Saturday 28 December 2013

CHRISTMAS WEEK FOR US

CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE.........once again,by His Grace.      This has been my 45th Christmas in Kenya!!  I have been here more than half my lifetime.   Amazing!   BUT Christmas is forever in our hearts if Jesus is become our Lord and Saviour.     He is the Beginning AND the End of all things, including our life.
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.

++++++++++++



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........

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

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.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

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






Saturday 21 December 2013

DYING AND RISING!!


BAPTISM BY IMMERSION took place in our Fellowship Baptistery last Sunday, 15th December;
It had been 58 years ago on the 5th December, 1955, that I was Confirmed by the Bishop of Sherbourn.     Confirmation in the Anglican Church is the Affirmation of the Promises made by ones God-parents at our Christening at the Font, when a baby.    At THAT time adult members of our family undertake to bring us up in the fear of God and knowledge of the Gospel.
At around 14 or 15 you stand before the Bishop to confess that what they undertook to do for you was done, and that you now personally avow for yourself TO BE a Christian; a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.      Up until then one is believed  to be 'covered' by the promises of your relatives.     MY problem was that my relatives did not believe in what they promised, and by the time I stood in front of the Bishop I did not understand much either!
BUT I knew I was not close to God.....my sins were not forgiven. SO seven years later, having come to believe in, and accept Christ as my Saviour,I needed to mark the Day with a clear testimony and demonstration of what I believed in my heart, for myself this time, and not because of the tradition or dogma of others. AND SO, in a Baptist Church when I was 22 I was Baptised by Immersion - I declared that, having DIED to sin, I believed I was buried with Christ with all my sins, and that by His Power I had RISEN with Him to enter a NEW life empowered by His Holy Spirit.............

ON SUNDAY THE 15TH we baptised ELEVEN of our Staff and Children in the little Baptistery in front of Daryl's Office, opposite the School Hall in which our Fellowship meets on a Sunday.
TWO were long time Christians who felt they had never had the chance to personally demonstrate their personal faith in Christ through Baptism; they knew Baptism did not SAVE them, but they wanted to be able to SEE it as a Memorial of the day they first BELIEVED for THEMSELVES that Christ had died for their sins, and risen to be with them in their ongoing life.   EUNICE LAHOL, Mum in Drakeley Cottage and BEATRICE ROP, Mum in Jacaranda Cottage were these two.    I knew just how they felt, and rejoiced with them both for the opportunity now afforded them.    The others were all children and teenagers from the Homes.

The Service began as usual in the Hall.     Before Breaking of Bread (Communion) together each of those to be Baptised had chance to testify to their Faith in Jesus.    Thereafter the Message for the Day, and then out to the Baptistery - and the sun was shining.
It was a very glad occassion.       The photos, above on the left show first - the queue of those intending to be Baptised first,  then in the 2nd is Hillary Kipkosgei from Jacaranda Cottage one of our University boys,  then, on the right, we have Mrs.Eunice Lahol and finally Mrs. Beatrice Rop.     No room to show all the others, but at least you have had a small glimpse into the day.

SINCE THEN the week has proceeded to enjoy days of blue skies.    However the sun has yielded little heat, and the nights have been beset with pouring RAIN the night long, and with cold temperatures.
Finances had also been dwindling, and it gladdened our hearts on Thursday to get
news that some funds were on the way to us - by then we did not have a Bank Balance!  
Nevertheless we had been going about merrily carefree, delighting in the Season now well upon us.
TONIGHT we have our Christmas Concert,  with Carols, Bible Readings, A new Christmas Play written and produced by one of our Old Boys now a teacher, and some Christian Dance.    It is expected to last about one and half hours, and it is hoped many from around the locality will come to join us.


ALL four of the Children's Homes have decorated their sitting rooms, and even Green Cottage has a Tree and looks ready for a Celebration.     Photographs included here.    Tammy, our guest has been kept really busy, spending each day with a different Home, enjoying making decorations, playing indoor games, sharing meals and generally being part of ALL the Family.    As a teacher herself she has a lot of experience, and a great love for children.      She showed some how to make 'Paper-chains'  -  something they really enjoyed.

