Christmas on the card but yet used scripture from Psalms on it. My opinon on the case of the President, he has always tried to welcome everybody and not attacked anybody. Now this my be a fault or an advantage. Plus, it is the holiday season. You have THanksgiving, then St. Nicholas Day, then Christmas Day, Kwanza, and Hanakah. Not to mention then there is also New Years and Ephiphany.

Christmas to most is one day, to me it is the season. I try to celebrate Christmas everyday of the year because I know that had Christmas never happened, then neither would have Easter.

St. Nicholas

I must apologize, I had intended on posting this yesterday and got too busy. See, every year as we are preparing for the Christmas Holy Day, we reflect on the other special days leading up to it starting with Thanksgiving. On December 6th, it is St. Nicholas day.

St. Nicholas as legend has it was a very caring, compassionate, and giving man. He was orphaned at a very young age when his parents contracted a deadly illness. They had a significant amount of wealth in which Nicholas inherited. As he got older he learned of God and Jesus. Particularly Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

One of the first things that Nicholas is noted for is help the three poor maidens. Summing what he did up, Nicholas secretly gave each of the young maidens a bag of gold by throwing it in the window. One of the bags landed in the maidens stocking, which is where contemporaries get the Christmas Stockings. He did this for all three girls and with the last one, their father caught him and thanked him.

Just this story of Nicholas shows his compassion and his desire to not bring attention to himself. He wanted God to get the glory instead of himself.

Narnia

Do you remember when you were younger reading The Lion, The Witch and THe Wardrobe? I do, I remember being entranced by it. Wondering if such a world existed and if it did it would be wonderful to live there.

I read all of The Chronicles of Narnia while I was pregnant with our youngest blessing Benji. I then realized that different thing stick out at you depending on your age and your point of view. I wouldn't want to live in Narnia. No air conditioning, you'ld have to walk or ride a horse where ever you went. Let's face it I have gotten lazy and complacent as I have gotten older. If I dont have to walk I usually don't. But then again...

Don't you think living in a land of talking animals and simple living would be grand? Everybody working together to the good of all mankind? It would be awesome.

...Sorry...

I got caught up in my fantasy world. I suppose the reason The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe has caught my attention is because my 11yo is really interested in the movie. She said she would rather see it than Harry Potter. (Praise God for miracles) At least in the chronicles of Narnia, you can see that
C.S. Lewis
included many references to God and the Bible.

Then I realized that my daughter would rather read The Chronicles of Narnia than Harry Potter. I am somewhat relieved. I am not putting Harry Potter down, but it is a dark series. Kids have enough to worry about, they don't need to read about the witches and warlocks going through an already trivial time in life. And I know that Narnia can be considered a place full of magic and the such, but it is more of a fantasy world and it removes you from the world you are in now. Harry Potter is in England.

Now, my goal of this entry is not to put down writings, the point is that my daughter, my 11yo, hates to read. She is interested in reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe because of the movie. She has never asked to read a book to any other movie before. For that matter she's never really asked for a book other than the one on bugs that we got her. So I am happy that the Chronicles of Narnia are in her site. There is only one thing in the books that I have a hang up about and I may just not have her read that one book.

In the last battle (I believe the last book) a soldier that fights for Tash speaks with Aslan in fear because the soldier always though that Aslan was evil and Tash was good. Aslan told him that since he honored Tash by doing good and living good that he was actually honoring Aslan. I know I am not remembering it quite correctly but the gist is there. If a person were to take that sentence or paragraph and say well since Aslan is equal to Jesus and etc, etc, then if I live a good live worshipping whoever thinking they are the good then I will be fine, that is wrong.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

So, I suppose the moral of my entry today is that if your children, teens, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, husband, or wife reads the Chronicles of Narnia, be ready to answer questions. And be ready to know that Jesus is the only way to God.