Remember this December, love weighs more than gold.: Friday was the first official shopping day for Christmas, known as black Friday. Sometimes, I wonder if our hearts have become a little black. I read in the newspaper about a Walmart store in New York, where shoppers had stood outside waiting for the store to open at 5 A.M. When the Walmart worker opened the door, the people turned into savages, they started trampling over each other. They knocked the worker down, and then just walked over him, to go shopping. The man was severely hurt, the store had to close down for a few hours to take the man to the hospital. When they made the announcement that they would be closing, the people got mad. The Walmart worker died upon arrival at the hospital, others were also taken to the hospital with injuries, including an eight month pregnant woman. Thank God, she and her baby are ok. Is this what Christmas has come to? Seeing who can get the best deals, regardless of the true cost? More crimes are committed at this time of the year, due to the fact, that people become desperate to buy their love ones gifts. This year will be worse, due to the terrible state of the economy. People, we need to wake up. Christmas is not about how many gifts you can give, or how many you can receive. It is about the most precious gift ever given to this world, Jesus. Our focus needs to be totally upon Him. If you want to give a priceless gift this year, a gift that keeps on giving, give the gift of Jesus, and His love. Talk to people about Jesus, share the dear Gospel with them. Help lead them to the bright morning star, Jesus. The sweetest gift, is the one that comes straight from your heart, not a shopping mall. Jesus, and His precious love, far outweigh, any amount of money that you could ever spend. 
30 comments:
I've read about the Walmart case too. Really sad to hear stories like this.
How true! Christmas isn't about gifts from the malls, but about the most precious gift from above, Jesus!
Well said Denise! Thank you for hosting.
We heard this story while we were in Haiti. Come Lord Jesus!
It is just unbelievable, hm? That people "want" THINGS that badly that they can just trample over another human being. It is beyond me even understanding.
Amen. Well said. There was a Wal-Mart security person who was killed somewhere in the US! It is terrible!
Yes, this was unbelievable! It makes me ashamed of how Americans have become so materialistic. I believe we will be getting a wake-up call and I hope and pray people will open the eyes of their hearts and call out to Jesus.
That Wal-Mart story just broke my heart! Such a tragedy...and so senseless!
Thanks for this wonderful post, Denise...I couldn't have said it better myself!
We have gotten our eyes off the true gift, Jesus Christ. We have taken Him out of everything and wonder what has gone wrong. Too bad we don't rush to Jesus like we rush to the bargain table. Stopping at nothing to get to Him. I luv Jesus, He's the gift of my choice. Thanks so much for your post this morning it was great.
...And the day after Christmas, there will be lines of people trying to exchange all those gifts for money at Walmart. Why not just give a gift card to start with? I have narrowed my list some this year. We do not buy for every family member and never have. We used to draw names but we've stopped that too. We gift the children and grandchildren. I'm happy to say that we read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve and try to put as much emphasis on the Birthday of Jesus as possible.
Mama Bear
No. This is NOT what Christmas is about At all!! But we have to remember that we are IN the world, not OF the world. "Black Friday" is man's idea. GOD's Word is our guide -- Not Wall Street & not WalMart. And His Word does have great things to say about where our hearts & money should be!
Thanks for hosting IOW today!
~ esthermay
I'm horrified, too by the story. I do think our faithful God is using this for good, though. He must be so weary of allowing our free will to do things of this nature. Thank you for your righteous anger. I feel it, too, but must make sure the plank is totally out of my eye, for sadly, I've been known to be greedy, too.
Love you.
Oh, Amen, Denise! I stand in agreement with you in this admonition. We need to be all about Almighty Jesus, not the almighty dollar. Love you, and thanks for hosting!
Denise,
How true, sweet sister. The Walmart incident was just tragic. And when I see how rude people are becoming while shopping it breaks my heart.
((hugs)) to you, sweet sis. May we always remember that Christmas is about Christ!