On Christmas Eve we shall have an
 'outdoor' fellowship.     It will take place around the front porch of Testimony House with all the children, staff, and visitors seated on the driveway in front.    There will be carols, prayers, and an ensemble of the Nativity Scene gathering on the porch - photos hopefully next week.       Our Carol Team will be travelling the
immediate district and locality on Monday afternoon and evening (23rd)   Then, of course, our Christmas Morning Service at 10a.m. our time on the 25th

BOXING DAY we will be taking our Annual Homes Family Pic-nic to the NEW SCHOOL SWIMMING POOL.    IF the weather holds we shall probably all be there for most of the day!!!
The NEXT DAY preparations for finding School Uniform for all those who may need it before School opens on the 6th January.     This is always an arduous task needing a great deal of patience and careful consideration by all concerned - especially the 'parents'!!!      
The Photos on the left show - 1. Some children from Drakeley Cottage.    2. Interior of Tyndale Cottage, and 3.  Interior of Testimony House.     To the right, are 1.  Making paper chains.  2. Interior of Testimony House, and 3. Interior of Jacaranda Cottage

BUT we have such a sense of PEACE all around us, and such an atmosphere of happiness and gaiety.
Truly we feel this IS a Family Occasion, not just for us ourselves, but for us and ALL those family with us in Christ, throughout the World.      We reach out to YOU and all those we have not yet met.   God Bless you abundantly, with Comfort, Compassion, Understanding and LOVE.

Interior of Green Cottage
John, Esther, Daryl, Carol Green and all our Staff, and Children

Saturday 14 December 2013

THE 'X' FACTOR IN CHRISTMAS


FATHER CHRISTMAS!       THIS is who the world conjures up at this time of the year.  THIS is Christmas personified in joviality, and universal merriment, laughter, revelry of all kinds, and goodwill to all men in the midst of drunkenness, over-eating, and limited generosity within ones circle of friends and human interest.
IN THIS PICTURE above we see a Father figure Blessing the World in a kindly, paternal way.     The most accepted origin of Father Christmas seems to come from Bishop Nicholas of Myra in Asia Minor. It is said that he was a very clever child, already reading and studying the Bible when he was only five years of age.   He grew up with a desire to serve God and became a priest - and later a Bishop.   He was a very REAL person in history.     Nicholas was especially concerned for the poor, and was known for acts of charity.    Especially at Christmas Time he would visit the poorest families to leave gifts on their door step.     He went at night time in order not to be noticed or recognised, warmly clothed in a heavy dark red coat and hood.     He did it in the spirit of Jesus.......he was a Christian, and his life and testimony is still honoured in many parts of the Christian World.      BUT he did not stand for the image of the picture above.       He was not some 'fairy' figure; some rumbustious spirit spreading licentious joy in a kind of 'holiday' and ribald manner - like the minor god the world has turned him into.
INDEED IT IS  'Father Christmas' that has taken over Christmas, and become, in a way, the 'God' of X-mas, almost eclipsing and obliterating the REASON for Christmas,     Dressed in his red coat, and swirling about  in his reindeer drawn sleigh weighed down with presents and good cheer,  Father Christmas FILLS the world of commerce and human gaiety, song and dance  - his charity turned into a money making enterprise that noisily and colourfully overlays Christ and the True Giver of real JOY  and RELIEF to our world.       In fact 'Santa Claus', as he is also called, is the centre of X-mas, and as such has replaced the remembrance of Christ's Birthday, and the need for our Salvation.    As such he has become yet another 'good thing' that the devil has twisted and used to divert us away from the Truth.      How truly sad the real St. Nicholas must be.   He looks rather sad already in that image to the left.

