During this time of year, when we throw Jesus a birthday party, I get s
ad at Christians who act…well…un-Christlike. I’ll never understand the hostility that Christians show towards people who don’t allow nativity scenes on the lawns of civic places and those that don’t say "Merry Christmas", but "Happy Holidays". I’ve heard the song by Go Fish, called "Christmas with a Capital C", and while it’s not a bad song, it’s just another excuse for Pharisee’s to say, "Yeah! It’s called Christmas! So I’m gonna be rude to you because you don’t want to say, ‘Merry Christmas,’ or let me put my nativity scene out!!!!!!!!" The word "Christian" literally means "Little Jesus", which actually causes me to realize that I don’t really deserve such a description. We just don’t act like Him, and it really comes out during this time of "celebration"…sadly.
Honestly, a lot of the people that "celebrate Christmas" do so simply because it’s become a cultural thing. I couldn’t possibly care less if the store I buy things at have the words "Merry Christmas" on anything, or they wish me so. This season is about Him and me. I could wish a thousand people a MC and yet still walk with deep sin in my life…would Jesus be pleased with my MC? Of course not.
Don’t get me wrong…I would be so happy if everyone at Kohl’s today knew Jesus in a deep way-so deep that they were overflowing with joy about Who He is and that they couldn’t help themselves but wish me a Merry Christmas…but a simple Merry Christmas from someone that has no concept of the love of Jesus really doesn’t matter all that much to me!
So I got this email forward (that I hadn’t received before:) and I liked it…
Dear Children,
It has come
to my attention that many you are upset that folks are taking My name out of
the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this
time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to
celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival;
although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally
feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those
of you who have been blessed with children of your own.
I don’t care
what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers
you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My
birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa’s and snowmen and put in a
small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that
there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there
would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact
that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas
tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any
tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a
teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks
was. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.
If you
want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list.
Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters
objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love
and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely
this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit
someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just
need to know that someone cares about
them.
3. Instead of writing George
complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why
don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family
this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4.
Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they
don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I
came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that
I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and
forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will
attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and
hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you
meet a warm smile; it could make the
difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what
the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who
work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t
allowed to wish you a ‘Merry Christmas’ that doesn’t keep you from wishing
them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so
much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at
home with their families.
8. If you really want to make a difference,
support a missionary – especially one who takes My love and Good News to
those who have never heard My name.
9. Here’s a good one. There are
individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no
‘Christmas’ tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or
receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them
to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they
will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a
statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a
Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence.
Let people know by your actions that you are one of
mine!
Don’t forget; I am God and can
take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll
take care of all the rest.
Check out the list above and get to work;
time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have
a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:
JESUS
~Earthly Author
Unknown~
Memoirs of a Redhead 