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 Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:41 pm
I have changed my way of celebrating Christmas. I wanted to share and get your opinion on a problem that has popped up over it.
I have told my parents that I do not want to exchange gifts this year. I want Christmas to go back to focusing on the birth of Christ. I just want to get together as a family, have a nice dinner, eat cake and ice cream. I want to celebrate it as a birthday party for Christ. We do not give gifts to everyone when celebrating one person's birthday. We give to that one person and honor them on that day. I want to honor Christ on the day we celebrate His birthday. Save the gifts till it is our birthday. I told them that if they felt the need to buy presents to please give the money to charity or to the church. People wrap themselves up in buying gifts for everyone and it is more of an obligation then truly desiring to give. They go into debt and spend the next year paying it off. People get things they don't really want. The focus becomes all about the gifts. I want the focus to truly be on Christ.
My parents say that I am not being very nice. They also say that I am robbing them of being a blessing by not letting them buy gifts. So they are buying gifts whether or not I want them. I don't understand how they are being a blessing if they are not honoring my wishes. Forcing someone to take something they don't want is not blessing them. My husband is upset over this and I am hurt that they can not honor this simple request. This is not a spur of the moment idea. We have given this a lot of thought and it is how we feel led to honor God. I told them back in June so that no gifts would be bought since they have a Christmas club and get the money in October. I will not compromise my beliefs and have told them we would not accept gifts. There is to much of Christmas that is wrapped around santa claus and traditions involving him instead of Christ and honoring Him. I respect the fact they feel differently and I am not stopping them from buying everyone else. I told them that we would come over on Christmas eve and spend time with them but that we would not exchange gifts. They told me they were buying gifts anyway. I had to cancel Christmas eve because we made arrangements to go to church that night and I had forgotten when they called. I told them I would arrange a different day with them but I am not accepting gifts. I am not mad or upset with the difference of opinions. I know it will take some time to get used to this. It upsets me they will not honor my beliefs. They have spoken with their pastor and he feels they should buy the gifts. This confuses me.It was not a decision based on financial needs because God meets our needs. It was a decision from the heart. What do you think?
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:18 pm
Hey hun!
I know that we touched briefly on this subject yesterday and I mentioned to you that it was your house & home that you were inviting them into, and for as much as you and your hubby have had to honor your parents wishes in their home from removing your shoes at the door to no smoking or whatever the rules of their house may be, that you and your hubby have established this one rule for your home and they should honor it as guests in your home as you would honor their rules/wishes in their home.
Plus, and I know that this will sound completly rude by me saying it but if they go ahead and dishonor y'all's wishes, ya can always take the gifts to people who are homeless or doing with out thru out your community and re~gift them, or to be a bit more vulgar, ya can always take them to a pawn shop or the retail store from which they came from and cash them in and then use the money back from them to do as you desire too. (i.e~give to a charity or a church or w/e in the area.)
I know that that sounds harsh but you have been honest and upfront with them about this subject, and as long as their are no small children involved (which is why the commercial part of the season began and the need to lie about santa clause and the whole gift giving stuff taking out of context from the 3 wise men bearing gifts to Jesus.) Then as long as your not striping them of their grandparental rights to spoil their little grandchildren in that manner than, I say re~gift them or pawn them or take them back to the original store from which they came from and get the gifts money on a store credit card and give it too someone less fortunate than yourselves. Oh and just so noone thinks that there was any lying going on about the gifts let them know to include a reciept with the gift if they are going to give it so they know that you are planning on returning the gift and what your going to do with the money from the gifts. I would if I had made such a ultimatium to my family like the one you say that you have made and would stick to my guns about what was what.
