Holidays | Nibby Priest -Life On Purpose

Christ out of Christmas? Hogwash!

Posted on December 5, 2010 Written by Nibby Priest

A grade school teacher whom I know was told this year that he couldn’t put up any reference of Christmas in his class room (yes, Henderson County Schools) – no Christmas party, no Christmas Tree and no manger scene. When I was told the story, I was so mad and wanted to do something about this perceived injustice.

Until . . . my pastor shared the letter below at my church today.

I hear people talking about how Christ is being taken from Christmas. After reading this, I will not be participating in those conversations- what a waste of time. I will be doing what Christmas is all about –LOVE, showing GRACE and wishing everyone I come in contact with Merry Christmas! I truly hope that during this Christmas season all my actions show the Christ Child’s presence in my life.

Thanks Pastor Tim for sharing this “letter from Jesus”*.

Dear Children

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year. It was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival, although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children and grandchildren of your own. I don’t care what you call the day.

If you want to celebrate My birth, just get along and love one another. Now, having said that…let Me go on… If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa’s and snowmen, and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees; you can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish…I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one about the vine, look up John 15:1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list; choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know because they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home, not just during Christmas time, but all through the year. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing “George” complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year…then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past… …and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of “nit-picking” about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” ,that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day, they’d close and let their employees spend the day at church and at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary — especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts giving them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me. They will even make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions and words that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love…and remember… I LOVE YOU!

Jesus

*According to the internets the author of this letter is anonymous.

What unique way are you sharing the LOVE and GRACE of Christmas 2010?

Experience PEACE this Christmas

Posted on December 11, 2009 Written by Nibby Priest

“Christ does not bring us Peace, He is our Peace” Tim Hobbs

There is nothing better to celebrate than peace in your heart, peace in your city, peace with God and of course peace around the world. Christmas time is a perfect time to celebrate peace and to encourage the same.

Once we learn to put aside our differences and concentrate on how much we are a like we can celebrate peace and of course love.

The house light display took the peace approach head on this year. An idea that we have wanted to do for a few years.

The PEACE signs (yes, one that was popular in the 1970’s) are positioned to the left and right of the elevated Christ Star. Connected with fresh green garland and laced with Turtle Doves (they are fakes and very old/recycled).

The goal is to be able to see the star and peace signs across the river into Evansville. I don’t know if we succeeded in the brightness category, but the message displayed is clear.

So many have already said to me and Greg– “We get the message!” Thank you for all of the nice comments. That makes it worth all the trouble.

The Star is to represent the birth of Christ and that he came to earth to give us PEACE (and a lot more). The Turtle Doves which many times naturally appear around the downtown (aka pigeons) also represent peace. The doves are hard to see in this picture.

It is my desire that this Christmas season that you experience the PEACE that Jesus brings to us during the Christmas Holidays.

The lights are multi colored. They add a whimsical dimension to the display.

The display is very green (energy efficient) all of the lights outside with exception to the floods are LED lights. Many displays around the area are using solid lights (white or another color). We have noticed that people are really having troubles matching the colors and especially the whites.

For those of you whom have young teens asking for PEACE signs. These (along with the star) were mail ordered from Pottery Barn in early November. Checking their website now- they are sold out. Strands of multicolored lights were added to each peace sign to enhance the effect.

Drive by and take a look. What you think?

Do you decorate with goals in mind to share a message about Christmas?

What are some of the Best Light Displays in Henderson KY you have found?

Originally posted 12/1/2009

Easter 2009

Posted on April 12, 2009 Written by Nibby Priest

What a wonderful Easter weekend we had. Probably my most favorite holiday of the year is Good Friday. This is one holiday that there are no expectations, no gifts to buy, no hurrying to get from place to place. Just a pure day of relaxation and refreshment preparing for the triumphant reminder of the risen Lord on Easter Sunday.

This year was unique that we didn’t have a Easter Egg hunt for the kids. They went to the other grandmothers house for Easter.

The adults enjoyed a “kid free” Easter lunch.

Saturday morning I started the prep for the Sunday meal. Lots of unique items went into this menu.

The Spice Carrot Cake contained spices that Mary could have taken to the tomb.

The vegetable dish was a sauté of Snow Peas, Jicama and Morels. Morels are a reminder to me of the beautiful spring and how they pop up from the ground so quickly reminds me of Christ rising from the dead. One thing to remember about morels, if you find them growing somewhere and you harvest them, don’t tell others where you found them. They are like gold. Morels have a sweet nutty flavor. Sherry Wine enhances that flavor.

See Slideshow below of the days food and event.

Did you hear about the Easter Bunny being inside my fridge when I opened it up Sunday morning? I asked him what he was doing in there and he said, “Isn’t this a Westinghouse?”.

Happy Easter 2009.