OzThoughts Monday 29th December 2008.

OzThoughts Monday 29th December 2008.

One of the joys of Christmas is the gathering of family and friends to “celebrate the season of goodwill”. For many this also means the stopping of the busy round to gather in worship. Christmas day service is always one of those occasions when the families gathering swell the numbers at worship but also add an extra amount of happiness.

I wondered just how many would be at the Sunday meeting (yesterday) as members of the usual Sunday congregation told me they would be away with family for Christmas and for holidays after that. While regular worshippers were away, other people visiting family and friends swelled the numbers present for our time of worship.

The Christian Church has a wonderful opportunity to allow itself to speak for God as his “angel” for the hour. It is a responsibility to announce the good news to believers and non-believers who gather for the special time of worship. It is our responsibility to continue to pray for those who come to God’s house on special occasions such as during the Christmas season.

We can pause today and thank God for each one who herd the “angel’s message” and pray that like the Shepherds they will continue to investigate that which has been made known to them.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, loving God, thank you for all who joined in the time of worship this last Christmas weekend. I pray that as they think about that hour they spent in your house as part of your family, that they may turn to acknowledge you as God and Jesus as your son and their Savior. Amen.


When Christ drew near to dwell with men
And bear with man his earthly lot,
He brought the knowledge of the Lord
To sinful hearts which knew him not.

When Christ drew near with pardoning love
And free men from remorse and tears,
His triumph over death assured
Their victory over sins and fears.

When Christ draws near his own today,
The fulness of his power to give,
The Holy Spirit makes him known,
And by his life we all may live.

Draw near, O Christ, unveil thy face,
The God of glory and of grace;
My heart reveal, with pardon seal,
And bring me to thy holy place.
Author: Miriam M. Richards
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 102

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.(King James Version).

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