Holidays are supposed to be a special time in our lives that bring peace and joy with a time of reflection. In our quest for these times in our lives I wonder if we really know how to have holidays and feasts with the joy, peace and reflection that they are supposed to bring us?
I have chosen these particular words for this blog because we are in the holiday and feasting season. It might be a good idea to ask ourselves why do we have holiday's and feasts. Do we just celebrate these seasons because they are pushed on us and we are expected to celebrate them? Do we celebrate these seasons because they are traditional? Are we celebrating these seasons not even understanding them and we just see them as holiday's? What meaning do these times have? These are questions I would like to explore for a moment and try and give some context and content to them. Lets look at the present two holiday seasons since we are in the middle of them.
Thanksgiving! Here is a holiday that we all seem to enjoy. We spend several hours if not days preparing for this special event. We make plans for family to get together, we spend our hard earned money on all the fixings for the dinner along with the size and cost of the turkey. The turkey will usually be frozen and will take days to thaw. Some go as far as reserving a fresh turkey, others will make sure it is free of anything not natural, and then there is the tofurkey.
I personally love thanksgiving and the meal that goes with it. We have some family over to join us or we join with family at their homes. No matter where one celebrates this holiday, we will no doubt eat to much and still try to figure out what to do with the left overs. Getting together with family and friends seems to make the time just that much more special. Being the age that I am there is still a remembrance of the reason why we celebrate this time of year. I remember being taught about the Pilgrim's and how the native's had come to feed them in a time of hardship. Whether they ate turkey's or other birds, maybe a combination, the fact that they had come together in this time and our nations beginnings were directly related to this period is why we celebrate this time of year and why the turkey has become the main dish on our menu. We were told that we need to be thankful for what God has given us through our forefather's. The hardships they endured and the vision they had of a new nation carried them through. I wonder just what we are giving thanks for these days? Has Thanksgiving just become a holiday where we gather together and just enjoy a good meal?
Christmas! Here is another holiday I really love. It is not the presents and such that makes this time so special to me, it is more the feel of the entire season. The smell of certain spices, the decorations that make you feel good, the bells ringing around the stores, the cold winter days and the need for a cup of rich hot chocolate with a dab of whip cream on top, the warmth of a fire, the smell of homemade goodies and such. Then there is the excitement in the air of all the hustle and bustle of the approaching day. I can remember many times going out into the forest looking for that special tree to hang decorations on. Now I see the same excitement in my children and grandchildren. I could go on and on about so many different traditions over the years, but, everyone has somewhat the same traditions with maybe a little twist added to them from their own personal experiences passed down from family. The one thing about Christmas that I used to remember is that we would hear some of the greatest Christmas hymns, songs, and instrumental music. The singing of Handel's Messiah, Joy to the World, and many other wonderful songs were heard throughout business's and office buildings. You would walk down the streets and sense the joy of the season.
The real sense of comfort and joy came when you stopped for a few moments and realized that we are celebrating one of the most memorable, one of the most dynamic and world celebrated birthdays. Jesus Christ was the main reason for the celebration, everything during this time was done to remember that special day that He came into the world and why He came. I don't hear the good old songs, hymns and such anymore, nor do hear the reason we celebrate this time of year. I wonder what has happened? It seems that the children today look forward to presents and what they can receive during this time than realize the meaning of the giving of the gifts. It is sad when children run out of presents to open and they ask, is that all.
I am hoping this year will be a bit different. I am hoping that the Christmas story will be told before opening any gifts and the reason for the gifts will be explained to our children. I say this because I feel we have lost the reason we have holidays and feasts. We have lost the purpose of celebrating and remembering. I want to share for a moment just how important holidays and feasts are to God. I want to share for a moment why we need to get back to the old fashioned celebrating of a holiday. Lets look for a moment at some scriptures that relate to feast's and holidays.
All through the scripture's we find the nation of Israel being told to set aside a day or a month to remember what God has done for them. They were told to tell their children throughout the generations of all the miracles and guidance God had provided for them on their journey to the promised land. Here are a few of those special days and why they still celebrate them today.
