Well, having lost my phone from last night meant our final two updates were delayed so, here are two for the price if one!! Yesterday, as well as getting the girls to deliver some presents, he had them creating little place cards for one of our Christmas get-together which suited our thought- always make a place for whats important. The stories last night were even more exciting when read in their obligatory Christmas Eve jammies and slippers!! The carol, O Come all ye Faithful, helped to remind us of the reason we celebrate Christmas... Jesus was born long before the sales started!!! Our thought was simply one verse and despite not from within the Christmas story, the verse I believe that says it all: For God so loved the world He gave His only son that whoever believe in Him would never die but would have eternal life. John 3 v16. Christmas so often becomes all about the presents, who got what and how you can return it but, its about so much more:the gift of Jesus-who came as a baby, to grow and then die so that He could rise again, conquering sin and death in the process and offering life and peace and hope and love. A gift that had no expectation-after all, its a gift we could never match! It is a gift that simply waits, a gift we can choose to accept or reject. This world has darkness and sadness and sin and while we live in this world, we cannot help but come into contact with them, but through Jesus and His triumphant power over them when He overcame death, we can have hope. Hope in the loneliness, hope in the disappointment, hope in the fears and uncertainties, hope in the confusion. Hope. Hope, that with Gods help we will get through this life and that this life is not the end. We remembered the importance of making a place for the things that matter-badly wrapped presents, new clothes stained forever, forgotten sprouts(imagine??!)-these things can happen , but they dont have to define the day. Making a place and keeping Christ at the centre is what matters-then everything else will simply fall into place. This mornin, before the great wrapping paper massacre began, we took a moment for our final advent thought, centred on the three kings. They each had a gift, one they could choose to keep or give away, and they gave. God has given gifts to each of us, whether we realise it or not. With His help, I pray that the girls will discover theirs and as He guides them, that they will develop these and use them in His service to show love to others. We can never begin to repay God for all that He has done for us but, even in our imperfections, we can seek to show His love to those we meet. I trust and pray, that this Christmas, whatever your circumstances, you will know peace and hope and love and above all else, that Gods forever gift would have a place in your heart. Merry Christmas, everyone xx
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 14:44:44 +0000