Happy Holidays?

     This time of year people start worrying about how to greet one another and hold onto what the Christmas holiday is really supposed to represent. There is a big controversy about saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". 

     I really do not understand why Christians have let the wording of a greeting become a big issue to them. We don't really know when Jesus was born, but we have "agreed" to celebrate the occasion on December 25 each year, how was that choice made?

     The same people that don't want to say "Happy Holidays" will yearly set up a Christmas Tree in their homes, never wondering where that tradition came from and they'll teach their children or grandchildren that Santa Clause will bring all good little boys and girls presents by slipping through a chimney...where did that come from? Why do they accept some things readily but are offended by the term "Happy Holidays"?

     The Christian parents and grandparents while refusing to say "Happy Holidays" to show their love of God will overload their children with gifts they don't need and neglect teaching the idea that it's better to give than to receive. The holiday becomes a focal point of material gluttony! 

     If we don't want to say the new Politically Correct greeting, let's also re-examine the other things that we have accepted for years without question. Is the purpose of Christmas really to buy junk we don't need, give the stuff to people that don't want it and will forget it by the next week? 

     I'm not asking people to give up celebrating Christmas, I'm only asking that before we take offense at a greeting, let's focus on why we celebrate Christmas and along with examing our greetings, let's reconsider how we've been celebrating it and the way we've embraced the materialistic ways of the world.  

      Let's turn the focus back to Jesus, it's supposed to be His birthday celebration...what does that have to do with Black Friday or Cyber Monday or Santa Clause for that matter? Absolutely nothing.

Facebook, Twitter, Intagram, Google Plus

     Have you ever considered the things you post on Social Media as something that you'll be held accountable for? It has really been crystallizing in my thinking lately.
     Not only will I be held accountable for what I shared, but I will also have to face the repercussions of things I have caused to happen in other people's hearts because of my posts!
     I have really started being a lot more careful and had to go back and delete some things that really weren't necessary, and not only not necessary, but downright mean spirited.
     You may think I'm being a little "legalistic" about this, but consider the warning in this scripture, "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:35-37
     I'm sure there are some that could debate the meaning of this scripture, but that's not my desire here. I simply want to say, be careful, your words are more important than you realize.

When Are We Supposed to Be Holy?

Holiness~

     As a follower of Christ and child of God, what areas am I to live in holiness?
     In my church life? Yes! in my Family life? Yes! In my work life? Yes! now it gets tricky....in my social life? Yes! In my world of earning and spending? Yes! In my speech and thoughts? Yes! In my times of entertainment? Yes! You mean when I'm watching a movie? or reading a book? or talking to friends? driving to work, shopping for groceries? listening to the news? ...so then at what point am I able to stop being holy and living a holy life? This is beginning to sound like never! Not even briefly?!
     I think that's what this scripture is saying ~ Therefore, my dear friends, since we have these promises let us purify ourselves from everything that defile either body or spirit, and strive to be completely holy, out of reverence for God.  2 Corinthians 7:1
     My husband always tells me that when you read "therefore" in scripture you're supposed to pay attention what the "therefore" is there for! In this case it is telling us in 2 Corinthians 6 that God has heard our prayers, that we are not to let the grace of God be for nothing. It tells us that we are not the same as those who do not believe in God's salvation and have not prayed to Him and we are not to live as unbelievers do! And more! It tells us that God "will live with us and walk with us"!
     Ok then! That's why we're to be "Holy" in every area of our lives! We have a Holy God living with us! Does that boggle your mind? If you haven't stopped to think about it before it might! Every second of your day He is there! He hears everything you say and even think! He hears what you talk about with your friends, He sees what you watch on TV, He rides is in your car with you as you drive...instead of spending time complaining about other drivers, take time to talk to Him! Just talk to Him! He is a parent longing for His children to confide in Him, to bring their needs, their wants, their hurts to Him...but like a good parent, He waits for us to make the first move...   Well that was a little rabbit trail from trying to understand why we're to walk and live in holiness...
     Pretty much we've covered it, we are to be Holy in every area of our beings, our minds, bodies and spirits...in our thoughts, words and actions...with all people we encounter, family, friends, coworkers, fellow believers and non believers because our Father is Holy and lives with us 24/7 and we as believers are now His children.
     And in case someone was wondering...the definition of holiness is "the quality or state of being holy" and now we have to look at the definition of holy, "set apart for God's purpose".
   

