NOEL TO YOU ALL!

Unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

STOP TO REMEMBER

A voice is heard in Rama, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. Matthew 2:18

Two days ago, I happened to stumble through the above passages twice in one reading. First, I read them from Jeremiah 31:15, then moments later, I read them again from Matthew. Of course with Christmas round the corner, we all need to remind ourselves of Christ, Our Saviour’s birth from scripture.

But while the birth of Jesus brought so much joy for some, for others it brought pain and great loss… the demise of little boys. Boys who could probably have been Jesus’ neighbours and playmates. Just imagine… when Jesus came back from hiding in Egypt, most of his agemates were all dead and gone. Yes… killed by Herod in the hope that Jesus was among them.

Just like during Christ’s birth, today STOP TO REMEMBER those mothers whose pain and loss will only be magnified this Christmas as they miss their sons and daughters… especially those who are out in war or the fallen heros. STOP AND SAY a prayer and remember…Christmas just like in the actual Christ’ birth will not necessarily bring joy to everyone.

STOP TO REMEMBER…those voices weeping in the land.

 

 

 

MY LIGHT IS ON

The people walking in darknesss have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

My Advent candlelight is on. As we countdown to Christmas so many lights of all shapes and colours will or are already on. But more than the light we see with our natural eyes… there is another LIGHT. The LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

You see, unlike the lights on our Christmas trees and streets, the LIGHT OF THE WORLD is always on. He knows His light has nothing to do with a festive season marked somewhere in our earthly calender. His light shines the most in our darkest moments, through our hurts, pain and disappointment. Let the light beacon on your heart this Christmas…and may it take over and lead you as you move forward into a new season.

For once you were darkness, but now you are LIGHT in the LORD. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, rightneousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10

MY LIGHT IS ON!

 

 

 

 

 

IN THE RED

Let no debt remaining outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

Most of us are IN THE RED…. financially speaking that is. Some of us are able to manage our debts well and pay back what we owe to our creditors.  While a few of us do also struggle with paying back the debts owed. But Paul reminds us of a different kind of debt. In essence, even the most richest of us… financially speaking can never be on the other side. According to Paul’s letter to the Romans, the continuing debt to love is never ending. Which means you and I are and will ever be IN THE RED.

Look around you… there is someone out there who needs to be loved. You are indebted to them. As we approach Christmas, we are reminded of the great love accorded to us by God, the Father when He send Jesus to pay back the debt we could not pay so in turn we may extend the same love to others.

As you and I manage our other debts… may we remember that God always judges us most on how we manage the debt of loving our fellow human being.

Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,’ he said  ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on you fellow-servant just as I had on you? In anger his maser turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he paid back all her owed. Matthew 18:32-34

AT THE CITY OF DAVID

Isaiah 9:6-7 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, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on DAVID’S THRONE and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS.

A KING IS BORN...go on and pay him HOMAGE!

Are you looking for peace? Go to the city of David
Are you seeking for righteousness? Go to the little town of Bethlehem
Are you lacking wisdom? Wonderful counsel awaits you at the manger
Are you longing for a father’s embrace? An Eternal father who knows you by name has His arms wide open.
Are you indignant at the injustice around you? Stand in as an advocate of righteousness before the ONE who governs with JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, both in time and in eternity.

Go on…LET THE PRINCE OF PEACE reign, govern, rule, justify, counsel both now and forever, in our hearts, homes, workplaces, churches, communities and nations. AT THE CITY OF DAVID, THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD IS BORN. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY READERS, BLOGGING FRIENDS AND EVERYONE WHO KNOWS HIM BY NAME. God bless you.

THE PAIN OF REJECTION

Matthew 1:18-19 THIS IS HOW THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST CAME ABOUT: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Jesus, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and he did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind TO DIVORCE HER QUIETLY.

