Monday Morning (December 27) Checklist:
Sleep in until 8am-Check
Outside to Shovel with Boys-Check
Sliding on the back hill with Patricia and kids-Check
Make a snowman and “snowgirl” with Leah-Check
Come inside for Hot Chocolate and a game-Check
Stay away from Boxing Day sales at the Mall-CHECK, CHECK!
Time with family-Priceless!
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU AT OUR OPEN HOUSE TOMORROW-Tuesday, December 28 from 4-8pm. (We moved it because of the weather!).
Christmas Day has come and gone once again! Hard to believe that the “big day” we’ve been preparing for is now just a memory. Many now turn their attention to the New Year (or boxing day sales). I on the other hand prefer to continue the Christmas celebrations! This morning while finishing up all those Christmas dishes I heard a song on the radio that said “I wish it could be Christmas everyday of the year!” Wouldn’t that be interesting (and a bit much!).
We do set aside a season (and one particular day) to celebrate the Promised One’s birth and our celebrations do need to wrap up at some point, however, the Promise can have an impact on our lives all year long! The fact that Jesus (the Son of God) came as baby, lived as man, died on the cross and rose from the grave, gives us more than a season of good cheer. This provide us with the love, joy, peace and hope that we need to live for God 365 days a year. When we follow Jesus and live by the power of God (the Holy Spirit), then the Promise we celebrate at Christmas is realised 365 days of the year!
Looking for a practical way to live out the Promise and show God’s love over the next few weeks. Why not get involved in the flood clean-up. Samaritans Purse, a Christian organization that helps around the world with disaster relief, is coming to the Fredericton area with one of their mobile units. You can read about it here www.samaritanspurse.ca/ourwork/reliefwork/NewBrunswick/ and volunteer a day of your time by calling 474-2401.
I love epic stories! I love stories that take several books to tell and have a huge ‘showdown’ between good and evil.
I also love Christmas! This day that we’re celebrating is an important event in God’s epic story that he has been writing since he created the world. We are not just celebrating the birth of a child who would grow up to be a good teacher and a wise man. We are celebrating the birth of The Child, who would grow up to “save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). Christmas leads us into the ultimate showdown between good and evil.
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote that “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19). Creation itself is anticipating the time when everything will be restored to God’s vision.
A familiar Christmas carol (O Holy Night) has been stuck in my mind for several days now. This carol has the line, “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.” Christmas is that thrill of hope. An important reminder of God’s promises to restore the world. In response, we rejoice.
Christmas was not meant to be a time of gifts, cookies, and trees. But it’s meant to be a time of worship. A time when we respond to God and we recognize that “thrill of hope.”
This year, “Fall on your knees … With all our hearts we praise His holy name.” Merry Christmas!
Only five sleeps left! It’s hard to believe that Christmas Day is just around the corner but with our Musical Drama over and our two Christmas Eve services in sight, there is little doubt that December 25 will be here before we know it-ready or not.
A big thank you to all those who participated in and attended this past weekends Musical Drama “O Holy Night.” It was a moving weekend! I continue to pray that this act of worship will be used by the Holy Spirit in the lives of all those who took part (whether on the stage or in the audience). Feel free to share your thoughts or comments about the weekend and how God challenged us through this musical drama to “Come and Worship.”
Looking ahead, I trust all will find somewhere to worship this Christmas Eve. Of course you are welcome to join us at either our 5:30pm or 7pm services. Our time together will include puppets, music and scripture readings. Our theme for the evening is “The Promise Realized.” Here’s a short scripture passage for you to think on this week…
Galatians 4:4-5
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
The Bible is full of promises from God. Below is an old reading from “Our Daily Bread.” It identifies just a few of the many promises you can find in scripture. I am curious to know what your favorite promise from scripture is…feel free to share it!
A promise from God is a statement we can depend on with absolute confidence. Here are 12 promises for the Christian to claim.
God’s presence — “I will never leave thee” (Heb. 13:5)
God’s protection — “I am thy shield” (Gen. 15:1)
God’s power — “I will strengthen thee” (Isa. 41:10)
God’s provision — “I will help thee” (Isa. 41:10)
God’s leading — “And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them” (John 10:4)
God’s purposes — “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil” (Jer. 20:11)
God’s rest — “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28)
God’s cleansing — “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)
God’s goodness — “No good thing will He withhold from them that work uprightly” (Psalm 84:11)
God’s faithfulness — “The Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake” (1 Sam. 12:22)
God’s guidance — “The meek will He guide” (Psalm 25:9)
God’s wise plan — “All things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:28)
Our Daily Bread, January 1, 1985.