Christian huggles,
~Lyn~
heart
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:31 pm
Woodlyn Fairee Hey hun! I know that we touched briefly on this subject yesterday and I mentioned to you that it was your house & home that you were inviting them into, and for as much as you and your hubby have had to honor your parents wishes in their home from removing your shoes at the door to no smoking or whatever the rules of their house may be, that you and your hubby have established this one rule for your home and they should honor it as guests in your home as you would honor their rules/wishes in their home. Plus, and I know that this will sound completly rude by me saying it but if they go ahead and dishonor y'all's wishes, ya can always take the gifts to people who are homeless or doing with out thru out your community and re~gift them, or to be a bit more vulgar, ya can always take them to a pawn shop or the retail store from which they came from and cash them in and then use the money back from them to do as you desire too. (i.e~give to a charity or a church or w/e in the area.) I know that that sounds harsh but you have been honest and upfront with them about this subject, and as long as their are no small children involved (which is why the commercial part of the season began and the need to lie about santa clause and the whole gift giving stuff taking out of context from the 3 wise men bearing gifts to Jesus.) Then as long as your not striping them of their grandparental rights to spoil their little grandchildren in that manner than, I say re~gift them or pawn them or take them back to the original store from which they came from and get the gifts money on a store credit card and give it too someone less fortunate than yourselves. Oh and just so no one thinks that there was any lying going on about the gifts let them know to include a receipt with the gift if they are going to give it so they know that you are planning on returning the gift and what your going to do with the money from the gifts. I would if I had made such a ultimatum to my family like the one you say that you have made and would stick to my guns about what was what. Christian huggles, ~Lyn~ heart There is no small children. My daughter is 18. They never did spoil her or have much to do with her for her whole life. They never called and ask to take her anywhere. They never really babysat her or anything. It is sad to say but true. They do not come over to our house either. They only come over to show us a new car they bought or to argue.The last time they came over was Easter for a visit and that was to fight with us and say that I was not a very good christian. (That is because they do not like the fact we go to a Baptist church.) They expect us to go over to their house. If we accept the gifts at all at Christmas then it would be compromising our belief.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:38 pm
iamlost4ever Woodlyn Fairee Hey hun! I know that we touched briefly on this subject yesterday and I mentioned to you that it was your house & home that you were inviting them into, and for as much as you and your hubby have had to honor your parents wishes in their home from removing your shoes at the door to no smoking or whatever the rules of their house may be, that you and your hubby have established this one rule for your home and they should honor it as guests in your home as you would honor their rules/wishes in their home. Plus, and I know that this will sound completly rude by me saying it but if they go ahead and dishonor y'all's wishes, ya can always take the gifts to people who are homeless or doing with out thru out your community and re~gift them, or to be a bit more vulgar, ya can always take them to a pawn shop or the retail store from which they came from and cash them in and then use the money back from them to do as you desire too. (i.e~give to a charity or a church or w/e in the area.) I know that that sounds harsh but you have been honest and upfront with them about this subject, and as long as their are no small children involved (which is why the commercial part of the season began and the need to lie about santa clause and the whole gift giving stuff taking out of context from the 3 wise men bearing gifts to Jesus.) Then as long as your not striping them of their grandparental rights to spoil their little grandchildren in that manner than, I say re~gift them or pawn them or take them back to the original store from which they came from and get the gifts money on a store credit card and give it too someone less fortunate than yourselves. Oh and just so no one thinks that there was any lying going on about the gifts let them know to include a receipt with the gift if they are going to give it so they know that you are planning on returning the gift and what your going to do with the money from the gifts. I would if I had made such a ultimatum to my family like the one you say that you have made and would stick to my guns about what was what. Christian huggles, ~Lyn~ heart There is no small children. My daughter is 18. They never did spoil her or have much to do with her for her whole life. They never called and ask to take her anywhere. They never really babysat her or anything. It is sad to say but true. They do not come over to our house either. They only come over to show us a new car they bought or to argue.The last time they came over was Easter for a visit and that was to fight with us and say that I was not a very good christian. (That is because they do not like the fact we go to a Baptist church.) They expect us to go over to their house. If we accept the gifts at all at Christmas then it would be compromising our belief. All that I was trying to say was if they do not want to follow the rules you two have set for your own personal holidays or do not respect your religion then take the gifts and re~gift them to some one who needs it more than you do, that way you will not actually be compromising anything other than their monitary love. Huggles, ~Lyn~ <3
