THE BLESSING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE 12/03/10

PONDER:  Today as I was driving past a lovely Christmas tree, I heard the enemy curse it and that surprised me.  Then I noticed an entry on the news tonight that Chase Bank told a businessman to remove the Christmas tree he donated to a local branch because it could offend people.  If we as Christians do not continue our vote and our voice into the public arena, we will lose our freedoms of even enjoying Christmas trees. 

There are many entries on the www about the origin of the Christmas tree, and most traditions end up being slimed in one way or another.  And yes the world worships everything to distract us from the Lord Jesus Christ.  However no one can deny that Christ's name is upon the Christmas tree.  I pondered the fact that Jesus hung on a cross, which was made from a cut down tree, and that we hang ornaments on trees.

Gal 3:13-14  NKJV

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Deut 21:22-23 AMP

And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death and [afterward] you hang him on a tree, [Josh 10:26,27.]  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God. Thus you shall not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance. [Gal 3:13.]

Jesus bore the curse of the law and to me, the Christmas tree represents the cross upon which Jesus bore my sins, redeeming me from the curse of the law.  And the ornaments that we hang upon the tree represent our children who are our eternal reward.  The lights that weave so gently within the branches are the Words He gives us that draw us to Him.  I am grateful for my freedom to enjoy our Christmas tree and pray that Christmas will never be banned from public celebration, and that Christ's name will never be removed.

Isa 49:15-18  NKJV

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.

Your sons shall make haste; your destroyers and those who laid you waste shall go away from you.  Lift up your eyes, look around and see; all these gather together and come to you. As I live," says the Lord, you shall surely clothe yourselves with them all as an ornament, and bind them on you as a bride does.

12/10/10

Today the following Family Circus came out:

It made me think that when Jesus died on the cross, it was to bring many children into His Father's house.  We are the ornaments on His tree.

Heb 2:10-11 NKJV

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

UPDATE RHEMA 12/07/10

PIX:  I saw some Christmas lights and shabby looking decorations in an outside refugee camp.

HEARD:  Can you imagine not having Christmas? 

PIX:  I opened up a little box and saw the tiny little baby boy from our dollhouse. 

Luke 2:6-7

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.