Mercy

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Christmas Questions

So glad I purchased this poinsettia - a fund-raiser...
Just for clarification ...  It was Dr. David Jeremiah who made the observation that Dickens believed in a benevolent God & may not have had specific faith in the Savior (see my previous post).   Personally, I don't know.  For the life of me can't remember what I learned about him in my January term Dickens course while at Sterling College 40 years ago.

I do believe it IS possible to just be melted by the season - lights, music, food, festivities etc. and even to call it "Christmas" - without being Christian (in its purest sense).

I have caught myself trying to create a "mood" once again this year.  Sigh.  There is nothing wrong with beauty, carols and candles.  Christmas posts all over blogland evoke such warm sentiments in me. I'm captivated!   I could just sit with my laptop ALL day...



Then, I ask myself, "Would I be equally content to just sit with JESUS all day?"
"Am I going to all this effort for JESUS?"
These are questions you can't answer for me.
They're questions I need to examine quietly and honestly.
Several times a day!
And not just at CHRISTmas!
Posted on

9 comments:

  1. Jacquelyn StagerDecember 3, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    Psalm 139:23-24 comes to mind this morning as we seek to honor Jesus while celebrating his birth:

    Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!
    And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!

    If we were throwing a birthday party for a friend, we would think about what would please that person, not what makes US feel warm and fuzzy.

    Now I need to do some quiet and honest examination of my own heart...!!

    Thanks for all the thought-provoking you do on here Rebecca!

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  2. AnonymousDecember 3, 2011 at 8:33 AM

    You and Jacquelyn have caused me to do some examination of my own heart! Thanks for helping me re-focus.
    Not that there's anything wrong with candles and carols-they make this time of the year special. Donna

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  3. Kathleen December 3, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    It's a sad & scarey thing to think many ascribe to a faux faith with no real or personal salvation. I think that's why we're encouraged to "make our calling & election sure", and to realize that many will cry out "Lord, Lord ...", but that He never actually knew.

    The older I get the more I realize how precious & priceless is the gift represented in all that is Christmas. It takes very little for a lump to form in my throat.

    Enjoying the eternal side of the season with you.

    Kathleen

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  4. Heather's Blog-o-ramaDecember 3, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    I know lots of people celebrate Christmas...but if Christ isn't at the center of it all, how good can it be? It's not a question I can answer either..but I do know that Jesus is the reason I celebrate every year :) :) :)

    Your poinsettia is beautiful :) :) Good choice :) Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)

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  5. SandyDecember 3, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    I realize many people celebrate Christmas only as a time of gift-giving, parties and over-eating. My immediate family and I celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God, in the form of Man. We try not to let how the world has decided to celebrate this holy season reflect what we do. We concentrate on Him alone. That said, we enjoy the gift-giving and getting together with friends and family for wonderful conversation and meals. I am sure God meant for us to make this a time of greatest celebration in our hearts and homes. God is with us!

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  6. PamelaDecember 3, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    A convicting question. One I'll have to pray about. We have tried to make a conscious effort to simplify and spend time

    A Dickens quote that Emily used today on a picture is "It is good to be children sometimes and never a better time than Christmas when its mighty founder was a child himself."

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  7. EileenDecember 4, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Oh, I know that MUCH of what I do around the Christmas Season is for ME and for our family, and just for the security of that sense of tradition that it brings to me. Even the prayers I say, songs of praise I sing, going to Church, a LOT of it is for me. It's the same with Lent and the Easter Season. But I just take solace from the fact that all these things I do for me & mine does somehow make me feel closer to Jesus, and I hope He forgives all the 'fanfare' that has nothing to do with His message.
    And I know in my heart that if we had none of the 'hoopla', well, Christmas would still be Christmas.
    And I do know that over these past few years we've cut back a lot on the gift-giving, and the decorating, and Christmas still comes, and it's been just as nice if not nicer than when we 'went all out'.

    Nice post.
    Love to you,
    Eileen

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  8. downsizersDecember 4, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    Hey, Rebecca, you have an assignment over at my place. I will be making your life miserable if you don't drink your water this week :-) Seriously, I want to help so let's do a challenge just you and me. Are you up for it?

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  9. Brenda Leyland @ Its A Beautiful LifeDecember 6, 2011 at 8:54 AM

    Had to chuckle... and nod my own head... when you said you could sit with your laptop all day and enjoy the beauty of blogland this time of year.

    Mmmm... your question about sitting with Jesus all day... int'resting.... for it is what is going on in my own heart at present. In fact I posted something last night.

    It just means that His spirit, who dwells within each one who loves Him, is doing that amazing 'family' work yet again. Making us one with Him...one with each other...though we all live in different places and spaces.. the secret work of the heart indicates the connection we have as 'family'.

    Wishing you your own true glimpses of heaven in unexpected places today....

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