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:40 pm
Woodlyn Fairee iamlost4ever Woodlyn Fairee Hey hun! I know that we touched briefly on this subject yesterday and I mentioned to you that it was your house & home that you were inviting them into, and for as much as you and your hubby have had to honor your parents wishes in their home from removing your shoes at the door to no smoking or whatever the rules of their house may be, that you and your hubby have established this one rule for your home and they should honor it as guests in your home as you would honor their rules/wishes in their home. Plus, and I know that this will sound completly rude by me saying it but if they go ahead and dishonor y'all's wishes, ya can always take the gifts to people who are homeless or doing with out thru out your community and re~gift them, or to be a bit more vulgar, ya can always take them to a pawn shop or the retail store from which they came from and cash them in and then use the money back from them to do as you desire too. (i.e~give to a charity or a church or w/e in the area.) I know that that sounds harsh but you have been honest and upfront with them about this subject, and as long as their are no small children involved (which is why the commercial part of the season began and the need to lie about santa clause and the whole gift giving stuff taking out of context from the 3 wise men bearing gifts to Jesus.) Then as long as your not striping them of their grandparental rights to spoil their little grandchildren in that manner than, I say re~gift them or pawn them or take them back to the original store from which they came from and get the gifts money on a store credit card and give it too someone less fortunate than yourselves. Oh and just so no one thinks that there was any lying going on about the gifts let them know to include a receipt with the gift if they are going to give it so they know that you are planning on returning the gift and what your going to do with the money from the gifts. I would if I had made such a ultimatum to my family like the one you say that you have made and would stick to my guns about what was what. Christian huggles, ~Lyn~ heart There is no small children. My daughter is 18. They never did spoil her or have much to do with her for her whole life. They never called and ask to take her anywhere. They never really babysat her or anything. It is sad to say but true. They do not come over to our house either. They only come over to show us a new car they bought or to argue.The last time they came over was Easter for a visit and that was to fight with us and say that I was not a very good christian. (That is because they do not like the fact we go to a Baptist church.) They expect us to go over to their house. If we accept the gifts at all at Christmas then it would be compromising our belief. All that I was trying to say was if they do not want to follow the rules you two have set for your own personal holidays or do not respect your religion then take the gifts and re~gift them to some one who needs it more than you do, that way you will not actually be compromising anything other than their monitary love. Huggles, ~Lyn~ <3 Thank you for the idea.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:01 pm
lol A prayer or two for you and your family. Stand fast in your conviction. It may rub people the wrong way for a minute, but if the Father wills it they'll come around. If the Ruach is guiding you to do a thing though, you best pay attention.
I know that it's difficult when your walk with Yeshua takes you off in a direction that many around you don't understand. But when the ones that you love start coming around to Yah, you need to be there for them. lol
May you all be blessed with His Shalom and understanding, and the patience and endurance to see it through.
~MW
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 10:27 am
Metal Wallflower lol A prayer or two for you and your family. Stand fast in your conviction. It may rub people the wrong way for a minute, but if the Father wills it they'll come around. If the Ruach is guiding you to do a thing though, you best pay attention. I know that it's difficult when your walk with Yeshua takes you off in a direction that many around you don't understand. But when the ones that you love start coming around to Yah, you need to be there for them. lol May you all be blessed with His Shalom and understanding, and the patience and endurance to see it through. ~MW Thank you for that. You have a very understanding spirit.
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:14 pm
iamlost4ever Metal Wallflower lol A prayer or two for you and your family. Stand fast in your conviction. It may rub people the wrong way for a minute, but if the Father wills it they'll come around. If the Ruach is guiding you to do a thing though, you best pay attention. I know that it's difficult when your walk with Yeshua takes you off in a direction that many around you don't understand. But when the ones that you love start coming around to Yah, you need to be there for them. lol May you all be blessed with His Shalom and understanding, and the patience and endurance to see it through. ~MW Thank you for that. You have a very understanding spirit. If I do at all, it was because the Father was there to understand me when I was intolerable. lol Thank you for your patience. =)
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Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:16 pm
My Pastor also gave me a new way of looking at things. He says that he views a tree as this- Jesus is the tree of life so by putting up a Christmas tree he is reminded of that. Lights- Christ is the light of the world.
It is all in the point of view that you see it as.
