For MARY it was a Beginning too of a life with Jesus. She and Joseph found nowhere to lay her baby but in a Manger.
They were not rich or influential.......But I believe that for both herself and for Joseph it was a most Awesome and Joyful night, the Night Jesus was BORN. Soon after the Shepherds and the Wise Men visited they were fleeing for their lives to Egypt from the bitter greed of Herod the King.
Living like refugees they finally returned to Judea ...Joseph died, Jesus took over the Carpenter's business until one of his step brothers was old enough to take over. A hard and no doubt frugal life. And then JESUS left her, and was soon being killed in front of her eyes. Still not old, she was widowed and broken hearted - but not alone. A wonderful woman. She was and IS meant to be 'Blessed among women' and although we are to see her as just a woman made of flesh and blood, we are also to see her as the one trusted with God's Son. She not only bore Him in her womb for those long, hard months, of gossip and slander, unflinchingly faithful and steadfast to God's Word, but also when He was finally born she gave up her heart to loving Him. What an example of 'Motherhood' and womanhood generally. And a true 'handmaiden' of the Lord created to DO His Will, yet a sinner like all of us, needing the forgiveness, and mercy from God, and receiving it from the One she nursed.
THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT, WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. The School Hall was FULL, and our children presented wonderfully in song and drama. The Drama, written by Victor Makokha one of our boys who has just qualified as a Primary Teacher, was about a family that had been divided. The eldest son had made a decision to follow Jesus during a Church Service at which all his family members were in attendance. The problem was that the 'family' were just 'church goers' and had no real interest or commitment in following Christ. They were not BELIEVERS. The Father of the family felt embarrassed for his son, and had thrown him out of the house. Now, at Christmas a year or two later the son and his eldest daughter decide to visit his fathers house in an attempt to restore relationships. His return is initially met with rage and rejection by his family members who still feel they have been made a fool of in some way by his behaviour in the Church. However finally he is able to patiently deliver the Christmas Message in such a way that the entire family believes and seeks forgiveness. Quite a powerful 30 minute production, ending with the story of the nativity being portrayed as it is narrated, bringing the 'old' story to bare on an up to date family situation.ON THE SUNDAY before Christmas we had our normal Sunday Service during which I spoke about Mary contending with gossip and slander, and about Jesus growing up.
'GOD allowed His son, Jesus, to be born into relative poverty -
born with cattle in a cattle shed. Born to parents who were said to have committed fornication.
God allowed His son to be born with a devalued and tarnished origin.
He was not given to the RICH or RIGHTEOUS, but to the poor and despised.
WHY?
So that He could share their trouble, their shame, their misery and faults.
JESUS identified Himself with it all, and found GRACE to put Himself in our places -
and to give His Life for us, that we might be forgiven, healed, and freed from all condemnation.
THE BIBLE says we have ALL run away from our Father, and Family, breaking His Heart.
THE BIBLE says, God let His Only Son JESUS come to FIND US..
To FIND us and BRING us home again.
REMEMBER the Prodigal Son in Luke 15
'Hey, Father, I'm home seeking forgiveness -
and brother JESUS is with me.....
YES, THANK YOU JESUS, for being willing for your Father
to put you to distress that I might be Blessed!
Thank you Mary for letting God USE YOU,
and to even put you to distress for my sake
HERE IS MY BODY
Fill it with Your Life, Jesus.
Make me a Blessing as you make Yourself a Blessing for me.
Make me a Blessing as you make Yourself a Blessing for me.
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SINCE MONDAY the sun has shone in a cloudless sky. Christmas Eve welcomed my niece in law, Elisabeth Muguri, Esthers sisters daughter from Nairobi. She operates a Travel Business. She is a very live wire, and it was very special to have her with us as a guest. She and Tammy got on so well and they had a lot of laughs and fun. Our son Manu, and a friend of his, Allan, also joined us.
Traditionally on Christmas Eve we have a Carol Service from about 7.30p.m. until 9p.m. In previous years it has taken place OUTSIDE of Green Cottage, on the lawn. However this year we made a change, and arranged chairs from the School Hall all around the front of Testimony House facing the porch. We had a choir there, to the side, to sing, and all the children, staff and some visitors sat around to watch. As the program went on we had representations of Joseph and Mary come onto the Porch, and baby Jesus in the Manger. Then they were joined by the Shepherds and the Wise Men until we had an illuminated Nativity Scene all in place.I gave a short Message about the Shepherds and their visit to SEE Jesus. 'What was the result' I asked.
