Why Do People Celebrate Christmas?

In another forum I belong to, someone asked the question why do non-Christians celebrate Christmas. The responses were both eye-opening and discouraging.Most of the respondents took the opportunity to point out that Christmas was of pagan origin and to more or less insult Christians and Christianity. I was stunned and saddened. There was a time when the name of God was revered and respected, even by non-Christians, but now people speak of Him as if He doesn't even exist.

Why have people become so anti-Christian? 1 John 4: 3 says, "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come ; and even now already is it in the world." (KJV)

 This is so true. The spirit of antichrist is already in the world. Some people may profess to believe in God, but they have a serious problem with Christ and anything to do with His name. This Christmas, let us pray against this spirit of antichrist. According to Bible prophecy the antichrist will make his appearance soon, but we can still pray that the Holy Spirit will turn men's hearts to Jesus Christ. That those of us who still call ourselves Christians will, by our example, draw men to Him. 

I addressed this question about Christmas being of pagan origin in a blog post last year. Maybe it will help you respond to people who try to decry Christ and Christmas. http://quildonwrites.blogspot.com/2011/12/should-we-cease-to-celebrate-christmas.html

We Have So Much To Be Thankful For

As I always do at this this time of year, I have been talking to my patients about Thanksgiving and asking them what they are thankful for. Not surprising, some of them said they have nothing to be thankful for. Others said they were thankful for their friends and families, some said they were just thankful to be alive. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving Day?

Psalm 100 : 4 says, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 says, " In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." So if you're reading this in a hospital bed today, give thanks. If you are reading it after stuffing yourself at the Thanksgiving table, give thanks. If you are like the thousands still without power after Sandy, give thanks, for it is God's will for your life. He is still on the throne.

Happy Thanksgiving

How Do You Handle Rejection?

Rejection can be a very painful experience. Ask anyone who has been rejected either through a broken friendship, engagement or marriage and I'm sure they will tell you it hurt. In the Bible, there's a story of a woman who suffered rejection. I'm talking about Hagar, the Egyptian bondwoman who bore a child to her boss, Abraham. Most of you know the story.

Abraham and Sarah were an elderly couple whom God had promised great things. Among them that he shall be "the father of many nations." Abraham believed God, but there was just one problem - Sarah his wife was barren. So this is where Hagar came in. Sarah gave her to Abraham so she could have a child through her. The plan worked. Hagar had a son, whom they called Ishmael. But God had the final say. Sarah also became pregnant and gave birth to a son - Isaac, the promised heir.

Some years later, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac. She became angry and told Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac" (Genesis 21: 10). Hagar and Ishmael were thrown out with just some bread and some water. Rejected. Discarded. Confused.

How did Hagar handle rejection? She cried out to God and He heard her. He showed her a well of water she'd not seen before. Ishmael grew up to become the leader of a great nation -the Arab people - as God had promised. If you are suffering rejection today - in your relationships, on the job, even in the church - cry out to God. He promises us that "He will never leave us or forsake us" (Hebrews 13: 5). 

If you want to read more about Hagar, why not download a copy of my book Women For All Seasons from Smashwords for only 99c. Here's the link: http://smashwords.com/womenforallseasons. If you prefer a print copy go to  http://www.amazon.com/dp/1432760424.

 

After The Elections

One week ago today the world watched as the people of the United States voted to elect a new president in what I think will be one of the most memorable elections in history. From the campaign to the debates to Sandy and right down to the elections themselves, we will remember them for some time to come. Some may say that Christians should not meddle in politics, but the Bible says we have a responsibility to be involved in matters of government and that includes the electoral process.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God : the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  Romans 13: 1 - 2.

Therefore if you voted for President Barack Obama, now is not the time to gloat, and if you voted for Governor Romney, now is not the time to be bitter. Instead, let us band together to make this great nation the best it can be, for at the end of the day we all take shelter under this canopy called the United States. If one corner sags, the whole thing is in trouble. With God's help we can do it. It matters not whether you like or do not like the president. What matters is that you "render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour" (v 7).

A Child's Wisdom

My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by hurricane Sandy. I pray that God will give you the strength and the means to make it through this trying season and, despite your suffering, show you that there is a brighter tomorrow.

I composed this post four years ago, but its content is relevant for these times. I trust that you will be blessed by it.

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My seven-year-old granddaughter looked out the window at the swaying trees, driving rain and darkened landscape, and uttered these words: "Tomorrow will be a sunny day." I remembered this remark when, about half an hour later, the clouds lifted, the pounding rain became a drizzle and the trees were still. What wisdom from a child's lips!
Her words led me to think about the storms of life. They come in all their fury, with little or no warning, scaring us, reducing us to trembling shadows of our former selves, and then, they are gone. We breathe a huge sigh of relief. Why were we afraid? Why did we worry?

It's only natural. The human mind reacts strongly to any kind of stimuli to which it is unaccustomed. We crave the familiar comforts of everyday life. We do not want anything to disturb the normal rhythm of our existence. But what is normal? Is it never having dark, gloomy days and stormy nights? Is it always rising with the sun and trying to outdo the birds with our singing? Is it always having our eggs done exactly right and finding the right pair of socks?

I think not. Life comes at you fast, to quote a modern cliche. Lightning flashes out of a clear blue sky, the postman brings a packet that you want to hurl out the window, a telephone call sends your world spinning. Life comes at you fast. Storms happen. Your boat threatens to overturn. And Jesus is asleep. You wake Him up. He comes. "Peace, be still," He says-and peace returns.

It's that simple? Well, almost. First you must have Him in your boat. If you have someone else, it may not work. Then, you must stay close to Him. During the storm my grandchildren put away their books, play stations, everything and huddled close to me. That's what you do when the storms strike. Draw near to Jesus, and tomorrow will be a sunny day.