Greetings in the name of “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer” and Jesus Christ – THE Crucified and Risen Saviour! Wow! What a great winter’s morning! I trust that you are able to enjoy the snow and colder temperatures without complaining…too much! I hope that you had great Christmas – New Year celebrations with family and friends. I know some of you had to respond to life events that were…and continue to be difficult – but I know that God is “our rock, our fortress, our deliverer” – 2 Samuel 22:2. Today, I will be praying for you, asking Father to stand by you as you face your personal enemies and find victory.
Wow! the first blog post of 2015…where do I begin? I could relate the highlights: special Christmas services where families came together; a funeral for a woman of faith and how her family celebrated her influence; a New Year’s Eve gathering in Mississauga with good friends-great music-fireworks-‘bag-up’ finish to the night; the last Sunday faith celebration of 2014 and the first of 2015 in our little church; or…? I suppose I would say it is being able to look at the acknowledgement of the Incarnation – the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who became flesh in order to dwell in our midst so that we could experience the glory of God. And not only the glory of God – but knowing we (I) can have hope for 2015 and knowing that our (my) best days are ahead and knowing you are (I am) who God says you are (I am).
I must also tell you about new to me Christmas albums: the Irish Rovers, a Scottish Christmas with the Munro’s…yes, bag pipes, new selections from Johnny Reid, and then Lenny Leblanc. I am so glad that God started the world singing with eternal music. It is a song by Lenny Leblanc that is swirling around in my mind that reminds me of my journey of faith that began during Christmas 1969 and the decisively in 1970 when I accepted the gift of salvation. The song says: Then Jesus came – and He took my shame – changed everything – I was there when love came down – love came down on me.
I hope that this has started you thinking about your Christmas/New Year’s remembrances…God tells us over and over again in the Bible to remember. Today, talk to someone and remember your salvation story to them, remember the beauty of a Christmas/New Year’s – do not let the world’s ideas diminish the truth of your experience.
Be blessed!