There are seven main feasts in the Jewish culture, although all seven of them are carried forth from the past and are done in remembrance of what either God had done for the Israelites as far as deliverance or for how and what God has provided for them. Three of these feasts are done specifically for the sake of remembering. Passover, Unleavened Bread and Sukkoth.
Passover (Leviticus 23:5)
Passover is held in the Spring and for the purpose of remembering God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt when God passed over the Israelite children and killed the firstborn of every Egyptian family.
Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8)
The feast of Unleavened Bread is also held in the Spring, on the 15th day of the 1st month. This feast is also done to remember. The Israelites are to remember the escape from Egypt and God's provision of bread from the earth.
Sukkoth (Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-43)
Sukkoth is held in the fall, on the 15th day of the 7th month. This feast can also be referred to the Feast of Tabernacles and is done to remember when the Jewish people lived in the wilderness before entering Canaan.
These three feast are extremely important for remembering how God was with the people of Israel and how God not only delivered them from slavery, but provided for them during their journey to the promised land. God did not then and does not now want them to forget how He took care of them. He wants not only the Jewish people to remember but the rest of the world to remember and know how He keeps His promises for all eternity.
The next four feast have more to do with God's provision and they are just as valid today as they were when they were instituted. Lets take a look at them.
First Fruits (Leviticus 23:9-14)
This feast is done in the Spring on the 15th day of the 1st month. It is done to celebrate God's gift of harvest. Israelites sacrificed the first part of their harvest, flocks, and earned money in recognition that God was the giver of every good thing. This is also a time when the people also acknowledged God's ownership of the land by bringing seven fruits to the Temple.
Shavuot (Leviticus 23:15-21)
This is also referred to as the Feast of Weeks. This feast is done 50 days after Passover. The feast is for the Jewish people to give Thanksgiving for the end of harvest and the anniversary of receiving the Law. Joyful crowds gathered on the Southern Stairs, brought their offerings of wheat to the Temple, and celebrate the good harvest God had given.
Rosh Hashanah (Leviticus 23:23-35)
This feast is held in the fall, on the 1st day of the 7th month and is for the purpose of preparing for God's judgment. Rosh Hashana celebrated the beginning of a new religious year. The people celebrated by attending religious services and considering God's sovereignty and His future day of judgment. The shofar was blown-a-sound that reminded Jewish people of their ancient past, God's great power, and their call for faithfulness in HIs coming judgment.
Yom Kipper (Leviticus 16; 23:26-32)
The feast of Yom Kipper is held in the fall, 10th day of the 7th month. This is a day for the nation of Israel to seek forgiveness. God passed judgment of people onto the scapegoat. In preparation for Yom Kipper, the people fasted as a form of self-denial, repentance, and confession of sin before God.
These are the main feast of the Jewish people and are still held for a specific purpose. Every one of them will have a form of remembrance of what God did and provided. They also point to coming judgment and the preparation for them. If these feasts are important to God for the Jewish nation, would it not be wise for us to look closely at them and understand their purpose. There are many other feasts listed in the scriptures and carry an important message also. We should take the time to research these feast to find the relevance for our lives today. Now lets go back to the two of our holidays and why we need to take a close look at them and why they are so important. Yes, we have several other holidays that are important also, but these are here now.
Thanksgiving
A time to remember how and why we celebrate the birth of a new nation founded on Godly principle's. A time to remember how God provided for a few chosen people that God gave a vision or purpose to. It is a time to remember how our nation was developed and the reason we have such a great nation today. When we sit down to our Thanksgiving dinner's in the future let us tell our children why we celebrate this time of year. Remind them of how God brought this nation together and how the nation is founded on biblical principles. Tell them about the struggles the pilgrims went through and how their faith in a loving God carried them through the toughest of times. Tell them even though the men and women may not have always been true to the biblical principle's, God was always faithful to His word. When you bow your heads in thanks for what you have and the dinner you are about to take part in, remember. Remember God's faithfulness to provide our freedoms, our heritage, and our day to day needs. Think about what you are really thankful for and then give thanks to God for that.
