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We often talk about love being the colour red. e.g. Love is like a red, red rose etc; we give red roses to show our love for others.
On the very first Easter when Christ was crucified, love has never been so red when His blood flowed freely for us.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. ~ 1 John 1:7 (NIV)
What is Christmas really all about? It’s about amazing love, and a child, a Saviour, who came to save humanity.
The message of Christmas is told in the fabulous song Noel, by Chris Tomlin featuring Lauren Daigle.
If Christmas for you has always been about presents, family and food, and not about Jesus, please make time this year to come and find out all about the Light of the world, Jesus…the One who was born on that first Christmas morn.
Man seems to have been fascinated by the future for a long time, we just need to look back at the numerous movies that have been made over the years, all set in a world imagined to be ‘the future’.
Some of those films were set in a time that is actually now in the past. E.g. 1984. I think it’s fair to say the film version of the future has never really turned out to be particularly accurate, has it!
I know a few people who visit psychics to find out a little of what their future holds for them. I don’t know about you, but I know I wouldn’t want to know what lies ahead for me.
At a member of the Salvation Army, a Salvationist, I made promises to God to serve him not just today and tomorrow, but in our future days. I always seem to end up with the words of a particular song going through my mind when I think about the promises I’ve made to God.
O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.
This song doesn’t just remind me my promises, but as it was a special song to some of my family, it remind me that they made those same promises to God, and they did keep them in their future, right ‘to the end’.
Our future is not just about us keep our promises to God, but Him also keeping his promises to us, as that’s where we get our reassurance that no matter what we face God is with us:
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
As you’ve probably gathered I’ve been thinking a lot about the future, and have prayed that I will stay true to God no matter what the future holds for me. There will be times of great joy ahead, but also some challenging times too, but I know I can face them with confidence if I remember these words:
There is a name I call in times of trouble
There is a song that comforts in the night
There is a voice that calms the storm that rages
He is Jesus, Jesus
—JESUS—
I was always taught that boasting was something we shouldn’t do. i.e. we should not talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about someone’s achievements, possessions, or abilities – that could be about ourselves or someone else.
So really, we shouldn’t show off! I’m laughing as I type, as I’m sure we can all think of people in our lives who regularly and unashamed ‘show off’!
But is boasting about someone always the wrong thing to do? No, I don’t believe it is. Isn’t telling others about Christ and the wonderful things He can do for us boasting? And that is definitely not wrong is it?
Boasting about God and Christ, is definitely the right thing to do!
When we’re looking forward to something, for example a holiday, a wedding, the birth of your child, it can be difficult to contain you excitement. Our excitement can be compared to an overflowing cup, where our excitement is greater than the cup so is overflowing from the cup.
Just as we can get excited about things, so God is excited about His love for us. God has always told us He loves each one of us, so has more than enough love for each of us. He has so much love that it continually flows from Him to us because it cannot be contained.
If my heart is a cup
Your love is an ocean
You fill me up
Like rivers overflowing
So hold our your cup and accept God’s love that is flowing freely to you.
Over the years there have been a number of high profile cases where though newer technology, they have been able to prove that someone who has been in prison for many years, is actually innocent of the crime they were imprisoned for.
I cannot comprehend what it must feel like for these people. People who have not committed the crime they were imprisoned for, but unjustly kept locked away from every day life, and away from their family and friends.
Now think about Jesus and the crime he was accused of, and the price he paid…
Jesus was innocent, but he died for you and me. We need to tell the world just what Christ sacrificed for each of us.
I was reminded at the weekend of a song that has always touched me:
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Saviour has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace
Yes, because of Jesus, we have all been set free. Free from every sin, but also free so that we can receive God’s unquestioning love.
I know I don’t deserve His love, but still be loves me – unending love, amazing grace.
When you think of a waterfall, what do you think of:
God’s love is a bit like a waterfall, as it falls down on us from above, and is unending. Even when we try to ignore God, or turn away from Him, He always finds a way to reach out to us.
So when you think of God’s love, think of it falling down onto you, just as water falls to the ground from a waterfall.
Because we are human and have limited resources, we can sometimes be guilty of thinking God has limited resources too. However, just as this image reminds, God’s grace cannot be exhausted.
So whether we’re finding life full of happiness and blessings or struggling to find our way through each day, we must remember that God will be there to give us His power to face each day.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (TLB)
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
I spent a bit of time recently thinking about how I’ve got to where I am – Not in a work or career sense, but from a personal perspective.
I’m sure, like everyone else, there have certain individuals who have influenced you, taught you and directed you through your younger days. There will have been those who have encouraged you, looked out for you, become your confidants, and just generally been there for you whenever you’ve needed to talk.
There have been people in my life too you I put into each of those categories. Between them, they are the one who have helped make me the person I am today. However, I hope and pray that it is those who taught about God and the bible from an early age, who have influenced me most. Without their Christian influence on me I definitely wouldn’t be the person I am today. Without Christ in my life I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I therefore give thanks to God for all those who have taught me or influenced me along my Christian journey.
Who we are today is a direct result of those we spend time with, and those we trust and believe. My belief and trust is in God. How about you, are you trusting and believing in the right people?