Integrity, Innocent, Cross-Examine! Oh My!

     When I read a story I often put myself in the story...I don't know if that's normal or right or even if anyone else does it, but it is how I do it! "It's how I roll!"
     So this morning I was reading Psalm 26 and had to do a lot of confessing and repenting as I read and prayed it from my own position. The scripture starts with "Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity"....can you honestly claim "integrity"? I realized that I can not, I have not always walked in integrity....sometimes my integrity has been compromised! I believe integrity is like purity, either it is or it is not...there is no middle ground!
     Integrity means "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principals" and "the state of being whole and undivided". The first part I am good with, but to be transparent (a good goal!), I have been known to not be "wholly honest", sometimes I have stretched the truth or as some would say "a little white lie". However I don't believe a "little white lie" fits into a person of integrity's life.
     In reading and feeling the conviction of the fact that I have not always been 100 percent honest I had to confess before I could read more...that was just the first verse! So I prayed, "Lord, You know sometimes I have not been completely honest. I'm sorry for my dishonesty and then trying to act like I'm a person of integrity! Please forgive me and wash me clean! I will do better, I will not say or do anything that is not honest and true." (In our world that will be tough! Many people will label me a "hater" for not accepting the diversity of things that I don't believe are right. It doesn't mean I have to get on a soap box on Facebook, or anything that extreme, but it does mean when faced with a situation I don't believe is right I can't just go along with it to make everyone happy.)
     The second part of the FIRST verse says "I have trusted in the Lord without wavering"....ok, let's see if that's true? Have I ever worried or let myself be stressed? Well, yes, I have! Then there is the answer for that! I have not trusted without wavering or why would I fear or why would I be stressed? Or for that matter have I ever grumbled about a situation? A long line at the store! a red light!..high prices!..paying bills!...nothing to wear! car's not running...not enough money, not enough time...I guess you can tell I have heard grumbling?
     Back to God in prayer..Father I am sorry for the times I have NOT trusted unwaveringly! Please strengthen my trust, help me remember that I am in Your hands.
     Finally made it through the first verse. Now verse 2! "Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me"...wait a second! Father please don't put me on trial! I know I fall short in many areas! Please clean me, strengthen me, show me where You want me to grow and change! And I already lay it all before You because nothing is hidden from You, I only hide things from myself! I'm sorry and I already know I carry guilt for not being everything that You want me to be! Please forgive me! "Test my motives and my heart", Okay, let me confess first that I know my motives can be self-serving, sometimes I can be like Peter when he is quick to defend You and eager to follow Your instructions but when it comes to my own well being I react to keep it intact! I'm sorry Lord!
     Psalm 26 has already given me so much to face, confess and pray about in the first two verses!  I'll try to deal with verse 3 and 4 in the blog later! However I do well with verse 3! "For I am always aware of Your unfailing love"! Thank You Father!

The Heavens Tell!

This always amazes me! Can you imagine, the "heavens are telling"!? The heavens are delivering a message to us! 

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. Psalms 19:1-2

 

You Don't Have To Do It Alone

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13

Complete

     Holy Spirit, Thank You that You have come to teach and lead me into a deeper, more complete relationship with the full Trinity Who is my Creator.~
     I don't understand it all, but I know that the Trinity is God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
      The part I don't understand is why we focus on just one part of the Trinity and ignore or neglect the other two.
     I know that Yahweh the Father is the Great Creator and
     that Jesus the Son is my Saviour, Redeemer and King
     and that the Holy Spirit came to Teach, Correct, Comfort,
     Encourage and bring us into a deeper reality of relationship with      Father and to Glorify Jesus more completely.

     How can we limit our worship or focus to only One part of the Trinity? It takes all Three to be complete...