www.creativeladiesministry.com

[Not A Scrooge]

Hey,
Is anyone as sick about Christmas as I am? Not what Christmas really is but what the world has made of it?
It has bothered me more this year than it ever has.
I went to buy some Christmas cards one day and I found everything from Santa to snowmen to cute little kittens in stockings. Very few did I find that had anything about Christ.
I have never taught my kids about santa. But I was never a killjoy about the "fun" of the holidays either. But I am beginning to be very bothered about not seeing what Christmas is really about.
I wanted to send a message to those that don't know Christ in a personal way. What better time than the celebration of HIS birth. But instead it's trees and wreaths and stockings and hohoho and happy holidays and NO Christ!
I always thought I was doing good by not teaching my kids santa, but now I am seeing that celebrating all the "fun" is just as dangerous. I mean the tree and the wreath on the card isn't WRONG, but WHERE IS THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS in the message?
I used to look at santa as an "idol" that some worshipped, but the holiday is worshipped too. And even though I didn't worship that idol, I am guilty of worshipping the holiday.
I am really bothered by this this year.
It has never hit me this hard before. I have been a Christian for 20 years and I know the true meaning of Christmas and that first one after I was saved was so amazing as each have been since, but this year is different.
I heard a story on the radio the other day that went something like this:
A woman was hurrying along , her arms full with packages, in a rush from the hustle and bustle of shopping and trying to get all her holiday things done. She hurried on to the elevator and managed to growl out "The person who invented Christmas ought to be shot!" a voice from the back of the elevator spoke "You already crucified Him, what more do you want?"
We as a society have forgotten what Christmas is truly about.
For instance, I have a sister in law that is part of a religion that doesn't in any way acknowledge Christ. And yet, Christmas is her "favorite time of year". WHY??? Because to her it's got nothing to do with Christ. She sends out those cards with cute little kittens and snowmen that say "Tis the season"
How do we stand up for what is right and not seem like the scrooge at Christmas time? I love the lights and the tree and the beauty of it all.
I just don't want to send mixed messages. And I feel sometimes like I am.
Gifts are not a big thing to me. I would rather see my family in church.
That is the best gift I could get. Nothing material.
I'm sorry to say the rest of my family is not that way.
I found a great story about Jesus' birthday. One thing it mentions is that it's His birthday and He is the one who gets no gifts. Hmmm.....

Whew! Got that off my chest!
Anyone else feel this way?

Not Really a Scrooge

[melissa]

I actually did a devotion last night at our ladies fellowship focusing on "What is your Christmas full of?" Is it full of...food, shopping, gifts, family traditions etc...or is it full of Christ? I have nothing wrong with the gifts, family tradition etc...but we have let those THINGS consume our Christmas to the point we aren't even acknowledging the true meaning of Christmas...saved or unsaved. Around the Christmas season, we tend to get so busy, even though we have good intentions on WHAT we are doing, we lost focus to WHY we are even celebrating Christmas.

Nothing more disgust me than seeing "x-mas"...the person who writes such wants and desires to see Christ out of Christmas...without Christ there would be no Christmas. Reminds me of Martha in the Bible, so busy, bustling around trying to get everything ready for the guest of honor, Jesus. Martha had lost focus. We've lost focus.

As there was no room for the baby Jesus in the inn, there seems to be no room for Him today in the celebration of Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS...There is no greater gift you could receive this Christmas season than the gift of eternal life by trusting and believing in Jesus. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
_________________
I Corinthians 10:31b (KJV) "whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

[FBCPW]

Very well said.
I sign my Christmas cards "Merry CHRISTmas" and "Happy Holy-days"
I don't like the X-mas thing either. My husband mentioned that one time in a sermon and one of the ladies told him the "X" was something back in history and actually stood for the cross...blah..blah...blah....
I figure if I have to search that hard for a meaning it's lost anyway!

I am going to do a lesson Sunday in the youthgroup on this subject! (God's timing is so perfect isn't it?) So if anyone has anything to help me add to my lesson I would apprecite it. I want to ask some of the adults this question and then give the results to the youth - so if any of you want to answer: feel free to do so:
"Material or not, as real or unreal as it may seem, what would be the BEST gift you could receive from your child/children?" Please answer honestly and from the heart.
I want these youth to realize Christmas is not about material things, that it's not just a "happy holiday" time. I thought this might help them see what adults see as the important part of Christmas. Answer if you'd like.
Thank you.

