Tag Archives: Christmas spirit

It’s Not Beginning to Look A lot like Christmas

Posted on December 5, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Perhaps Christmas has become passe?  Or maybe commercialism has contributed individuals from losing sight of its meaning.  Either way, holiday music has been unsuccessful in preparing hearts to find the Christmas spirit.

You don’t have to go any further than Black Friday’s encroachment upon Thanksgiving to see and feel these effects.  Thanking God for the day has been interrupted by football, movies and shopping.  Add in mobs of citizens making a mad dash to get the last item left in the store; then you’ll realize its not beginning to look like Christmas.

As long as hearts continue to dwell on selfish desires, Romans 3:9-12, individuals will be unable to experience the true meaning of Christmas.  Possessing the spirit of Christmas isn’t something you can turn on and off.  Rather, you need a heart transplant, Romans 10:9-10.  Only then, you will the grinch inside of you vanish, opening the door for good tidings and joy to shine through.

by Jay Mankus

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

The Noise Inside of Heaven

Posted on November 17, 2014 by expressyourself4him

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, Christmas Classics won’t be far behind, airing in the next month.  One of my favorites, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” tries to explain how angels can influence human beings.  Henry Travers, plays Clarence, an angel longing to earn his wings by helping George, played by Jimmy Stewart, see how great his life is despite the financial woes of the Great Depression.  This film portrays the noise inside of heaven, ringing bells, as angels complete their assignment thereby earning their wings.

According to the Bible, heaven is compared to a party, similar to a wedding reception, Matthew 22:1-14.  From an eyewitness, the son of God, rejoicing occurs every time a sinner repents, Luke 15:7.  While there are certain stereotypes linked to born again Christians, this doesn’t mean that a church service can’t turn into a football frenzy audience.  In additional, beyond the emotions of any celebration, there will be no tears in heaven, Revelation 21:4, wiped away by Jesus

On earth, the sound of gun shots, screams and violence make heaven seem like an eternity away.  Instead of letting a doom and gloom mentality cause you to give up hope, take advantage of the coming Christmas Spirit.  May believers bring Joy to the World as the sweet sound of worship music revive souls, bringing the noise inside of heaven down to earth.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Upside Down

Posted on November 24, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Imagery is used in books, movies and real life to communicate a deeper or hidden meaning. In the Bible, light and darkness is used as a metaphor to illustrate right from wrong. When the circumstances of life comes crashing down upon you, turning everything you thought you knew upside down, it’s time to return to the book of life for answers, Revelation 13:8.

Matthew 16:24-28 is a passage difficult to comprehend from a worldly point of view. The moment a child enters this world, they cry out for to their mother and then to whoever will change or feed them. This urging or desire is what the Bible calls our sinful nature, passed on from Adam, down to each and every generation, Romans 5:12. Nonetheless, Jesus turns everything you have learned about life around in Matthew 16:25. Life is not about taking control, holding onto it for dear life; real life is found by giving it away.

I guess you can say people are in desperate need of a mind transplant, transforming their thoughts from their self to others, Romans 12:1-2. Like the old Michael W. Smith song proclaims in its lyrics, “love isn’t love until you give it away!”. Therefore, as shoopers try to recover from the carnage that is Black Friday, let these words of Jesus soak in to help you catch the Christmas spirit; not for a season, for the rest of your earthly life. If you want to turn the world upside down, it’s begins deep inside your heart, John 3:5-8.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.