Ah, only a few more days until Christmas. Just the thought of the food, the presents, and the fun is making me happy. But too often -far too often- we forget what the season is really about. And what I have been wondering lately, is that if someone doesn't believe in God, then why do they celebrate Christmas?
Christmas is the day where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. All Christians know that. Christmas = Christ + mas. The most simple way to say it is this:
If you take away Christ from Christmas, what do you have? Christmas - Christ = mas. And what, now, exactly, is a mas? I don't know either. So if all of these people -people who don't believe in God- aren't celebrating Christmas, what are they celebrating?
I truly just don't get it. Christmas has become too commercial, too material. It's too much about 'Santa Clause' and presents. And worse- it's not even enough about giving. So many times this year, I have been asked what I want. I don't really want any stuff. I want to become a better Christian, but that is not a gift one can give. People are forgetting what the season is truly about- the birth of Jesus.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 6-7)
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (Luke 2: 16-18)
So all of you, please remember the story behind the holiday. And I would appreciate comments; I love hearing other's points of view. Thanks!
Showing posts with label Miracles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miracles. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Weekly Bible verse-Ecclesiastes 3
A few days ago, I was so touched that I started to cry while I was reading this Bible verse. I have never cried while reading the Bible before. I was thinking about how everything has a time and a purpose. Everything is controlled by God. It felt so amazing, I think that God was sitting right beside me while I was reading it. Ecclesiastes is great!
Ecclesiastes 3 (New Century Version)
There Is a Time for Everything 1 There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season. 2 There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants. 3 There is a time to kill and a time to heal. There is a time to destroy and a time to build. 4 There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad and a time to dance. 5 There is a time to throw away stones and a time to gather them. There is a time to hug and a time not to hug. 6 There is a time to look for something and a time to stop looking for it. There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away. 7 There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 There is a time to love and a time to hate. There is a time for war and a time for peace.
God Controls His World 9 Do people really gain anything from their work?10 I saw the hard work God has given people to do.11 God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.12 So I realize that the best thing for them is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live.13 God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God.14 I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people respect him. 15 What happens now has happened in the past, and what will happen in the future has happened before. God makes the same things happen again and again.
Unfairness on Earth 16 I also saw this here on earth: Where there should have been justice, there was evil; where there should have been right, there was wrong. 17 I said to myself, God has planned a time for every thing and every action, so he will judge both good people and bad.
18 I decided that God leaves it the way it is to test people and to show them they are just like animals.19 The same thing happens to animals and to people; they both have the same breath, so they both die. People are no better off than the animals, because everything is useless.20 Both end up the same way; both came from dust and both will go back to dust.21 Who can be sure that the human spirit goes up to God and that the spirit of an animal goes down into the ground?22 So I saw that the best thing people can do is to enjoy their work, because that is all they have. No one can help another person see what will happen in the future.
Ecclesiastes 3 (New Century Version)
There Is a Time for Everything 1 There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season. 2 There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants. 3 There is a time to kill and a time to heal. There is a time to destroy and a time to build. 4 There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad and a time to dance. 5 There is a time to throw away stones and a time to gather them. There is a time to hug and a time not to hug. 6 There is a time to look for something and a time to stop looking for it. There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away. 7 There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 There is a time to love and a time to hate. There is a time for war and a time for peace.
God Controls His World 9 Do people really gain anything from their work?10 I saw the hard work God has given people to do.11 God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.12 So I realize that the best thing for them is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live.13 God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God.14 I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people respect him. 15 What happens now has happened in the past, and what will happen in the future has happened before. God makes the same things happen again and again.
Unfairness on Earth 16 I also saw this here on earth: Where there should have been justice, there was evil; where there should have been right, there was wrong. 17 I said to myself, God has planned a time for every thing and every action, so he will judge both good people and bad.
18 I decided that God leaves it the way it is to test people and to show them they are just like animals.19 The same thing happens to animals and to people; they both have the same breath, so they both die. People are no better off than the animals, because everything is useless.20 Both end up the same way; both came from dust and both will go back to dust.21 Who can be sure that the human spirit goes up to God and that the spirit of an animal goes down into the ground?22 So I saw that the best thing people can do is to enjoy their work, because that is all they have. No one can help another person see what will happen in the future.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Believing in God (Believing #1)
Please note: As you read this post, please remember that these are my thoughts and opinions on this topic. Yours may be very different then mine, and that's okay. Please don't get angry if you think something I am saying is blasphemy or just plain wrong. Instead, please express these thoughts/opinions in the comments; I would love to hear someone (and anyone!) else's opinion on this topic. Thank you!
Hello, everyone! Today's topic is believing, as you will have read in the title. What I mean by this, is believing in God (and Jesus). This probably should have been the first topic, but too late now. I might not have even thought of this post, but I was talking to someone recently, who was really doubting whether God was real. Anyway, here it is!