I know what you mean about the "full-ness" of it all. And we say we KNOW it's Christ's birthday we are celebrating, but ARE WE REALLY? I have to agree with not scrooge...the gifting and decor has gotten way out of hand. I love the beauty of it also, but where is Christ?

FBCPW

[mom of 2]

Hello,
I know what I would want. I have a daughter who doesn't live with me anymore. She is a christian but has not found a church she likes so she doesn't go anywhere. The perfect gift she could give me would be to start attending church regularly.
mom of 2

[Bethany]

Two year ago I did a devotions at a Christmas ladies' party on this very topic - and bawled my head off doing it! I was so nervous, because I was sharing something so close to my heart, the discontent at feeling that Christmas was not really honoring Christ.

In my devotion I mentioned some things that we could do to focus our attention on Christ. One big one was to BE KIND. The holidays are so rushed and people are rude and selfish. Don't be that way yourself. Plan your time so that when you go shopping you can let others go first in line, you can help someone find something they're looking for, you can give up that close parking space to someone else! Wear a smile instead of a frown of concentration. Be ready to testify of the reason you're doing this, because someone's sure to ask, "why are you so happy, why are you so nice?" Tell them, "I'm celebrating my Saviour's birth. I've got no reason to be sad!"

Another thing I mentioned was making your home a haven. Maybe the world isn't celebrating the Christ of Christmas, but in YOUR home you can make it that way. Play songs that truly reflect the meaning of the season. Read Scripture each day with your family about the coming of the Saviour: there's many passages to choose from, including Old Testament prophetic passages, and the 2 accounts in the Gospels. Have your children memorize Luke 2; in fact, do it yourself if you haven't already!

This year I've made up a game called "Searching for Jesus". It's based on a Sun. School lesson I heard last week, about how as kids we searched for our presents before Christmas, trying to find out what we got, and how God wants us to search for Him with that same kind of enthusiasm. The game isn't fully developed yet, but here's the idea: I'm taking the baby Jesus from the Nativity scene and hiding him. Then I will put clues around the house at different locations. The clues will point to something in Scripture and will lead to search for something in the house. For instance, a clue might say how the angel Gabriel came to Mary to announce the coming birth of Jesus. Then you'd have to go find the Mary piece of the Nativity scene to find the next clue. That might refer to Joseph, and so on. Using different decorations in the house, and Scripture , you go on a search to find the baby Jesus, and finally find Him under the star! My son loves mysteries, and I think that this will fascinate him, while also teaching him the importance of always "looking for Jesus".

Other ideas are going carolling, taking cookies and Christmas tracts to neighbors. Use those times to let your kids recite Luke 2 that they've memorized. Invite people to your church's Christmas programs. Give more gifts to others than to yourselves. Make Jesus a birthday cake.

Look for Jesus this Christmas.
_________________
God bless,
Bethany

[melissa]

I would love to see my 6 year old daughter come to know the Lord personally. I also have a 3 year old and a 22 month old little girls...and there is no gift more precious than knowing your children will one day be in Heaven with you. I just pray they get saved at an early age so that they may save their lifes many scars of hurt and pain.

I love what was put on the previous message:
Look for Jesus This Christmas.
_________________
I Corinthians 10:31b (KJV) "whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

[Nita]

Bethany, that was beautiful and what a neat game.
Not A Scrooge, I know how you are feeling. Keep honoring Christ!
FBCPW, my answer to your question is, I would like to see my teenager reading God's Word on a daily basis. I know she knows the Lord, I would like to see the indepth study.

May you truly know JOY this Christmas!
Nita

[Bramblerose]

Not a Scrooge, I know the story you were referring to. If I can find it I'll post it. At first I was convicted by it, but then I thought, you know, He's not the one who started the hustle and bustle (the Martha-ness) of it. It would be wonderful to bring Christmas back to its simplicity and worship.

Do you have a Christian bookstore near? We have a large one and it has lots of great Christmas cards with the spiritual meaning of Christmas. If you don't, try christianbook.com.

