What is Christmas - really?

[farouk]

Just now, kwikphilly said:

They do and I can't tell you how many folks ask about JESUS - I'm always outside fussing with landscape and it's just an awesome feeling when people say" Kwik,you're a Christian,can I ask about...... " that makes me smile❤️

It's a good thing to be thought of as a Follower of Christ..very Gratifying

The Lord opens many opportunities for testimony. (I think of the opportunities I have missed...)

[kwikphilly]

9 minutes ago, farouk said:

The Lord opens many opportunities for testimony. (I think of the opportunities I have missed...)

Don't think on those things- seek Him to Reveal the Opportunities moving forward

Before I walk outside I ask the Lord " Help me to not miss any Ministry Moments" --- on my own no doubt I'll miss them too,I don't want to go anywhere blindfolded❤️

[Neighbor]

Is it a cross one worships?  A cross is of course a symbol. There is one church locally that celebrates having the  largest cross of all the churches in the area, it's multi story made of I beams.  I mean it is really really big. It has a very large congregation too. Not especially rich in message each day, but hey not every church has a Spurgeon.

I actually took down the entire steeple at the church where I was employed. It too was a multi story structure we called the giant pencil in the sky. It was near impossible to maintain and so  we (I) decided it has to come down before we kill somebody on a windy day with it falling, again.

Without any cross nor any steeple the twelve elders there share the word of God verse by verse  every week and in fact daily, doing so in four languages  to about 800 people, plus a radio program of Sunday sermons.

I say  that to emphasize it is not the building  nor it's architectural features that calls out to a community, it is the Holy Spirit within all those individuals that gather at any facility of any kind that builds up a local body of Christ Jesus. Features and symbols may even inhibit and hinder rather than help or embellish.

One local body here started in a strip mall store front and has grown, not for the facility they have, but  by the message,  the gospel message of Jesus being shared there that is found throughout the entirety of the Bible. They now have expanded to the entire strip mall, still with no cross, no  steeple, just glass store front doors that open with welcoming attendees all celebrating the glory that is our Lord, doing so without even decent acoustics for song.

I suggest it is most beneficial to not be making decisions about local bodies  of Christ Jesus by the cross or a decorated tree, or creche,  on and at their meeting places, but instead by praying for guidance of the Holy Spirit as one is  praying to  both  receive the welcoming by the brothers and sisters that gather and pray there and to give a welcomed appreciation in return, all  without regard to the physical structure where they may meet.

To Paraphase an old Art Linkletter line -Some of the nicest Christians meet in the darnedest places.

[farouk]

6 minutes ago, kwikphilly said:

Don't think on those things- seek Him to Reveal the Opportunities moving forward

Before I walk outside I ask the Lord " Help me to not miss any Ministry Moments" --- on my own no doubt I'll miss them too,I don't want to go anywhere blindfolded❤️

Hi @kwikphilly "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

[Neighbor]

On 12/6/2024 at 7:57 AM, nebula said:

What is Christmas? Is it a Christian religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ, or is it a national cultural holiday, celebrating a good time with decorations, songs, festivities, get-togethers, and gift-giving? I propose that it is both. After all, even atheists decorate trees and exchange gifts!

Are either wrong? Well, that's a topic for a different debate.

But as Christians, while we claim it is about the birth of Christ, we set up lights without acknowledging the Light of the world, we set up an evergreen tree without contemplating everlasting life, we give gifts without acknowledging the Gift of God, and we open presents Christmas morning without even spending a few moments to reflect on the incarnation and Christ's birth.

So, what can we do to change this? What are ways to incorporate the meaning of the intended symbolism into our decorating and celebrating?
What ideas are out there?

Ideas? Okay first I suggest  not presuming there is a blanket "we". For there is not. Instead there is joy a peak of joy for a few, or even many. There is also a deep sadness for oh so many others. Christmas being a time period of many serious illnesses and way too many suicides. There is a vastness of extremes that comes about during time periods like Christmas season.

