bourdongirl
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Post by bourdongirl on Dec 5, 2015 18:39:01 GMT -6
My family usually choses a gift we give to Jesus every year as a way to give back. Its definitely a great idea. One way we thank God is to decorate our tree with things He's blessed us with over the years. So the ornaments reflect what He has done for us. (Vehicles, vacations, siblings, houses, animals, etc)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2015 18:40:36 GMT -6
That's cool!
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Post by Brie D on Dec 6, 2015 16:10:05 GMT -6
We have decorations we hang up with names of Jesus. It's amazing how many there are.
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bourdongirl
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Post by bourdongirl on Dec 6, 2015 19:55:27 GMT -6
Brie D that's really cool! A really unique tradition. Does anyone here do New Year gifts? (We do that instead of doing presents Christmas day)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2015 13:25:32 GMT -6
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bourdongirl
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Post by bourdongirl on Dec 7, 2015 15:38:43 GMT -6
It's kindve a family tradition. (My dad did it when he was a kid,) plus it let's us focus more on Jesus at Christmas, rather than the stuff we want.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2015 13:28:21 GMT -6
That's cool, anyone here like mannheim steamroller or trans siberian orchestra Christmas songs?
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LadyErika
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Post by LadyErika on Dec 9, 2015 9:57:41 GMT -6
I find this discussion fascinating. It's an example of implementing intimacy with Jesus in every part of life in different ways.
Some people do it by specifically focusing on the wonder and majesty and awesome incredible importance of Jesus' birth at a specific time of year.
Other people do it without feeling that a specific time is necessary.
I don't believe either way is wrong. The question is - what is God saying to you? Are you listening to Him? What does He want you to do?
The Bible doesn't tell us to celebrate Jesus' birth at a specific time of year. It also doesn't tell us not to.
It does tell us to abide in Him, to seek Him first, to dwell in Him, to meditate upon His words, to pray without ceasing, to let Him live through us, to let Him be our life, to make Him the center of all we do.
For me, having a specific time of year (really all of December for me, not just a day or two) to specifically meditate on and focus on the wonder of how the Word became flesh and dwelt among us has been refreshing and uplifting. It's a reminder to go back to the time when Jesus took upon Himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.
The same is true for Resurrection Sunday in the springtime - it's a refreshing reminder to meditate on and praise God for the death and resurrection - giving us new life, resurrection life, HIM living IN us - of His Son Jesus Christ.
Whether we follow the "traditions of the world" for these holy days or not, they are covenant memorial days in our new covenant with Christ for they remember the times when God cut a covenant with mankind. And no, the specific day isn't the point. Since we don't know the exact days, though, I don't think it hurts to just pick one.
The point is letting the life of Christ live through us every minute of every day. We can't use Christmas as an excuse to confine our Savior to one day of the year; neither can we simply say we don't celebrate Christmas because He's not confined to one day and then continue living our lives as normal. Regardless of our stance on Christmas Day, are we TRULY seeking Him in EVERY area of our lives and EVERY day?
I also really appreciate how we are emphasizing the importance of the whole of Scripture in this discussion. The Old Testament is just as much the Word of God as the New Testament! It is true that there are some laws and so forth that are especially for Jews - for instance, I don't own a Jewish slave, so the OT laws on how to treat a Jewish slave are directly applicable to my life because I'm not in that situation. BUT the principle is still true for me. Every word of Scripture has application to my life in some form. And what is more important, as you've been saying, the whole of the OT points to Jesus Christ and God's covenant with us. It's on every page. Every one of the feasts points to Christ - in fact, He IS the feasts. (It's amazing to read the book of Hebrews after meditating on and studying Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Hebrews is a stunning commentary on the Torah and how it's all about Christ!)
So. It's all about Christ.
Colossians 2:14-17 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
This is the bottom line. Meat, drink, Holy Days, new moons, and sabbath days are "a shadow of things to come." They are dim copies of what shall be. It is as if the full reality is just around the corner - at this point, only the shadow falls over us, but soon the reality will be with us. Knowing that the reality is just around the corner, who would spend time quarreling about the nature of the shadow? Who would argue over the exact shade and darkness of the shadow? Who would dispute over what shape the shadow should be or the exact position that is right to stand in within the shadow? Who would brag that the shadow over him was bigger or brighter than the shadow over his neighbor? The value of the shadow is only that it points to the reality. Let's not focus on the shadow - live in the shadow as it represents the reality! Focus on the reality!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2015 10:29:43 GMT -6
Thank for your post! It's really well done and you stated everything so well!
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Dame Tashawna
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Post by Dame Tashawna on Dec 23, 2015 20:13:03 GMT -6
Christmas Eve is tomorrow! I'll have a Christmas post on Christmas day up on my blog, if anyone wants to see it. (link)bourdongirl: I saw what you posted earlier this month, about giving presents on New Years, and I think that's a good idea. My mom is kind of thinking of giving presents any time during the year instead of Christmas... it really does take the focus off of Jesus. So, has anyone made a gingerbread house? We made one yesterday and it might be the first one I've ever made. AND its all homemade. My mom made the gingerbread pieces and the powdered sugar and egg-white "glue", and my brother bought some candy and pretzels and stuff to decorate it. It's a cute little gingerbread "pretzel-log" cabin... with starburst and cereal shingles on the roof! I'll hopefully put a picture of it on my blog. And our tree! My little brother and sister cut a tree down from the woods at a house my dad built. On the way home it fell out of the back of my dad's truck onto the road, but it survived! It's branches are pretty sparse compared to "real" Christmas trees, but I might like wild trees better than the normal ones. That's what we've had lots of times. Anyhow, I've been writing this for kind of a long time... Merry Christmas!
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bourdongirl
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Post by bourdongirl on Dec 24, 2015 7:59:50 GMT -6
Dame Tashawna your gingerbread house and tree sound awesome. Can you believe its Christmas tomm? Where did the year go?!?
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Dame Tashawna
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Post by Dame Tashawna on Dec 24, 2015 14:40:59 GMT -6
It did come pretty quickly!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2015 15:46:00 GMT -6
Merry Christmas everyone! I pray you all have a blessed day!
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Post by Brie D on Dec 27, 2015 18:43:25 GMT -6
I had lovely few days, with my cousins. (and aunts and uncles and grandparents.) It was a bit awkward as usual as they aren't Christians. But I felt a little more at ease than last year. Then one of my cousins had grown a beard and had glasses which was weird, this year he was back to normal again. Even a cousin we hadn't seen for 5 years didn't seem like a stranger.
There was lots of time spent cooking and eating, and we had fun opening presents together. We played Monopoly and this time we had enough time to finish it the next day instead of staying up till a ridiculous hour, so I didn't quit. I lost instead, which was fine.
On the way home I realized what I should have said on some occasions. But it is hard to speak about topics you know they don't want to talk about.
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LadyErika
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Post by LadyErika on Dec 28, 2015 17:40:57 GMT -6
I got Half-Blood paperback for Christmas! *sets it with Resistance and TKS* *Notices size difference* *feels cover*
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bourdongirl
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Post by bourdongirl on Dec 29, 2015 11:39:57 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2015 11:55:02 GMT -6
nice! I'm glad you had a lovely time Brie D and so cool LadyErika I hope you like it!
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