If you enjoy celebrating Christmas in the spirit and manner you have been doing for years, then you probably don’t want to read this.

Christmas

I have celebrated Christmas in the traditional sense for many years. This a tradition has been handed down through generations. I always thought I was celebrating Jesus birth, I never questioned what I was taught about Jesus and Christmas. What was I going to do, question my mothers believes or even the churches believes?

Recently, I began to study the Bible and have been amazed at the truth that I am finding in God’s Word. One verse I seem to continuously be brought back to is:

11 Timothy 2:15

15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of the truth.

This made me realize I should be questioning everything I believe and have been taught on religion. God is going to hold  me accountable for my actions, regardless  who teaches them to me, so I better make sure that the  traditions and rules I obey are from God and his Word.

I ask myself as I study,  am I reading God’s word and interpreting it’s meaning to suit me or am I asking God to show me the truth from his Word. I have found that I have to be very open minded to accept what I thought I knew has been a lie and accept what I find to be true in the Bible I need to accept.

11 Timothy 4:3-5

3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  

4   And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables. 

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of the ministry.

To me, this is saying that I hear from the churches and it’s leaders what I want to hear (heap teachers having itching ears) and justify my believe because I assume the church leaders are telling me the truth.

No where in the bible does it tells us to celebrate Jesus birth. Yet, every year we put a Christmas tree, lights, bribe our children to be good so Santa Claus comes to visit them with lots of toys, we hang stockings throughout our homes, nativity scenes are displayed everywhere even churches. We tells ourselves that we are celebrating Jesus birthday. If we think about it and really want to be honest with ourselves, we need to research the origins of Christmas and it’s traditions. Ask yourself are you really celebrating birth of Jesus? When did this tradition even start?

December 25^th was reckoned the winter solstice, and it was regarded as the nativity of the Sun , because the day begins to lengthen and the power of the sun to increase from that turning point of the year. The Egyptians represented the new-born sun by the image off an infant (Yule)

To the Romans this date was know as “Saturnalia,” a time of deliberate debauchery. Drinking through repeated toasting-known as “wassail” was a feature of this celebration. The mistletoe was symbolized fornication, and the entire event was finished with a Great Feast, the Christmas Dinner.

Long before the fourth century, and long before the Christmas era itself, a festival was celebrated among the HEATHEN, at that precise time of the year, in honor of the birth of the son of the Babylonian queen of heaven, Isis, who claimed a full-grown evergreen tree sprang over night from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth unto new life the Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, she claimed Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it.

The Christmas tree read Jeremiah 10:1-5  

1  Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh  unto you, O house of Israel:  

2  Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.  

3    For the customs of the people are in vain, for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 

4  They  (the heathen) deck it with silver and with gold; they (the heathen)  fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it  move not. 

5   They (the heathen)  are upright as the palm tree, but speak not:  they (the heathen) must needs to be borne,  because they (the heathen)  cannot go. Be not afraid of them (the heathen);  for they (the heathen)  cannot do evil, neither also is it in them (the heathen) to do good.

I had no idea this was in the Bible!!!

The Christmas Tree is the sacred tree of the winter-god; the Druids believed the spirit of their god resided in the tree. Most ancient pagans knew the tree represented Nimrod-reincarnated into Tammuz! Pagans also looked upon the tree as a phallic symbol.

The mistletoe was used at the festival of the winter solstice because it was considered sacred to the SUN, because of its supposed miraculous healing power.

To the Druid’s the mistletoe is the sacred plant symbolizing pagan blessings of fertility-thus kissing under the mistletoe is the first step in the reproductive cycle.

Holly berries were also considered sacred to the sun-god.

The term Yule has various meanings; Babylonian name for “infant” or “little child” other countries say it means “wheel.”

Giving of gifts to each other on this day is not celebrating Jesus birth. You say, but the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem to give gifts to Jesus as an infant: It was not the day of his birth that they came to visit: Mathew 2:1-2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem and the wise men walked from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Also, they gave Jesus gifts not exchange gifts.

Santa Claus: The name is a corruption of the name “St. Nicholas” a Roman Catholic bishop who lived in the 5^th century. Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol 19, pages 648-9, 11^th edition. St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra…a saint honored by the Greeks and Latins on the sixth of December…A legend of his surreptitious bestowal of dowries on the three daughters of an impoverished citizen… is said to have originated the old custom of giving present in secret on the eve of St. Nicholas (Dec 6).

The star, a 5 pointed star, the pentalpha is a powerful symbol of Satan, second only to the hexagram. The star is the sacred symbol of Nimrod and has nothing to do with Christianity.

Candles represent the sun god’s newly born fire. Pagans the world over love and use candles in their rituals and ceremonies. Certain colors are also thought to represent specific powers. The extensive use of candles is usually a very good indication that a service is pagan, regardless of the outward trappings.

Wreath’s are associated with fertility and the “circle of life” being circular, they also represent the female sexual organ.

Reindeer are horned animals presenting the “horned-god: or the “stag-god” of pagan religion. Santa traditionally has a team of eight reindeer; in Satanic geomatic, eight is the number of “new beginnings” or the cycle of reincarnation.

Elves are imp-like creatures who are Santa’s little helpers (or Satans demons).

Green and Red are the traditional colors of the season, as they are the traditional pagan colors of winter.

Information from: “Occult Holidays-or-God’s Holy Days-Which” by Fred R. Coulter and Encyclopedia Britannica

A Love Letter

Dear Friend,

How are you? I just had to send a note to tell you how much I love you and care about you.

