Some People Grumble That Roses Have Thorns;

I am grateful that thorns have roses.—Alphonse Karr

Some people grumble that roses have thorns; while others are grateful that thorns have roses. This quote is about how to view life. There will always be plenty of reasons to grumble about the thorns, but we may miss the beauty of the roses. It’s better to realize that even though life is full of thorns or problems, there are still roses to be grateful for that represent everything good and lovely in life.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

Sometimes, in the evening, when I’m tired; I spend time thinking about circumstances that I wish were different. I complain and grumble, mostly to myself and God.

But, recently and thankfully, the leader for our women’s life group selected a Bible study about learning contentment. So far, I’ve learned that we can make ourselves discontent if we focus on things and situations that are not as we want, instead of being grateful for all that is good in our lives. I’m praying that the Lord will use this study to change me and the other women in our group, and to help us learn how to be more content and grateful.

When we grumble, we demonstrate that we are discontent with circumstances in life, and that somehow God owes us something better or He is withholding blessings from us. If we grumble instead of being grateful, life will pass us by and we may miss all the beauty.

Life can be very painful, but if we habitually grumble, we only add to the discomfort, by making ourselves and others feel worse.

The Bible says that Christians should be different from the world and not grumble so that we will shine for Christ. Instead, we can and should have a positive outlook.

Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.” (Philippians 2:14-15 HCSB)

It’s healthy to mourn our losses and pour our hearts out to God; but it doesn’t glorify Him or benefit us if we grumble. Others certainly won’t come to Christ if they always see us unhappy.

We need to change our behavior; and this comes through an inner transformation in our hearts and minds, from the Holy Spirit who indwells Christians.

He can produce His fruit in our lives if we surrender and ask for His help.

Galatians 5:22-25 says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (NLT)

When all we see are the thorns, we can take some steps with the Lord’s help to change our focus.

We can do as Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV)

• Take a break from watching the news and reading tabloid magazines and articles; which are mostly negative.

• Unsubscribe from any negative emails.

• Work at changing discouraging thoughts and conversation to things that are good in life.

• If gossip is a problem; change the conversation, by making a positive comment.

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful”. (Colossians 3:15 CEV)

We can use the following ideas to help us see the “roses” in life and realize there are still so many blessings for which we can be grateful.

• Meditate on the truths contained in Scripture.

• Praise God for His goodness by spending time worshipping Him or listening to praise music.

• Get outside in nature and take a walk, if possible. Thank God for the beauty of His creation.

• Also, thank Him for life, breath; friends, family, church, sunsets, flowers, food, clothing, etc.

• Serve another by offering to pray for someone, serving at a homeless shelter or cooking a meal for someone in need.

Although, each suggestion requires a sacrifice of time, effort or expense; it’s worth it to receive a fresh perspective on our blessings, which can enable us to be more grateful.

Do you grumble that roses have thorns or are you grateful that thorns have roses? 

Please click here if you would like to accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior now and read more about the next steps that you can take to grow spiritually in your new faith.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr

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For more FREE Inspirational Quote Cards you can use and share click HERE

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• How Praising Unlocks Heaven on Earth

• Five Simple Steps to Conquer Complaining and Find Happiness

• 7 Biblical Christian Mantras I Find Helpful

• Podcast: How can I be grateful when I’m grumpy?

• Thanksgiving, a Most Important AttitudeHow to Know God’s Will for You Right Now

• Why Thanking Prayers Are So Important

• How to Avoid Comparison in a World Filled with It

• How the Curse of Comparison Crushes

• How to Handle Guilt and Stop Holding a Grudge Against Yourself

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

What Jesus Likes Most About Christmas

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If you’re a Christian, you probably care a lot about what Jesus likes most about Christmas. After all, it’s the celebration of His birthday. It’s HIS day. So, when I got thinking about what I like most about Christmas, I thought about the importance of knowing what Jesus likes most about Christmas.

The opposite is important also—what does Jesus like least about Christmastime. So I’d like to take a shot at both of these topics in this article.

First, here’s my hunch about what Jesus likes most about Christmas:

1. People learning about who He is.

Jesus is the most famous person in the world. However, He’s likely one of the most misunderstood persons ever. Therefore, as He watches from heaven, I can imagine that one of the things Jesus likes most about Christmas is that more people learn about who He is.

Many are learning about Jesus at Christmas, even those who don’t necessarily want to. As I write, just yesterday a Jewish atheist was a guest in our home, listening to Christmas carols playing in our living room, seeing our manger scene and learning tidbits about Jesus’ birth. He said afterwards that he is beginning to pray!

Perhaps he and others are seeing Old Testament verses of prophecy that foretold Jesus’ coming in a miraculous way hundreds of years before His birth. Hopefully they’re learning the purpose of Christ’s coming, which is summarized in the most well-known verse of the Bible:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

2. His birthday divides all of history.

What do BC and AD stand for in our dates?

BC = Before Christ

AD = Ano Domini, Latin for “in the year of our Lord.” This refers to the year Jesus was born—the first Christmas!  

Jesus’ life is the means we use to divide all of history and to date our years. Isn’t that remarkable! I think that probably one thing Jesus likes most about Christmas \ is that it is a recognition that He is the center and focal point of all history!

Of course, this truth also helps point to the fact that He was not just another baby. He was the one and only God-man, as explained in Philippians 2:6-7:

“Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (ESV)

3. Special worship services: concerts, Christmas eve services, plays, musicals, etc.

I picture Jesus looking down at many of the Christmas events and loving the worship, adoration and recognition of who He is that comes at Christmas. As the Almighty Son of God, Lord of the universe, He certainly deserves all of it!

