Christmas For The Hurting.

[pinetree]

Oh bless your heart pinetree, that was truely a welcome message.

When my wife and I first got started we had some pretty rough times, especially when I was in the Army and living out in California far away from home. My wife, who I married in Wisconsin and who came out there eventually with our first son and soon to be one on the way, often didn't know where our next dime was coming from. Christmas time was often a time to feel home sick and lonely rather than filled with joy.

I hear what your saying and can relate, but the one thing I think is missing from christmas, especially now-a-days, is the true meaning of christmas. Here is something to remind us all that presents around the tree isn't what makes a person wealthy or provides the joy we all seek in our lives.

I present Liness, or however you spell his name. What a glorious wise young boy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

Kids today often don't hear this message where as when I was a kid, all of us kids around the country couldn't wait for the Charlie Brown Christmas Special to come on tv. Watching that show always managed to allow me to put things in perspective, and make a bad boy into one that wanted to do Good.

Merry Christmas pinetree!!!​

Merry Christmas neph!

Dont you dare leave any of my threads,or I will come up there and hunt you down!

 

[pinetree]

Yes, my heart goes out to those hurting. I have friends and family both hurting at this time of year. Friends in dier need, desparate and family, loss of job and praying for provision for their family.

Prayers for all those hurting hearts and praying for a mighty touch from the Master's Hand for each and every one.

Praying for your friends too..

Any friend of Sharon's, is a friend of Mine!

 

[pinetree]

Thank you for your kindness.

Merry Christmas to you!

 

[pinetree]

Pinetree, very touching words, and I thank you. As we get close to Christmas I see many worried people, particularly young people who are going to receive severance pay because of the financial tsunami as their employment is no longer required.

I've seen it so much with the young as they are taken for a ride by the greedy employers, who rort the government's system to reap thousands of dollars as in the case one particular employer did to my grandson and other workers.

They employ them as apprentices, give them no apprentice training, work them to death on cheap apprentice wages, 90 hours a week, and when the six months is up they get them to sign the government claim form, and then sack them giving one weeks pay.

I feel for the young, as they are abused and used by such greedy people for six months at the expense of the tax-payers, then thrown onto the scrap heap just before Christmas.

Those young married couples who had bought a home 12 months ago, and now because of these things are losing everything, because of greed of those free-loading employers.

If only I had a few million dollars spare, so that they who are lonely can come together to enjoy the festive season with other lonely people.

Lord Jesus Christ, please bring people across their paths!

 

[GrapeGirl]

I always find it amazing how Christians can take something encouraging and turn it into a super guilt trip to make people think they aren't doing good enough.

 

[pinetree]

Good thread

Each of us will know at least one person who is going to spend a lonely Christmas alone.


Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

{Luke 14:12-14}

This is going too far for modern Christianity, but perhaps we could each make a place for one hurting soul at Christmas?

Good post friend.

A time to remeber those less fortunate!

 

[lismore]

Good post friend.

A time to remeber those less fortunate!

Yes, even bringing an elderly, lonely neighbour into your home for some warmth and fellowship, it doesnt cost you anything but it means a lot to them.

 

[pinetree]

Great OP! May God's tangible presence be with all of you this Christmas!

You too bro!

 

[NewSong]

I always hate the holidays! It is such a sad time for many folks. The past two years I went to my daughter's home in Ohio for Christmas to celebrate with her and her husband and in-laws. It was an awesome time. I loved it. This year I can't go. Most generally speaking holidays are a time of lonliness for me. I have to share my mom with my brothers and my brothers choose not to include me for their purpose of having time alone with mom. Anyway, it is an absolute horrible time of the year for me. There is more to the story but I won't go into it. I can't give gifts this year and that is okay. My family has been most understanding. I think what is the hardest is knowing I can't help someone else and I can't give not even with my body a helping hand. Sucks don't it?

Anyway, I am not going to spend time feeling sorry for me but just want to thank Pinetree for the blessed post and the thoughtfulness he has generated here. Thank you!