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 7:20 pm
iamlost4ever My Pastor also gave me a new way of looking at things. He says that he views a tree as this- Jesus is the tree of life so by putting up a Christmas tree he is reminded of that. Lights- Christ is the light of the world. It is all in the point of view that you see it as. Or just not put one up at all, and stay away from all the new wave huggie lovie feel good so called Christian movement that allows people to bend their beliefs for the commercialized version of a pagen and merchandise generated holiday. If you truly read your Bible about the birth of Jesus and actually believe what is written, then you will know that Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 24th, because the Bible speaks of the angels telling the sheperds tending their flocks in the meadows about the comming of our Lord. If you know anything about sheep or are interested in knowing, then google when the sheperds bring their flocks down to the fields to graze which is in the spring summer and fall months, and in the winter months take them up into the hills to feed on the grasses there because it is more abundant. So in most circles, the belief is that our Lord was born some where around the fall of the year and not the winter. Now don't get me wrong here. I am not trying to bad mouth your pastor or his idea about Christ'mas trees and lights; Nor am I knocking your church either. I am just saying that there are varing opinions concerning Christ'mas actually being made more into a pagen holiday and a merchandising event to sell things by trying to pawn it off on a very well noted Biblical and historical figure as our Lord and Savior Jesus, But then again I was raised up in a good old fashioned Bible teaching gospel preaching church enviroment myself and my father is a pastor and Sunday school teacher, so I have been blessed with a lot of really good knowledge from him and Billy Graham and those as such all of my life. Have a safe and blessed "Happy New Year" my good friend in Christ. Your brother in our Lord and Savior Jesus; David D. - The Hawk
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:54 pm
The Hudson Hawk iamlost4ever My Pastor also gave me a new way of looking at things. He says that he views a tree as this- Jesus is the tree of life so by putting up a Christmas tree he is reminded of that. Lights- Christ is the light of the world. It is all in the point of view that you see it as. Or just not put one up at all, and stay away from all the new wave huggie lovie feel good so called Christian movement that allows people to bend their beliefs for the commercialized version of a pagen and merchandise generated holiday. If you truly read your Bible about the birth of Jesus and actually believe what is written, then you will know that Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 24th, because the Bible speaks of the angels telling the sheperds tending their flocks in the meadows about the comming of our Lord. If you know anything about sheep or are interested in knowing, then google when the sheperds bring their flocks down to the fields to graze which is in the spring summer and fall months, and in the winter months take them up into the hills to feed on the grasses there because it is more abundant. So in most circles, the belief is that our Lord was born some where around the fall of the year and not the winter. Now don't get me wrong here. I am not trying to bad mouth your pastor or his idea about Christ'mas trees and lights; Nor am I knocking your church either. I am just saying that there are varing opinions concerning Christ'mas actually being made more into a pagen holiday and a merchandising event to sell things by trying to pawn it off on a very well noted Biblical and historical figure as our Lord and Savior Jesus, But then again I was raised up in a good old fashioned Bible teaching gospel preaching church enviroment myself and my father is a pastor and Sunday school teacher, so I have been blessed with a lot of really good knowledge from him and Billy Graham and those as such all of my life. Have a safe and blessed "Happy New Year" my good friend in Christ. Your brother in our Lord and Savior Jesus; David D. - The Hawk Amein to that. lol Well said, brother. smile
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:24 pm
Metal Wallflower The Hudson Hawk iamlost4ever My Pastor also gave me a new way of looking at things. He says that he views a tree as this- Jesus is the tree of life so by putting up a Christmas tree he is reminded of that. Lights- Christ is the light of the world. It is all in the point of view that you see it as. Or just not put one up at all, and stay away from all the new wave huggie lovie feel good so called Christian movement that allows people to bend their beliefs for the commercialized version of a pagen and merchandise generated holiday. If you truly read your Bible about the birth of Jesus and actually believe what is written, then you will know that Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 24th, because the Bible speaks of the angels telling the sheperds tending their flocks in the meadows about the comming of our Lord. If you know anything about sheep or are interested in knowing, then google when the sheperds bring their flocks down to the fields to graze which is in the spring summer and fall months, and in the winter months take them up into the hills to feed on the grasses there because it is more abundant. So in most circles, the belief is that our Lord was born some where around the fall of the year and not the winter. Now don't get me wrong here. I am not trying to bad mouth your pastor or his idea about Christ'mas trees and lights; Nor am I knocking your church either. I am just saying that there are varing opinions concerning Christ'mas actually being made more into a pagen holiday and a merchandising event to sell things by trying to pawn it off on a very well noted Biblical and historical figure as our Lord and Savior Jesus, But then again I was raised up in a good old fashioned Bible teaching gospel preaching church enviroment myself and my father is a pastor and Sunday school teacher, so I have been blessed with a lot of really good knowledge from him and Billy Graham and those as such all of my life. Have a safe and blessed "Happy New Year" my good friend in Christ. Your brother in our Lord and Savior Jesus; David D. - The Hawk Amein to that. lol Well said, brother. smile I will also have to agree with you my young friend that that is the way to go. Not bashing anyones church or beliefs from their pastor I agree with also. Very well put mate. T.S.K. Sir Aaron D. III
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The Scottish Knight Captain
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