Nowadays, a lot of people don't believe in Him anymore. I don't know why, and I can't understand it. This includes my dad. When I first found out about him turning atheist, he said that he had looked at the facts, and had decided. But I am not so sure he looked at all the facts. I don't know if he looked in the Bible or not (I'll have to ask him later), but if he did, he may not have looked in the right area(s). The Bible is so huge (mine is somewhere around 1600 pages) and it can be hard to find the things you're looking for. But if you look in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, it's not that hard to find proof of miracles. A few examples are...
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. -John 11:43-44
Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. -Luke 7:14-15
"I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. -Mark 2:11-12 (Part of Mark 2: 1-12; the story where Jesus heals a paralytic)
If you are doubting God's existence, and you would like some more examples of God's miracles, please read the following: Matthew 14:1-32; Exodus 14:21-27; Joshua 10:12-13; and Jonah 1. There are oh so many more, but I can't list them all. I would be listing a lot of the bible.
Are you doubting the existence of God? If you are, there is a very simple solution. Find yourself a New Testament Bible, and start reading. It may not sound like much fun, but it is worth it. You may find yourself starting believe that He is real. If you do, start praying. It may seem a little weird at first, talking to someone invisible. Of course, you don't even have to say the words, because God knows your every thought. And doesn't everyone talk to themselves at times? But a theory of mine is that you aren't really talking to yourself at all, even if you don't believe in the Lord, sometimes you're talking to Him, and you just don't realize it. That even if you choose to ignore Him, he will still be there, and you acknowledge him subconsciously.
Okay, if you still aren't convinced that He's real, let me ask you this. Do you believe in the Devil? Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? If you do believe in Heaven, here's something for you to ponder; If there is no God, then how is there a Heaven? If there is no God, then how did all those miracles happen? If there is no God, then how did Jesus raise from the dead, and open up the gates of Heaven? In fact, if there is no Father, how is there a Son (Jesus) at all? In my opinion, if there is no Lord, there is no Devil, and there is no Heaven or Hell. But there is God, and there is the Devil, and there is a Heaven and a Hell.
Please, consider these things I have said. And if you already believe in the Lord and read this article, you can consider these also, and maybe use some of it to tell others about the Lord God. I don't know, but I hope you will find it inspiring.
Hello, everyone! Today's topic is believing, as you will have read in the title. What I mean by this, is believing in God (and Jesus). This probably should have been the first topic, but too late now. I might not have even thought of this post, but I was talking to someone recently, who was really doubting whether God was real. Anyway, here it is!
Nowadays, a lot of people don't believe in Him anymore. I don't know why, and I can't understand it. This includes my dad. When I first found out about him turning atheist, he said that he had looked at the facts, and had decided. But I am not so sure he looked at all the facts. I don't know if he looked in the Bible or not (I'll have to ask him later), but if he did, he may not have looked in the right area(s). The Bible is so huge (mine is somewhere around 1600 pages) and it can be hard to find the things you're looking for. But if you look in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, it's not that hard to find proof of miracles. A few examples are...
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. -John 11:43-44
Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. -Luke 7:14-15
"I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. -Mark 2:11-12 (Part of Mark 2: 1-12; the story where Jesus heals a paralytic)
If you are doubting God's existence, and you would like some more examples of God's miracles, please read the following: Matthew 14:1-32; Exodus 14:21-27; Joshua 10:12-13; and Jonah 1. There are oh so many more, but I can't list them all. I would be listing a lot of the bible.
Are you doubting the existence of God? If you are, there is a very simple solution. Find yourself a New Testament Bible, and start reading. It may not sound like much fun, but it is worth it. You may find yourself starting believe that He is real. If you do, start praying. It may seem a little weird at first, talking to someone invisible. Of course, you don't even have to say the words, because God knows your every thought. And doesn't everyone talk to themselves at times? But a theory of mine is that you aren't really talking to yourself at all, even if you don't believe in the Lord, sometimes you're talking to Him, and you just don't realize it. That even if you choose to ignore Him, he will still be there, and you acknowledge him subconsciously.
Okay, if you still aren't convinced that He's real, let me ask you this. Do you believe in the Devil? Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? If you do believe in Heaven, here's something for you to ponder; If there is no God, then how is there a Heaven? If there is no God, then how did all those miracles happen? If there is no God, then how did Jesus raise from the dead, and open up the gates of Heaven? In fact, if there is no Father, how is there a Son (Jesus) at all? In my opinion, if there is no Lord, there is no Devil, and there is no Heaven or Hell. But there is God, and there is the Devil, and there is a Heaven and a Hell.
Please, consider these things I have said. And if you already believe in the Lord and read this article, you can consider these also, and maybe use some of it to tell others about the Lord God. I don't know, but I hope you will find it inspiring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
