Urban Legends Are Created Every Day


Every Christmas new theories come out about the birth of Christ. Bits and pieces are picked apart to understand and theories abound. Before long a simple story is convoluted and the miracle becomes common place in the world’s view. When did people quit taking God at His Word?

Revelations 22:18-19 ~ “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take” from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Matthew 22:29 ~ But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power “

So when the angel said these things they knew exactly what the angel was saying, simple and clear cut in their language and understanding. They were told the baby was a spotless lamb for sacrifice, the Savior. The sacrifice was the spotless Lamb of God on the cross. Simple words from God.

Luke 2:8-12 ~ “8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And so  the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 

When mankind cannot understand, even though God made it simple, they try to explain away. The current one that is creating a new urban legend is the Star of Bethlehem. He created the universe, He can create a birth star and then take it away after two years. We do not need to still be looking for it. It has been overthought until the simple truths are lost. God placed a star in the East over a stable in Bethlehem. Wisemen saw the star far away. Wise men, God never said kings and never said three. Scripture never says three gifts but, treasures and just mentions three of them. Mankind has created a wonderful added-to story instead of simply sticking to what God has written.

Now, we have the star of Bethlehem described as planets coming together on December 21st. First, we know it was springtime. Second, God said star, not alignment of planets. Most importantly, it appeared to the wisemen in the East who came from afar. We know from Scriptures they followed the star TWO YEARS. Planets do not align for two years. After Herod questioned the wisemen he had all the Jewish boys two years of age killed. Jesus was a two year old and not living in a stable at this point but a house. The wisemen were never at the stable. Joseph fled to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to protect them.

Matthew 2:1-2 east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 

Matthew 2: 9-12 ~And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankicense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The wisemen had followed the star for two years, a star. Not planets in alignment. Scripture tells of the birth of Jesus plain and simple. A miracle with deep meaning and foreshadowing of the Cross Jesus would die on in 33 years. People have added to and taken away and diluted the miracle of His birth. What if we just took God at His Word? A one time star that led wisemen from afar to a house where a toddler played for two years and then the star was gone. No explanation. Simple. The wisemen accepted the child as a king, a savior. Plain and simple. A miracle.

RBGreenDesigns.Com 2020

CHRISTmas or Christmas?

CHRISTmas or Christmas?


CHRISTmas … My FAVORITE T Shirt … always draws comments and amens.

Since September Christmas has been showing up in stores and malls.  Santa even came way before Thanksgiving in many places.  We have come to expect it as the norm.  Nothing we can do about it, right?

For Christians Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. So we really have Christmas in our hearts year round.  I love Christmas and will put on a favorite Christmas carol to lift my spirits so to speak.  Sometimes you just need a little help with music.

Music.  Age old Christmas songs, caroling, hymns.  They mean so much to people from all generations.  Traditions are meant to be passed along.  Songs bring back wonderful memories during the holidays.  Our family started the holidays with Thanksgiving’s “Bless This House” and “We Gather Together”.  I am trying to recreate those traditions for my grandchildren.  Each year the commercialization is getting worse and making it more difficult.  But, at least we can always have them at churches, right?

I have friends all over the USA and this past week I have watched post after post pop up on social media regarding the churches they attend and their musical premieres for Christmas.  I see the pictures, I read the comments:

“Wow, you did a great job.”

“Love the scenery.”

“It was great seeing everyone!”

“Wasn’t the reception afterwards fun?”

“A good time was had by all.”

I kept seeing everything pointing to Christmas and noting pointing to CHRISTmas; Jesus, the reason for the season.  The message has been lost in productions, props and action.  The simple story of the Christ child born in the manger lost, or forgotten all together.  In some videos the traditional hymn or carol was so overproduced you could not even hear the words much less understand the message.

There is nothing wrong with plays and musical productions, I  have written several myself.  But, they need to include the simple message of a Savior born in Bethlehem. Wouldn’t it be better for people to come away saying, “wow, what a message”.  Or, “that really made me think about the real reason for CHRISTmas”?

As Christians this year it is important more than ever that we tell the simple story of a poor baby, born in a manger, and the message is not lost in the production of some ‘great show’.  There is a lot to be said of the simple traditions of children telling the story of Jesus’s birth.  Maybe we need to start over  there and see what we are missing.

Blog by – R. B. Green ©2018

“A Baby Changes Everything”


A Baby Changes EVERYTHING

WOW.  Where did the year go?  Things are pretty hectic here with work and all the family heading into town.  I have so many notes of things I would like to write and I promise this will be the last ‘repost’.  (I hope) This one is from December 2010 and I have updated it for the repost.  Enjoy.

Faith Hill sings the song “A Baby Changes Everything*”, the story of Jesus’ who came to Earth and changed the world.   If you have not seen the video or heard the song, click on the title above.

A year ago I had just returned from Montana.  God had perfect timing in our lives.  I am in retail and could only get away for a few days.  My youngest daughter was due to give birth Christmas Eve.  However, as I landed on the 10th she was already in the hospital in labor.  I was able to be there for the birth of her first child and our first grandson.  I was able to be there for my oldest at the birth of her oldest daughter, our first grandchild.  God knew my grandmother’s heart and has allowed me to be at the hospital for my daughters.