What is good though is the extremes also provide benefit of awareness of our Lord that may be  useful for enduring while here in the flesh. I do think that most everyone, and perhaps absolutely everyone, has  a peak or crisis of emotion, high or low to deal with at Christmas, and that  the word of God shared and lived, especially lived, does help many; not a collective we, but individually a me  and or a you.

Ideas? Okay, befriend and be a friend to someone, anyone, - but someone, starting at Christmas season perhaps. Do so without hammering that it is to push the message, instead be the message the gospel message of salvation restoration perfection that is in Christ Jesus .

Start by first being friendly and becoming a friend.  Don't be the door to door Bible salesman looking for  commission on sales, the one that after a sale quickly moves along seeking yet another sale opportunity.

In that vein is there someone that  has been left behind so to speak? Why not repent of that which distances, and restore an old relationship if there is one to restore.

[kwikphilly]

So since @Neighbor mentioned the sadness around the world around Christmas time ( and all Holidays)

I'll just share part of a little conversation I recently had with a dear Friend- each year for

Thanksgiving,Christmas and Easter I've always cooked 2turkeys or 2 hams or 2 lasagna- one for myself and family and one for my own Tradition to do what I love to do( yep,I'm Italian-"we" love to feed people,lol)

Quote

Celebrating the Birth of Jesus or preparing meals for my Street Ministry on the 25th as I do year after year- just me,Jesus and whoever wants a dish of food & a Bible.....no different than I do on Thanksgiving Day

You see I take the opportunity of what this corrupt and dying world has created by assigning a day where many many many people who have no homes or families or 2 nickels to rub together are alone and are made to be depressed because of the world's standards.... I see it another Glorious opportunity to Represent Christ Jesus ❤️

I don't have family anymore to speak of or big gatherings so I now I only make " one" big main course with lots of sides and don't have to rush around trying to get home in time for guests- This past year I was unable to cook and go out but for Christmas Day I'll take to the streets again

There's so much one person can do,my church donated a spiral ham for me for Christmas and I'm thrilled! It's been difficult past couple of years but the Lord ALWAYS Provides-

Merry Merry Christmas @nebula

[farouk]

48 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

 not every church has a Spurgeon.

 

I like your understated language here...........

[Neighbor]

1 hour ago, farouk said:

I like your understated language here...........

Spurgeon actually addressed that in a sermon, by asking of his regular attendees to give up their seat "ticket" to attend his packed worship  services to someone else, and go visit/attend a less attended place of worship to encourage the pastor(s) there.

I really thought reading through that service message to be a great uplift for me personally. All pastors overseers shepherds have need of encouragement as they strive to share of our Lord and savior Jesus, some doing so with great polish others working hard at it to be good messengers and servants.

[Luther]

11 hours ago, kwikphilly said:

I'm not but close - I was raised in NYC but was in PA alot for equestrian events- breeder friends lived in " Bethlehem" & " Nazareth "- isn't that something? Lol

My Dad's name was Philip,I'm the horse nut- his little Philly....

The name Philip means " horse lover" - Dad wasn't horse crazy but crazy about me (& I him)

Awesome!

[Luther]

9 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Yes! I am not always in the Spirit knowing not whether out of the body or not. I am under the Spirit's awakening and enlightenment to be aware of what my Lord Jesus will have of me daily (if I ask); but certainly there are high emotion moments as well as  deep concentration  quiet times too. And yes some slacker periods as well. Perhaps those are needed rest periods.

Occasionally  the Holy Spirit leads me into  what I think of as a paralyzing near depressing times of repeating visions. Then the Spirit releases me into action to be taken.

As I have shared so many times here as to bore even myself I have been turned about by the Holy Spirit in a rather confrontational way. I have been held down almost in a depressive state  with, visions then led to up and move no less than three times some 2800 miles. All to do a little supportive task at a church with the gift of helps so that some ministry may function better.

It is a high energy period of time for sure! Then there is a more reserved quiet time of  reflection. To me it is like  riding the back seat of an old  family station wagon, facing backwards, never seeing where we are going , but always getting to look out  back and see "wow look where we have just been".

So yes that is the way the Holy  Spirit works, on me and within me.

Merry Christmas, be blessed of God and a blessing to God too.

Same to you, friend in Christ.