My Birthday

[Momoftwo]

Dear loved ones

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" .. as if the party were in his honor!

At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and ... do you know ... no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.

See you soon.

I Love you!
Jesus

P.S.
Please share this message with your loved ones, before Christmas.

 

[Momoftwo]

This is so true!! Very sad that many people forgot the meaningful of Christmas. Many people think about food, presents, parties, drinkings, etc. Jesus saves us so we are so fortunate to have Him to save us so we must thank Jesus for saving us and we must invite Him into our parties and think about Him and talk about Him like you can say "Happy Birthday, Jesus" in front of everyone in your home.

Jesus is WONDERFUL and the BEST!!!!!!!

Momoftwo

 

[Heath]

Yes Momoftwo that was an eye opener. I sent that to my pastor. Thank you and God Bless

 

[Rose Immortal]

Interesting post, and something I have been thinking about a lot this year.

I consider myself very blessed that when I was little, my mother read a book with me that explained the story of St. Nicholas, so that I understood where all of our Christmas customs and all that "Santa Claus" stuff really comes from. St. Nick was about giving to the poor, in the spirit of Christ, rather than commercialism for the rich. While I do not hold the Catholic understanding of saints, I think there is often something to be learned from the example they present of humans trying to live up to what Christ asks of them.

I think it's important to teach children young, as I was taught, where all of this really came from and where our hearts and minds really should be--on the joy of giving, and when receiving, also being grateful for the gift-giver's generosity even if the gift wasn't necessarily "exactly what you had on your list".

 

[Cheri]

Awww, That's so good reading this. In fact I do remember baking a cake on Christmas years and years ago, I think ^Angel^ might remember it, I even put "Happy Birthday Jesus!" Now, that gives me an idea for this year on Christmas day.

Thanks for sharing Momoftwo.

 

[pek1]

My mother has told me the story many times of my dad's foster mom talking about the Christmas program at church on Christmas Eve and my mom thought it was terrible...of all nights! Foster mom (my foster grandma) said to her, "Well, that's when it should be done!" That sure clammed my mom up in a hurry.

Another thing, I have noticed many churches are not having church Christmas Day, as it falls on a Sunday this year. Oh, what a tragedy that we don't go to the House of the One whose birthday it really is! I intend on being in Church during the midnight service and in the morning. Do you know why?

It's His birthday, not ours! (Unless your birthday actually is the 24th or 25th).

I've also quit sending Christmas cards, as hardly no one reciprocated (you would have to understand these people, I can't explain here). Christmas shopping, I watch with awe the fools as they rush the door the day after Thanksgiving Day; I laugh at them, because they have missed the True Meaning of Christmas. Color me unimpressed, especially with how the Church is handling Christmas and it gets worse every year.

 

[Rose Immortal]

Hmm...not ALL Christmas shopping is bad, but some of the selfish attitudes that come with it (think of people stampeding each other) are really sad.

As for me, I get a lot of enjoyment out of picking out books and CDs for people I love. These are things I enjoy, and the process of handpicking them based on what I think each person will like best is a good thing...I think, anyway.

 

[Reba]

...Another thing, I have noticed many churches are not having church Christmas Day, as it falls on a Sunday this year. Oh, what a tragedy that we don't go to the House of the One whose birthday it really is!

Yes, that is awful. I'm glad that my church will be holding Christmas Sunday services.

 

[Rose Immortal]

Hmm...that seems kinda silly. Besides, everything else is closed on Christmas...provides a nice family activity out of the house that day.

(And of course all of other good reasons.)

 

[pek1]

Hmm...that seems kinda silly. Besides, everything else is closed on Christmas...provides a nice family activity out of the house that day.

(And of course all of other good reasons.)

Rose,

I assume you mean that churches are closed...let me ask you this: Suppose it's your birthday and all the businesses are closed, should anyone come over to your house and help you celebrate your birthday? We're celebrating the birth of Christ and, unless one's birthday is actually the 25th, none of us were born on that day, so why should we be opening presents when it's not even our birthday? Furthermore, why not be with The Birthday Boy...it's His birthday, not ours.

 

[pek1]

Yes, that is awful. I'm glad that my church will be holding Christmas Sunday services.

Reba,

Rose brought something interesting up and I had mentioned to my parents about this, so will mention it to you for feedback. I am serious about my comment, as funny as it sounds.