Much of this is a sincere and correct understanding of who Jesus was, while some comes without a true comprehension of the Messiah. This is to be expected:

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:11-12 KJV)

In particular, Jesus surely loves the Christmas carols which honor him, such as “O Holy Night,” featured in this article by my friend and guest writer Beth Harris.

Now, here’s my hunch about what Jesus likes least about His birthday celebration called Christmas:

1. Rituals without relationship. 

For far too many, singing carols, going to Christmas concerts and Christmas worship services are merely rather meaningless customs of Christmas. Many won’t understand or care to understand the Lord of Christmas. Perhaps they will “do their duty” by attending a Christmas service, but it won’t mean much.

We sometimes call these people CEO’s, meaning they are Christmas and Easter Only attenders. Jesus went so far as to say about people such as these: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16 ESV)

Jesus has strong negative feelings about rituals without relationship. What He wants and came for, was to have a relationship with each person who will receive him. Click HERE to learn how to have a relationship with Christ.

2. Children raised to think Christmas is about Santa Claus, Frosty, Rudolph, presents, candy and so on.

Everyone is free to choose to follow Christ or reject Him. But a tragedy is when children are led to believe that Christmas is about Santa and presents, and never given the opportunity to know what the celebration is really about.

Here’s a warning about not helping children to know the Truth about Jesus: “If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea.” (Matthew 18:6 GN)  

This is a sober warning from Jesus Himself for parents, grandparents and all of us! Many want to be neutral about Jesus, however He warned that there is no neutral saying, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Matthew 12:30 NLT)

3. Commercialization without commemoration.

A friend recently went to do some banking at Wells Fargo bank here in California, USA. When finished, he wished the teller “Merry Christmas.” The teller responded with a tepid “Happy Holidays.” But my friend said, “It’s Christmas, aren’t you going to wish me ‘Merry Christmas’ as well.” The teller responded that he was not allowed to, by order of management, since it might “offend someone.” My friend said, “What if you offend me by not saying ‘Merry Christmas’ back to me.” The teller was unphased. So, my friend went to the manager and got the same response.

In much of the world Christmas is BIG business—more money spent, more profits earned. The Christmas season makes the rest of the year financially viable. Without Christmas, businesses would fail. So, consider the audacity of those who don’t want to “offend” someone by saying “Merry Christmas.”

This is certainly a classic case of biting the hand that feeds you!

In Luke 19 we’re told how this kind of rejection saddened Jesus and caused him to even cry: “But as he [Jesus] came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. ‘How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.’” (Luke 19:41-42 NLT)

Conclusion:

In conclusion, here’s a question to consider: “On His birthday will you give Him what Jesus likes most about Christmas?” To do so, go HERE to learn how to receive Christ and give Him the honor He truly deserves this Christmas. In the process you’ll receive eternal life!

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?

• Four Powerful Proofs that Jesus Lives

• A Christmas Present Wrapped in Rags

• Podcast: Was the Virgin Mary the Ark of the New Covenant?

• Podcast: What is the virgin birth? Vlog (video with Mark & Carolyn 2015) Christmas Greeting

• 3 Reasons Why People Misunderstand Christmas The Happy Boy Who Never Had a Toy

• My WORST Christmas EverQuote card: Funny Santa Letter

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

O Holy Night! The Stars Are Brightly Shining

O holy night! Come see the glory And wonder of salvation’s story. God’s Son in a manger; Nothing could be stranger, On this holy night.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.     

I hope you will take some time; To read this poem in rhyme. For it’s from a Christmas carol I love; About a Savior who came from above.

And before this Christmas Eve, From preparations take leave. To recall the true reason, For this glad, joyful season.

On one holy night, stars shone bright; Mysteries revealed, now in sight. Prophecy foretold, from days of old; A virgin with child, gave birth behold. “O holy night!”

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)

• “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2 NIV)

• “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”(Matthew 2:2 NLT)

• “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 NLT)

The Ancient of Days, our Sovereign came, As heavenly host, did then proclaim. Glory to God in heaven’s highest; And peace for those, whom His favor rests. “O holy night!”

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:12-14 NIV)

The eve before the first Christmas Day, Christ came for us who’d gone astray. So, God among us could now dwell With sinners, as Immanuel; “O holy night!”

For God so loved, that He gave, His Son to die, for us to save. Now purchased by His blood alone, Bought, paid for and sealed to own. “O holy night!”

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ever lasting Father, Prince of Peace 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV)

But, now “O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) For our risen Christ reigns as King. Now jubilant are we this Christmas morn; For through Christ,  eternal hope was born. “O holy night!”

Join the choir of angelic host, And to none but Christ may you boast. Receive Him now and His second birth; For your salvation, He came to earth. “O holy night!”

Please click here if you would like to accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior now and read more about the next steps that you can take to grow spiritually in your new faith.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

“O holy night! The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

-CLICK TO TWEET

For more FREE Inspirational Quote Cards you can use and share click HERE

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• My WORST Christmas Ever

• What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?

• Four Powerful Proofs that Jesus Lives

• A Christmas Present Wrapped in Rags

• Podcast: Was the Virgin Mary the Ark of the New Covenant?

• Podcast: What is the virgin birth?Why 500 Years of Catholic and Protestant Church Separation?

• How Digging in the Dirt Proves the Bible is Reliable

• 10 Reasons Why the Resurrection Matters

• How I Moved from Doubting My Salvation to Assurance

• What Caused Me to Doubt My Salvation

NOTE: Facebook is random.Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth