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Monday, December 24, 2007
Matt and I have been talking about the whole Christmas thing. I wrote a post last year about the pagan origins of Christmas, after finding out things I don't know if I am glad that I found out or not. The reason I am not surewhether I am happy that I found it all out is because we are still processing it. We are ready to give up what we are called to - as in all things - but we want to make sure we are doing it as to the Lord. It isn't a matter of belief or disbelief, it is a matter of discernment. It is a matter of taking a stand on God's foundation of something we have barely scratched the surface on. It is not a matter of not wanting to be weird or not wanting to be different. It is a matter of not being overzealous and throwing the baby out with the bath water instead of seeking Him in this area. It is important to us to teach our children in the ways of the Lord. It is very important. That does not make us perfect or even completely doctrinally accurate, and I don't want to give the impression that we think we are. We are just a couple of thirty-something parents who love the Lord and were raised on a diet of Christmas each year. And, I love the twinkling white lights on the outside of a beautifully-set house just after a snowfall. I also love the smell of pine boughs, and decorating the tree was at least one tradition I did every year... that and Christmas dinner. I remember fondly the pictures from eight years ago my nine-month pregnant belly in the pictures of decorating the tree about a week before Hannie arrived. Sweet memories. And I think Christmas cards are beautiful. I even like making Christmas cards with the rubber stamp sets we have. Eric said tonight that we should send Christmas cards. They are fun and warm and well-wishes of love from family and friends. Who doesn't want to get that in the mail? One down-side to not celebrating is that this is just the natural time we get our children what they need for the year. Not that we can't still ge them what they need that's on sale at this time of the year regardless. We can. This is just a good shopping time, Christmas or not. ;) But all of those beautiful things pale in comparison to serving God fully. And, is celebrating Christmas or not celebrating Christmas serving God fully? We know some of the answers to that question, but not all. So, we are processing all of this. We are more concerned with reading the story of Jesus' Birth in Matthew and Luke. We want to establish family traditions based on the Bible and what He is doing in our own family. We also do not want to step into rituals that are meaningless year after year when there may be a more excellent way. I was not going to even post on this topic this year, because, like homeschooling and home birthing, it is a controversial topic that sometimes causes loving people to become angered and resentful in talking about. I do not want to anger or embitter anyone in this, nor do I want to argue, for you see, we are still on this journey, learning for ourselves. Robin Sampson posted an excellent post on this. If you would like to read further on this, you can read her article about it, which happens to also be named To Christmas or Not To Christmas, hahaaa. It includes their 'evolution' of Christmas throughout the years, which I found interesting. I would like to do that, just as a record for our family. Other "To Christmas or Not" posts: Not Your Average Christmas : AKA Why We Don't Participate
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Monday, December 24, 2007 - keep searching your heart.......
Posted by blessedmomof10
Jacque ~
Years ago the Lord did a great work on my heart about Christmas and traditions.......
We searched our hearts and prayed and prayed.....
We left behind those traditions that were simply "traditions" and we embraced actitivies that truly brought us to the feet of the Lamb......
All I can say is keeping searching your heart..... the Lord will reveal His will for your family....... I can not tell you what a difference our Christmas is now...... it is truly a JOYous season......
We eliminated santa and major gift giving. The children get 3 things on Christmas morn -- from mom & dad......
1. an ornament they can take with them when they are married
2. a book
3. and a bag of goodies from mama!
That is it...... very simple....... and they know on their bday it is "their day" ...... but Christmas is not about them......we bake a yummy cake and place candles on it and sing happy bday Jesus! The children act out the first christmas.... with props and all!
We also write love letters to Jesus on Christmas...... we place them in a box and then read them the following christmas.... I have placed them in a scrapbook.......they are precious!
This year we will be going to the veterans' home for Christmas day - caroling and showing our love and appreciation to them..... we might also stop at the nursing home for the elderly.
Christmas has become a lovely & joyous time to reflect on Christ...... there are so many ways you can do this!
