09 Dec It’s Christmas everywhere I turn!
Tuesday, 9th December 2025
It’s Christmas everywhere I turn!
After our festive morning tea last Sunday, where so many of us pulled out our most playful Christmas attire, I was privileged to do so again today at the Christian College. Today was a Christmas Mufti Day…so I pulled on another Christmas tie & out I went. I visited with a purpose, however, larger than more festivity. I led their staff morning devotions today on Nehemiah 9. Nehemiah is a great study in faithful leadership among God’s people. In many ways it’s the powerful story of the return from exile to the Promised Land & the hard work of rebuilding the nation of Israel from the ruins of their defeat at the hands of the Babylonians.
The Temple is rebuilt. The wall around Jerusalem is rebuilt. Regular Worship & the reading of the Covenant is restored. And Nehemiah 9 is a long confessional prayer noting the failure of God’s people to live into that covenant faithfully. It recounts their repeated idolatry & stubbornness in the face of God’s repeated long-suffering grace & mercy. Just a few examples: Neh 9:16-17 – “But our ancestors were proud & stubborn, & they paid no attention to your commands. They refused to obey & did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn & appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. After their deliverance from Egypt & their conquest of the land God had promised…pride – stubbornness – an intended retreat back to slavery…Then the majesty of verses 18 & 19: But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious & merciful, slow to become angry, & rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf…& committed terrible blasphemies. But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness.”
The Bible reminds us of a consistent single truth: We are repeatedly, relentlessly & catastrophically spiritually rebellious & stubborn; But God demonstrates unfailing love, amazing grace, abundant forgiveness & unbroken fulfilment of his promises, purposes & plans for his people. God is always acting to bring us back to himself; which leads to Christmas & the greatest act of incomparable grace & infinite mercy: Jesus – Gal 4:4-5 – “But when the right time (fullness of time) came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” The very God who is “gracious & merciful, slow to anger & abounding in steadfast love” is now our Father through Jesus.
That’s the good news we celebrate every Sunday…but especially as we celebrate Christ’s birth among us. Don’t miss a minute with your worshipping family…Here’s how you can stay connected:
Zoom Bible Study Catch-up
Friday 12th December 2025 @ 1:00 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89674789066 — Meeting ID: 896 7478 9066
Christmas with the Con – down at the Riverside Entertainment venue – THIS Saturday, 13th December. The evening kicks off with carols at about 6:00 p.m. Followed by the finest Christmas music you’ll hear this season…from our very own local Conservatorium talent. It should be an excellent evening!
Christmas Worship @ Living Water
- Christmas Eve – Wednesday 24th December @ 7:00 p.m.
- Christmas Day – Thursday 25th December @ 9:00 a.m.
Our Advent/Christmas worship theme is “Christmas is…” In our world, say the word “Christmas,” and people flood themselves with all sorts of pictures, desired experiences & emotions mind that may in fact have little to do with the Biblical Christmas we celebrate as followers of Jesus. But more than the obvious & trite “Jesus is the reason for the season,” Jesus’ birth among us as one of us is a much richer & more varied gift than even we might expect. There is great hope, peace, joy, love & life in the Father sending the Son to suffer & die for us to (as Peter says) “bring you safely home to God.” (1 Pet 3:18) This year, invite someone to join you for worship. