Can I Celebrate Jesus Without Celebrating Christmas?

I have read a lot about Christmas recently and the closer we get to the day, I am starting to hear more about it.  One brother told us that we only hurt ourselves by not celebrating Christmas.  That we lose opportunities to talk to others about Jesus if we close our doors to Christmas.

I want everyone to know that I love Jesus more than anything or anyone else (Jennifer included - -  it's o.k., she knows).  I am in awe of Him.  I thank God for His Lordship AND His salvation on a regular basis, multiple times a day. 

I just don't celebrate Christmas.

In the past, I have been called a "heathen" for not celebrating Christmas (and this by folks that live a lot closer to the "heathen" line than I care to venture).  I have been told, on numerous occasions, that I lose opportunities to share Jesus by not celebrating Christmas.  I don't understand that; I live for Jesus and have opportunities 24/7/365.  What does "lose opportunities" mean, anyway? 

Recently, after what I thought was a WONDERFUL lesson by young master Jacob regarding worship, we were told of a conversation where one asked:

     Can't I stand in awe of God without standing?  Can I "sing hallelujah to the Lord" without raising my hands?

I suppose so, that is why I ask - can I celebrate Jesus without celebrating Christmas? 

I don't have any horrible Christmas stories, some pretty funny ones actually.  I celebrated Christmas before I surrendered to the Lord.  That may be the biggest part of it for me.  I came to Jesus, on His terms.  I learned of Him.  I have learned to trust Him, to believe His word, to live for Him.  I want to praise Him, to serve Him, to be given completely to Him.  I have surrendered, poured out myself, and strive to fill myself back up with Him.  I don't want to imagine life without Jesus.

He was born, He lived, He died - HE IS RISEN!!!!!!  All of that matters.  All of that means everything to me.  All of that is why I have hope, why I have joy, why I have peace.  I celebrate that every day.  I live to celebrate it every moment. 

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night.  I'm not having prostate problems, I just hear a noise or get stirred about something (dog, cat, child coughing, Jennifer yelling in her sleep...).  I lay still and make sure the house is not on fire and I say a prayer.  A short, simple, silent prayer to my Father.  Thanking Him for my Lord.

I know what it means to be "outside" of Christ, that is why I am so grateful to God for Him allowing me to be "in" Christ.  Sometimes I could just explode... this is the most amazing, most wonderful, most exceptional life imaginable.  I am redeemed and I have a Lord in Christ, Jesus.

I will celebrate Him, everyday.

So, just to let you know -

     - I won't be offended by someone saying "Merry Christmas".

     - I won't be offended by someone  wearing green, red, "Ho Ho Ho" shirts, etc.

     - I won't be offended by someone having a Christmas tree, party, decorations, meal, picture made...

     - I won't be offended by someone celebrating Christmas.

I hope you won't be offended by me, because I don't. 

I love you.

Michael

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.

Victim vs. Victor

I have always disliked what I find to be the phony, pretentious, "Gee, I love the world and it's victims" attitude of afternoon television hosts (and one particular un-named; but I'll give you a clue: h-a-r-p-o) hostesses.  The idea of embracing the downtrodden is great - using it for ratings and self promotion is appalling.

Anyway, I am really glad that I work all day and miss 97.356421% of these "shows".  It seems like everyone has a story that has caused them to be a victim and TODAY the answer is to look inside yourself, be your own answer, you can become what you need to become - - let's go WAY OUT THERE with h-a-r-p-o and become our own religions - no wait - our own gods (God forbid).

There is a woman that thinks she is a man and is having a baby.  I remember reading in the Bible when the Christians were turning the world upside down.  Guess what - I think it turned back over. 

There are people and generations who have been made victims.  They have been made to be the products of their environment, or their circumstances.

I choose to be a victor, instead of a victim. 

MAYBE God was working in their lives to give them the experience to make a difference is someone else's life.  But then you would have to believe that God actually works in our lives.  MAYBE because your life was hard, you will be equipped to help someone today with their hard life.

I need to give a little history, but just a little.  I have pictures of me drinking (beer) when I was one (year old).  It was cute to give the baby a can to "sicky" on (sippy).  My sippy cup had "Genessee" on the front of it.  Beer was normal everyday life.  It went from cute "sicky" to "sicky, sicky".  When I was a little older, I was able to go to the fridge and get a beer for the grown ups.  There was always an abundance of beer drinking grown ups around (and having kids is better than having a remote control - you can send them to the fridge).  I would ask if I could open it and get the first sip.  Then I learned to ask if I could have the last sip and then go get another one, open it, and have the first sip. 