Oh wonderful things await you as you turn over your heart to the Lord in this area - I believe Christmas can be a wonderful time of leading our children's heart to sup with the lamb......
~ gloria ~
Edited by blessedmomof10 on Monday, December 24, 2007 at 08:16 PM
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Monday, December 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by homesteadinthemaking
Jacque,
I would love to give you some great profound comment on this topic but we have been struggling with this, as well. It's so hard to discern the right thing to do. However, I can't wait to see what the Lord shows you and your Hubby in this area.
Merry Christmas and blessings,
Trixi
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Monday, December 24, 2007 - To Christmas or not to Christmas
Posted by Anonymous
I am so thankful you did post your thoughts on Christmas!
We are going through the same process right now. I am so blessed to see other believers truly searching for truth in this area. Many of the things on your post and the comment by Gloria were discussed at our home this very day. It's so hard, Christmas eve, we have no plans. We are waiting on the Lord for truth and direction. Difficult for a Christian raised in the world. You never realize how your body is so in tune to this time of year, how much anticipation there is, what a struggle it is to do nothing. We are being still. Waiting. Waiting, while our Christian friends wonder where we came up with these strange ideas. While my non Christian family wonder why we are robbing our children of the joy of Christmas. Yet, we wait. We began celebrating Shabbat (Sabbath) three months ago. I don't know why, we just had an urge to. We are not following exactly as a Jewish person would I'm sure. But, Oh what joy! What a blessed time in His presence! We are looking into observing the Biblical Feasts. Again, I don't know why. We continue to be drawn to learn more about our God from the Old Testament, from a Jewish persons perspective. I wonder what those Jewish fisherman thought, how they knew Jesus was the Messiah, what irresistible urge they had to follow Him, in what way they saw Him as their Almighty God, The God of the Torah and the prophets, in the flesh. And so we wait as our Lord Jesus Christ either prunes Christmas away from us or else shows us a way to bring complete honor and glory to Him only on this day. May the Lord bless you as you seek Him. Thanks again for posting today!
Waiting on Him,
Kelly
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Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by DesertOasis/HeartnSoul
Hi Jacque;
Same here.. we did put up the tree, maybe for the last time...
I'll link your post tomorrow on my Christmas post on homeschoolblogger.com/HeartnSoul..
Blessings
Denise
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Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - Merry Christmas !!
Posted by Anonymous
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!
To have Christmas or not??
What ever you decide just keep doing it. Just don't confuse your children. I believe as long as your doing what God leads you to do you are doing the right thing!
God Bless!!
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by gokings13
We are in the same boat.
I am in the Genesis 12:1-5 mode right now.
Faith and obedience.
It is rewarded!!!
Laura
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Biblical commands
Posted by Anonymous
It is so true that as we seek Him and His ways we are blessed. As a Jew who has been set free to know The Way, The Truth and The Life I would just like to encourage people to NOT follow Judaism or get any inspiration from Judaism. It is a dangerous man-made religion. Follow God's commands, be led by His Holy Spirit - not by well meaning Gentiles who don't know how dangerous Judaism and all its trappings are.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Christmas
Posted by Anonymous
I am not Jewish but I am a follower of the Truth who has never kept Christmas or Easter. My mother was shown these truths when she was pregnant with me. I also have a friend who has gone through the same situation as yourself. They chose not to do xmas in any way whatsoever.
I can see why people just change their observance to remember Christ's birth, to continue a tradition in a new way, but God also very clearly said that we are not to profane His holy name with the ways of the heathen(pagan) Ezek.20:9,14,22,39,44; 36:20,23...In searching to follow God, would He truly want His holy name or His Son's holy name associated to a pagan day worshipping the sun god and Nimrod that, at least at one time, consisted of drunken orgies or child sacrifice? It was cleaned up and brought into the Church because they wanted to get the pagans to attend and become Christians. Their conversion was a compromise. Also, remember, the early church followers kept the Sabbath, Passover, DUB, Pentecost, and fall festivals. This did not change until after the deaths of the apostles and several of their pupils.
