True Meaning of Christmas

While waiting in line to mail packages at the post office, I couldn't help but notice that every Christmas card on display was of a secular nature. The only cards that actually said "Christmas" on them were of the Peanuts gang and Santa Claus.

I decided to do a search to find out the last year that the Madonna Christmas stamps - depicting Mary with the Christ Child - were sold at the post office.

In my first search, I found the following stamp dated 2006:



Description from USPS.com:

Christmas: Chacón Madonna and Child with Bird

The 2006 Christmas stamp features an oil-on-canvas entitled Madonna and Child with Bird. Dating from around 1765, the painting is attributed to Ignacio Chacón-an artist active from about 1745 to 1775 in Cuzco, Peru. It is now part of the Engracia and Frank Barrows Freyer Collection of Peruvian colonial art at the Denver Art Museum. In designing the stamp, art director Michael Osborne slightly cropped the painting's floral "frame" and surrounded the entire composition with a gold border that echoes Chacón's use of gold-leaf embellishments.

A famous painting by Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo entitled La Sagrada Familia del Pajarito (The Holy Family of the Little Bird) probably served as an indirect prototype for Chacón's Madonna and Child with Bird. The importance of birds in Inca culture would have made the topic of Murillo's painting particularly resonant in Peru. Birds were sacred to the Inca, partially because of their ability to fly and move closer to Inti, the sun god. So in Cuzco, colonial artists often incorporated birds or feathers into images of the Virgin and Christ to indicate their divine status.

Of course, this stamp is created more for the Catholic religion which believes that Mary was also divine - as was Christ. Unfortunately, that is incorrect. According to the Bible, Mary is NEVER mentioned as "divine." She is properly honored as the mother of Jesus (not "the mother of God") and is called "blessed."

During my second search, I found an article dated back in 2008 at The Telegraph UK which was entitled, "Church leaders fear religious Christmas stamps will be scrapped."

The sub-title tells us why:

Church leaders fear religious Christmas stamps could be scrapped for pantomime designs after Royal Mail forced them to be sold "under the counter".

Take a look at the ugly "pantomime design!" I don't even want to post the photo here at this blog. Well - at least "pantomime sisters" are rightly labeled as "The Ugly Sisters!" Ha! But...c'mon!! What do their ugly faces have to do with Christmas?

I agree with this Canon Chancellor:

Canon Chris Chivers, the Canon Chancellor of Blackburn Cathedral, has called the choice of stamps "utterly demeaning" and said in a letter: "If we are to have Christmas stamps at all, let them be Christian. But if for some mindlessly secularist reason we must have a choice, then let there be stamps of both sorts, in equal number."

Continuing on in my search, I found a blog called Darleen's Place. Her blog archive contains an essay entitled, "US Post Office goes Politically Correct - Updated". She claims that the Mary With the Christ Child stamps were not available in 2005, but correctly speculated that it would be back in 2006 (see stamp above). Lots of great comments there, too.

Darleen's blog led me to a 2005 post entitled, "The War Against Christmas" at Michele Malkin.com. Lots of additional links to explore there, too.

One of the prettiest Christmas stamps I found during my search was from Canada!



Ahhh! I'm running out of time. Hopefully, I can return to the search and find more photos of the Madonna and Christ Child commemorative stamps.

USPS.com Postal History PDF page has listings of all of the Christmas stamps over the years, but no photographs of them. According to that page, the last stamp of this kind issued was in 2009.

4424 Christmas: Madonna and Sleeping Child
by Sassoferrato, by Giovanni Battista
Salvi.
After 17th c. painting by Italian artist
Giovanni Battista Salvi, more commonly
known as Sassoferrato. Hearst Castle,
San Simeon, California.

Oct. 20, 2009 44¢ Carl T. Herrman

It appears that the site hasn't been updated past the date of January, 2010. Perhaps there IS a Mary and Christ Child stamp out there but it's under the counter and customers need to ask for it?

How sad!!!

Darleen was unfortunately correct back in 2005 when she shared:



P.S. After waiting in line and shaking my head about the secularism displayed at the post office, I went to The Family Christian Store and found some beautiful CHRISTIAN themed ornaments!