I often say that God provides minuscule pictures on earth of the ‘big picture’.  Both of my daughters lives have been changed forever by the birth of their children, as mine was with each of their births.  Nothing is the same, everything is different.  Circumstances, challenges, life … day by day a mother handles what is handed her.  What a difference a child makes.

As we come together to celebrate Christmas, let us not forget that a Baby changed everything.  Circumstances, challenges, life … day by day each of us handle what is handed to us … either WITH or withOUT the difference the CHILD of God made when He came to earth as a new-born child, to a mother who had no mother to be there for her.  What a sacrifice He made in leaving Heaven to come to a stable.  What a difference He made.

We often get frazzled by the season’s hustle and bustle, plans, and traveling.  Let us not forget that Jesus is the Reason for the Season and YOU may be the only witness that person sees that “A Baby Changes Everything”.

Will He make a difference in your CHRISTmas celebrations this year?

Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS! ~ Renee’

*A Baby Changes Everything Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp

“A Baby Changes Everything”


A Baby Changes EVERYTHING

Faith Hill sings the song “A Baby Changes Everything*”, the story of Jesus’ who came to Earth and changed the world.   If you have not seen the video or heard the song, click on the title above.

I have just returned from Montana.  God has perfect timing in our lives.  I am in retail and could only get away for a few days.  My youngest daughter was due to give birth Christmas Eve.  However, as I landed on the 10th she was already in the hospital in labor.  I was able to be there for the birth of her first child and our first grandson.  I was able to be there for my oldest at the birth of her oldest daughter, our first grandchild.  God knew my grandmother’s heart and has allowed me to be at the hospital for my daughters.

I often say that God provides minuscule pictures on earth of the ‘big picture’.  Both of my daughters lives have been changed forever by the birth of their children, as mine was with each of their births.  Nothing is the same, everything is different.  Circumstances, challenges, life … day by day a mother handles what is handed her.  What a difference a child makes.

As we come together to celebrate Christmas, let us not forget that a Baby changed everything.  Circumstances, challenges, life … day by day each of us handle what is handed to us … either WITH or withOUT the difference the CHILD of God made when He came to earth as a new-born child, to a mother who had no mother to be there for her.  What a sacrifice He made in leaving Heaven to come to a stable.  What a difference He made.

We often get frazzled by the season’s hustle and bustle, plans, and traveling.  Let us not forget that Jesus is the Reason for the Season and YOU may be the only witness that person sees that “A Baby Changes Everything”.

Will He make a difference in your CHRISTmas celebrations this year?

Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS! ~ Renee’

*A Baby Changes Everything Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp

CHRISTmas is coming …


 

Celebrate His Birth!

Sometime in October the Christmas  merchandise started arriving at our store.  The tree was pulled out from storage for display, the signage set and before you knew it November rolled in and so did Christmas.  Working in a Christian store at Christmas is a plus.  Christ is in CHRISTmas in our store, unlike the Mall.

 

I love to get my exercise by walking the mall and try to go there to walk when I can.  CHRIST is not in CHRISTmas at the mall.    I saw the tired and grumpy, the tired parents tugging along even more tired children (or worse, totally ignoring them).   I would like to have a ‘freeze’ button where I could freeze scenes and make people stand back and look at themselves.

As Christians we are the Light in the world.  At CHRISTmas time we should remind all we come into contact with that the Reason for the Season is CHRIST.  I remember writing Starbucks when they came out with their Holiday Blend Coffee and Target and WalMart over the Salvation Army ringers not being allowed, and their associates being instructed not to say Merry CHRISTmas.  We’ll see what happens this year.   I did see CHRISTmas Blend back in the window this year at Starbucks.

As I continued to walk the mall I saw many sad sights.  I love CHRISTmas paper, but Hallmark had no CHRISTmas paper.  It was all holiday wrap, festive and bright but, missing the true Light.  No nativity paper, no Rejoice the Lord is Come, not even any Angel paper.  Being the stinker I can be, I asked the Hallmark clerk where her CHRISTmas paper was.  She pointed to the holiday paper and I said, “no, that’s not CHRISTmas paper. It’s holiday paper.  I want paper that is about the true gift.”  You see someone challenged me to make a difference every chance I could during the holidays and I decided I am.  I may be politically incorrect, but, I figure the louder they are, the louder I will be.  Let’s shout to the world that CHRISTmas is coming.  We already started the CHRISTmas season and I have at least six weeks to use CHRISTmas as an open door.   I have decided I am going to say Merry CHRISTmas to everyone; I am going to thank every person that says Merry CHIRSTmas to me.  I am not buying anything that says Holiday instead of CHRISTmas.   I am not buying into the Xmas slogans that subtly take out CHRIST from CHRISTmas.  (That was the a  ploy of marketing people several years back.)  I am going to make a conscious effort to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas as I move about my day-to-day activities.  I am going to smile and enjoy the season that celebrates  my Lord and Savior’s birth.   I will ask children I meet if they know whose birthday it is that we are celebrating.

And then on December the 26th, I am going to start celebrating CHRISTmas everyday and recognize that CHRIST sacrificed His place in Heaven to come here on earth and sacrifice His life so that I might have life in Heaven.

So here I go … Merry CHRISTmas!  Let the reason for the season be known and make sure your children and grandchildren know as well.