Bethany, that sounds like a wonderful game!! Also, the idea about being patient and kind in public when everyone else is so frenzied makes a great impact. I had someone ask me one time if I was a Christian just from simply being patient in a long checkout line. I have to admit that as I get older that is harder for me -- noise, crowds, bustle, other people's impatience all contribute towrd getting me frazzled. I don't even go to the mall or Wal-Mart on weekends in December!

One of my frustrations is gift-giving. I love it, but in my family, which is largely unsaved, people give lavishly and go into debt doing it. I'd so love more just thoughtful little tokens.

[Bramblerose]

Found this in my files:

I CORINTHIANS:13 A CHRISTMAS VERSION


If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love
to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of
Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully
adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just
another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing
home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my
family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and
crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and
sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have
missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated
Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give
in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things,endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

[jodi]

[Bethany]

Wouldn't it be incredible for your children to share a birthday with Jesus? I will pray for these children to be saved soon.

I really like that I Corinthians 13 Christmas version. I need to borrow that and include it my Christmas cards.

In some ways I'm really glad that we don't have much money this year for gifts. Hopefully that will help take the focus off lots of gifts, and put it back on the reason for giving.
_________________
God bless,
Bethany

[ladoty]

Hi ladies,
I haven't been as active here as I would like to be, but when I read the post from Not a Scrooge, I had to jump in. Christmas has always been a joyous but stressful time for me. I spend so much time on baking and shopping and going to open houses, etc. that I don't enjoy the holiday. Well, this year is quite different. My dh had back surgery in June, he has now been out of work for 6 months and we used the rest of our financial resources to pay the bills for this month. Christmas this year will definately be different, because there is nothing left to buy even the first gift for our 4-year-old. BUT...through all of this, God has shown me how we have placed too much emphasis on gift-giving (I love giving things to
people much more than I do receiving gifts). This year my gift to
my family is more of me and my time. I have heard my child tell me
more than once, "Mommy, the computer can wait", and so it will, but he won't. He'll grow up way too fast and I don't want to miss a minute of it (that's way I'm a sahm/wahm). No we aren't going to get rich and we may not have all the things the neighbors have, but we will have so much more, because mommy is going to make time to do the things he wants to do (play ball, make cookies, snuggle up and read, etc). I know the bills will continue to arrive and they will have to be paid (we're praying for a quick insurance settlement from dh's accident so I can continue to stay home). God is good, all the time and as long as we honor Him and serve Him, He will meet all our needs. Keep looking up and may the true meaning and spirit of Christmas shine brightly on you.
Christmas Blessings,
Dolly
_________________
If God brought you to it, he can bring you through it!
Blessings,
Dolly

[Guest]

I love the idea of looking for Jesus. That sounds like a game I want to incorporate into our party. A friend of mine mentioned how Santa and Satan have the same letters almost....made me really begin to think!Several years ago I got rid of my Santa decorations and started focusing on the Christ type symbols. I do have a yard decoration with Santa kneeling at the manger. That is the only place I feel Santa needs to be. I love the part of doing for others that can't do back for you. The last three years my family has started doing Christmas for the Nursing home. Last year I bought every stuffed animal I could find for the little people that so much need to hold on to something. I went to the Salvation Army and was buying so many that they asked what I was buying them for. I told them that it was for the elderly people at the home and they gave me all that I wanted...no charge. We gave to two nursing homes enough to provide each person in the homes with a loving stuffed friend. We also have started several years ago with my grandchildren...having a Birthday party for Jesus. We decorate like a birthday party...send invitations to their friends to join us...have a birthday cake and just celebrate HIS birthday. We encourage each child to bring a gift for a child but instead of opening presents for each other we take the gift to the mall for the Angel Tree(gifts for needy families). No, the commercial part has me turned off. But if you can change your thinking...tree (everlasting life)....holly berries (the blood He shed)....Lights (The Light of the World)....Gifts(He was our first gift!). You will be surprised at how you can see things differently.

[Guest]

Love, that's what I'd like to see, true love. and forgiveness. and kids listening to what we tellthem, and respect and peace in the home. That would be the gift I would want from my children.

[Guest]

I am getting a wonderful gift this year. The family will all be together.
We haven't seen each other for years. I told everyone no gifts, the gift is the love we have for each other, the Love Christ has for us all, and that we can all be together again like we haven't been for years. The parents kids and grandkids all together. I would love to see them all in church on Christmas too! That would be like the Jelly on the Peanut Butter! What a gift!