May each one of us be blessed with the presence of Emmanuel,
our God who has come to us
to meet us where we are.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Please note the next Bread for the Journey post will be on January 8th.

FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:
Click to read more ​Blog posts  or to find out more about Rhythms of Grace

Jesus’ contemporaries were expecting a political leader, a Messiah who would deliver them from their hated Roman oppressors. God’s perspective however, was that behind the might of the Roman Empire, (and every other destructive force), lay other powers, spiritual powers - the powers of darkness; and that through man’s disobedience from the very beginning, these negative supernatural forces had gained authority in the world that had been given to humans to steward. In this fallen world, these dark forces are at the root of all sickness, distress, enmity, strife, jealousy, selfish ambition – and everything else which holds mankind captive. Undeterred, the Lord determined that just as this evil had come through a man, the answer would also come through a man.

And so He sent His Son, who put aside His divinity, and came in human flesh to overthrow the devil & redeem people from his clutches. The new-born King was named Jesus, which means ‘God saves’; and as He went about His ministry in later years, we see that redemption taking place in the lives of ordinary men and women, with its final fulfilment in the Cross. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that mankind could again walk free.

Christmas is about the coming of our Saviour-Redeemer. Let’s make time this season to invite Him into the details of our lives and circumstances - to redeem, restore and renew. Nothing is impossible for Him!

FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:
Click to read more ​Blog posts  or to find out more about Rhythms of Grace

Our world is in desperate need of answers – not some sticking plasters, a papering over the cracks, but deep internal surgery – changed hearts & transformed lives.

The coming of Emmanuel is God’s answer. With Jesus’ birth the Prince of Peace came into our world; and according to Isaiah, the alternative government & peace brought by this ruler would continue to increase forever [Isaiah 9:6]!

This theme was taken up by Zechariah on the dedication of his son, John; the Coming One would not only give light to those experiencing darkness, but would also guide people into the way of peace [Luke 1:79].

And of course ‘peace on earth’, was part of the announcement given by the angels to the shepherds.
This heavenly peace has largely been reduced to a sentimental ‘feel-good’ atmosphere surrounding our festivities. However, peace is a hugely powerful concept in Scripture; the Old Testament term for it is the wonderfully rich word, ‘shalom’, which includes the following in its meaning:

• physical safety & soundness in body
• welfare, health & prosperity
• peace, quiet, tranquility & contentment
• peace & friendship with God, in covenant relationship
• peace between humans
• peace from war
• peace as adjective

This is what the new born King would bring with him – this peace packs a punch.

But Jesus came & we still don’t see much evidence of this Kingdom peace around us – two thousand years on, the world is still a mess…….

I would suggest that we see Kingdom peace advance, one person, one household, one community at a time. Jesus made it clear that the Great Plan was to partner with people of faith to bring about transformation to the world. The fact is, we haven’t done a great job up to now; however, the Lord hasn’t changed – there isn’t a plan B!

The first mention of a word in Scripture is usually seen as significant. The first time ‘shalom’ is used in the Old Testament it is in the context of covenant commitment to Abraham, when the Lord promised, ‘You shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age’ [Gen 15:15 NKJV].

Abraham is the picture of the blessed life, (God even spelt it out, ‘I will bless you & you will be a blessing‘, Genesis 12:2); all the blessing of shalom became his; and he did indeed die in peace. One of the reasons Jesus came was so that belonging to Him, we too could inherit this promise of peace – in all its fullness [Galatians 3:29].

The New Testament word for peace is eirene & has a similar breadth of meaning. The first time it is used is in Matthew 10:13, ‘If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.’

Not only do we have an amazing covenant promise of peace for ourselves, but it is ours to give away, to release in the lives of others.

The Prince of Peace has come; by His suffering on the cross, He purchased shalom for us [Isaiah 53:5]. This Christmas, let’s stir up our faith to receive what Jesus paid such a price to give us, and then let’s release it on our households and neighbourhoods. We can be the means by which Kingdom Peace invades our world.

FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:
Click to read more ​Blog posts  or to find out more about Rhythms of Grace

Living in the very north of England, where at the moment the sun sets at 3.30 pm – and we haven’t got to the shortest day yet – celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World, at the dark time of the year seems particularly appropriate.

Christmas also brings a message of hope in a very dark world. Many face the season in distress or difficulty, maybe with sickness, unemployment or family problems. And then on the world stage there is famine, war-mongering, brutality and murder; all reminders that we live in a fallen world, a world under the influence of the evil one.

It is good to remember amidst the daily news-reports of destruction and suffering, and the serious issues which cloud our horizons, that the Lord has not been taken by surprise,  and He isn't in retreat.
His answer has always been to come in the midst of darkness and meet people where they are, bringing His light & transformation.

This is the message of Christmas.

Notice that this child would bring government with Him. We love the simple beauty of the birth stories, but on that momentous night, in the quietness and darkness, there was an invasion by another Kingdom. Heaven had invaded earth. From that moment on, the powers of darkness were in retreat [1 John 3:7]. During Jesus’ ministry, every healing and deliverance, every miracle of provision, every raising from the dead, was a victorious assault on the evil one, a declaration that the Kingdom (or rule) of Heaven was at hand; until finally through Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, the principalities and powers were completely defeated – for all time. And – and this is the crunchy bit – He commissioned His people with the task of enforcing that victory. Our calling as His followers is to co-partner with Him in bringing His government to a needy world.

