What's the best GIFT you could give Christ for Christmas?

[Carol R]

The best gift I can give Christ for christmas is my life truly surrendered to Him.

I don't think there are very many lives truly surrendered to Him.

I try very hard and He is my all and my everything I never want to be without Him in my life.

He truly deserves more.

[OneLight]

Do you know how often that "myth" about the Christmas tree and the "pole/tree" in the Bible has been debunked, the fact that people don't know what that Bible verse is actually talking about never ceases to amaze me, as well as most of the other points. Fine, you don't like Christmas, some of us do, let us enjoy it, how is that possibly hurting you!

Debunked by who a bunch of so called experts or Jesus himself???

And as I posted in another thread let's say that you are right and that passage has nothing to do with what we call a Christmas and the birth of christ then explain to me how what we call a Christmas tree does??

What we call a Christmas tree today has nothing to do with Christ but more to do with the pagan ritual of santa clause. When we were kids what were we told was the purpose for the Christmas Tree?? It was put up and decorated so Santa would have somewhere to leave presents and we traditionally when we get together place all the presents under the tree until we get ready to open them. There is nothing about that symbol that has anything to do with praising, remembering, or worshiping Jesus's birth. So whether the passage refers to today's version of the christmas tree or not it's still a pagan symbol.

Nobody will dispute that what Christmas has become is not what Christians started it out to be. Just like celebrating the Risen Christ on Easter ... the world put in the bunny rabbit and easter eggs. What do you think of the 4th of July or birthdays?

OneLight

[cwill472]

I would (will) give every moment I have to spend with Him. By giving Him all the praise and glory.

[Aleksander]

The heart full of worship, surrender and praise. This is what God wants from us. So, my understanding that this will be the best gift.

[P_Joseph]

what i try to give Him evryday, my life. john 3:30

[chin]

repentance,if we as a nation don't repent of our sins, we will be judged heavily! jim

[MeCajunboy]

I found this description of Christmas and thought I would share because it's pretty much exactly how I feel about Christmas and the way it is celebrated by christians who don't know any better because it's the way they've been taught through the church for centuries.

IS CHRISTMAS IN THE BIBLE ?

What does the term 'CHRISTMAS' conjure up in your mind and heart, and what do you associate it with?

Is it gifts, trees, 'Santa Claus', family gatherings, arguments, the manger, envy, strife, tinsel, depression, parties, drinking, fighting, gossiping, and, oh yes, Jesus?

Do you 'really' set aside the 25th day of December to fully and completely love and worship The LORD? Or, is it a means to an end, a day off, a holiday, an excuse to 'party' in The Name of Jesus. Obviously, only you can answer your own motives and reasons.

DO YOU CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ?

Do you celebrate Christmas simply because it's a tradition, or because others expect you to? Again, only you can truly answer this most important question.

If you are remembering the birth of Jesus on Christmas day, then, shouldn't you worship Jesus; love Jesus; speak of Jesus; sing unto and about Jesus; and bring gifts unto Jesus, rather than, see who can decorate the prettiest 'tree', or receive gifts rather than give gifts, and party, party and more party?

WE CAN LEARN:

We can learn so much from The Commandments that The Almighty GOD gave unto The Children of Israel, as they were warned not to learn the way of the Nations (see: Jeremiah 10:2).

And so, The LORD reminds us today to be careful not to become involved with and participate in the customs and traditions of the world that are pagan, false and idolatrous.

FOR EXAMPLE:

The cutting down of trees and decorating them to 'so-call' honor The LORD (?).

In Jeremiah 10:3-5, we read the following, "For the customs of the people are vain: for it is but a tree which one cutteth out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not, ... neither ... is it in them to do good."

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE:

There is no evidence in The Holy Bible that Christmas is to be celebrated, in fact, The Apostles, the disciples, the first true believers and even for the next three centuries we find absolutely no record anywhere that anyone spoke about or observed what we know today as 'Christmas'.

SO, HOW DID ALL THIS GET STARTED?

Before the birth of The Messiah, our LORD, The Romans had a pagan feast called 'saturnalia' that was observed during the early part of winter, what we now call 'December', and its heathen feast and practices fell towards the end of the month.

As a result of Roman Catholicism connecting church and state around the year 313 A.D., the secular and religious became in many instances one issue. It is from this point in history that we begin to witness many pagan and lurid rituals and activities that became lot and parcel of 'so-called' Christianity.

POPE GREGORY THE FIRST:

Pope Gregory The First around 600 A.D., specifically instructed Augustine, the Archbishop of Cantebury, to adapt existing local religious (pagan or otherwise) customs and practices to Christian usage in order to help propagate the faith.

Thus, the state church endeavored to amalgamate, the old with the new, and as a result, a 'strange fire' became evident within Christianity that remains even today as a smell of awfulness in the sight of The Almighty GOD.

Just think, instead of bringing gifts to The LORD like the wise men did long ago, many in selfishness give, and receive from one another.

HOW ABOUT THE TREE?

How about the tree? Some individuals will traditionally go into deep debt not only to decorate such an idol, but also, all the other things that revolve around the Christmas celebration that brings no honor and glory to The Son of GOD.

Haven't you sensed something in your spirit telling you year after year that your adoration of and involvement with: the tree, Santa Claus, rudolph, debts, gifts, who outgives who, stories and songs 'about Christmas' that have nothing to do with the advent of Jesus is wrong? Haven't you sensed something terribly wrong?

DON'T YOU WANT TO DO WHAT OUR LORD DID?

Jesus celebrated The Feast of Dedication (Chanukkah) as recorded in John 10:22-30, furthermore, Our LORD never celebrated what today is referred to as The merry, merry holiday of x-mas, also known as Christmas.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ?

Have you ever thought about the name of this holiday -- "Christ - Mass" --, which associates the Christ (the Messiah) with a man-made service called the Mass? In a world of complexities and religious misgivings, it's a terrible shame that true believers in Jesus throughout these many centuries have been drawn into this awful celebration of tinsel and a old bearded man declaring that he has a 'gift' for you.

It is high time to wake up out of this sleep and stupor that has plagued those who profess faith in the Living GOD, The only True Light for this dying world, and His Name is, Jesus The Son of GOD.

YES, JESUS WAS BORN!

Yes, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea nearly two-thousand years ago for one and only one purpose and reason, and that is, to become our mediator between GOD and man, and not as some espouse, that Mary, or the Pope, or a rabbi, or a minister can take his place or even intercede before GOD for us. Only Jesus is Our LORD.

It is only through The Birth, Life, Death, Burial and Resurrection of Our LORD and Saviour Jesus that anyone can have access into The Kingdom of GOD.

AS A CHILD OF GOD!

As a child of GOD, are you willing to put aside idols? Like the tree, santa, rudolph, debts, traditions, customs, paganistic and heathenistic issues that revolve around Christmas and its commercialism with all of its trappings?

LET US JOIN TOGETHER IN PRAYER.

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in The Name of Thy Beloved Son Jesus, I ask You to forgive me for the lack of understanding and the disrespect that I have shown You in observing 'Christ-mas' the way I have in the past; Now, with Your love, mercy and help, please strengthen me to properly and scripturally worship You in spirit and in truth as I look unto My Saviour, The Messiah of Israel as My LORD, on the 25th day of December and every day of the year, and help me to be a loving and compassionate witness of Your love and grace.

May The LORD Himself help us to stay within the pages of Holy Writ for our counsel and guidance, and may we never accept additions or deletions to The Word of God, no matter how enticing they may be, or how old and beautiful the tradition and custom is.

In Your Holy Name We Pray....AMEN!!!

Shad that is such blatant misuse and misinterpretation of the Bible for your own gain. That is very disrespectful and quite frankly, it frustrates me to no end. Put it into context. If you don't like Christmas, then fine, dont like it. No one is forcing you to be happy about it. But at THE VERY LEAST keep your opinions just that: opinions. Please, please, do not abuse the scriptures to further your own agenda. That is just selfish.

If I'm so wrong then prove it to me scripturally, prove to me that anything that I posted can be proved wrong with scriptures from the bible.

Obviously the truth touches a nerve with some so called christians who don't want to believe that the way the celebrate christmas by worshiping all these pagan symbols is wrong.

I would love to be there in heaven when they are standing before God and trying to explain why they celebrated a holiday about him by worshiping idols like Santa, Frosty The Snowman, Rudolph, Jack Frost,ect.... and used it as an excuse to get together with family to drink and party.

I'd like to think that each of us have a good spot in our hearts and minds of Christmas my friend. Many of us have come a long way since the "rituals" of "partying" and such as you believe the world celebrates Christs' birth. I for one told my children when they were old enough to question "Santa" that I'd sincerely believe there was a fine man just like HIM in a far away country who used to make his own toys for needy children and hand carry them to their houses to surprise them. Now that doesn't sound very selfish and pagan-like to me; how about you.

As for me, this particular year I plan to offer my services to my young niece who's husband has recently walked out on their marriage because she's been so sickly and weak and he said he couldn't take any more of it, She also lost her father (my brother-in-law) to cancer in the during the divorce procedures, like her plate wasn't already full. Hence, the house is in need of repairs and my niece's too proud to ask for help. I told my children and wife that I'll be over helping her through the Christmas Season in an effort to lift her morale and self-esteem. She's a very special young lady and her daughter just had surgery on top of it all.........Perhaps we can all keep them in our prayers as well. Thanks in advance

In God

Cajunboy

[damo1]

damo1

hay cujun boy

wel i can see this is going to be one of these threads so before it gets to out of control i wil just say one thing what is the best gift i can give jesus

wel i use to be like one poster hear i use to hate christmas as me having no parents or some one to celbrate christmas i use to always go away by my self away from every one even the tv get some herroin get some pot a botlle of jim beam and just get wasted as this use to help me escape this world and hearing happy christmas i did this since i was 14yrs old and its been like this with my birthdays too i never use to tel people when i was born as it was pointles as i new i would not come home to a family singing happy birthday too me

yet when christ came into my heart he changed all that and the people that took me into their home when i came out of jail tried real hard to show me that i can celebrate my birthdays and christmas with real carring christians as i was taken every christmas day to midnight mass at the aglican church and then on christmas day its self i would be woken up with edwin and victoria singing i wish you a meary christmas first thought came to mind i wish they would shut up or i would put on ac/dc high way to hell would be playing loud with edwin on his knees out side my door praying and victoria knocking loud on my bed room door teling me to put it down and give it a go

so i asked jesus to help me and then next one my first christmas went wel as i spent this with their friends and edwins parents it was hard as fear of the past wear i often would have a shot of herroin or some speed with pot on the side and jim beam but as i forced my self to open up to this and decided to let people in and decided to talk with other strangers i did not know it went wel and i was happy for the first time

today i was in my new job i no longer clean for a living as i work for a group caled life with out barriers i am a proffesional case manger wear i deal with foster kids we have one boy who has been dumped by his mother she no longer wants him this was my second day as i started on wed 9 to 5pm we went christmas shopping with the gift card with money for events like this we got some new lights and sevral other things to make the star house more alive and as me and brendon wear putting up the lights we got talking and i was able to share to this 16yr old how it was for me and you know what we had fun today this kid has been hear long term and is going to be placed in a unit by him self which we stil wil meet with him budget his money make sure his place is clean as he does not want to be with a foster family as star houses are set for males and females long term wear you work on their issues and when you like me being the case manger feels that child is ready

you ring up the main head office and say the child is ready to be adopted by a family as we do not want to place an angry child into a home wear the family is jentle the kids are jentle and hear you have an angry young person this does not work so we have them ful time or like with brendon who says i want to be in my own appartment he is working only 2 days a week plus on a goverment payment which is caled center link but we are also working on that as i have a friend who is looking for some part time cleaners so i was talking today with brendon

i love my new job as its of god it wil meet al my expenses plus wedding expenses when i am in the philippines in jan for 2 weeks it pays good money i wil not say but i was told on wed i get more than i prayed for wel i prayed for 1500 i get in hand $2000 a fortnight this is all gods doing not mine this job landed on my lap wel i did pray but god did it in his own timming

this is what i wil give to jesus for christmas giving love to a child that has never had real love shown to him and i feel jesus wil be jumping with joy by having a christian worker being that lamp in this childs life

the house also looks cool with all the things we did today i have a staff meeting on friday at 10 am on friday and me and brendon on my day of wil finish of putting up the other things we got at the shops just seeing this kid smile did me and i thanked jesus when i came home for this new job

so please do not change or attack me to what i have shared in my post on this topic

god bless from your brother in the lord damien

[SanDiegoCA]

My gift is that my life for the whole year reflects the same Christian values, embracing the fruits of the spirit and rejecting the works of the flesh.

Edited November 29, 2007 by SanDiegoCA