One is a blue bulb ornament from "The True Meaning of Christmas" line that says, "A Child Is Born" with Isaiah 9:6 NIV on the other side: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given."

A pretty red bulb ornament says, "Keep Christ In Christmas."

A flat wooden look ornament with a north star design depicts the nativity etched upon it.

A hand painted ceramic heart-shaped design on a dark red background states, "Be still and know that I am God."

The fourth one is in the shape of the cross and has the entire 23rd Psalm written on it!

Psa 23:1 [[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.


Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.


Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.


Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.


Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.


Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

All so beautiful!







Hat Tips:

USPS.com

The Telegraph UK

Darleen's Place

Michelle Malkin.com

Every Knee Shall Bow

While grocery shopping at Stater Bros. late this afternoon, I decided to get some "Christmas" stamps. I asked the lady at the checkout stand if there were any "religious" stamps available. She said that the only ones they have were ones with pine tree branches and pine cones.

Hmmm...Winter solstice anyone?

The man behind me in line stated, "First they took Christ out of Christmas, now they are also taking the Christmas tree out!"

So true!

I remember the beautiful stamps from years ago that depicted Mary, the mother of Jesus with her Holy Babe in arms. Sigh...those were the days!

Speaking of Mary, this week's Turning Point T.V. Sunday service program was entitled "Why Mary?" It was wonderful!

Dr. David Jeremiah did a great job of pointing out how blessed Mary was to be chosen to bear the Messiah - Jesus Christ - without elevating her above where she belongs in that respect. As always, I highly recommend viewing the service at David Jeremiah.org.

The little skit at the beginning of the program speaks about the controversy that goes on each year between the atheists/agnostics/skeptics (AAS) who hate Christmas displays (like the Nativity scene) and the Christian believers who want to keep Christ in Christmas.

I often think that those who wish to squelch the reality of our Savior entering into the world via the virgin birth in a manger in Bethlehem end up accomplishing just the opposite effect that they intended to do. More people are coming to Christ for salvation today than at any other time in history! The AAS's are in for a BIG surprise on the day that they will be face to face with the risen Savior, Jesus Christ!


They are free to reject Christ now - during the age of grace here on earth - but there is a day coming where EVERY knee shall bow before Jesus Christ.

Every knee shall bow - a Christian perspective
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. Everybody, whether they love God, resist Him, or ignore Him, will ultimately come face to face with His majesty, and will recognize Him for who He is.
http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2045:23&version=NIV

Isaiah 45:23 (New International Version, ©2010)

23 By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.

Every knee - a Christian perspective
Paul tells the Philippians that Jesus has been exalted to the highest places of honor. He says that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:9-11&version=NIV

Philippians 2:9-11 (New International Version, ©2010)

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hat tips to all links.

Christmas Stories

My family and I are all fans of the annual "A Christmas Story" movie. It is a comedy that is usually broadcast as a "marathon" on Christmas day on the USA channel.

The only criticism that I have about this movie is the fact that the family does not mention the REAL meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ. And, they do not attend church either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day - something that most people in the 50's would have done as part of their family traditions.

Of course, the secularists in our society wouldn't miss such a family tradition.

Anyway, today I want to post two of my favorite Christmas stories. Even though secular America may want to leave Christ out of Christmas, true believers still get to enjoy the realization of our Savior's birth and what His birth, life, ministry here on earth, death at the cross, and resurrection to life means for our salvation.

The Candy Cane at Christmas

THE STORY OF THE CANDY CANE AT CHRISTMAS.

A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane.

He incorporated several symbols from the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane -- a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear."

Every time you see a Candy Cane, remember the Wonder of Jesus and His Great Love that came down at Christmas, and that His Love remains the ultimate and dominant force in the universe today.

Religious Meaning of "The 12 Days of Christmas.

"The 12 Days of Christmas"

~ Origins and Religious Meaning ~

Caveat: I've discovered that there is a controversy disputing the authenticity of this interpretation, just to inform you. There are some who have labeled this an "urban legend."

Also: I heard this on a Christian radio station today, so I do not deem it only a "Catholic" religious message. It is inherently Christian and does not add any false doctrine (as far as I can see) to Biblical Christian faith.

Note: The concepts symbolized in "The Twelve Days of Christmas," are not just considered Catholic, because these were basic articles of faith common to all denominations of Christianity.