Denise,
I think it's terrible that people would trample someone to death over a bargain. What about this poor man's family? What kind of Christmas are they going to have?
We don't have Black Friday here in Canada and I'm so glad. Shopping Friday night with Brandon the stores weren 't busy at all because everyone was at the Christmas parade. It was a blessing to both Brandon and I because we dislike crowds.
Jesus is the reason for the season. It's time that people looked up and saw Him. Both of our countries need a revival.
Take care, my friend. If you feel up to it, drop me a line and let me know how you are.
Blessings,
Mary
Thanks for hosting Denise. Great post!
Blessings and hugs!
Amen! I wrote something on my blog to go along with your topic. Love you!
You are so right. I do not get into the shopping my self. But people do go overboard and loose the true meaning of Christmas.
He is the reason for the season! Very true post, that poor man how sad, that is just crazy.... I am tight on finances but I thank God I am not crazy enough to trample someone to get the best deals.
I pray on my way to work that the Lord help me share Him with my patients..that is the greatest gift we can give. Gosh, that is why I love my parents so much,,,, they taught me to be this way by their example,,,my precious Grandma too.
We were so saddened also by the Walmart incident. People were definitely acting like animals. I don't go shopping on "Black Friday" anymore - I don't like the crowds - and seeing this makes me not like it even more. So many could give time and just love to people who are needy and hurting - rather than all the material things that don't have any eternal value. Thank you for sharing this quote and hosting. Great timing.
Loni
Amen, Denise!
There is no amount of savings out there that is worth another human's life! I don't even bother with the "Black" Friday because it is exactly like you said...black! The world that we live in has become greedy, all about me, it's mine and I want it now...people.
There is a lady from here that I know went to our local Wal-Mart and was in line early to get an XBox 360 for her child. She got one and was mauled by shoppers grabbing for it, scratching her arms all up and she finally let someone have it because she feared for her own safety. Another lady we know went to a Wal-Mart and was waiting in line for a HD TV. There was a man in a wheelchair waiting for the same item. When they opened the doors...they pushed and shoved their way to electronics. Once there...people knocked this man out of his wheelchair to get to the TVs. The lady who had been talking to him in line got one for herself and one for him...helped him up and back into his wheelchair. That is what Christmas should be about helping others.
Jesus is the reason for the season...He is the only priceless gift...all the other ones hold no value compared to our Lord and Savior.
if only they would take time to relize we already have the most popular gift. We have Jesus. That is what they are truely doing.
I don't see Mr Linky?
Actually, what we saw at the Wal-Mart really was love...the love of money and all it can buy. The love of self. So sad. This week's IOW is very timely.
P.S. I couldn't find the Mr. Linky, so I don't know where else to put my link but here in the comments. My rather unorthodox take on the subject can be found here:
Insulting God: In God We Trust?
Hi Denise,
What a wonderful post. My heart just breaks over the walmart story. It's just crazy! I know I too; get easily caught up in things...and the materialism of Christmas !! I'm definitely going to take this post to heart and try to stay FOCUSED. Sharing Jesus is the BEST IDEA of Gift giving of all!
Love ya girl,
L
Amen! It is amazing how distorted things have become...very sad. I hadn't heard about the Walmart story.
I was really happy to hear our local Christian radio station focusing more on the meaning of Christmas rather than on donating $ for gift cards for families this year...last yr I got a little frustrated with the message that they were sending...
Thank you for stopping by my blog and for your sweet note.
Great post Denise, my thoughts were going along the same lines today.
Very well said friend! I still find this hard to believe!!! What a real shame.
I had not heard that story, but living in Dallas, that does not surprise me. Breaks my heart, though.
I love the passion and the love that exudes from your pen in this post, dear one. You have a gift for lighting the fire under my feet! I may just have to get involved with this meme at some point. I didn't even know about it until today...weird, huh?
Hey Denise,
I agree. I read about these incidents. The meaning of Christmas, which many forget is the birth baby Jesus.
Thanks for sharing
Cheryl
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