This is the true account of the CHRISTMAS STORY: Two lovers…Joseph and Mary, after going through courtship, Joseph finally makes up his mind. Mary, a simple and humble young woman has won his heart. The engagement takes place and a wedding is in sight. But before their D-day….something happens. The angel of the Lord appears to Mary with some frightening NEWS; You will be with child…no, not with Joseph but through the HOLY SPIRIT. Mary, though frightened at first, takes in the news with humility and submits herself to God. But not so with Joseph.

A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN WAITING

Today, we took our first shots of the winter snow…and my daughter, Renata had some fun along the way from Church. After sometime out in the freezing cold, a cup of hot tea and cheese cake was a welcomed relief when we got home! OUT HERE WE ARE WARMING UP FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS and wish some of you might join us. God bless and keep your hearts warm as the days go by.

IMMANUEL: THE SIGNATURE OF GOD

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: THE VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND WILL CALL HIM IMMANUEL.

Do you have a signature? According to my Collins dictionary, a signature is defined as;
– The name of a person or a mark or sign representing his name.
– The act of signing one’s name
– Distinctive mark, characteristic, etc that identifies a person or thing.

Whatever your answer, one thing is certain…for those of you who have a signature, you know you are the one and only author of your own signature unless it’s forged and that your signature is unique and cannot be reproduced, copied or altered. In our adult lives, it is almost impossible to function without one’s own signature. Practically, everywhere you go, someone will require of your signature…be it in at the bank, government institutions, picking or delivering mail, at the shopping mall…you name it. Yes, we have to agree that the signature is one of the essential, yet almost invisible tools which helps us along the walk of life.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Myspace Religious Chistmas Comments & Graphics

Luke 2:41-42 Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.

Each family has its own traditions. And for the Christian family, Christmas is a time to make those traditions shine out and for the memories that remain last a lifetime. The memories of my Christmases back in Africa where I grew up are priceless for me. Apart from new clothes and shoes to go with the Christmas feasting, I remember particularly the labor of love that went into decorating the Christmas tree. Of course, those days…the shops were less stocked with different varieties of decors for the trees. So our Christmas tree was very much HOMEMADE; some colored and shiny ribbons, some balloons and some white cotton wool was the best we could do to dress up our tree. And no…there was no Santa Claus to deliver some well-wrapped gifts through the chimney because, we had no chimney anyway!

IS CHRISTMAS THE HIGHLIGHT OR THE RESIDUE OF YOUR ENDING YEAR?

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds LIVING out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flock at night.

We are in the Christmas month. And Yes, lots of activities are going on; a long list of to-do, to buy, to give, to eat, to say and the silent hope that this Christmas will be one of your best-ever. And although you don’t put it in words, you pray the magic of Christmas will endure long enough into the next year and keep you through to the next one.

But for you as a Christian, Christmas is meant to be much more than just a magical time at the end of each year. With the beautiful Christmas decors everywhere, gifts, kind smiles, Christmas carols and whatever else Christmas related, these are simply the extras, the RESIDUE that comes along with the Christmas package, that is the baby in a manger. While, it is good and right to create the prefect atmosphere for Christmas celebrations, the point can be easily missed. You should always remember when the CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS was born 2000 years ago, his world too was busy and preoccupied to notice his birth let alone rejoice. In any case, a consensus was more urgent then, so they missed the most important moment in the history of mankind: THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

However, thankfully, there were a few shepherds LIVING OUT their lives as normal…yes, tending their flocks day and night as they always did. The CENSUS had not preoccupied their time nor lives: their hearts were right, their ears were alert, their mouths were ready and their hands were open and when Christmas first happened, they were the first to know. You see, they did not go looking out for Christmas but rather Christmas came out looking for them. And that was the HIGHLIGHT of their shepherd year, one which they lived to tell many and generations which includes YOU and ME.

The question goes out to you. Are you looking for the magic (RESIDUE) of CHRISTMAS or will you let the Christ (HIGHLIGHT) of CHRISTMAS come looking out for you?