'The went and shared it all with as many as they met. The had a story to tell, and they each one believed in it with all their heart. They just HAD to tell others about it; about what had come into their hear. Baby Jesus is God's Gift to each one of us, He came to SAVE us from evil and badness, and to bring us back to our Father, in Heaven.
YES, of course, Jesus did not stay a baby. He grew into an adult, a MAN who will stand by any one who will look for Him. He will be a FRIEND who will never leave or forsake us, and as Long as we stay by His side He will give us the strength and power to always come through winning! REMEMBER, God loved each one of us SO MUCH that He gave Himself to each one of us IN Jesus.
NOW we can GIVE ourselves to HIM........Don't undervalue God's Gift to you, but show how much you appreciate it, by LOVING GOD BACK.'
It was a definitely better way of arranging it, everyone seemed to enjoy it. After the last prayer we served refreshments to the children....all 140 of the and the staff.......all outside. But the sky was not starry as we had hoped - a little cloudy........
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ON CHRISTMAS MORNING we all attended our Morning Service together in the School Hall. Not many locals joined in with us as most return to their family homes to join with relations. Still there were still a crowd of 200 or more that were there together. Again there were Carols that were sung by all of us and Carols that were presented by our Carol Party Team that had gone Carolling on Monday Afternoon all around the locality. I led the Meeting, but really it was more like a family fellowship, and very informal. I talked about the Wise Men and the three gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, emphasising the need to FIND GOD, and KNOW HIM, recognising His Love for us. Also also the fact that it is 'Better to GIVE than to receive', and that that WE have the opportunity NOW to GIVE to God - a Life, a Heart, and a BODY.....What JOY there IS in heaven and with GOD when any human being feel to GIVE this as a GIFT to Him Who has loved , and GIVEN US so much in CHRIST
Some stood up to say a word or two about how JESUS had changed their lives,
And we Broke Bread together, and rejoiced and gave Thanks for yet again entering into the memory of the BEGINNING of our Salvation............
Afterwards we met with each other and broke up for lunch in our respective houses! Each house had a Turkey to share, and much else as well to make a good repast. Some Balloons, sweets, and small gifts individually handed to each child in a small gift back - all lovingly given and put together by a dear sister in our Fellowship. She had organised some months back knowing that she would be spending her own Christmas away in Canada with family. Oh, the Love of Jesus. We also bought each Home a Football, and a few other board games.
One of our old boys, now working in Nairobi, James Mbati Tsindakha arrived midway through the afternoon and stayed over till today the 28th. James labours for a pharmaceutical company and is currently attempting his M.A. degree as well.
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ON BOXING DAY we slept late, and then about 10a.m. the children made their way to the Swimming Pool - but NOT OURS ! Our new Pool had sprung a leak, and so we could not use it; it had to be emptied and repaired. They are in fact busy repairing it right now, since it MUST be in working order by the time School opens on the 6th January!! SO we had to borrow a pool we have used before and which is now in the compound of the Catholic University, but privately owned and operated.
We usually take a pic-nic lunch and spend until about 6pm. Great fun for the children who revel in the freedom to just enjoy themselves. And the weather remained fine - even HOT. Of course Esther and I were in attendance, and it was really good to just BE there to watch the kids having such a good time - AND quite a lot of old boys and girls dropped in for a 'bite' and a swim as well as to wish us a Happy Christmas. Daryl and Carol also joined in with us together with their three children, and so it WAS truly a Family Day - with even the additional blessing of being able to SKYPE with Steven Green in the UK with his family, AND Elisabeth and her children who were visiting for the day.
And now the remaining days are quickly trickling away and the Year of 2013 soon to END>
Tomorrow I shall be concluding the Season by sharing a little on KING HEROD in an effort to demonstrate that those who hand on to their lives instead of giving them to GOD, will lose their life, and even more. It is not JOY to everyone in the World to hear the Good News or to RECEIVE the one born to be KING.
NEXT SATURDAY I will probably have already communicated NEW YEAR Greetings, and on Saturday probably amplify those Greetings. UNTIL THEN let me conclude what is probably the longest single blog for this year. And let me Thank you all again for joining hands and hearts with us to make this one of the happiest and memorable Christmas Times. God Bless you all
John and Esther
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