Christmas
Here is a time of year that should bring us joy and happiness and new hope. Even though Christmas probably should be celebrated around June or July, we have given in to the month of December to celebrate the birth of Christ. This should be a time of celebration and giving to remember not only the birth of the Lord but a time to give of ourselves because of what He gave to us. I believe that we for the most part have neglected to keep Christ the center of this celebration. We have made it a commercialized season for an excuse to get what we want and go into unneeded debt just to let our loved ones know that we love them. Christmas should be a time of reflection on what God did for us and the price He paid to set us free from our captor. Christmas should be a time for us to remember why Christ came into this world and why He was born in the way He was. John 3:16-17 tells us the real reason He came and it was not to go into debt, it was to pay a debt that we created. "For God so loved the world that He gave HIs one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." And this is why we celebrate the Christmas season. This is a time to remember for sure. This is a time to teach our children the greatest event that has ever happened in the world. This indeed is a time to celebrate our savior.
I want us for a moment to think about these two distinct holidays. Remembering is something we all do. Remembering why we do something can get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. We tend to forget why we join together for Thanksgiving other than just having a good meal together. We definitely forget why we celebrate Christmas. We get caught up in the worlds perspective on this time of year as we see all the commercials on television that encourages us to buy when we don't even have the means to do so. We feel guilty if we can't get that special gift. We listen to the news who tells us that Christ should not be in our stores by means of music, symbols, and bells. We accept our politicians rules that Christ cannot be in our government because we might offend some and tell us to take Christ out of these arena's. It makes me wonder what our founding forefathers who landed on this land would think if they were here today.
Let me close with this. Thanksgiving should be celebrated because we our thankful for our nation and the fact the we are a Christian based nation. We should celebrate this time because we are still a free nation and we are free because of the way we were established in the beginning. Christmas should be celebrated for what Christ did for us and we should do this in a way that brings honor to Him and Glory to God. Christmas should be a time of love, peace and joy in our hearts and if it is not, maybe we should take a moment to reflect on the why of this season. Going into debt and buying gifts that really don't have much meaning just because it is Christmas should not be a factor for celebrating this season either. When was the last time you read the Christmas story, and when was the last time you read it to your children? We cannot replace the love of Christ by commercializing Him right out of the season, after all, it is His birthday, not ours.
Would you take a moment and think about this. Take some time to reflect on these two feasts or celebrations and lets put God back on the throne of our hearts where He belongs. Lets allow Christ to be the center of attention this year and the years to come. If we should do this, then I believe we will experience the true peace and joy that passes all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Lets give God the thanks and the praise He deserves. Lets put Christ back in Christmas by remembering why we celebrate this season. Don't let the world's perspective of this season ruin your time of celebration.
Christmas! Here is another holiday I really love. It is not the presents and such that makes this time so special to me, it is more the feel of the entire season. The smell of certain spices, the decorations that make you feel good, the bells ringing around the stores, the cold winter days and the need for a cup of rich hot chocolate with a dab of whip cream on top, the warmth of a fire, the smell of homemade goodies and such. Then there is the excitement in the air of all the hustle and bustle of the approaching day. I can remember many times going out into the forest looking for that special tree to hang decorations on. Now I see the same excitement in my children and grandchildren. I could go on and on about so many different traditions over the years, but, everyone has somewhat the same traditions with maybe a little twist added to them from their own personal experiences passed down from family. The one thing about Christmas that I used to remember is that we would hear some of the greatest Christmas hymns, songs, and instrumental music. The singing of Handel's Messiah, Joy to the World, and many other wonderful songs were heard throughout business's and office buildings. You would walk down the streets and sense the joy of the season.