 

[pinetree]

I always hate the holidays! It is such a sad time for many folks. The past two years I went to my daughter's home in Ohio for Christmas to celebrate with her and her husband and in-laws. It was an awesome time. I loved it. This year I can't go. Most generally speaking holidays are a time of lonliness for me. I have to share my mom with my brothers and my brothers choose not to include me for their purpose of having time alone with mom. Anyway, it is an absolute horrible time of the year for me. There is more to the story but I won't go into it. I can't give gifts this year and that is okay. My family has been most understanding. I think what is the hardest is knowing I can't help someone else and I can't give not even with my body a helping hand. Sucks don't it?

Anyway, I am not going to spend time feeling sorry for me but just want to thank Pinetree for the blessed post and the thoughtfulness he has generated here. Thank you!

Thank you sister,thanks for being an honest saint,who has been through alot,but presses on in hope.

Other people can relate to your story,and feel they are not alone!

Day by day,little by little.Maybe next year will be brighter.

It is not always easy to take comfort,but nonetheless,I hope God comforts you.

I say merry Christmas to you in the truest way,meaning His birth was for you too!.

Thanks,bro pine.

 

[razzelflabben]

wow, talk about beating a person when they are down. I came here because this is a tough year for us, tough again, it isn't the first year it's been tough, and even though we suffer, the Lord has been so good to us that words aren't enough to say how blessed we really are. And encouragement that I share every day of my life with hurting people. In fact, only today I spoke words of encouragement and hope to someone who was hurting. But when I come here, offering the same hope, the same encouragement. When I come here and suggest that we focus on our blessings and what we can do for others. When I come here and ask Neph what I didn't understand about his post so that we might grow together, I get broadsided and attacked and ignored. I know you don't all see it here in these posts, but there are other places and ways to attack and instead of love, ah well, I guess that if I don't tell you all the ways we are suffering, or if I apply biblical printcipals to the whole thing, I am evil and unworthy of love. Go ahead and kick me when I am down, I have lived through much worse, even this year. And the bottom line to all of you who think it is okay to respond to love with hate, I will ask you to remember that joy, real joy, comes only from the HS dwelling within, something that can only happen when we humble ourselves enough to be like Christ.

Neph, thanks for beating me when I was down, it shows whose you are not.

 

[lismore]

I always hate the holidays!

Hi NewSong

I know the feeling. We decided a few years back not to get caught up in the nonsense anymore. Its commercialised fantasy and many people feel sad at Christmas. Its only one day but the commercial build up started in october.

Over the Christmas season I invite a couple of lonely or vulnerable Christians out for lunch or over to my place to cheer them up. I try to share the gospel with others. Apart from that I ignore the whole thing.

Lots of people sit round a big turkey dinner, putting on a mask, most of whom are heading for a lost eternity. Thats the tragedy.

Jesus is the only worthwhile part of all this 'Xmas'.

To me Christmas is not about overeating, buying junk or sitting with natural relatives. Its about the saviour and about that fellow over the road who is sitting at his turkey dinner but going to hell if he dies tonight. And its about you and I who have met the saviour and are now saved and part of the same family

 

[razzelflabben]

It seems to me that the key to real joy during the holidays, isn't in forgetting the pain, but rather in learning as Paul did, to be content even in our moments of pain. Remember all the commands of God to remember? Joy isn't found in forgetting, but rather in remembering all the blessings, all the wonders, all the things He has brought you through and knowing with confidence that He will do the same this time as well. It is about trusting that He knows our every need and will provide it, that we are not wise enough to know our own needs, but rather that He alone knows us intimately enough to provide for us, care for us, and love us unto purity.

 

[NewSong]

Thank you sister,thanks for being an honest saint,who has been through alot,but presses on in hope.

Other people can relate to your story,and feel they are not alone!

Day by day,little by little.Maybe next year will be brighter.

It is not always easy to take comfort,but nonetheless,I hope God comforts you.

