Category: Holidays

Belief, Faith, Family, Holidays

Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas

Angela Ireland

I’m sure that this post will come as a bit of a shock for most people who know me personally as well as those who read this blog, I will no longer be celebrating the holiday known as Christmas. My reasons are simple, there are no scriptural references to this holiday and two it is rooted in idolatry and not the gospel. Christmas was first celebrated in 336 AD, three hundred and three years after the church of Christ was established in Jerusalem. https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/301-600/the-1st-recorded-celebration-of-christmas-11629658.html

Sure, I celebrated Christmas as a child with my family. I have the fondest memories of Nana(my mother’s mother) coming over first thing in the morning to open gifts and have breakfast with us. I remember waking up before the sun came up just to see what was under the tree for me and to make sure that my brothers didn’t receive more than I did. Oh and of course there was Christmas dinner at my other grandmother’s house every Christmas evening, until we moved to Florida. So many beautiful memories are tied to that holiday. But when I shifted from child to adult, the real celebration was my mother’s birthday. She was actually born on December 25.

It’s been thirteen years since her death and the idea of celebrating another commercial holiday without her is just not something I am looking forward to. If you’ve read this far, you’re probably saying to yourself, what about your children, don’t you want to make the holiday special for them? Of course I would, but what made this holiday special for me and for others is the joy of family. They don’t have that. There is no family nearby to celebrate with. Not even close friends. There are no gifts from their grandfather, uncles or cousins to put under the tree. It is once again just us.

If I were to decorate the tree and plan out the day, the only people that would be present would be just us three. There will no gifts or invitations to celebrate the day. Always us. While I could create traditions of our own, what would be the point? Their only memories of the day they don’t have to celebrate would be of their mom stretching herself and running herself ragged just to place a few gifts under the tree. What would be different then about that day than any other day of the year?

So yes, we will create a new tradition and that it will always include spending time together, traveling and perhaps doing something that we have not done previously. It might even be a day of watching family movies and cooking and eating family meals that we prepared together. But it will not be spending like crazy on a day that has absolutely nothing to do with my salvation or theirs.

I will never criticize anyone for celebrating Christmas, because it is certainly a personal choice. But as for us, we will abstain and do something else. We will rejoice and be glad that Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave so that we might have salvation. And that is worth celebrating!

In Christian love,

AngelaChristine

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American, Belief, Current Events, Faith, Freedom, Holidays, patriot, Service

The Long Weekend

Angela Ireland
American Memorial Day

Enjoy the “long weekend.” That is what Memorial Day represents to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, who currently preside over our country as President and Vice President. It is still unbelievable to me that two people who have only been politicians, have zero business acumen or the ability to relate to the average American are now in charge of the management of our great nation.

The history around Memorial Day is a bit mixed, there is history that a group of newly freed slaves in Charleston, SC, actually celebrated the first Memorial Day in 1865. But it was in 1966, that the federal government declared Waterloo, New York as the official birthplace of what we now refer to as Memorial Day. Regardless of the origin of this holiday, the purpose is to remember the sacrifice of many brave men and women, who gave their lives for freedom.

Freedom. In just 14 months, I have watched people that I know and love hand over their precious gift of freedom (endowed to them by God) to the most corrupt, immoral, depraved government we have ever had in this country without question, out of fear. It has been like watching a movie, believing at some point that they would wake up and see the truth. To no avail, they are still asleep.

It seems that no amount of facts or evidence will work for those deeply entrenched in the belief that the government’s role is to keep them safe. It is not the role of the government to keep you safe from illness and certainly not worth sacrificing your freedom and posterity to corrupt politicians. Alas, when they do awaken from their deep sleep, by all estimates it will be too late.

I have tried to walk away from this fight, many times, but it is just not in my nature or character to give up, when I know that so much is at stake. As a Christian, it is my duty to proclaim what is true, because there are people who are listening and want to find the light. So, as is recorded in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” I will not give up and I will not turn off my light.

We must never forget.

