No More Christmas Presents

[ann2]

The world has taken a lot from me but it is not going to take the joy of celebrating my savior birth from me.the reason for gifte i tell my grandchildren & great-grandchildren is because i wasnt there to give Baby Jesus gifts so i give them to you instead.My daughter used to bake a cake with Happy Birthday Jesus on it.I make a lot of the adults presents.I Love Christmass.

[IslandRose]

I think in some cases it comes down to where you are in life.

For the past few years my kids have been older, going away to college, getting married, etc. So Christmases got a bit quieter, no toys, the kids even saying, Mom, I just don't need anything right now. But now, the grandchildren are arriving. I am going to have a house full of family with little ones again, and this year the whole celebration is going to be more like it was when my own children were small.

The seasons of life come and go, I intend to enjoy every moment of them.

[BlindSeeker]

With exception of charitable giving and giving to the poor or needy, my husband and I have decided not to do "Christmas" (giving) anymore.

Some of you might remember that old "seventies" song, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"...Well, we've lost that "gift-givin' feelin'". And now it's "gone, gone, gone...oooh.."

I go inside stores and see holiday promotions to buy, buy, buy...ooooh. But the feelin' is gone, gone, gone....I have no desire to buy or be bought for.

I have literally lost all desire to buy stuff at all. It's just not there. I feel no childlike, traditional feelings like the yearning to buy and wrap, put stuff under a tree or any of that. It's just gone.

When Jesus was first in Christmas, the gift-giving was a joy. It was done to please others, meet needs and come together joyously as a family.

It was done with a tenderness and sweetness of an earlier age, when life had a sort of innocence.

Now, with Jesus completely stripped from the seasonal holiday, there's no point. Why bother? Why give gifts?

I DO believe in giving to the needy/poor wherever I see the need. I do believe in that! But not for my own family....It's just nonsense anymore. All it is today is a way for merchants to make up for an otherwise lousy year in sales.

If merchants want to remove Jesus from Christmas, they remove the very reason for the tradition of giving gifts in the first place...

Just my opinion. I'm sure people will disagree but for my husband and I, the inspiration of the season have been removed by the very merchants who want my business. Now, they have just what they want....NO Jesus in Christmas. But, it'll cost them in the long run...

Catsmeow,

I am please to hear of your husband and your's decision. Remember these words though? Who would of thought it would be you?

May God bless you and your husband in your continued ministering to the needed.

Peace

[Catsmeow]

Thank you, Blindseeker....It's good to see you posting again. Bless you, bruh.

Shifting gears: I can always tell when some folks don't read the whole thread. This topic wasn't about commercialism at all.

It wasn't about whether Christmas had it's roots in scripture or the Church or anything like that. That's a completely DIFFERENT topic.

I began the thread to call attention to this fact: Jesus has been removed by merchants because of "politcal corectness" and replaced with everything from Ramadan to Kwanzaa.

Merchants say they're interested in profit but will sacrifice it's Christian customer base at the altar of "political correctness".

It's NOT commercialism that irriates me...it's this absurd politcal correctness. It's nauseating.

[BlindSeeker]

Catsmeow,

I actually read both threads entirely this night (and morning).

Remember, as believers, it is always about the Way, the Truth and the Life . . . King Jesus.

But in the world, it is always about the Benjamins.

After last years thread I pretty much decided to avoid the topic. But I still thought it a cute opportunity to sneak in a brief chat with ya.

Peace.

[kittylover0991]

Honestly, I love Christmas and it is one of my favorite times of the year. Yes, throughout the year we should be loving each other and giving Thanks to God for all, but Christmas is a time when we, as a family, can sit around a tree and think about our Savior. Throughout the day, we all get into the habit of the daily life with work and chores, and for those in school, homework. We get so busy in life that many times we don't have a long period of time where we can actually sit down and think about him... yes, many of us have our devotions in teh morning and night and try to spend every moment with Jesus, but to have this whole time to think about him.

We had a CHRISTmas play with the children's choir in my church a few years ago. My part was to explain the meaning of the tree, the lights, the presents, the angels, and teh ribbons. All parts of Christmas have a biblical principle behind them and I pray that I could just find that sheet. THe one I remember the most was the presents. It represents the three gifts given to Jesus by the wisemen and Jesus said that we are to giving and have a giving heart.

I do not like-... no.. I hate what people are doing with our Christmas. How they are turned it into a day to worship a fat old guy in a red suit whose name sounds like someone else's name I know. I hate how Christmas has been materialized. I hate how we are subject to the ridicule of talking about Jesus and calling it Christmas.. not respecting other religions.

Well.. WHAT ABOUT JESUS!!!! WHat about OUR religion.... what about the Savior who left a wonderful home called heaven where everything was perfect to be born of a virgin and be raised in this sinful world. HE was betrayed throughout his life and faced the same temptations that we do. He was crucified on the cross for our sins and He suffered and bled and died. HOW DARE ANYONE try and take that away from us.

However, why do we let them? Why give up Christmas? Instead of giving up on something because the world is trying to turn it for evil(as they always do I might add), why don't we stick to our beliefs???? Why don't we take a stand and say "Merry Christmas!" and "Happy New Year". I understand where you are coming from on not giving Christmas presents, but I am saying that we shouldnt' give up on somehting because the world turns it for evil.

People, many times, are a little more open around the Holidays to hear about God. Someone who is lost asks what you are doing for Christmas... tell them about Jesus. A great way to witness!

But Christian, as a siser in CHrist I am saying this... Christian.. don't give up. Don't give up on celebrating teh birth of our Lord Jesus, whatever day it was that he was born. Christian, don't give up on the little boys and girls who don't know about Christ and may lost that chance. I know I used to believe in Santa Clause.. but when someone told me what Christmas was all about.. I was amazed... I learned more and more about my Savior and the true meaning of the word.

I make a cake every Christmas now that says Happy Birthday to my Savior. When I am out of my parents house, maybe the Lord will open some doors and allow me to be a blessing to others in the form of inviting them over for Christmas or THanksgiving meal. Actually, not just then. I like the idea of inviting a family from the church over to my house every sunday night.

Christian, dont' give up because the world is dying and trying to take away our Christmas. They can't take away the joy of our salvation... why let them take away a day that celebrates our Lord? Don't give up. This may be the last chance to tell them about Jesus.

[BlindSeeker]

. . . This may be the last chance to tell them about Jesus.

Christmas will never be the last chance to be a witness for Christ . . .

[Catsmeow]

It's good to see you, too, bruh BlindSeeker. I missed you. BTW, we moved away from Hurricane Alley to the dessert.

Have a wonderful weekend...

[BlindSeeker]

It's good to see you, too, bruh BlindSeeker. I missed you. BTW, we moved away from Hurricane Alley to the dessert.

Have a wonderful weekend...

aaaaahhhh, no more palm trees

[Catsmeow]

Blindseeker: Well, actually we have two palms in our front yard. We have wild palms everywhere...but also cactus, too. It's pretty cool...

Kittylover: I won't let anyone steal my joy of Christmas because I just won't....But I can enjoy the holiday, with food and decor...without spending myself into debt.

I think that's all I was really saying: why spend myself into debt? Why waste money on gifts (apart from gifts to the poor and needy), and line the pockets of merchants who want nothing to do with baby Jesus?

I'm just so fed up with political correctness.