So often Christians take the view that bad stuff happens because it is ‘God’s will’ & He wants to ‘teach’ us something. Jesus was the exact representation of the Father, and His response to evil was to conquer it: so He healed the sick, set the oppressed free, fed the hungry, and continually declared the favour of God.’ And despite what the world, or our circumstances look like, the Word says, ‘Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…..’ meaning that the Lord has an expectation of His Kingdom rule continuing to advance, as we, His church co-operate with Him.

The Light of the World has come. Light by its very nature always dispels darkness; so this Christmas let’s counter the dark areas in our personal lives, in our families & communities with an invitation to Jesus to come & flood the darkness with His light. And then let’s expect an life-changing encounter  with Emmanuel, the God who comes down to us & meets us where we are.

FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:
Click to read more ​Blog posts  or to find out more about Rhythms of Grace

One moment can change a life. One encounter can transform our circumstances. And one night can alter the world for ever.

Bethlehem was full to the ginnels with census arrivals; the hated Roman authorities had demanded that young and old, rich & poor make their way, at whatever inconvenience, to their town of birth to be counted. We can imagine the grumbling and cursing in the streets and at the local tavern as footsore Bethlehemites, many having walked for days, assembled for registration. And we can imagine that negative atmosphere being lightened by laughter, here and there, as the human ability to find comradeship, and even humour, in trying circumstances surfaced.

Bethlehem was full, noisy - and unconscious. Not one person, apparently, in the clamour and bustle realised they were just one step away from life transformation. Not one person had ears for anything other than their pressing concerns. And so when the Lord of Heaven and Earth took flesh and came to dwell among them, they remained in their ignorance.

Out on the hillside, beyond the town boundaries, and in a faraway land, there were, however, people keeping watch that night; men who were accustomed to silence, who were alert and focused, ready for anything. And the story of these men has been told for generations, for they were the ones to whom Emmanuel became an experiential reality. They weren’t the rich and powerful, the religious and knowledgeable, or even the apparently good and deserving; these men were reviled foreigners, men outside the covenant promises, and humble shepherds, despised for their poverty and their failures in Law-observance.

It seems that the qualifying attributes for an encounter with Emmanuel was not their nationality, or whether they had been ‘good’, religiously observant or ticked a host of other boxes; their qualification was that they were quiet and they were listening.

……wrote TS Eliot in Ash Wednesday.

In these final weeks before Christmas, when the ‘surround-sound’ becomes ear-splitting, let’s make sure that we are not so busy with food preparation, decorations, present-wrapping, office parties  and even religious activities, that we miss Emmanuel when He comes to us. Let’s try and carve out some time - daily- when we take time to get really quiet inside, focus our hearts on Him and ask Him to come close. Let’s make sure, this Christmas that we are numbered with the shepherds, rather than the townsfolk. And let’s remember that the only thing which disqualifies us from a life-changing encounter with Jesus is being unaware of our need, and being too busy, too preoccupied with ourselves and our own affairs to make time for Him....

Let's make the most of the night hours, and the quiet moments which punctuate our days, to turn towards Him and pray.....

FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:
Click to read more ​Blog posts  or to find out more about Rhythms of Grace

In the midst of our Christmas preparations it is important to take time out to remember what it is all for. Rhythms of Grace has a number of bite-sized resources to help.....

Finally there is more material available in the Advent/Christmas section of the archived seasonal rhythms blog.

And in last year's Christmasposts on Bread for the Journey:

 Be blessed!

FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:
Click to read more ​Blog posts  or to find out more about Rhythms of Grace

SHARE WITH  FRIENDS:

The festive season may be filled with joyous moments (see last post), but for some it also can be the source of much irritation: perhaps it is the constant repetition of annoying adverts and cheesy songs that bugs you, or maybe it’s the cheap santas and over-sized elves in the high street, the same old films on the tv (Casablanca, anyone!) or the over-packaged latest must-haves…….or something else entirely, (bearing in mind that one person’s dislikes will be another’s delight)? The aggravation may be momentary, and inconsequential, but when repeated often enough can dominate the whole perception of the festival for some, while at least puncturing the sense of wellbeing for others.

Perhaps we can turn these irritants into something more positive?

What if we used them as a ‘worship alert’?  I have read that Carol Arnott has the practice of setting a personal timer to go off at intervals to remind her to offer up worship, and has been thoroughly blessed by the practice. What if we decided to take one seasonal annoyance (to start with) and every time it cropped up, used it as a reminder to turn our hearts towards Emmanuel & worship Him? After a while, instead of provoking a surge of irritation, our stimulus will cause our hearts to leap in anticipation – an encounter with the Lord is at hand! Why not try it and see….

Now bring on those plastic reindeer…..

FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:
Click to read more ​Blog posts  or to find out more about Rhythms of Grace

FOR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:
Click to read more ​Blog posts  or to find out more about Rhythms of Grace.

SHARE WITH  FRIENDS: