Scripture of the Month: Honesty

Even in the littlest of details, strive for honesty. 

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Scripture of the Month: Mistakes

There is a difference between making a mistake and committing a sin.

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Scripture of the Month: New beginnings

Life is a series of beginnings. How you enter into them makes all the différance.

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Is Jeremiah 10:3-4 against Christmas?

Jeremiah 10:3-4 is simply an excuse for Christians to celebrate Christmas. It’s also an excuse to call Christians “pagans” that celebrate Christmas. One can’t win either way. For many people, Christmas is a feeling that takes them back to their childhood. They gravitate towards the gingerbread, the gifts, the carols, and the Christmas tree. Talk about a sensory overload! It’s a cherished custom that’s hard to let go of.

Not to stray off-topic, but at first glance/read, many people take Jeremiah 10:3-4 out of context. It’s better to read the chapter in its entirety, but I want to look at the first 4 verses. This chapter opens with a request for Israel to listen to what Jeremiah is saying, for he speaks the Word of God. The second chapter is a reminder that we live in the world, but we shouldn’t even think of taking up such worldly ways. Verse 3 speaks of idol worship where trees are cut down to make idols for worship, and we’re never to worship God through images or idols of any sort. Verse 4 describes how the idols are then decked in silver and gold. Yet, despite the care, time, and patience that goes into craving and decorating a lifeless deity, comes to life it does not.

Statue of Baal via Google Arts & Culture

We can clearly see that Jeremiah is condemning idolatry, not Christmas trees. He is reminding his people that the gods that the pagans worship are NOTHING compared to the True and Living God. Compare Jeremiah 10 with Isaiah 40:18-20; 44:14-17, and read how similar the arguments are. When will a Christmas tree become a graven image for these passages to apply? When people start bowing down to worship or pray to them.

However, I’ll also have to concur that there is a slight resemblance between the Christmas tree and the tree of Jeremiah and Isaiah. The Christmas tree is supposed to be a decorative symbol, yet, there are songs directed to the tree as if they were meant to serenade it.

Although Jeremiah 10:3-4 may not be of the beloved Christmas trees, they began as a pagan tradition and there is no denying it, no matter how much one dresses or lights it up. Christmas loving Christians are going to want to defend and argue over other man made traditions that non-loving Christmas Christians keep, such as birthdays, but that’s a topic for another day.

GIF via Best Wishes

Conclusion

The Israelites failed to heed God’s warning time after time. They were fascinated by the religious practices of their neighbors, so it became easier overtime to ignore God, and slip into idolatrous worship, thus learning the way of the Gentile. The celestial body was part of the Gentile’s worship, so that includes the sun, and December 25th do have significant history with sun worship. As the wisest man once said, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Many customs and traditions are recycled and simply given a new name and purpose, and Christmas is one of such.

When we look at Jeremiah 10, we must remember that Christmas came into being long after the death and resurrection of our Savior, as a day to honor His birth. Some might argue that “we honor Him every day,” but why December 25th to commemorate a birth that is inaccurate? Why December 25th to give gifts, spend time with loved ones, and share with the homeless? Shouldn’t those things be done during the year, and not one day a year? What’s so special about this one day that we stop to “celebrate” and “honor” Christ? Why not every day? It’s no wonder why this festive season is fill with so much of anxiety!

GIF via Society19

Getting back on track, Jeremiah 10 is referring to idolatry as the practice of decorating Christmas trees originated later. However, although the passage is not referring to Christmas trees, take time to look into the celebration of Christmas and its trees. God warns that “the customs of the peoples are futile”, so why are Christians bent on looking at pagan practices and seeking to copy them? Why do we seek to justify the keeping and practices of it? We need to stop borrowing attractive religious customs from the world around us, and worship God in spirit and truth as it is meant to be. Our religious practices should be taken DIRECTLY from the Bible.

Final Thoughts:

• No matter what, we can’t put Christ back into Christmas, for He was never there to begin with, no matter how it is dressed up. It’s not even pronounced Christ-mas, but kri-smuhs. If it’s all about Christ, why is the ‘t’ silent?
• It’s AMAZING how many people disobey or trash Christ during the year, but come together to “celebrate His birth” for one day. Make it make sense.
• It is easy to give praise with our voice, but what about action through obedience?

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VERSE OF THE MONTH (December 2021): 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. 

Hosea 4:6 🤔

Scripture of the Month: We are lacking knowledge

Romans 15:4 perfectly captures why the Bible was written. Yet, many people lack knowledge for they do not read, learn, meditate, and study the scriptures. They lean on false teachings instead of opening the Bible. They get their learning from Hollywood, misinformed and misguided individuals/celebrities, instead of going directly to the Word.

It’s no wonder we are destroyed due to a lack of knowledge!

To reject the knowledge of the Word of God is to reject God. Today, open your Bible and seek knowledge. 

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Scripture of the Month: Where were you when God created the world?

God made the world without help. We were not there to give advice or guidance, so why do we want to dictate on God’s behalf?

God was the One Who laid out the blueprint, measurements, and details. The angels delighted in the Creator’s creative creation by singing and shouting for joy.

The world is not what it once was, but when Christ returns to reclaim what’s rightfully His, we shall rejoice as the angels. Even so, come soon, Lord Jesus.

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Scripture of the Month: Return to the Lord

What right do we have to complain about the punishment of sin we’ve committed? None at all. We tend to want His grace, but not His fair justice. We shouldn’t even be complaining about God, but to God.

Instead of complaining, and fretting, let us instead examine our hearts, ways, thoughts, and beliefs. Let us repent, and turn again to the Lord. Saying that we are of God is easy to say, but are our actions in sync? Being a Christian is an everyday affair, not a sometimes affair.

Instead of complaining, we should encourage ourselves in hope. 

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Everything wrong with ‘The Secret Garden’

I’ve been reading more than I should lately, and although I should’ve already read 90-110 books given the calculation during a small reading slump I had to get over (thank God!), I’m glad to have read 78 books. 

Before I begin, I apologize for being M.I.A. I’ve been busy (and I use that word loosely) organizing, plotting, planning, and of course, resting. I needed this time for myself to also reflect and see how far I’ve come, and where I’m going to. In all my years of blogging, it feels as if this is the first time I’ve slowed down concerning posting, and also reading your blogs. I can’t promise that things will change soon (although I’ll like it very much to), but life happens, and unfortunately, I can’t press the bell for it to stop at my address just so I can get off. All I can do is hope to get back to a regular blogging schedule, one day.

Image via The BookMarketNG

Okay, so this book. What’s the BIG deal about it? I couldn’t find any. When I was young, and I just started out reading, I was made to believe that I should appreciate every single book I read, and not criticize even if I don’t like the book. This book falls under such category, but it’s not even all that special or unique, and as much as I love reading books, I love that I can give my honest thoughts, opinions, and reviews, without sugarcoating it.

Here, in note-taking form, are the reasons why I dislike this so-call favorite classic: 

🔖 Dialect. I dislike reading books sprinkled throughout with local dialects. It’s a major turn-off. Also, this book target group are children, so why not proper English dialogue usage? Plus, people are reading this book worldwide, so the dialect could’ve been toned down a bit. 

GIF via Giphy

🔖 There’s a character in this story that I kind of liked. His name is Dickon. He speaks to animals, and plays on a pipe for his listening audience of animals. Piped Piper of Animals? He quite gave off Jack from Legend vibes. You know? That Tom Cruise film which is never mentioned by said actor, in which he’s king of the jungle and talks to animals? I guess Dickon was Ridley Scott’s favorite character as well.

🔖 Magic. I know there are people that believe in magic, but there’s no such thing as good magic. It’s not even magic, it’s God. Authors need to stop stealing what is God’s, and calling it magic. Call it what it is: a miracle. Nature is not made of magic for God is not a magician, but rather, a Creator and Designer. Colin (a spoiled, obnoxious character) got scientific about ‘why it gotta be magic’, so I got technical on ‘why it can’t be magic’.

🔖 A grown adult male bringing up, a man hitting his wife in front of children. Just, no! If that’s not wrong enough, here’s young Colin’s response: “She used the wrong Magic until she made him beat her. If she’d used the right Magic and had said something nice, perhaps he wouldn’t have got drunk as a lord and perhaps – perhaps he might have bought her a new bonnet.”

I’m sitting there, like, “What did this child just say?” Really? So, bad magic can make a man beat his wife, but good magic makes a man buys her nice things? CHILD! NO! There’s no such thing as good or bad magic, and a man shouldn’t beat up on his wife period. What drugs was this author taking when this dialogue was written? I’m sure Colin grew up to be a wife beater simply because his wife didn’t believe in “good magic”.

GIF via Primo GIF

🔖 The Big Good Thing. No, just say God, you know you want to. Say His Name, praise Him, acknowledge the miracle He has done, and stop being a cowardly mouse that wants to fit in with the world. An adult mother talks like this? *Mocking voice* Th’ big good thing. So stupid.

🔖 Dickon’s mother (Susan Sowerby) is an ode to what people call “mother nature”… here, I roll my eyes. The names of many characters were downright annoying.

In almost every children classic I’ve read, the children are neglected by their parents… like Disney, and it’s downright annoying. Didn’t wonderful families existed in eras gone by? Why must the children be selfishly or emotionally neglected? Is that supposed to tug on our heartstrings to ask for sympathy for an annoying and rude character? There were also hints of racism, which was not necessary. I get that it was a different time, but this is no excuse. Authors – of all ethnicities – have a responsibility when they write and edit before the final product go out into the world.

When I was young, I’ll devour any book, and call it good. I now see through a different prism. While I appreciate an author’s “labor of love”, I won’t be sugarcoating words when it comes to discussing a book. I’ll call it out for what it is and stand by what I said.

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VERSE OF THE MONTH (September 2021): 

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, 
though we have rebelled against Him.  

Daniel 9:9 🙌

Word High July: Maharlika and Musmos

via areadingwritr

Salut! It’s been a while since I’ve been able to compose something. I decided to take a little break to pursue other things, reflect, and ponder. At some point, I’ll come to a decision about blogging, but not today.

This is going to be my last post regarding Word High July. With six more words to go, I only managed to write words to two of them. I’ll save the others for another time. I want to thank Rose for hosting such a wonderful event. I had fun learning new words as I worked on my writing, and I’ll definitely participate in the other one. 

So, let’s begin:

Maharlika: royal, noble, regal; high or great by birth, rank, or in character

This piece was inspired by the events in Revelation 1 and 19. Everyone claims to be king, but the King of kings will return to claim what’s rightfully His (Rev. 11:15), and in the meantime, we should watch (Matthew 25:13).

We must not wait to declare Jesus our Savior until we can see Him with our physical eyes. We must accept Him by faith, not fact, to be saved.

Even so, come Lord Jesus! 

And finally, I come to this word:

Musmos: child, naive, innocent

It pretty much explain itself.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

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VERSE OF THE MONTH (September 2021):  

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, 
though we have rebelled against Him.  

Daniel 9:9 🙌

Scripture of the Month: Mercies and forgiveness

How many times have we rebelled against God? Countless! Yet, God is so merciful, He tends to forgive us, and start with us all over again, once we’re willing to let Him work.

So, what’s our excuse?

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