The real sense of comfort and joy came when you stopped for a few moments and realized that we are celebrating one of the most memorable, one of the most dynamic and world celebrated birthdays. Jesus Christ was the main reason for the celebration, everything during this time was done to remember that special day that He came into the world and why He came. I don't hear the good old songs, hymns and such anymore, nor do hear the reason we celebrate this time of year. I wonder what has happened? It seems that the children today look forward to presents and what they can receive during this time than realize the meaning of the giving of the gifts. It is sad when children run out of presents to open and they ask, is that all.
I am hoping this year will be a bit different. I am hoping that the Christmas story will be told before opening any gifts and the reason for the gifts will be explained to our children. I say this because I feel we have lost the reason we have holidays and feasts. We have lost the purpose of celebrating and remembering. I want to share for a moment just how important holidays and feasts are to God. I want to share for a moment why we need to get back to the old fashioned celebrating of a holiday. Lets look for a moment at some scriptures that relate to feast's and holidays.
All through the scripture's we find the nation of Israel being told to set aside a day or a month to remember what God has done for them. They were told to tell their children throughout the generations of all the miracles and guidance God had provided for them on their journey to the promised land. Here are a few of those special days and why they still celebrate them today.
There are seven main feasts in the Jewish culture, although all seven of them are carried forth from the past and are done in remembrance of what either God had done for the Israelites as far as deliverance or for how and what God has provided for them. Three of these feasts are done specifically for the sake of remembering. Passover, Unleavened Bread and Sukkoth.
Passover (Leviticus 23:5)
Passover is held in the Spring and for the purpose of remembering God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt when God passed over the Israelite children and killed the firstborn of every Egyptian family.
Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8)
The feast of Unleavened Bread is also held in the Spring, on the 15th day of the 1st month. This feast is also done to remember. The Israelites are to remember the escape from Egypt and God's provision of bread from the earth.
Sukkoth (Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-43)
Sukkoth is held in the fall, on the 15th day of the 7th month. This feast can also be referred to the Feast of Tabernacles and is done to remember when the Jewish people lived in the wilderness before entering Canaan.
These three feast are extremely important for remembering how God was with the people of Israel and how God not only delivered them from slavery, but provided for them during their journey to the promised land. God did not then and does not now want them to forget how He took care of them. He wants not only the Jewish people to remember but the rest of the world to remember and know how He keeps His promises for all eternity.
The next four feast have more to do with God's provision and they are just as valid today as they were when they were instituted. Lets take a look at them.
First Fruits (Leviticus 23:9-14)
This feast is done in the Spring on the 15th day of the 1st month. It is done to celebrate God's gift of harvest. Israelites sacrificed the first part of their harvest, flocks, and earned money in recognition that God was the giver of every good thing. This is also a time when the people also acknowledged God's ownership of the land by bringing seven fruits to the Temple.
Shavuot (Leviticus 23:15-21)
This is also referred to as the Feast of Weeks. This feast is done 50 days after Passover. The feast is for the Jewish people to give Thanksgiving for the end of harvest and the anniversary of receiving the Law. Joyful crowds gathered on the Southern Stairs, brought their offerings of wheat to the Temple, and celebrate the good harvest God had given.
Rosh Hashanah (Leviticus 23:23-35)
This feast is held in the fall, on the 1st day of the 7th month and is for the purpose of preparing for God's judgment. Rosh Hashana celebrated the beginning of a new religious year. The people celebrated by attending religious services and considering God's sovereignty and His future day of judgment. The shofar was blown-a-sound that reminded Jewish people of their ancient past, God's great power, and their call for faithfulness in HIs coming judgment.
Yom Kipper (Leviticus 16; 23:26-32)
The feast of Yom Kipper is held in the fall, 10th day of the 7th month. This is a day for the nation of Israel to seek forgiveness. God passed judgment of people onto the scapegoat. In preparation for Yom Kipper, the people fasted as a form of self-denial, repentance, and confession of sin before God.