Since there are churches that will NOT hold services on the 25th (Sunday, Christmas Day), why not get a permit from the city and picket that church the following Sundays until the pastor (s) make a public statement that they will never do it again and repent of it. I don't see this as "family time." I see it as gluttony, especially in a world where people are starving and dying, on their way one way to Hell because a Christian wanted "family time" on Christmas Day (which is also a Sunday).

We need to make a list of ALL those churches and post them on the Internet and for people to boycott them, because they don't preach the Gospel without compromise. Even though I'm out of town that weekend, I WILL be in church Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day. I prefer the midnight service on the Eve and will get my butt out of bed and go in the morning on Christmas Day, because it is His birthday, not ours.

 

[Rose Immortal]

Rose,

I assume you mean that churches are closed...let me ask you this: Suppose it's your birthday and all the businesses are closed, should anyone come over to your house and help you celebrate your birthday? We're celebrating the birth of Christ and, unless one's birthday is actually the 25th, none of us were born on that day, so why should we be opening presents when it's not even our birthday? Furthermore, why not be with The Birthday Boy...it's His birthday, not ours.

I'm not saying it's a good idea for churches to be closed on Christmas Sunday--I was saying the opposite, that they SHOULD be open, and it's a great thing to be doing. I'm not sure where you got the opposite.

 

[Safari]

My church will be open on Christmas Day on both AM and PM services. I'm glad for this, too.

 

[Dennis S.]

I've got a serious question for ya'll. Do you really think Jesus was born on December 25th? No one can state with any accuracy that his birthday is December 25th. It's actually argued that his birthday is earlier in the month.

Celebrate his birth and living every day, not once a year.

 

[Momoftwo]

I've got a serious question for ya'll. Do you really think Jesus was born on December 25th? No one can state with any accuracy that his birthday is December 25th. It's actually argued that his birthday is earlier in the month.

Celebrate his birth and living every day, not once a year.

Dennis,

Yes, that's right that Jesus wasn't born on that day. We still don't know which date is Jesus's birthday but someone picked that date so we all think about Jesus and thank Him for saving us when we die which is a huge blessing.

 

[pek1]

I'm not saying it's a good idea for churches to be closed on Christmas Sunday--I was saying the opposite, that they SHOULD be open, and it's a great thing to be doing. I'm not sure where you got the opposite.

"Hmm...that seems kinda silly. Besides, everything else is closed on Christmas...provides a nice family activity out of the house that day.

(And of course all of other good reasons.)

Can you verify what you meant, Rose? Maybe I'm misunderstanding you...

 

[pek1]

I've got a serious question for ya'll. Do you really think Jesus was born on December 25th? No one can state with any accuracy that his birthday is December 25th. It's actually argued that his birthday is earlier in the month.

Celebrate his birth and living every day, not once a year.

This has been an on-going discussion with biblical scholars...one says one, another says another. No one knows for sure, except to take a look at the calender (Jewish) and try to back calculate it. No one is in agreement on this.

 

[Reba]

Reba,

Rose brought something interesting up and I had mentioned to my parents about this, so will mention it to you for feedback. I am serious about my comment, as funny as it sounds.

Since there are churches that will NOT hold services on the 25th (Sunday, Christmas Day), why not get a permit from the city and picket that church the following Sundays until the pastor (s) make a public statement that they will never do it again and repent of it. I don't see this as "family time." I see it as gluttony, especially in a world where people are starving and dying, on their way one way to Hell because a Christian wanted "family time" on Christmas Day (which is also a Sunday).

We need to make a list of ALL those churches and post them on the Internet and for people to boycott them, because they don't preach the Gospel without compromise. ..

I don't think non-members picketing other people's churches would have the intended impact. Since they are not members of that pastor's church, I don't think he will really care about the "nuts" out on the street (and the press will emphasize the "nutiness" more than the actual cause). Also, how can church members be out picketing on Sundays when they should be attending their church service?

As for the internet, I'm not sure how you would post that. What website would that be?

To be honest, I think the churches that are closed on Christmas are catering to members who like it that way. If the members don't like that they need to make a stink at their own churches, or join other churches that match their beliefs. I believe each membership is responsible to their own respective churches.

 

[pek1]

I don't think non-members picketing other people's churches would have the intended impact...and the press will emphasize the "nutiness" more than the actual cause. Also, how can church members be out picketing on Sundays when they should be attending their church service?

Reba,

You're killing me here...

 

[Rose Immortal]

pek1--I got the impression you mistook my meaning on my first post. You seemed to believe I thought it was a good idea that some churches are closed on Christmas Sunday. I don't believe that, and had been trying to express the opposite.