O.K., I better speed up the history.  By age 6, 7, and 8 I had learned how to sneak 3 or 4 beers out on to the back porch.  By age 16 I drank 12 beers a night (at least) every night.  I had a friend who stocked the local beer cooler and we could slip a case (24 pack) out the window, into the bushes, and get it later that evening.  By  age 19 the Counselor told me I wasn't "normal" because of my drinking habits.  My point was, that MY normal WAS drinking (what did he know, right)?

I could be great on h-a-r-p-o.  Just picture it, I could be all angry and crying that "I hate my dad, and my mom, and my older siblings for not rescuing me when I was 12."  "I hate my religious leaders for not seeing my need and rescuing me."  "I hate the school system, the bus driver, the mail man, the kids that made fun of me..."  "I hate everything." 

But wait, I don't.  I love my dad and my mom and my older siblings.  I love life and most of all, I love Jesus.

I have not lived to be bitter, and hateful,  and hurt, and a victim.  Are you kidding?  Jesus Christ has redeemed me and made me new.  I am victorious in Him.  He has changed my life. 

And I think about how I am equipped, now, to help those that most of us don't even feel comfortable being around.  In Christ, I am able to stand and be victorious, and I can be that for others.

God is great, isn't He?

I wonder what other people have been through and how I can get them to consider what God, in Christ, WILL do with their lives.  That is why I am posting this, maybe it is a way to get people to think victoriously and not as victims.  Then GO and help someone else stand.

Hope so.

I love you.

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.

Who Adds? Who Subtracts?

Here is something that I have been thinking about: 

For years, I have heard many opinions about the Scriptures providing a clear exemption / exception to the knowledge that "what God has joined together, let no man put asunder".  I have heard many conversations regarding not only divorce and remarriage, but divorce by itself.

The thought that is nagging at me now is the "what God has joined together" part of the equation.  I think it is a WONDERFUL thing, when a man and woman are joined together in a COVENANT relationship with God.  I have the joy of that union and it is positively one of the greatest blessings in my life.

Now I need to shift gears to get to what I have been thinking about.  I became a Christian a little over 24 years ago (May 4th, 1984).  Undoubtedly the BEST day of my life.  On that day, the LORD added me to the church.

Can I, then, equate "the LORD added to the church..." to "what God has joined together..."?

I think so.  I also think there is an important point in that the LORD added me to the church.

If the LORD has added me to the church, who then can subtract me?  Who is to decide if I am "faithful" or not?  Faithful to what?  How will I be measured? 

I read the Bible.  I study the Bible.  I meditate upon the Bible.  I pray for wisdom.  I seek God's will.  I seek His Spirit.  I long for the Bread of Life.  I worship according to the Scriptures.  I teach others the Gospel.  I serve in the community, because I want to BE Jesus to other people.  (side note:  don't get me wrong, I am not bragging, or adding up points to why I should be saved - the only thing that makes me special is Jesus Christ).

So, my point - why are there some who would "subtract" me from the Lord? 

So, my frustration - who do you think you are?

So, my conclusion - my peace, my consolation, my acceptance, my fellowship is with and in the LORD. 

I have no intention of trying to satisfy the inconsistent demands of men, who think I ought to meet some standard to be accepted by them.  Christ accepted me, when most no-one else would.  I am truly blessed.

When I think about Jesus Christ, and the gift that God has given to me (to us) through him, I am filled with awe. 

Praise be to God.

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus

God is Love

Love one another

For love is of God

He who does not love

Does not know God

Hallelujah

Long time, no post.  Not that I have lost interest, I have just redirected.

I have just completed a study of "Hallelujah".  What a wonderful phrase. 

I think it a matter of the soul.

If you happen to stop by this site and see this, please read Psalms 113 - 118 in their entirety.  Then read Revelation 19, verses 1 - 9.

Then, if you want to, I suggest everyone write their own Psalm.  You can send me yours in a message.  I would like to compile a collection of them and would love to post them all (that is, if I receive any). 

I was thinking about life in general, Jacob specifically, all of my children and their lives, the COUNTLESS blessings in my life (blessed with blessedwithseven) and can't think of a better way to put it - - - Hallelujah. 

The hieroglyphic for "hallel" is like a little guy, standing up with his hands in the air.  It means JUBILATION. 

The rest of the etymology of the word is fascinating, but suffice it to say, please live your live with Hallelujah, Praise to the Lord-type jubilation.

Love,

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.