I say merry Christmas to you in the truest way,meaning His birth was for you too!.

Thanks,bro pine.

Yo Bro' Pine,

You know what the hardest part is? It is that I love to give and it don't matter what time of the year it is, if I don't have something to give someone, then I am always down. The lonely part comes in to play only because it was always a holiday we had as family until we got OLD.

I reckon' there are people who can relate and even have horror stories but I remember one Christmas I had the most glorious time alone with GOD. We had a great time and I will never forget it as long as I live. The worst part was, I never meant to hurt my grandparents by not going to their home on Christmas day. I thought they had too many people and opted out and my grandparents couldn't wait to give me a brand new watch. You know I haven't been able to stand to be alone since that time during the Christmas season...Stupid reason but thats why. My grandparents didn't guilt me and they didn't criticize me and no one else did but I thought I would go the day after Christmas to see them and spend quality time with them. I felt so selfish in wanting to spend Christmas with just me and GOD instead of sharing HIM with my family who was lost.
Anyway that is in the past and I reckon that I will find a coping mechanism this year. I am physically not up to much anyway.

 

[pinetree]

Yo Bro' Pine,

You know what the hardest part is? It is that I love to give and it don't matter what time of the year it is, if I don't have something to give someone, then I am always down. The lonely part comes in to play only because it was always a holiday we had as family until we got OLD.

I reckon' there are people who can relate and even have horror stories but I remember one Christmas I had the most glorious time alone with GOD. We had a great time and I will never forget it as long as I live. The worst part was, I never meant to hurt my grandparents by not going to their home on Christmas day. I thought they had too many people and opted out and my grandparents couldn't wait to give me a brand new watch. You know I haven't been able to stand to be alone since that time during the Christmas season...Stupid reason but thats why. My grandparents didn't guilt me and they didn't criticize me and no one else did but I thought I would go the day after Christmas to see them and spend quality time with them. I felt so selfish in wanting to spend Christmas with just me and GOD instead of sharing HIM with my family who was lost.
Anyway that is in the past and I reckon that I will find a coping mechanism this year. I am physically not up to much anyway.

Yo new song..

I totally understand,funny how so many decisions have have 2 paths that can be taken,,,

In the end,it is all fine with Him.

 

[NewSong]

Hi NewSong

I know the feeling. We decided a few years back not to get caught up in the nonsense anymore. Its commercialised fantasy and many people feel sad at Christmas. Its only one day but the commercial build up started in october.

Over the Christmas season I invite a couple of lonely or vulnerable Christians out for lunch or over to my place to cheer them up. I try to share the gospel with others. Apart from that I ignore the whole thing.

Lots of people sit round a big turkey dinner, putting on a mask, most of whom are heading for a lost eternity. Thats the tragedy.

Jesus is the only worthwhile part of all this 'Xmas'.

To me Christmas is not about overeating, buying junk or sitting with natural relatives. Its about the saviour and about that fellow over the road who is sitting at his turkey dinner but going to hell if he dies tonight. And its about you and I who have met the saviour and are now saved and part of the same family

You know Lismore, I had to laugh about the Turkey and overeating...I can stay on a diet right up until the day we have the big get togethers and there is all kinds of food and then I am right back overeating again. OUCH!

Everything is going to be okay this year. I do dislike the Holidays though. I see many people turn into depressed, snarly, agitated, self-centered people that wouldn't ordinarily. People become more self-focused on what they don't have rather than what they do have...and I admit I have taken that trip one time too many. In fact, my mom and I had a discussion earlier that resulted in a discussion about it. All it took is one little girl who said to me, "this is the first time I have ever got to celebrate Christmas." She was so animated telling me. She is 19 years old and in her 19 years of her life this is the first year she will have a Christmas Tree, decorations, and gifts ---not from her family but from some of us who can't afford them that will find a way. Her parents raised her in their JW home. She hated it the whole time she was growing up she told me today... My little friend put up her tree in her apartment and then invited her sisters and her dad who has shared custody of her sisters over for supper tonight in her apartment. She asked for prayer today for GOD to do a miracle in her dad's heart so he would believe in JESUS the real reason for CHristmas. We were so deeply touched by what she was attempting to do tonight. I am in awe!

 

[lismore]

You know Lismore, I had to laugh about the Turkey and overeating...I can stay on a diet right up until the day we have the big get togethers and there is all kinds of food and then I am right back overeating again. OUCH!

Everything is going to be okay this year. I do dislike the Holidays though. I see many people turn into depressed, snarly, agitated, self-centered people that wouldn't ordinarily. People become more self-focused on what they don't have rather than what they do have...and I admit I have taken that trip one time too many. In fact, my mom and I had a discussion earlier that resulted in a discussion about it. All it took is one little girl who said to me, "this is the first time I have ever got to celebrate Christmas." She was so animated telling me. She is 19 years old and in her 19 years of her life this is the first year she will have a Christmas Tree, decorations, and gifts ---not from her family but from some of us who can't afford them that will find a way. Her parents raised her in their JW home. She hated it the whole time she was growing up she told me today... My little friend put up her tree in her apartment and then invited her sisters and her dad who has shared custody of her sisters over for supper tonight in her apartment. She asked for prayer today for GOD to do a miracle in her dad's heart so he would believe in JESUS the real reason for CHristmas. We were so deeply touched by what she was attempting to do tonight. I am in awe!

Amen, thats a lovely story

I agree what we need at Christmas is more love between believers, more of Jesus.

Over here Christmas is just a commercialised nightmare, people have been shopping hard for a couple of months now. Some will spend £10,000 on stuff, over-eat, over-drink. Im also amazed that I usually run into several Christians each holiday season, who are spending the whole time lonely and on their own.

Its like we as Christians dont really know what to do with this wordly festival of Christmas. Do we tag along, or offer an alternative? Many churches even dont have a Christmas day/eve service anymore!!!! Never mind a big dinner open for all who want to come.

The church sleepeth on.

 

[Strong in Him]

Merry Christmas to all!

I presently am on the way to green pastures,but some are in the inevitable destiny of the valley of the shadow..

I have had a dark Christmas before though.

Some have had many.

Lonliness,illness of loved ones,financial worries etc..

So I thought maybe a thread for the hurting might be in order.

What a lovely idea.

The gap between the perception and the reality of Christmas never ceases to amaze, and sadden, me. From early December we are bombarded with adverts - a perfect Christmas is having lots of food, good wine, perfect decorations, the children get everything they asked for and play nicely, sharing and not squabbling and all the family/guests/in laws are well dressed, happy and well behaved. Such a portrayal is as tinselly and artificial as the stuff on the tree. Sometimes I've felt under pressure to be happy at Christmas because "everyone else" seems to be.

May the Lord Jesus, who was born to a teenage mother, laid in a manger in a country occupied by foreign soldiers, and later was taken out of that country to save his life; bless and have compassion on all the poor, lonely, stressed, sick and homeless this christmas.

And may we all know his peace, joy and the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us.

 

[lismore]

Find a poor soul and befriend them, make their Christmas!

 

[pinetree]

What a lovely idea.

The gap between the perception and the reality of Christmas never ceases to amaze, and sadden, me. From early December we are bombarded with adverts - a perfect Christmas is having lots of food, good wine, perfect decorations, the children get everything they asked for and play nicely, sharing and not squabbling and all the family/guests/in laws are well dressed, happy and well behaved. Such a portrayal is as tinselly and artificial as the stuff on the tree. Sometimes I've felt under pressure to be happy at Christmas because "everyone else" seems to be.

May the Lord Jesus, who was born to a teenage mother, laid in a manger in a country occupied by foreign soldiers, and later was taken out of that country to save his life; bless and have compassion on all the poor, lonely, stressed, sick and homeless this christmas.

And may we all know his peace, joy and the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us.

Amen..God with us all!