*******

Background:

Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic until Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829.

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a coded-message, a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young Catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song.

"The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help Catholic children learn their faith. The better acquainted one is with the Bible, the more these interpretations have significance.

The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…"
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the Church.

1st Day:

The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross.

2nd Day:

The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.

3rd Day:

The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13).

4th Day:

The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.

5th Day:

The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

6th Day:

The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.

7th Day:

The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord
.
8th Day:

The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.

9th Day:

The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

10th Day:

The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments

11th Day:

The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.

12th Day:

The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.

So the next time you hear "the Twelve Days of Christmas" consider how this otherwise non-religious sounding song had its origins in keeping alive the teaching of the Catholic faith.

Adapted from email messages,from "How To Decode the Twelve Days of Christmas,"by Hugh D. McKellar, U.S. Catholic, 12/1979, and from "‘12 Days of Christmas’ is no nonsense, but a serious riddle" by David Crowder, El Paso Times, 12/19/1993.

Also, Origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" An Underground Catechism by Fr. Hal Stockert 12/17/95 http://www.cin.org/twelvday.html

Note: P.S. It has come to our attention that this tale is made up of both fact and fiction. Hopefully it will be accepted in the spirit it was written. As an encouragement to people to keep their faith alive, when it is easy, and when any outward expressions of their faith could mean their life. Today there are still people living under similar conditions, may this tale give them courage, and determination to use any creative means at their disposal to keep their faith alive.

Why Bethlehem?

Have you heard about the controversy going on up in Washington state regarding the atheists who put up a sign (right next to the Nativity scene, I might add) extolling the "virtues" (?) of the "Winter Solstice" while denigrating all others who believe in God (especially Christians who hold belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of the world) and who believe that God really does exist?

It's an interesting paradox. I always ask the question - if atheists are so sure that "there is no God," then why do they need to rail against those who do believe?

Think of it this way. Let's say that I believe that the color blue is the prettiest color and it's my favorite. I put up a mural in the California State rotunda that exhibits what "blue" is all about and the display has high meaning for me, as well as many others. A "color-atheist" (who happens to be color blind - mind you) comes along and sets up a display that states, "there is no color blue."

Why does he do this? To prove his own point. He wants lots of other people to believe what he believes. He also includes some derogatory statements about the color blue believers just for the sake of offending them.

Well - my analogy may not be the best, but what I'm trying to say is that those who don't believe in God often have an obvious hatred for those who do. They especially hate the gospel message that we are all sinners - desperately in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

This is precisely why both the Christian faith and Jewish faith are so rabidly hated. Jesus is the God-man who was born a Jew for the purpose of saving all of mankind from the eternal consequence of sin. People who are in bondage to sin don't want to hear that. They are repulsed by it. The Bible even tells us that "the gospel is an offense to those who are perishing."

I love studying the Bible. It is the most unique Book on earth! We NEVER stop learning from it! It is a Book that is forever teaching those who delve into its pages on a regular basis. The more I learn from it - the more I realize what I DON'T KNOW! Isn't that a fascinating paradox?

Sunday morning, I listened to Dr. David Jeremiah's sermon which was on the subject of "Why Bethlehem?" Did you know that the place called "Bethlehem" occurs 39 times in 38 verses of the Bible?

One out of the many key verses is this one in Micah:

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.

When you view and listen to the message, you will understand the significance of that verse! I would encourage everyone to go over to LightSource Ministries and view the video of the lesson. I learned so much new and fascinating information about why Bethlehem was in the Father's foreknowledge as the place that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would be born.

Perhaps after viewing it, you might be a person who can say, "I knew that!" If you are, please comment! If you discovered something new (like I did) please share it!

Yesterday, our family went out and bought our Christmas tree. We put the lights on it and started decorating the rest of our home with two Nativity sets, a Christmas Village, green festive garlands with red bows tied to them, and placed our "Peace on Earth" lace mantel runner across the top of our large fireplace. While I was hanging our stockings from the mantel, my husband commented from the kitchen, "You (and our daughter) do such a great job of decorating our home for Christmas. We have the best kind of fireplace that makes it so homey and festive."

I agree!

