Last Day of the Year

Now is a time of reflection. A time of looking back and a time to look forward.

This has been a very hard year. Not the hardest time of my life for sure. But this has been the hardest since we moved to GA 3 1/2 years ago. My husband was unemployed at the beginning of the year but God graciously provided a good job. We had a stressful time at the church we were attending which resulted in us leaving in June. Other factors caused separation and loss. There have been health issues. On a good note, we had a great family vacation in the Smoky Mountains to celebrate my husband's birthday.

Through it all God has shown Himself faithful and loving. No matter what happens, God is always with us and will never leave us. Though men may fail, God will never fail. We are ending this year better than we began it and for that we are grateful.

We are looking forward to a new year with hope and excitement. Lord willing, we will be traveling to Michigan to see family, some that we haven't seen in many years. In February, we are planning to attend the Bodkin conference. We are praying to be encouraged and maybe meet some new families with which we can be friends. Here is the link if you want information: http://www.crossroads09.com/

Then in March, we are planning to visit Bob's mom in Florida. Bob and Julia are blessed to be registered to attend the Father and Daughter Retreat hosted by Vision Forum.

I am hoping this will be the best year yet.

Glory to God,

Gloria

Why do we do what we do?

Today is Christmas Eve. People all over are celebrating Christmas and all the traditions that go with it.

But why do we do what we do? Rom 14:5,6 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Our family has chosen to not celebrate Christmas. We don't even do a little bit. Okay, it's out in the open now. But why? We have been fully persuaded in our minds that it is not for our family. Our reasons are many. A few are:

• Jesus commands us to remember his death, not his birth.
• It wasn't celebrated by the early church. It wasn't celebrated until after 300 AD. The pilgrims didn't even do it.
• All of the traditions have pagan roots. We are not comfortable with that.
• Jesus wasn't born in December.
• We celebrate his birth, life, death and resurrection every day.
• "Christ-mas"-A mass is a celebration of the dead, and Jesus isn't dead. He sits at the right hand of God.

Now before we are branded as heretics, please hear me out. I believe that everyone is free to have their own convictions in this matter. So if you believe it is fine to celebrate Christmas, that is between you and God and I am not condemning that. If we choose to not celebrate Christmas, that is also fine, it is between us and God and should not be condemned for it. See the verse above. We both then are living "as to the Lord". All I ask is that we are not looked down on because we don't participate in this tradition. We are not less of a Christian because we don't celebrate. We love the Lord with all our hearts and are seeking to follow Him in all our ways.

If you would like some more information on the history of Christmas and its traditions, here are some links.

Not Your Average Christmas : AKA Why We Don't Participate

Christmas Pagan Origins

Grafted in the magic of Christmas

Take Christmas back to its pagan roots

So, let us agree to disagree on this matter of Christmas if necessary.

Instead of the usual greeting of this season, I pray "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Eph 3:16-19

Glory to God!

Gloria