Christmas is JESUS

Christmas is Jesus - I love this song by Bryan Duncan because it reminds me that in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, in amongst the crowded shops, the car park dramas, the food, the presents, that Christmas is Jesus, Christmas is about the purpose of God to draw men back to Himself by sending His one and only Son. Christmas was not the event, but the start of the journey that led all the way to the cross. Where the baby in the manager became the Saviour on the cross, who gave himself to take my sin, so I can take His righteousness and have right relationship with God the father.

This Christmas, don’t just share gifts, share the story – His story, it never gets old and it still changes lives – Ric J

“Christmas is Jesus a child for all man, gone from the manger and tomb he lay in.

Christmas is Jesus God’s love coming true; a star from the heavens is fallen for you.”

Song by Bryan Duncan

DRIVE

DRIVE - we all need it: it helps us going from intention to satisfaction but is so different from being driven. DRIVE will get you up in the morning and keep you going when others drop away, and if you do it well you'll absolutely love the journey along the way.

I had so much fun doing this series at it impacted my life as I reflected on what we learnt along the way. Here are some of the basic thoughts.

There is a fine line between you having DRIVE and you BEING DRIVEN. The problem about being DRIVEN is you never know when you could be taken for a ride!

Are there areas of Discipline in your life you need to look at: balance, boundaries, consistency?

Have you taken time out to Reflect on where you are at: evaluate, encourage, inspire?

How are you going with your Integrity? (1 Cor 9:24-27- will not be disqualified for the prize) For me often it is all about the things I don't see as I drive through life.

Have you checked your Vision? Where are you headed, are the choices you are making helping you move forward or dragging you back?

Don't give up / you are equal to the challenge no matter what it is. You are in the drivers seat, you have the drive, and you are not on your own. That is how you have the Endurance to go the distance, do the drive, and do it well.

Team Ministry

We are ALL individuals but we are ALL called as one body.

So that means, we need to learn to do team really well, because no matter who you are, no matter what you do, we will always be connected to others; so to be effective learn the power of team ministry.

Great passage on this 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

some keys out of this passage to think about and meditate on:

• the body is one unit (never forget that when we all come together we need to be one)
• the body is made up of many parts (so don't complain about people who are different to you)
• all these parts play a role (even the people that you are not sure about ... God is)
• God has arranged the parts of the body (just as HE wants them to be)
• there should be no division in the body (God really does want us to be in unity and get along)
• if one part suffers we all suffer (so it is actually in our best interest to help those who need our help)
• you are part of this body (just in case you were wondering....)

This is such an amazing passage of Scripture as it helps put us as individuals back into context. We are not unimportant, but we are not the most important, together we are all important and together we make a massive difference in changing and impacting this world for good and for God.

WHOLENESS

We live in a fallen world; we are surrounded by great beauty but also by great brokenness. The great paradox is that from our viewpoint we see that which is broken, and yes, maybe it can be repaired and fixed – but it will never be WHOLE. But God’s Word says differently.

John 3:16, 17 God sent Jesus to SAVE us. That word saved in the Greek means so much more than just rescued. But it is a complete work, healing, wholeness, provision and protection. That is why Jesus said on the cross, "it is finished". We are the ones who struggle to see ourselves whole and therefore we are always striving and working towards being whole. The crazy thing is - you already are 'in Christ'. So really the battle should be to bring your thinking in line with the Word or God and start seeing yourself the way God sees you.

Wholeness starts by knowing who HE is in you.

1 Thess 5:23, 1 Cor 6:11, 2 Peter 1:3

Wholeness is learning who you are in HIM.

2 Peter 1:2,3, Phil 3:9,10, John 8:31, 32, Psalm 1:3

To learn who you are in HIM you have to learn to abide in HIM

John 15:3,5, James 1:22, Rom 10:17, Heb 4:12, 2 Tim 3:16,17

I am whole because of what He says about me, nothing else - That is faith in action right there.

The Journey of Hope

Romans 15:13

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.

Hope takes the ordinary and paints it with colour.

Hope stirs the heart and inspires the soul.

Hope is a confident expectation.

So much more than a physical emotion, hope is a spiritual grace.

Hope is at times hidden, but in the midst of a challenge is when it has the chance to shine.

That is why for a Christian you need to put your hope in God.

If the devil can steal your hope, you lose your joy, if you lose your joy you are without strength.

“Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working.” Dale Carnegie

“Hope never abandons you; you abandon it” George Weinberg

“When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.” Charles L. Allen

1 Peter 1:13

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (hope to the end)

Not just filled with hope from the God of hope but overflowing with hope from above. Hope is the meeting place where grace and faith collide. I love hope; it fills me with great expectation and stimulates passion for the purposes of God.

Set your hope in God and don’t be moved.

More on Prayer

I wrote this poem after a lot of reflection on Prayer

Prayer is more than simply communicating.

It is more than the dictionary meaning or the frail understanding of humanity.

Prayer rises through the defiant lips of the one who stands in the gap for breakthrough.

It shouts with declarations of faith and victory in the midst of overwhelming odds.

Prayer whispers in the recesses of emotion of what could be, if only.

Prayer bubbles out in the tumult of sorrow that threatens to engulf.

Not always manifested by cleverly constructed phrases, but at times evidenced by groaning and unknown words from the breaking soul.

Prayer grows in the background conscience of the one caught in a web of their own destruction,

as they desperately try to navigate through the closing darkness.

No longer to be contained it seeps through in simplicity as a cry from the lost soul to a known or unknown creator.

Prayer celebrates the journey and petitions for the path untravelled.

It rises around to bring hope and comfort, direction and clarity.

Prayer shows us what is and what could be, it opens us to another perspective and reveals us as we really are.

It strips down the layers and builds up wholeness.

Prayer is breathing out the cares and distractions of this world and breathing in the grace and peace of God.

Prayer

I love some of these definitions of prayer:

To pray is to breathe. Do it deeply and you will be filled with life. Julie Mann

Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. anon

Prayer is breathing out the cares and distractions of this world and breathing in the grace and peace of God. Ric

Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord. anon

Prayer is opening your eyes to view things through God's perspective. Ric

Prayer is the oxygen of the spirit and the soul. Craig Hepplewhite

In a world that is about simplifying, self-sufficiency, self-gratification, self this and self that prayer is the one thing that centres me so much more completly in the will of God.

It isn't complicated, it isn't judged, it is as personal and sacred as you make it and not just something to be considered, pursued, or practised. But rather something to be enjoyed, celebrated, and as natural as breathing.

To truly know God you must spend time with Him and we connect through prayer.