Update: Here is a picture of my husband and I before we attended a wedding in November. You can see our mantel and fireplace behind us.

Here is a picture of us at the Justin Winery Cafe during our 25th Wedding Anniversary trip. My love bought me the necklace I'm wearing!




This year, both of my children got me some of the best birthday gifts. My daughter bought me a wooden plaque that states, "Keep Christ in Christmas." She also bought a Christian book and the new WOW Christian artists CD (great songs!). My son bought me two Christmas CDs from two of my favorite artists - Third Day and Casting Crowns; as well as two Christmas tree ornaments. They are beautiful to look at, but most of all, have beautiful messages on them.

One is silver with five hearts dangling down in a row which state, "Faith (Galatians 2;20), Hope (Romans 15:13), Love (Romans 5:5), Joy (Nehemiah 8:10), Peace (John 14:27) Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11)" with an accompanying Bible verse on the back!

Gorgeous!!

The second one is a delicate silver snowflake design that states, "JUST THINK - God compares you to no one else, you are one of a kind."

Aren't they both beautiful messages?? Love it!

Our tree is always decorated with meaningful ornaments that state the REAL reason for the Christmas season. I have been collecting them over the past 20 years or so. Now, many of the regular, "Christian message-free" ornaments that I used to use to fill up the tree aren't needed anymore.

I am so thankful that there are still Christian book stores that carry ornaments that reflect the true meaning of Christmas. Retail stores usually never carry them anymore.

I will close this post with the weekend Turning Point devotional message:

The Green Stuff: Christmas Trees

He came into the world…
Hebrews 10:5

Recommended Reading
Hebrews 10:5-10


In ancient Scandinavia, the evergreen tree was considered a symbol of life amid the bleak darkness of winter. Vikings reportedly cut down evergreens and brought them into their homes as a source of encouragement. In the 600s, Boniface, a British missionary, traveled across Europe using pines as object lessons of eternal life. Even the harsh winter couldn't kill them, said Boniface, who also used their triangular shapes to teach about the Trinity. For centuries afterward, people cut down trees and brought them indoors, creating a celebratory midwinter atmosphere. As an added benefit, the tree's fragrance provided a pleasing aroma during the confining months of winter.

According to tradition, it was Martin Luther who popularized trees as a Christmas symbol of the new life given us by the Christchild, and it was also Luther who wrote a carol that's been sung around Christmas trees for nearly 500 years: "From heaven above to earth I come, / To bear good news to every home."

May all the Christmas trees we encounter this year point our hearts upward toward our blessed Savior!

Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes! Who is it in yon manger lies? Who is this Child so young and fair? The blessed Christchild lieth there.
Martin Luther

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Hebrews 12:1 - 13:25 & James 1:1 - 2:26

HT's:

LightSource & Turning Point Ministries

David Jeremiah.org

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My recommendation for all of the pending SCOTUS Updates regarding Obama's ineligibility for POTUS is to make the following blogs daily visits:

1. Natural Born Citizen

Recent headline: WROTNOWSKI APPLICATION REFERRED TO FULL COURT BY JUSTICE SCALIA - DISTRIBUTED FOR CONFERENCE ON DEC 12 - SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF TO BE SUBMITTED TOMORROW

Excerpt:

Cort Wrotnowski’s emergency application for a stay and/or injunction as to the Electoral College meeting on Dec. 15 was today referred to the full Court by the Honorable Associate Justice Anotonin Scalia. It has been distributed for Conference of Friday December 12. The official case name is WROTNOWSKI v. BYSIEWICZ, United States Supreme Court Docket No. 08A469.

The Wrotnowski Supreme Court application was prepared by Leo Donofrio, Esq. and is centered on the same issue from Donofrio’s case which was discussed by the Supreme Court in its conference of December 5 - whether Barack Obama is not eligible to the office of President due to the fact that he was a British citizen at the time of his birth.

2. Citizen Wells

Excerpt:

Philip J Berg, Press Release, December 8, 2008, Injunction to stay Electoral Votes, US Supreme Court, Obama ineligible, Prohibit House and Senate count, Obama not natural born citizen.

3. The Right Side of Life

Wrotnowski v. Bysiewicz: Distributed for Conference by Justice Scalia