I hate the holidays. Growing up, my mother, who is highly critical, insecure, and competitive, would want to host holiday meals but not attend those hosted by extended family. This created a feud through the years. Currently I married into a family with the same mindset, where my MIL wants Christmas and Easter (and other days) with and for her, and my husband's SIL wants Thanksgiving. I'm supposed to sacrifice my side of the family for them. But when we get together, there's just tension. I cried after last Thanksgiving (which my husband and I hosted) because my husband's SIL was cold and passive-aggressive the whole time.... So I've given up on celebrating with family. I have two kids and a husband, and we're doing our own things from now on. I'm tired of trying to please family just because their family. No one's grateful at the end of the day.
I have a small family n I’ve always celebrated my parents brother aunt her husband. N it’s nice. Now I have 3 kids & it works just the same except now it’s my parents n aunt & her husband. It’s always nice kids enjoy it they eat play get dessert & at the end of the night the Kids Are the ones who enjoy it the most n go to bed with a Happy Thankful Hart full belly waiting for lunch too have left over dessert!!!! At the end of The Day you have beautiful family memories created for you guys. The extended family they can have the drama none sense.
Forgive them but it is perfectly fine to celebrate as a family. Just extend an invitation to them and if they show up, they show up. If not at least you invited them.
I came searching for this after listening to th HOLIDAYS clip worh my husband. We will be listening to this whole thing together. How timely! A few days ago, i told my husband that i dont want to celebrate Christmas anymore. Or any holidays really. He looked at me like i had two heads and then he asked me what was i talking about. I told him that i just had this thought that i dont want to any more. He said that we'll talk about about. We havent yet. I love what was said about the holidays. My husband was saying that he likes what was said about the boundaries. And shared experiences he had. In this moment, i feel like i am absolutely ok with staying home with our people and just be. I would like to decorate for the seasons. I think that would be fun. Which is new to me cuz i don't season decorate. I know of one house we are going to this Thanksgiving. Have no idea if we are going to my in laws. Also, pray for my family. Especially my mom. This os our first Thanksgiving without my dad. He went to Jesus in June. It feels like it just happened this morning.
Might I suggest looking into the biblical feasts and festivals that we are actually supposed to be observing? I realized that a lot of the tension around the “holidays” has a lot more to do with the ancient rituals and the curses that come with them, and that there is a much deeper meaning behind the biblical Holy Days, which are all connected to Jesus.
Mark brother what if your wife does not walk in the lord? Whos been actively sabotaging our marriage for years with repeated infidelity, smearing my name to our children despite me bending over backwards in trying to save our marriage? Ive been praying for God to save hee so she knows him. I pray nightly and shes ramping up the behaviors. Im a reformed Ahab who now walks as Elijah did but being the strong leader in our home hasnt helped. I do not want to divorce bc i made a vow for life but this isnt a marriage. And please no trolling comments about ne not veing the man of the household. When you are married to a jezebel spirit it can destroy your marriage and family. On a sidenote, Mark you are preaching the word as its writtern, which is so needed today. Too many pastors try to walk the line in their attempts to not "offend". Thankyou for being "offensive" and honest.
I hope that your wife comes to Christ. Keep praying. My husband came to Christ and got saved. He didn’t even know if he believed in God because of growing up with abuse and Catholicism. Keep praying.
Sorry I understand this is a year ago but you kindly sit him down and help him or work together with the finances making sure the budget is sufficient and show him there is enough with possibly some sacrifice within your means to do something youd like to do. I wish she would have done this with me.
Speaking of date night...... God hallowed the 7th day. Asks his family to meet up that day. It's a family date. 4th commandment. you're well intentioned, Pastor Mark, but you can't change that even if you are clever and great with your words. Love you Mark, I am learning SO much from you, but you are incorrect about the Sabbath. You don't get to take the day that God said to rest, easily counted, only 7 numbers, easily seen on any wall calendar, and change the day He hallowed and say "well Christians changed that because Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday." That is nowhere to be found in Scripture that God said you can change the weekly or any other Sabbath. Constantine changed that. wanted things his way and just changed stuff. Not good. God says, don't do that. Creation was made with elements in the sky for SEASONS, these are the moedim, the appointed times. Plural. He has Sabbaths he asks his family to keep. Not make new ones, not change them. When you ignore his Sabbaths, you're missing a great blessing. these are commandments, and remember, those living the New testament kept ALL these things, never changed a one. Constantine did that. Generations later, and no one knows the difference, loves Ishtar-sex goddess-Easter, and vastly ignores Passover. It's one of the 7 moedim. One day I hope to see Pastor Mark and his congregation consider this and look closer. God asks for a DATE with you. He shows up for the date he wants with us on THE sabbath and asks his children to meet with him. He's a gracious good Father.....he's patient. Good thing. Weekly and all the Sabbaths bless our family, I'd encourage anyone to take a closer look.
Matthew 12:6-8 (KJV) But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the Temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. Our Lord Jesus often battled with the Pharisees, the keepers of the Law. The Pharisees and Scribes studied the Bible, the Old Testament, the writings and the prophecies. The problem with the Pharisees was not that they studied the Bible, but that they never understood how to apply that which they studied. They learn great truths, but never applied them. They are fundamentally correct in doctrine but woefully ignorant in application. This is why Jesus often stated: “But I Say Unto You” Twelve times in the Book of Matthew alone Jesus states “but I say unto you”. As the Incarnate Word of God (see John 1:1,14), the “Word made flesh Who dwelt amongst us” Jesus understood the proper application of the Scripture. Jesus is the Messiah to come. He is the One Who gave the Sabbath, and the One that the Sabbath looked toward. Jesus is the Sabbath Rest of His Children.He is our Sabbath. He is our Rest. It is not a day. We are to Sabbath in Him every day of the week because He is our Sabbath. Colossians 2:16, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days..."
Gennel and Trish, thank y’all both for your comments. Gennel, have you found a community to observe the proper 7th day Sabbath with you? Trish, what a lovely perspective on the Sabbath. I have so much to meditate on now 😊
“Let’s talk about vacation! How many of you have really royally ruined a vacation? …So none of you… oh okay, so one person, okay the rest of you can check your phones now, I’m going to talk to them.” @31:35 funny, but sad you see? ;)
God never states we can pivot his Sabbath. JUST saying. Follow the Bible, not what sounds good or convenient. You don't have to be "legalistic", but meet when he asks you to. Pastor Mark, when do you really think Jesus was born? Everyone knows he wasn't born in December, so when do you think he WAS born? I do know that God never asked us to remember forever and for all generations, a date of His birth. Acknowledge it, appreciate it, praise the Lord for the birth of our Messiah, but when did God ask us to make a festival out of it, much less with trees and presents and elves (look up Krampus elves, which is the origin). I know this story in Exodus 32 about a time when God was really really mad at his people and almost destroyed them, but for Moses......because Aaron made a festival unto Yahweh that was not deemed a festival by Yahweh. I want to suggest that there is a better festival to acknowledge the birth of Messiah, and it goes along with two other festivals at that time of year that TOTALLY show us the picture of His return and the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Tabernacles. Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. How do you keep Tabernacles, as you prepare for the great and glorious Day of the Lord?