I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends. I waited all day, hoping you would want to talk with Me also. As evening drew near, I gave you a sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to rest you-and I waited. You never came. Oh, yes, it hurts Me-but I still love you because I am your friend.

I saw you fall asleep last night and longed to touch your brow, so I spilled moonlight upon your pillow and face. Again I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you! You awakened late and rushed off to work. My tears were in the rain.

Today you looked so sad-so all alone. It makes My heart ache because I understand. My friends let Me down and hurt Me many times, too, but I Love you.

Oh, if only you would listen to Me. I Love you! I try to tell you in the blue sky and the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves on the trees and breathe it in the colors of flowers. I shout it to you in the mountain streams and give the birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature scents. My love for you is deeper than the ocean and bigger than the biggest want or need in your head. Oh, if you only knew how much I want to walk and talk with you. We could spend an eternity together in heaven.

I know how hard it is on this earth: I really know! And I want to help you. I want you to meet My Father. He wants to help, you. My Father is that way, you, know.

Just call Me-ask Me-talk with Me! Oh, please don’t forget Me. I have so much to share with you!

All right, I won’t bother you any further. You are free to choose Me. It’s your decision. I have chosen you, and because of this I will wait-because I love you!

Your Friend,
Jesus

Yes we definitely can:

Mathew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; 8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Oh, so I just have to ask and God will give knowledge freely? No,not at all!! We can have a personal relationship with God by reaing his word the Bible, pray for wisdom as you read and study. God is not a God of confusion. Most people myself included never really gave thought about having a personal reelationship with God. But through the Bible and learning through Jesus example we can get to know God on a personal level.
This is a very lengthy read, mainly because I chose to place the whole verse, so you do not have
look up the verses.

Why Read the Bible
G2Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

He Gives us Strength
Exod 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him

Why a guilty conscious
Prov 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Why was Jesus scrificed
sa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Result of seeking out God
Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matt 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

How God teaches us
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

He gives peace
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

He is merciful
1Chr 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

He is compassionate
Ps 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

He is merciful
Prov 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Jesus as our example
1Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Not partial wee all are eqaul
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Why be wise with gods wisom
Matt 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

he leads us to the truth
Ps 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

A comforter
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

He is a jealous God
Nah 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

What he hates
Prov 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Serve god only
Matt 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

We must love everyone just as Jesus did
1John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Gives us gifts
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Prov 15:12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

Tells us what is good in his eyes
Mic 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Matt 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Strength to get through trials
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Ps 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Reward obedience
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

My favorite passages in the Bible is 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

Throughout the verse the word “charity” is used.  As you read the chapter below think of the word “charity” as “love.”  The use of the word in this passage does not have the same meaning as we use the word today.

Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionary explains the word “charity.”

ag-ah’-pay

love, that is, affection ,benevolence specifically (plural) love feast, (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

Total KJV occurrences: 116

1 Corinthians Chapter 13

  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Being disabled has given me a great deal of time to devote to reading and studying the Bible.  I have been to many churches of various denominations, and assumed that ministers/preachers were teaching the truth from the Bible. After all they studied the Bible for years and claim to be servants of God, so they know more about God’s word than I do. Being examples for the congregation surely they wouldn’t lie or mislead members of the church. Well many of you probably think is a childlike attitude or very naïve. And you would be correct.

But, 25-30 years ago it was the norm to think of people as being trustworthy.  We were taught to trust priests, policemen, teachers and others who held positions of authority. My family was Catholic at that time and had a priest visit our home frequently to bless it.  With their beautiful cathedrals, the Sunday morning service was beautiful, filled with wonderful music to glorify God. When the news came out with accounts of Catholic priests molesting young boys many people began to question the validity of religious leaders.  For me personally this was a huge eye-opener, no longer did I respect people who held positions of authority. But also began reading and studying the Bible not relying on someone else to teach me their truth.

For, many years I strayed  and wandered in the world, lost and confused about who could be trusted.  As time went by, I began questioning my believe and faith in  God.  I became a part of the worldly group, looking out for number one, finding new and exciting things to do, drinking, smoking even experimenting with drugs.  It wasn’t until I experienced a couple of emotionally involved tragedies that I began to search for God, I needed comfort and strength and I wasn’t getting that from people around me but I had enough knowledge from Bible reading to know where to seek the comfort and strength I needed.

As I searched the Bible and various denominations I found myself becoming confused about religious beliefs.  Churches were teaching one thing and doing the complete opposite, teaching things that were not in the Bible or twisted things from the Bible.  At some point of my search, I decided to stop going to church but continued reading and studying the Bible. Then started praying for wisdom, knowledge and truth, this is when I began noticing that much of what I thought I knew about the Bible and church, was not at all what the Bible actually said.

Presently I find myself studying the Bible in a whole new light. I find free (freely you get freely you give), study material, compare verses and chapters, use two or more Bible versions and recently began looking at Hebrew and Greek words for a deeper understanding of God’s Word.  What I am learning daily amazes me.

I have been thinking about starting a new page on my here for quite sometime, but much of what I am learning may offend some people, hurt their feelings or even find what I say as insensitive.  I pray that you do not take my word for anything I say about the Bible. I urge you to spend some time daily reading your Bible, pray for understanding, be open minded enough to change your beliefs and look up any verses I quote in your own Bible.  Make your Bible show you the truth and the way to eternal life.

The most intriguing thing I have learned about so far, is God’s Kingdom.  This was the good news Jesus was teaching.