The Bible calls God, in Heaven, the Father of Lights.  It is worth reading some verse that appear in the Letter of James found in the New Testament of the Bible, and in the Amplified Translation of the same -
Do not be misled, my beloved brethren.
Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift, is from above;
it comes down from the Father of all (that gives) light,
in (the shining of) Whom there can be no variation (rising or setting)
or shadow cast by His turning, as in an eclipsee.
IT IS NOT FATHER CHRISTMAS BENIGNLY BESTOWING UPON THE WORLD HIS BLESSING AND GOOD WILL -  this is a monstrous error.      NO!    It is only GOD HIMSELF that is able to provide and endow any part of His Creation with blessing and JOY,
AND God has not provided 'gifts' to the GOOD only, but has bestowed an abundance of 'gifts' all in ONE, that is given to ALL, both to the good and the unworthy.     A gift so precious, and so valuable that it cannot in any way be described in either words or figures.      The GIFT of His Son, Jesus, who was born into this world as one of us, to lead us out of our sins into the Family and Blessing of God in Heaven, our true FATHER.      Yes!   Listen to St. Paul in 2.Corinthians 9v15 -
NOW, Thanks be to GOD for His GIFT
(precious)beyond telling!
(His indescribable, inexpressible, FREE GIFT!
FORGET the GLITTER, the Christmas tree, the partying and raucous frolics, and the COMMERCE of the World around you and SEE your Father in Heaven handing YOU a Gift beyond Price,  and run to HIM in Thanksgiving, and give to JESUS your life in return for HIS.     Give HIM your ALL, and follow Him, remembering the chorus -
Turn your eyes towards Jesus,
Look full in His Wonderful Face,
and the things of the Earth, will grown dim,
in the light of His Glory and Grace.

IN SEEING YOUR SALVATION in the Baby born in the Manger in Bethlehem, IS Salvation in every way.     The Worth and Eternal Value, and Implication of this makes every other thing PALE and lose its brightness.       HEAR in our memory and appreciation of the Babe in the Manger is the greatest of all JOYS - it is JOY TO THE WORLD, and it is at Christmas that we should rise up and SHOUT it out -
JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME!
LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!
LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM,
AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING.  -  Isaac Watts.

The world waits to receive JOY, presents, and a day or two respite of from the labour of living...The shops will do good trade, pockets will be emptied, gifts will be given to one another...........We have been duped!       The ONE and ONLY REAL GIFT has been given.       Given to YOU!    Have you received it, unwrapped it, and made it yours, with thrilled Thanksgiving?     Will you receive it NOW?

AND LET ME NOT WRITE Christmas completely off,as many have been brought up to see it.   There is good in the memory of St. Nicholas.   Maybe he will not come down the chimney or leave a sack of hoped for presents at your door on Christmas Eve.   Maybe he will not ride through the night skies on his Sleigh, yelling "Ho, Ho, Ho and a MERRY CHRISTMAS'.    That is Fairy story, but one I enjoyed and profited from. I knew it was fairy story, but even so I was comforted by it.,   I was not spoilt or contaminated by it   I did not lose my way to the Cattle Shed were my Saviour lay.   His Angels led me safely there.        The Christmas Tree, the tinsel decorations and the sense of 'Rejoicing' did not turn me into a worldly, selfish, debauched person either, but by the grace of God enhanced my sense of heartfelt love for God AND for family and my fellow men.      Let us not judge one another in these things for we are all impaired in our understanding and perceptions.    Let us be GLAD that we have, all of us, a Father in Heaven, Who loves us, and who had given us SUCH A GIFT, new every day in fact, but especially noticed at Christmas.


================================ 

THE WEATHER here is cold once more, and the skies GREY and lowering,    It is in fact RAINING a good part of every day.    Will it stop in time for Christmas?     It does not matter.    The very real sense of rejoicing and happiness is already perceived in every face and life.       Bless the Lord, we have Jesus, and we have each other.     How shall we not be GLAD?
TOMORROW we shall hold our Baptism - in our open air Baptistery!!     Pray the Holy Spirit will keep every one WARM as they pass through the waters.    Hope to share more about this next Saturday.God Bless you dear Family all.  

God Bless you, and warm YOUR hearts, lifting up your heads!

John and Esther




Saturday 7 December 2013

KILLING OUR PEACE OF MIND

NOT THE BEST OF THEMES to find on the front page of a Newspaper - ANY Newspaper.    This week our Daily Nation adopted such a Headline on its Front Page - 'KILLING FREEDOM'.   This was their comment on the GAGGING of the Press under the new Media Bill just PASSED by Parlai-ment. To say this has NOT disturbed the Country would be a lie.      Everyone is wondering WHERE we are going as a Nation.      In 1968 when I first arrived, Kenya was a tightly controlled and monitored place.   There was NO freedom of speech.     Since then Kenya has travelled quickly away from such dictatorial autonomy of its government, to embrace the liberty of 'saying what you think'.     The Media Bill seems a step backwards..........an ominous one.    

