Saturday, 10 December 2011

The Reason for the Season

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAGZZ1YpdEI


'God rest ye merry Gentlemen' is one of my most favourite Christmas songs EVER. The lyrics bring so much hope during a season where the world has turned a time of hope to a time of defeat.


Christmas - 'tis the season to be jolly -  but you look around and see so much hurt and pain. (mainly because it is COLD). But one of the most saddening news I have heard is the amount of people that have taken their own lives this season as people loose hope. The consumer is pushed to buy buy buy, spend, spend, spend and it ends up being a season of debt, frustration!


What is Christmas to you? I'm not going to lie! I started this winter season with a Scrooge attitude! LOL like the teacher in the news that told her children that Santa wasn't real!  There's so much to do, with so little time - but this attitude comes when we take our eyes off the prize! 


I remember listening to a very encouraging message during the week in regards to the pressures of Christmas.  http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons Was encouraged to focus on what Christmas is really about.


Isaiah 9: 6 'Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.'


Where does your hope lie this Christmas? Ultimately when our hope is in God, we are not left disappointed. We hope in the glory of God, in His goodness and we are not left disappointed (Romans 5) as the Holy Spirit pours God's love in our hearts! This is not a season for us to walk in defeat, in defeat but to walk in inexpressible joy- because this is the time when we remember that God sent His only Son to restore His relationship with us and we can walk in freedom. We need to take our minds off the chaos of WORRYING about what to buy, what to cook! Remember Jesus told us not to worry! We just seek first the Kingdom of God! We need to keep our minds at peace, meditating on His goodness- rejoicing in what He has one for us! Our minds will be at rest as we keep our eyes on Him the author and the finisher of our faith! Let His peace guard your heart.


Make Christmas a joyful time, regardless of situations- He is the Prince of Peace bringing salvation! God gave us the best gift, of His only Son, Jesus, who came to bring life- and it was for freedom He has set us free. So  enjoy that gift this Christmas- not only in this season, but every season after this one! God sent His only Son so that we can live in His presence, so enjoy His presence (play on words :p) this Christmas!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQNp4n_5VFE

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