Pastor Jones and the Christmas of Doom

-
So this email shows up in my inbox with this title.  "Pastor Jones and the Christmas of Doom."  I have to be honest.  It sent shivers up my spine.  Christmas and the holidays are like that quote from the Tale of Two Cities. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, . . . "

The Christmas ads are playing, (Hey at least they aren't those political ads we've been inundated with here in Florida for the last few months.)  Christmas trees tents are up and ready to receive their pine scented evergreens.  Christmas lights are being tested and preparations for holidays traditions have begun.  

Matthew 1:20-21 While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. 21 Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Hope and salvation have arrived!  The curse from the Garden is now going to be addressed once and for all!  This is the message of Christmas.  The curse has been reversed.  The baby will become a man and give His life as a ransom for everyone!  This is and still is the most significant news of all time.  This is the reason why we celebrate.  This is why we sing, "Joy to the World." 

So how does this beautiful message of Christmas go from joy into doom?  

Because people try to get more out of Christmas than they put into it.  It is in that moment that Christmas then turns into a holiday.  Just another time of year to take a day off and do something different.  

Jesus said in Acts 20:35 Remember that our Lord Jesus said, “More blessings come from giving than from receiving.”

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, this year I want to celebrate Christmas, not the holidays.  AMEN  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Went For A Walk

-
Image
Last Thursday, after realizing I forgot my wedding anniversary, I took my wife out for a walk that night.   It wasn’t just any walk, it is her favorite one.   Downtown, along the river, plus a couple of slices of our favorite pizza.   We talked about life after Covid, our daughter, marriage, and people we know and love.   It has been moments like these when I realize her resolve to be who God created her to be.   Moms need to know that.  I am saddened by our culture's ranting against mothers.  Today we hear how motherhood is a burden that you can take or leave.  Motherhood has never been a burden to Betty.  N-E-V-E-R  While it hasn’t been easy, the truth is, it has never nor will ever be easy for anyone.   Surveys in 2022 noted that moms feel overwhelmed. shorturl.at/auzH3   Covid, coupled with inflation and job instability is pouring gasoline on the fire.   What can you do? (Moms or Dads)  Prioritize and use the word “NO”.  Once you have determined that motherhoo
Read more

What A Day!

-
Image
Today is Mothers Day.  On this day:  More people purchase fresh flowers and plants for Mother's Day than for any other holiday except Christmas/Hanukkah. In 2019, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that US consumers will spend $25 billion celebrating Mother's Day. Shoppers will spend an average of $196.00 on Mom. According to the Insure.com 2018 Mother's Day Index, the various tasks moms perform at home would be worth $68,875 (up from $67,619 in 2017) a year in the professional world. https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/06/us/mothers-day-fast-facts/index.html Motherhood is God's idea, and He had a great idea!  He created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and said in Genesis 1:28, "... And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply... "   They had kids, their kids had kids, and the rest is history.  But where did Eve learn how to be a mom?  She didn't have one, remember?   I can only surmise, but I think these are good
Read more

Parenting Simplified (Well I tried to.)

-
Image
Betty doesn’t like me blogging about her too much. So let me go with one more for now and let you see a bit of her heart.  She doesn’t like the world any better now than when she gave birth to Anneka. (Neither do I.)   If you think that’s a strange thing to say, you’re right. But let me explain myself.  The idea that a child will make your world a better place isn’t accurate. Stop shouting at the screen. Just keep reading.   Before we got pregnant, both of us had enough wisdom to understand what we were doing, in as much as we knew that this would change our lives.  Would it be for the better? That was the plan.  Would it enrich our lives? We hoped so.   But to think that a child would turn our world into a magical place of perfection and joy was never a thought.   If anything, the world worked against us from day one. (Still is.) There were challenges of all kinds and new hurdles to jump. Just about the time you thought you were out of the woods, BAM, here we go again.   Betty was and
Read more