Into the Fire

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Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

Friday Five

                                    29-green_metal_number_5

Five things I love about Christmas & Five things I don't like related to Christmas:

"Jesus Is The Reason for The Season" – it's true, and I love it.

I love rereading about Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Such an amazing ordinary man. A heart after God and willing to do the improbable and impossible because he listened to the messengers and messages the Father sent to him in person and in dreams. An obedient soul who believed God and acted on that belief.

Buying gifts. Admittedly, when I can, I overdo it. Giving is my thing. I think it was my dad's as well. He got far more joy from giving than receiving. I do too. 

I love Christmas carols. Used to be you could always hear them playing in any store. We sang them all in school a long time ago and actually went caroling. Knew all the words by heart. When I got saved, they became even more real and meaningful.

All my Christmas decorations. Turning off all the lights except for the Christmas lights inside and out. So beautiful. 

Now for the unpleasant things:

I don't like wrapping presents. Not at all. The year I went to Europe with my friend, I brought back many Christmas gifts. I believe we got back on December 23rd, and I had to wrap all of those gifts in a hurry to get them delivered. It was agonizing. Since then, I no longer do anything fancy. Wrap them nicely and stick a bow and tag on them. Done. 

Not a fan of the commercialization, and by that I mean the over-emphasis on Santa and anything unrelated to the real reason for the season. It grieves me when I can't find Christmas wrap with Nativity related designs, etc. 

I don't like silly/stupid pseudo Christmas songs. (I can be slightly flexible here but not much.)

For being a devoted Christmas lover, I don't like/watch Christmas movies ever. And I don't read Christmas novels. Just not a fan at all. 

I don't like "white elephant" gifts. Waste of time/effort/potentially money. Not fun. 

So there you have it. Yours?  

 

Father, Christmas is amazing. Always has been for me, but when Jesus became real to me, I learned the  reason for the season. I can never thank you enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

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4 responses to “Friday Five”

  1. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    What I enjoy
    – My very favorite thing about Christmas is the music, new and old, that celebrates the birth of the Savior.
    – shopping for gifts
    – the thoughtfulness of music teachers who hold their Christmas recitals in long-term care residences (how I wish I had thought of it)
    – reading the prophecies of the coming Savior in Isaiah
    – remembering the character of both Mary and Joseph (I love your articles)
    I don’t like
    – when little girls are dressed extravagantly to sing in the children’s choir
    – wrapping presents (TJ Maxx shopping bags have interesting designs and are 50 cents so that’s what I use. They’re huge, but that just helps keep the gift a surprise)
    – hearing old hymns in which the words about the virgin birth have been changed
    – the “eat, drink and be merry” office parties (so glad to be done with those)
    – white elephant gifts

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  2. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Excellent, Deb! (And thank you.)
    I had no idea words about the virgin birth had been changed – that’s appalling!
    (Sending you an email.)

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  3. Brenda S Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S Anderson

    Christmas faves:
    Music, hands down, is number one. Even the years I don’t feel like decorating, when I don’t feel like shopping, I love the music! But I’m strictly a Christmas-music-between-Thanksgiving-and-New-Year person!
    Spending time with family, which this year won’t happen. 😦 It’ll just be the five of us.
    Traditional worship service with all the favorite traditional Christmas hymns and big brass and big choir! Gives me goosebumps!
    Christmas movies. Again, I’m picky. As in my reading choices, I like movies with a little meat (or the old claymation cartoons!)
    Helping Santa Joe feed the homeless near the state capital. I’ve only gotten to do this once at Christmas-time, but there’s nothing more rewarding. Hopefully this year!
    Least faves:
    Hallmark Christmas movies. How can people watch one after another???
    Contemporary Christmas services that mess up the tempo, beat, & words to traditional Christmas hymns. I’ll be singing along, and all of a sudden they change it? Immediately stops me from singing. To me, that brings attention to the band, not God.
    Decorating. It’s actually not the decorating I dislike, but the time it takes to do it. And then taking it all down.
    People grumping over stuff. Get over it!
    #1 – Ignoring Jesus!

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  4. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Bren, great list for both. Decorating does take time. I do it at the beginning of November one day at a time. It’s gotten easier to take it down since I figured out containers and designated cupboard space really help. (I’m a little slow on the uptake.;)) Yes: “#1 Ignoring Jesus”.
    That would be wonderful to do that with Santa Joe!
    Merry Christmas in spite of the smaller family gathering. I think it’s a shame.

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