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His love endures forever"Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever." Jeremiah 33v 1 It's hard to believe that the first decade of the New Millennium is nearly past. I'm sure it has been as eventful for you as it has for me. I guess from the start of the decade we had reasons to be thankful, as the millennium bug failed to materialise. The past year in particular has been a memorable one for me as I took the wedding services for my two eldest children; Peter, who married Victoria in March and Naomi, who married Andrew in August. The two occasions were in ways very different, yet there was the same deep sense of joy and thanksgiving in both occasions. As a family, we can even look forward to 2010 with a sense of joyful expectation, as Peter and Vicky are expecting their first child at Easter. As we prepare for Christmas. we should do so with thanksgiving. Look at the way Mary responded to the news that as a virgin she was to give birth to the baby Jesus, "I'm bursting with God-news I'm dancing the song of my Saviour God took one good look at me, and look what happened. I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!" - Luke 1:46 from "The Message-. This was massive for Mary; she faced all kinds of uncertainty with this unexpected birth, yet she clearly saw it for what it was: a wonderful gift from God. The Message translation pictures her as greeting the news with thanksgiving. dancing and a sense of wonder that she is the most fortunate woman on earth! Mary's attitude mirrors the guidance St Paul gives to all followers of Jesus in 1 Thessalonians 5 ‑ "Be cheerful, no matter what: pray all the time: thank God, no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." This Christmas may be a difficult time for some of you; nevertheless, whatever circumstances you find yourself in, there is a God who loves you so much that His Son was born on earth that you might know that his love never quits; it is always there for you! Have a Happy and thankful Christmas. filled with Love. Sam Wright |
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