BUT IN THE MIDST of all this apprehension there is one peace of GOOD news - the proposed NGO Bill did not get through its 2nd Reading, and has been quashed.       SO for the time being at least the charitable donations sent to us from one quarter or another will not be under the supervision and control of government    NEVERTHELESS general chit chat among the general populace hints at an increasingly fearful outlook regarding the intentions of our government;     The atmosphere is not as 'carefree' as it had become.........the long shadow of the 'troubles of '07' and the ominous 'claw' of the HAGUE are encouraging uncertainty and insecurity.

THIS WEEK I begin to bring our thoughts here in Testimony to a consideration of Christmas once more.     Some people of course do not believe in Christmas at all, even maligning it, and no doubt consigning to it all the label of HUMBUG!!       Well it cannot be SO BAD to set aside a time to remember the Birth of someone that changed the world, and perhaps also OUR LIVES.     We shall, as usual, be 'remembering' with songs, rejoicings, festive decorations, and even worship.

500 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST WAS BORN,   King AHAZ of Juda was waiting apprehensively to be attacked by Israel and Syria.      He was full of the 'jitters' and a VERY worried man.    He had 'friends' who had promised to help him, but was unsure how sincere they were.    His faith was shaky - like a tree in a wind - he had nowhere to anchor his life, or to turn for comfort.      A man very much like any one of US when we find ourselves alone without FAITH in GOD, and facing desperate days.
God sent a Man to AHAZ.    Isaiah the Prophet.   Isaiah took his son Shear-jashub, a toddler with him, meeting the King as he inspected Judah's defences, and he said to him -
'Stop and listen to me!
fear not, neither be fainthearted
because of these two kings, your enemies, smoking firebrands.
The will not hurt you!    Ask God for a Sign that this will be so; He will give it to you!
If you will NOT believe it, you will not be established!
BUT AHAZ, still worried and anxious would not ask for a 'sign' from God.    He had no faith in God.
And so ISAIAH said
' Then the Lord Himself shall give you a sign -
Behold a virgin shall conceive and bare a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel.
BUTTER AND HONEY shall he eat
that he may know how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

The 'SIGN' was to be that of a woman who had never been sexually with a man, getting pregnant and producing a son whose name would be called Immanuel - GOD WITH US.   This spoke of a Supernatural Happening bringing God's Presence into the world on behalf of mankind to obtain an everlasting Victory.
MORE -  this supernatural child would be physically like any man, living like any man, eating any poor man's food.   Before this child would be three years old ( the age by which it could determine right and wrong) the enemies of Ahaz would be no longer a threat.
Because before the child shall know how to refuse evil and choose the good,
the land that you fear shall be forsaken of both its kings.

REMEMBER Isaiah  and his toddler son walking with him....      Not yet old enough to know right from wrong and to be able to choose.     Ahaz was clearly meant to catch the Word that within THREE years his enemies would be finished..........for AHAZ this was his 'sign'.
BUT the BIGGER, VASTER, ETERNAL sign was in the prediction of the MIRACULOUS birth of a child born to a woman who had not had any sexual intercourse with a man, born into poverty (viz. the poorest diet) a child as human as you or me..........a child who would see THE ENEMY vanquished.

DAVID once cried out and said WHY is my mind disquieted (ill at ease) within me?     It was because he had looked away from God.       AHAZ was also disturbed because he had left God out of his mind;and did not trust in him.
TRULY NONE NEED TO FEAR if GOD IS WITH THEM.
IS GOD with you,,,,,or is your life a bit of a shambles, full of apprehension, worry and fear?

Come, remember the Word - this is the time to recall, once more in another year, the story of a Virgin.
A virgin who gave birth to a man child; a man child called Jesus - Immanuel, God with us.    He was born to be with me, with you, with everyone and anyone who will receive him.     And then you and I together can know that IF GOD BE FOR US / WITH US - WHO CAN BE AGAINST US, and succeed?

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS CHRISTMAS.    Enter into its Encouragement, its Reality, its JOY and Assurance that all is well with your soul.     Make a JOYFUL sound, RING the Bells of Heaven,   Our Salvation, our redemption from all our enemies has been born, and grown to put away ALL our fears, and make us lie down in green pastures, and to lead us to still waters.       Psalm 23 in the Bible is the EXPERIENCE offered to us as we invite CHRIST to be born into our own heart and life.


God Bless and be increasingly with you and in you, day by day, till He COMES .!


John and Esther.