This is taken from the December/January Messenger  

Celebration is very  much in the air as I write this month’s letter   for  the

Messenger. Celebrations that will take  every shape and happen in every corner of the world.  Celebrations that proclaim  the birth of a baby, in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire two thousand years ago.  Why should such a seemingly insignificant event have such lasting  and worldwide impact? Hope is one reason.  The birth of Jesus gives birth to hope.  Hope  is something we  all  need  –  without   hope   life  becomes futile. The birth of Jesus  gives  us   hope   of   an   eternal.

Hope is one reason.  The birth of Jesus gives birth to hope.  Hope is something we all need  –  without hope   life  becomes futile. The birth of Jesus  gives  us   hope of an eternal dimension to life.

Rejoicing can follow as we realize our hope.  Because we have hope we can cast off the clouds of doubt and rejoice because, through faith in Jesus,  nothing  can  affect  the assurance of our eternal destiny in the care and keeping of Almighty God.

I find it exciting and amazing that God should come as one of us to give us hope and the assurance of an eternal destiny.  Why should he bother with me – or any of us?  But he wants us to become his children and for us to know him as Father.  Wow!

Seeing  Jesus  –  the  human embodiment of Almighty God,  humble and vulnerable, as every baby is,  is a breath-taking thing.  Amid the pain of childbirth the Word that was  ‘in the beginning’ becomes flesh and dwells among us.  Wow again!

The baby in the manger, of course, is the Christ upon the cross.  That’s the nub of it all.  Jesus was born to die to take away the pain and penalty of our sin so that we could become acceptable to a Holy God.  We cannot lose sight of the cross – that’s the best place to stand and gaze at the manger.

M

ull all this over this Christmas.  Think about Almighty God as the baby in the manger.   Catch the awe and wonder of it all. Think about Jesus the baby - who died on the cross for you.    Is  there anything in your life that you need to turn around from and start afresh?   Taking these steps will help hope be born anew.

A

nd then we really will be able to celebrate.   Celebrate in quite reflection.   Celebrate in joyful abandon.  Because Jesus, who is our …

S

aviour, will have been born in us.   And that really is …

CHRISTMAS 

                                                                 May yours be full of God’s blessings.