ASAP

In these hectic and demanding days leading up to Christmas, take the ASAP challenge. It's bound to bring great reward, and even add a little surprise, to the routine of the everyday.

There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,
"Quality time" is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our care,
And He'll respond to all your needs
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

Musical Messengers

Local musical messengers ~Box Hill Citadel Band (Craig Downes), Box Hill YP Singing Company (Fiona Florance) and Waverley Temple Timbrel Brigade (Jo De Kleyn) ~ teamed up for our annual Christmas Festival this evening to present a feast of music that was both 'heavenly and divine'. Each section gave of their best to God and the audience, to the delight of both.

One of the YP Singing Company's songs is still resounding in my mind. Pause for a moment to reflect on the words.

Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love
We often start to worry and people get upset
When things don't go all right on Christmas day
What we should remember in all the push and shove
Is Christmas is a time to love.
Maybe things don't sound right or look the way they should
And maybe they're not perfectly in tune
It really doesn't matter, let's keep our eyes above
'Cause Christmas is a time to love.

What a timley reminder for us all in the middle of a busy yet blessed month!

Christmas Praise To God's Glory

Inala Chapel Christmas Festival ~ plan to be there tomorrow!

Luke 2:7 (NIV) ~ "She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger..."

A New Road

What do you get when you cross dedicated volunteers, Army public relations staff and the spirit of Christmas? A PR Volunteers Appreciation Luncheon and a great reason to celebrate God's gifts.

Major Neil Venables (Territorial PR Secretary) took the opportunity to thank all volunteers for their personal efforts in assisting the Army to fulfil our Christian mission of expressing Love In Action. He then present a spiritual challenge to all present to seek the Saviour and find a 'new road' into the coming New Year, stating 'This is only possible when have a personal encounter with the Saviour'.

Yes, Lord, may it be so!

Matthew 2:12 (CEV) ~ "...they went back home by another road."

Signs Of Christmas

All around us we see advertising signs of one type or another promoting their products and creating public awareness. Signs can be informational, directional, instructional, and even challenging and inspirational.

It's much like Christmas for the Christian believer. God displayed His love to the world and gave us a clear sign to herald the arrival of the greatest Gift we have ever known. The sign was Jesus.
Christina Rossetti expressed this well in her lyrics, Love Came Down At Christmas.

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign."

PS. I'm happy now that I've got a Star and Angel to complement my fibre-optic tree.

Isaiah 7:14 (MSG) ~ "...the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us)."

Christmas Is A Time

Today we commenced our Christmas series focussing on John's alternative Christmas narrative ~ "For God so loved the world...". We were reminded that Christmas is about worship. Christmas means the “Mass of Christ”, or more simply, the 'worship of Christ'.

God's expression of ‘Love’ is the key to the WONDER and JOYFUL CELEBRATION of Christmas. It is the very foundation of His actions toward us and our personal response toward Him.

Christmas is a time to remember that God shares his Heart Love with us, that we might
…know the heart of God
…experience the heart of God, and
…grow in the love of God.

There is truth in the saying, “Christmas began in the heart of God. It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man.”

Song 114 (SASB)

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful love, coming to me from Heaven above.

Filling me, thrilling me through and through. O it was wonderful love!"

Star Seeking

Since we purchased a fibre-optic Christmas tree this year, it has been rather enjoyable to relax in the lounge room of an evening and simply watch the lights go through their routine. But I must confess that I am missing the star. I can handle doing away with the twisted tinsel, tangled lights and tiny decorative accessories, but I'm really missing the star.

The Scriptures record that the wise men followed the star in the east on their journey to encounter the King of Love. En route, they arrived in Jerusalem, met with King Herod and told him that they had observed the star and were on their way to worship the Child King. It was clear that the star signalled His birth and led them into His presence.

Christmas tree stars, then, are more than a mere decoration. They are a reminder that Jesus is the "Reason for the Season" and that we need to journey into His presence. They are a timely advent reminder that we 'come to worship Him'. I guess that's why stars are always found on top of Christmas trees ~ to remind us that we always need to look up to God and seek to worship Jesus, His 'gifted' Son.

Matthew 2:2b (NIV) ~ "We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Oh, and by the way, I'm going to seek for a star tomorrow to hang on the window above the tree!