One Word and A New Perspective... 

So I sat with my husband, this morning, and had a cup of coffee.  He shared, actually, it might have been yesterday morning.  Yes, weird things start happening when you get older...Sheeesh!!!  So My Hubby shared what he was reading from the Bible.  Duke really has a gift for seeing things that I just read and skip on by...skip on by...wait, what did that say?  He asked what was on my mind and I answered, "Christ's birth, how much I wished Christmas was not the pagan holiday that it is,"; and basically, looking for a way to get rid of the Christmas Blues that had landed on me.  

This year has been really strange.  First of all, my hubby was not supposed to be home at all throughout the month of December. God changed that for which I am very grateful.  Next, no snow...yea, we normally have snow at Christmas time and this year, NADA!  ZIP!  ZERO!  In fact, I think we have been warmer than my family in Florida and down South.  Again odd, and adding to the questions rambling around in my head.  

I've been been researching and learning trying to understand better spiritual warfare and just why things have happened as they have for myself and my family.  So all this rambling to lead back to the discussion my husband and I over the wise men following the star.  First of all, that's a very interesting phrase, following a star.  How do you follow a star?  I have always believed the star to be what is commonly referred to as the North Star.  But if you look at scripture, it does not say 'the North Star.'  It actually says wise men came from the east because they had seen "His Star" in the east.  And this is where my husband interjected and said, "Herod asked them, the wise men, when this had happened - that must mean he (Herod) did not see the star."  'Wow!' I replied.  'How interesting! I've always assumed the star would be visible to everyone.'  He then said, "Well obviously he (Herod) did not see the star and you know star also means messenger."  'Ummmm, well no, I did not know that.' I answered.  

This led me to do more research on the Star which I always thought it to be The North Star.  Indeed, if you look it up, you will find references to:  The North Star, The Eastern Star and the Star of Bethlehem.  Hmmm, very interesting...This led to some more of what appears to be traditions or maybe just falling so blindly, as us humans do, in to familiarity - i.e.  We adopt names without doing the research.  At least I do and it's something I need to stop doing and start doing better at READING MY BIBLE.  Now it gets really interesting because tracking back to Numbers 24:17, we find a reference to a Star shall arise out of Jacob.  

Now at this point I have to tell you I am very thankful and grateful for the Bible scholars who have learned Hebrew and Greek and know how to exegesis scripture for people like me.  I read an article on The North Star - learning of its value as a navigational tool for travelers.  But as I was reading different articles on specifically The North Star, The Eastern Star and the Star of Bethlehem I noticed they were discounting the Bible and it was more commonly thought of as 'a celestial event' that happened.  I do not believe this to be the case.  It's okay if you disagree with me and it's okay if I disagree with you.  We can discuss this or agree to disagree and still remain kind, friendly, and learn and grow, right?  RIGHT!!! 

I fully believe that because the Bible says - 

Mat 2:8  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 
Mat 2:9  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 
Mat 2:10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 

Links to different articles - 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-exactly-is-the-north/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/was-the-star-of-bethlehem-really-a-comet/

https://www.e-sword.net/   (free resource Bibles, commentaries, and dictionaries, a great Bible study tool resource)

Ummm, you'll have to do your own research for the Eastern Star.  

This all got me to thinking on how I had come to think of the Star of Bethlehem as The North Star or worse, people referencing the Eastern Star.  Traditions?  Traditions that make void the Word of God.  My mind went to Pentacost.  Jesus tells them in Luke to stay until they are endued with power from on high.  

Luke 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 

which we see picked up in Acts Chapter 2...

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 

Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 

Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Again, it appears they could see the fire, they could see the cloud of fire, and the wise men could see the star, however, Herod could not.  And the story of others around did not know what to think about what they were seeing in the upper room.  Then believe it or not, the next day the word familiarity kept popping up and in conversations.  Accountable, we are all accountable for what we know.  Thank God He is merciful and works with us where we are at in our knowledge of Him and His ways which He reveals to us.  

I awoke today feeling really Blah!  Just Blah!  I heard an awesome sermon on the importance of prophecy.  It was really encouraging, just like God, and all of a sudden I realized I was dealing with a spirit of depression.  I'm so thankful for the Faithful!  Because they were faithful, I was blessed and God is still teaching me discernment.  I thought I was having a 'bad attitude' and just needed to pull myself up by the bootstraps so to speak.  After the Lord revealing it was an attack from the enemy trying to put depression on me, I was able to resist and it was sent packing.  OFF THE PROPERTY IN THE NAME OF JESUS!  The day went much better.  The slight nausea, fatigue, and blah-ness had dissipated and left.  Thank you, Jesus!  

