First Christmas

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10

Yesterday was my baby boy’s first Christmas. At eight months old I’m not sure if he understood all that was going on and he’s still working on the true meaning and all but he had a great day. And it was a joy for our family to enjoy that with him. Simeon enjoyed playing with wrapping paper, bright colours and being around family all day.

It was also the first Christmas for a friend that I met just three days ago. Actually, it was his first Christmas as a believer in Jesus. I always enjoyed Christmas when we lived in Japan as we got to be part of many young Japanese people’s first Christmas after becoming a friend of Jesus. It’s like the lights are truly on – not just in the shops.

My new friend has had a rough couple of weeks with some tricky stuff happening in his family, but somehow God has used this season of his life to find him. This man who had never been to church just felt to start praying and asking God for help. On Thursday he visited an outreach of the church to ask someone to pray with him. That night he met with myself and another friend and we were all very encouraged.

It was such a blessing to me to spend time with him and take him to church for his very first time for a Christmas morning service. Sitting next to him and kind of experiencing it alongside him was a real joy for me, like hearing it afresh made the message of Christmas so alive. Knowing his story has reminded me again just what lengths God will take to make Himself known to someone with an open heart.

My friend has come to realise personally that God is with him. Jesus was born in flesh like ours. It was the real first Christmas. Jesus was called, ‘Emmanuel’ which means, ‘God is with us’.

That’s something to be joyful about.

Holding hands through the waves

My Zoe knows how to enjoy life. I will never forget how she laughed hysterically as our plane flew through some nasty turbulence as we approached Darwin airport. Today, on holidays down on the south coast, I learned again from my precious, well-named, four-year-old.

We walked down to the beach and the kids wanted to get into the surf straight away. The waves weren’t all that big but the forceful white water could reach their shoulders and easily knock them over.

Zoe held my hand, jumping and giggling as she braced for each wave. I even tried holding both hands, letting her body flow and bob in the foam – she loved it!

Her trust in me is complete, there was absolutely no doubt in the strength of my arms to hold her and keep her safe. She could risk the waves easily - and joyfully.

What risks could you take, what adventures could you enjoy if your trust in Him was as complete?

Peace & Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9

It’s the end of the year. Time to push through as the light at the end of the tunnel comes into full view. It’s a great time of year, but it’s a stressful time of year.

There’s the general busyness of it all – finishing things, buying things, going to things, planning things, making things special and family events. For me, it’s looking back at the year and all the goals and good intentions I had at the beginning of the year and feeling the weight of them bear down on me as the end of the year looms. This can easily bubble under the surface and give me a bad day or two.

What’s challenging your peace?

Christmas is a time when people hope for peace and wish peace on each other, but it can feel so far away. There is no easy way to peace. Working so hard or eating so much that you hit a wall and drop into a coma is not peace. There is no short-cut.

Again I have been encouraged to believe, to rejoice, to pray and to think well. Then peace comes like a guard for our hearts, peace that we know and feel but can’t really understand – the peace of God – because He is with us.

This is the time of year to remember and know that Jesus is called Emmanuel – God with us. He came and lived real life as we do, and He offers us eternal connection with Him.

I pray you’ll have a peaceful, connected and joyful Christmas season.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Learning to enjoy

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

Some things are very easy to enjoy. I have found that other things are worth working at to enjoy.

It may not be your cup of tea but it is definitely mine. I love to relax and watch test match cricket while reading a good book (maybe even an average book). That’s something that I enjoy very easily.

When I first started swimming each week I liked it but I wouldn’t have said that I enjoyed it. After swimming regularly for a while and finding a rhythm I really started to enjoy it. Being in the water has become something that I look forward to and jump into.

I have real issues with sand. I hate sand. I hate the way it feels on your skin and how it gets in all sorts of places. When it gets on my fingers and under my nails it’s like I can feel it in my spine. But when we go to the beach there’s nothing my kids enjoy more than to play, dig and build in the sand.

I must say I was very slow to begin and when I did it was begrudgingly. I knew that I should overcome my discomfort and engage. I didn’t find it easy but soon enough I forgot about myself and started to make tunnels and add the features that only dads can.

I learned to enjoy playing in the sand. I would have thought this was impossible. I just needed a good enough reason and to take a chance.

What do you need to learn to enjoy?


PS - again, I would love your comments on this blog, and also, check out a new new blog project that Sarah and I are doing at http://notwant.blogspot.com/