These are the main feast of the Jewish people and are still held for a specific purpose. Every one of them will have a form of remembrance of what God did and provided. They also point to coming judgment and the preparation for them. If these feasts are important to God for the Jewish nation, would it not be wise for us to look closely at them and understand their purpose. There are many other feasts listed in the scriptures and carry an important message also. We should take the time to research these feast to find the relevance for our lives today. Now lets go back to the two of our holidays and why we need to take a close look at them and why they are so important. Yes, we have several other holidays that are important also, but these are here now.
Thanksgiving
A time to remember how and why we celebrate the birth of a new nation founded on Godly principle's. A time to remember how God provided for a few chosen people that God gave a vision or purpose to. It is a time to remember how our nation was developed and the reason we have such a great nation today. When we sit down to our Thanksgiving dinner's in the future let us tell our children why we celebrate this time of year. Remind them of how God brought this nation together and how the nation is founded on biblical principles. Tell them about the struggles the pilgrims went through and how their faith in a loving God carried them through the toughest of times. Tell them even though the men and women may not have always been true to the biblical principle's, God was always faithful to His word. When you bow your heads in thanks for what you have and the dinner you are about to take part in, remember. Remember God's faithfulness to provide our freedoms, our heritage, and our day to day needs. Think about what you are really thankful for and then give thanks to God for that.
Please take a moment and look at the link below:
Christmas
Here is a time of year that should bring us joy and happiness and new hope. Even though Christmas probably should be celebrated around June or July, we have given in to the month of December to celebrate the birth of Christ. This should be a time of celebration and giving to remember not only the birth of the Lord but a time to give of ourselves because of what He gave to us. I believe that we for the most part have neglected to keep Christ the center of this celebration. We have made it a commercialized season for an excuse to get what we want and go into unneeded debt just to let our loved ones know that we love them. Christmas should be a time of reflection on what God did for us and the price He paid to set us free from our captor. Christmas should be a time for us to remember why Christ came into this world and why He was born in the way He was. John 3:16-17 tells us the real reason He came and it was not to go into debt, it was to pay a debt that we created. "For God so loved the world that He gave HIs one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." And this is why we celebrate the Christmas season. This is a time to remember for sure. This is a time to teach our children the greatest event that has ever happened in the world. This indeed is a time to celebrate our savior.
I want us for a moment to think about these two distinct holidays. Remembering is something we all do. Remembering why we do something can get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. We tend to forget why we join together for Thanksgiving other than just having a good meal together. We definitely forget why we celebrate Christmas. We get caught up in the worlds perspective on this time of year as we see all the commercials on television that encourages us to buy when we don't even have the means to do so. We feel guilty if we can't get that special gift. We listen to the news who tells us that Christ should not be in our stores by means of music, symbols, and bells. We accept our politicians rules that Christ cannot be in our government because we might offend some and tell us to take Christ out of these arena's. It makes me wonder what our founding forefathers who landed on this land would think if they were here today.
Let me close with this. Thanksgiving should be celebrated because we our thankful for our nation and the fact the we are a Christian based nation. We should celebrate this time because we are still a free nation and we are free because of the way we were established in the beginning. Christmas should be celebrated for what Christ did for us and we should do this in a way that brings honor to Him and Glory to God. Christmas should be a time of love, peace and joy in our hearts and if it is not, maybe we should take a moment to reflect on the why of this season. Going into debt and buying gifts that really don't have much meaning just because it is Christmas should not be a factor for celebrating this season either. When was the last time you read the Christmas story, and when was the last time you read it to your children? We cannot replace the love of Christ by commercializing Him right out of the season, after all, it is His birthday, not ours.
Would you take a moment and think about this. Take some time to reflect on these two feasts or celebrations and lets put God back on the throne of our hearts where He belongs. Lets allow Christ to be the center of attention this year and the years to come. If we should do this, then I believe we will experience the true peace and joy that passes all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Lets give God the thanks and the praise He deserves. Lets put Christ back in Christmas by remembering why we celebrate this season. Don't let the world's perspective of this season ruin your time of celebration.
