> General Discussions
Christmas
YellowStone:
Kat,
Your response was fine and I have no problem with it (as usual) :)
But I brought up a point and got no bites, so I will try again with something you mentioned.
Please know that this is not an attack on you. I am merely seeking understanding of a very important issue in my journey with God. :)
You wrote:
And even though some people may be ignorant about the source of these things, surely God is not. Can such things please Him? [/b]
If man has no free will, meaning nothing happens without God's foreknowledge; how can we either please or displease him?
I'm just not getting it. Is anyone here suggesting that "I" that is little me can go against God's plans? Granted, I might kick and fight, but surely God knows that.
So Kat, how then can I displease God? How can the pagan priests?
Moderators, anyone......please join in. :)
Love to You all,
Darren
hillsbororiver:
Darren,
It is all in the heart, is it the utmost desire of a man's heart to please God? That pleases Him.
We of ourselves, in the flesh cannot please Him but Christ in us does more and more as we die to the flesh daily by consistantly seeking His will in all things.
Psa 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psa 69:31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hooves.
Pro 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Pro 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Loving Him and loving our Brethren, charity, this is the greatest of the fruits of the Spirit.
Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Heb 13:19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Heb 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Heb 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1Jo 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jo 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
gmik:
I knew there would not be a consensus on this. We are all at different places and stages in our journey.
One year my whole family went to DisneyWorld for the week between the holidays(holy days?). Because that cost alot, we gave no presents to anyone-the kids agreed because well, ya know, DISNEYworld!! That was such an easy way to get out of a tree, food with the relatives, decorating. We just ignored Christmas (well, even w/o snow, Florida was pretty decked out) in as much as we could. I would like to do that every year.
I just finished reading Romans ch9-ch12. Awesome chapters. I think I would be offending weaker brethren to not be at family gatherings. My adult children celebrate Christmas (well, I did bring them up with it-but never a belief in Santa-which I took some hits from the family over). They know I have changed my beliefs but I am walking gingerly as I want them to stay open to all this. My granddaughter?? Last year I loaded her up with gifts...this year, well how do I do this? Decreasing the gifts year by year? I don't want to be known as Granny Scrooge either.
My son who now lives in Florida can't wait to come home to a snowy, old fashioned christmas. As of right now, i don't know what I will do. Since LOVE is the best thing, that is going to be my guide toward my family. God knows my heart, and He made me, and set up all the things that I've experienced in my life, to be at this point in my life.
We KNOW that it is not the unforgiveable sin ;) If it is an "idol of the heart" He wil deal w/ me about that.
Thanks for "listening" to my rambling.
Love ya all, (I enjoyed ALL the posts)
gena
YellowStone:
Joe may God bless you :)
Your simple answer removed the confusion. duh! ???
Joe wrote:
It is all in the heart, is it the utmost desire of a man's heart to please God? That pleases Him.
I cannot fault your reasoning here.
Gen 1:31
* And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
We of ourselves, in the flesh cannot please Him but Christ in us does more and more as we die to the flesh daily by consistantly seeking His will in all things.
These few words are amazing to me. Joe you have absolutely know idea how God has used you tonight.
2Cr 2:14
* Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
How else, but by Christ. It is he alone that has taken us out of this world, and his Father that feeds us knowledge as we grow. I grew some tonight for sure.
Thanks everyone for a great discussion.
I love you al and so does God! :)
Darren
gmik:
Jennie, as I was reading your post about your church I got this picture in my mind of a Currier & Ives painting. You know, snow gently falling, carolers singing, hot chocolate steaming for the ice skaters........aaaahhhhhh.....
Maybe that is why some of us still "do" christ-mass==all those memories of a Victorian type era, dreams unfulfilled, dolls we didn't get, the time we got exactly what we wanted, for me it is memories of my mom & dad together before they divorced.. a time when my own children were young & innocent....
Time has a way of flying.....I am getting myself sad over nothing!! :'(
me
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