With love,

AngelaChristine

Belief, Faith, Family, Holidays, Love, Mindset, Parenting

I May Never Be Perfect

Angela Ireland

What a beautiful and glorious day here in Northwest Georgia. I just finished listening to an inspirational message about mother’s from dare I say my favorite evangelist, Chad Garrett at IndianLand church of Christ (churchofchristindianland.org) and I felt encouraged to write a post about the importance and necessity of biblical mothers in 2021.

As a divorced mother of two children, I feel like I am failing most days. Almost like, I just can’t get it all done even though in my heart I desire to do so. Going back in time I could never have imagined that at this stage of my life, it would still be this hard, but it is. Because well my son, has health challenges that require much more of me than the typical child would need at the age of ten.

Please don’t see this as a complaint or resentment, it is just a reflection of what is and my everyday reality. This is part of my story. But I don’t plan to be defined by it. My daily is prayer is that God will give me just what I need for each day ahead and that I will be grateful. That is what I want and need.

I want to count it all a joy, when the laundry is clean but not folded. I want to count it all joy, when we have good nourishing food to eat, but maybe the pots don’t get washed and put away immediately following. I want to count it all a joy, when maybe we didn’t finish the lessons that we planned for the day, but my daughter mastered whatever we did cover.

I want to believe that my children will know that in my failures, I never gave up or walked away. That even in my exhaustion, I put my faith in God and believed that He would give me the provisions for one more day. Even when I can’t process another step in my weary mind.

A scripture that I’ve read many times stood out to me today, because well maybe it was what God especially needed me to hear because the last week has been so brutal (a story for another day). It says this, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

That is the point, the woman who puts all of her faith in God is able to do all the things. While I fall short often, I am thankful and grateful that God gives me grace and forgiveness.

I want to encourage you as a wife, mother, or wherever you are in your life to believe that you matter and are loved, no matter how messy you believe your life to be. You are far more precious than rubies and you cannot be replaced.

God needs more mothers to put Him first as an example to her husband and to her children. We may never be perfect, but we can certainly be complete in Christ Jesus.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Happy Mother’s Day!

AngelaChristine

Living with gratitude
Faith, Holidays, Love, Service

To Love is to Serve

Angela Ireland

Not in love? No problem, neither am I. But that doesn’t mean you and I can’t participate in this season of all things love. In fact, when I began to think about it in the context of being a Christian, this month is especially suited for us. With I Corinthians 13:4-8, in mind, I came up with of list of tips that all of us can do to love and to serve.

Tip #1- Share your favorite scripture with your friends and tell them why it’s your favorite. It’s so easy to become discouraged and sending a note to a friend with your favorite scripture may just be what is needed.

Tip# 2- Write a note to a friend or family member using eye catching stationary and mail it! I know it’s a bit old fashioned, but who doesn’t appreciate receiving a handwritten note from someone special in your life?

Tip #3- Share the name of a book that you read recently that you found extra special. Perhaps do a book exchange.

Tip# 4- Cook a dish that you know your friend would enjoy and use that as an excuse to pay a visit.

Tip #5- Invite a guest to Bible study or to church. How many times, have thought I wish, Abby were here? She would have loved to hear this lesson.

Tip#6- Share your favorite Valentines Day dessert recipe with your best friend.

Tip# 7- Make a batch of hand sanitizer with your favorite essential oil and give it as a gift.

Tip# 8- Go thrifting with your friends. Set a five dollar limit and exchange gifts on Valentines Day.

Tip#9- Offer to watch your friends’ children for afternoon, so that she can take a nap or get a facial.

Tip#10- Actually meet up for coffee. Set a date and keep it!

Tip#11- Go to your favorite exercise class together.

Tip#12- Commit to checking in at least once per week.

Tip# 13- Offer to walk the dog, so your friend can go and see her grandmother in the nursing home.

Tip#14- Go out as a group to celebrate your friendship. The more the merrier!!

Bonus tip, write a poem about friendship and share it on your social media timeline. Go here for tips on writing poetry. https://self-publishingschool.com/how-to-write-a-poem/

While the world may view love from the lens of chocolates and romantic dinners, although very nice, love is so much more! It is abundant, compassionate, durable and it serves others exactly where they are. 💗

In Christian love,

AngelaChristine