stacey c

Because some people actually like them, although I cannot figure out why. And because they never go bad. Ever. People continue to make them and buy them because of people like me! I'm a fruit cake who likes fruit cake!

I do, I have two children that will always be a special child of God. ICL Dennis Praying for you and your son. And I also know how hard it is. My daughter is one of God's special angels He's blessed me with. Blessings stacey c

They believe it is a pagan holiday. There is a conspiracy theory floating around that Christmas in its original form is based on sun worship and that all the customs go back to ancient Babylon and so forth. There is no real historical basis for that claim, but they operate from a revised version history. I think anything can be twisted and turned to be formed into something pagan and evil....... How about using it to Glorify the King of Kings! We should see Christ and glorify Him in everything we do every day!

I totally agree!!!! We dont have alot of money for gifts but I love making christmas cookies and fudge for everyone, even my neighbors who I dont really know, cooking a big dinner for all who want to come. And the spirit of giving and unity it promotes. What a wonderful time of the year!

I understand that Christmas isnt plainly laid out in the Bible and it's not Jesus' birthday, but why all the contempt by some of a day that promotes a spirit (in the general sense) of family, love. giving, and in many cases selflessness and self sacrafice. All attributes that Christ himself wants us to show.

I think my best and worst Christmas was 23 years ago On Dec. 23 1988 my first child was born, my beautiful daughter, but she was born with serious complications and I was able to go home Christmas day but she had to stay in the neo-natal unit for 3 more weeks. The nurses had decorated her incubator with Christmas decorations and santa stickers and the nurses had bought her Christmas gifts, it was so sweet. The best news I got that Christmas is that my precious baby would survive! The worst part was going home empty handed without my baby it was a horrible feeling.

Some country, hubby's a country boy an got me listening to some of it But I'm definately old time rock an roll Bob Seager Boston Lynard Skynnard Genesis The Who Eagles Fleetwood Mac Aerosmith Peter Frampton I could go on and on........

Well I came out of a Prosperity Church after many many years of deception and control, and you dont see it until you do walk away. The Pastor was very dynamic, charming but also very controling. I wont go into alot of details because one I dont have the time but two I dont wish to gossip, and I do still have a deep seated bitterness that rears its ugly head once this topic is involved. Needless to say that most people who come out of this type of church are very hurt and bitter and its shame. Dont get me wrong there was some awesome teachings and fruit that was produced. But 2 things opened my eyes and made me leave 1 The pastors right hand came to me on Pastor's authority and told me I was cursed because I had unbelief because I didnt have a over flow of money, mind you I was a widow who worked in their pre-school 40 to 50 hours a week to make ends meet for me and my 6 kids, and I did tithe religously 10% every week. 2 Several months later I had a new fiance and we had gotten into a financial situation where I asked for a loan against my paychecks, I was told that would be fine on the condition I left my husband as pastor didnt like him. I have not returned since, and my husband is now very bitter against church as this was his first expierience in church as an adult. The damage they do is very deep rooted and spiritually devastating.

No. The instant I recieved Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savour my salvation was a done deal, I needed no "works" at that time. My works of faith come throught out my walk as evidence of Christ in me.

Are works not needed to go along with faith? Will faith alone save? So I can NOT obey and receive salvation? . Faith in what Christ did on the cross saves you. Works of faith are an outward expression of your salvation. If one truly loves God they want to obey. If man could work his right into heaven Jesus would not have needed to die on the cross. Man cannot work his way into heaven. Nor can man believe his way into heaven. Faith without works is dead, and ineffective. Belief in Jesus Christ and what He did gets me into heaven, not what I can do. After your salvation, your outward expression is obedience to Christ. If there is no expression of faith in Christ after salvation, one needs to reexamine whether they were truly saved or not.

So works ARE needed for salvation? . You are twisting my words. Works are not nedded for salvation itself, they are a outward expression of your salvation.

Psalm 91 What an awesome promise of God's protection!

Are works not needed to go along with faith? Will faith alone save? So I can NOT obey and receive salvation? . Faith in what Christ did on the cross saves you. Works of faith are an outward expression of your salvation. If one truly loves God they want to obey. If man could work his right into heaven Jesus would not have needed to die on the cross.

It takes more than just faith and acceptance for what Christ did for salvation! James 1 [21] Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. [22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. [23] For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. [25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. We have to DO something for salvation! Some sort of act MUST be taken. For if we have faith only but do not act upon it we are left with dead faith! I can have faith in God all I want...but until I prove my faith by taking action my faith is dead? Let's go and read the next chapter of James where he tells us this; James 2 [14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Well? Can faith alone save a man? And just WHAT is it that we are to be saved from? Afterall....that's what salvation is....being saved FROM SOMETHING! Let's continue while you think about that for a moment..... [15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, [16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Now let's read of one example James gives us that shows some sort of action, some sort of deed, some sort of WORK is needed to go along with the faith we claim. [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? And what was the 'work' that Abraham performed proving his faith in the Lord? He drew back the knife! [24] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Just because Paul does not use works as an example does NOT mean works is not needed! Let's read some more... [26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. So...are we to ignore the writings of James because Paul tells us that; Eph.2 [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. No we are not. What we MUST understand is that when Paul speaks of 'works' and 'deeds' of the law, he is speaking about ANOTHER set of laws. A set of laws other than the ones he tells us to keep and that he says are holy, just and good! Will you search God's word to find that Paul speaks of TWO sets of laws in his writings? God's word tells us we will be judged by our works! But does that mean faith is not needed? No! It just means that BOTH are a requirement for salvation! . It is because of our salvation, that we work the works of faith. If we are truly saved then we have the love of Christ in us, for Him and our fellow man that requires us to go forth and show that love to others. We are to be a light, and hows that? We show the love of our Father to a dark and dismal world, by our acts of faith and love. If you donot have a Agape love for those in need, does it show a true salvation. Our works of faith are a outward expression of what Christ has done for us, it doesnot get us into heaven, but if we donot show this outward expression are we truly saved to begin with?

Sin, which is something you do, can destroy your faith. Right? We all fall short on a daily basis, we are human, whether it be lies, pride, anger....ect.... Does it destroy my faith because I screw up? No, it makes me even more thankful and contrite when I fall to my knees before my Lord and ask for His forgiveness, because He is merciful and just to forgive me. That knowledge of Daddy's love for me makes my faith stronger. Does that give me a pass to go out an willfully sin? No, it makes me seek harder after His Righteousness. I can do nothing to earn my salvation, it was already sealed when I accepted what He did for me on Calvary. Blessings stacey c