Christ was only half finished with us with His ultimate sacrifice, the rest will be fulfilled at His second coming after the tribulation. Until then we are to live Christ's example. We are not clean yet.
In Christian love.....
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Saturday, December 29, 2007 - Thank you very much for the comments...
Posted by FruitfulVineof7SoFar
I truly appreciate the comments from each of you. I know they are well-meaning and from your hearts, and I appreciate the time you took to leave comments.
I appreciate more those of you who thought it was important to personalize your comment with your name. Anonymous comments are really hard to 'relate to'... maybe that isn't the best choice of words. It's almost like talking to someone in the dark. You want to believe or trust them, because they sound friendly, but, well, the people you can put a name to or a name and a blog to, well, those are the people who have endeared themselves and their opinions to you.
I must reply to Anonymous1, though, who said, "What ever you decide just keep doing it. Just don't confuse your children. I believe as long as your doing what God leads you to do you are doing the right thing! "
I know your thoughts are well-meaning, but I must say that as we find things out about our faith... be it sinfulness or even Christian legalism, we must change it. We are in no ways confusing our children. We adhere to the same doctrine (As the parents we are united in what we believe; it isn't a choice they make as to which one of us has the correct interpretation), however, we certainly do not want our children to think that as we recognize God's Word in a way we haven't before that we should just ignore it and continue in our 'former ways'.
If we are doctrinally wrong, we must find the right path and walk in that, denying the former ways.
Children are not confused when there are set boundaries and an explanation of changes according to their age of understanding is given, if necessary. Being a close family and discussing God and His Word and His Plan for us is an open, daily discussion in our home, and as such, it is open to the Holy Spirit showing us His ways and if ours are in error. We welcome that, and only pray that we can show our children to be cautious of being double-minded while still changing as the Lord leads us.
I do thank you for your concern of our children, but I also must caution all Christians in "being lead of God" as far as whatever being the right thing, because sometimes... ok, a *lot* of times, we Christians just rationalize why something is the right thing, without even really searching the Word. We throw a few Scriptures in there, make it sound holy and walk in the path we desire, kinda' overlooking God's real part in it.
Anonymous "Christmas": Thank you for all of the information you have shared here in these comments. I did find all of this information in my research, though I am not sure I shared all these directs Scriptures in my original post, so thank you.
This is exactly why it is so grave to be lead by God's Word. We cannot go on what we have read or been told or even 'feel'. We must have it solid in our own individual hearts. It has to be a decision that both my husband and I share, and we are thankful God is showing us these things.
Thank you again.
blessings to each of you!
Jacque
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Monday, December 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 2GodBPraise
What a wonderful post! You shared with such openness and I think that is just absolutely wonderful! I understand the journey you are on right now with the issue of celebrating Christmas. We began that journey about 6 or 7 years ago. And I sometimes still find myself trying to balance it out. My hubby and I strive to please God in all we do. We want to live out our faith in every area of our lives - even celebrations like Christmas. I too was one who so looked forward to Christmas time. Many times, my Christmas lights and decorations and such were up Nov. 1st! As I came to understand the origins of Christmas, I began the journey that you are on right now.
My family and I have our own celebration that we call the Celebration of Lights. Feel free to stop by my homeschool blog and click on the category entitled "Celebration of Lights" to read about our celebration this year. My homeschool blog link is:
www.homeschoolblogger.com/salt
We still get together with family if they get together for Christmas. This year, my hubby's family didn't have any family get together for Christmas like they normally do. So we went and had Christmas dinner with my hubby's parents.
I still sometimes find myself wondering where to draw the line at in this issue. I believe we all have the freedom to choose how we celebrate. But like you, if there is a more excellent way, I want to choose the more excellent way that is God honoring.
May God give both of us and our families wisdom and discernment as we continue on this journey of knowing what God would want for us to do concerning the celebration of Christmas.
Take care,
Karen
www.homesteadblogger.com/tagblog
www.homeschoolblogger.com/salt
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