This post is long and rambling and it is probably my New Year's post for 2026 - Anybody want to have a pray in the New Year Meeting?  I'm leaving some of the things I have been researching in the past.  Accountable, moving forward at God's direction and being obedient to God are on my horizon. Now is the time if you want to be off my friend list, please let me know.  I'm leaving the past hurts and pains in the past.  Not so much research to understand what happened as God has so very aptly taught me "spiritual warfare," - as much as I can, the trauma events are being left in the past. The attacks of the enemy cannot stop what God has ordained for me.  God has confirmed to me over and over things that the enemy had convinced me, "You did not hear from God, you were just being you."  I'm happy to say that "No, I was not being me, I really was hearing from God, and God has so confirmed it to me that I'm going to keep on being obedient to Him.  No matter what comes!"  

Reflection.... 

This time of year always has me...

questioning do I or don't I...Do I post some of my favorite Christmas pictures? Do I participate in (GASP) Pagan traditions? I really care.  God has been pulling at my heart about being completely devoted to Him.  How serious am I about my walk with Jesus...

I spent most of today looking up Bible verses and trying to do a word study on:  Feast Days, Festivals, Commanded, Command, Altar, Groves, Tammuz, leading on to pagan 'holy' days, pagan calendar, yada yada yada.  Yep, it led me right back to where I was - No, I cannot in good conscious celebrate Christmas.  Not if I want to be in right relationship (friendship) with God.  

Hear me out.  I'm not judging you or saying you cannot celebrate Christmas, but I am saying you might want to decide how serious it might be for you to celebrate Christmas and all of the days that somehow have crept in to the Church - and are not Christian at all in their roots.  

If people only knew the pain this causes and the strength it takes to stand firm in it, they would support rather than tell someone "you're just taking this too seriously."  Too seriously, eh??? You mean, like you might not get in to Heaven because you didn't take a look at it, seriously?? Ummmm....No!  Talk to the hand.  And don't judge me for what God has placed on me and asked me to do.  I can hear the words ringing now from my Pastor friend, "It'll cost you your life to be a Christian."  

Did anybody notice how there was like no reference to Thanksgiving this year?  One Holiday that the Church should celebrate although we really should have 'thanks giving" every day.  Thank you, Jesus, that you died for a sinner like me.  Thank you for saving me.  And now we're on to Christmas.  I had already made the transition to celebrating Hannukah (Festival of Lights) and after all, Jesus is the Light of the world.  But even that, I wanted to know more about the feasts and could I just put up Christmas lights?  

As I researched, again, resource after resource seemed to verify - No.  No you cannot separate paganism out of Christmas.  The analogy is very much like the story we learned when I was home schooling my children.  You know, the one about baking cookies and putting just the teeniest, tiniest dog poo, yea you heard that right, putting the smallest amount of dog doo doo in your chocolate chip cookies.  It doesn't matter does it?  I mean it's just only the smallest amount. You won't taste it or smell it.  You should have seen my children' faces on that one....ummmm, NO!!!! EWWWW!!!  NO WAY!  It seems that it does matter.  And before someone accuses me of putting dog poo in their cookies, No, I haven't and No I don't.  An analogy is just a story to hit home the point you are trying to make in your narrative.  You know 'unpack' that sucker and let it sit there and think on it.  Selah!  

So you gotta ask yourself a question?  "Self, do you think God really doesn't care that you call a holiday after his son's title "Christ" and say it's His birthday, (It's not!) and it's really the celebration of his arch enemy ??? "  Do you really think God is okay with that?  Deep in my heart I'm feeling no, I don't think He is okay with that at all.  And of all years, I feel resonating somewhere deep in me that this year, this year just might be the one that you want to have everything absolutely right with God.  I want to be like Abraham.  I want God to say of me, I'm His friend.  

I pray peace and wealth and health for all of you, friends and family, but more than that, I pray to have you join me in a journey for a closer relationship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  Keep looking up.  The signs appear to be that His return is soon, but as the Bible tells us "No man knows the day or hour," and there is a lot going on that points to prophecy being fulfilled - don't risk missing Him if you do not know Jesus.  The time is now.  John 3:16  King James Bible
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.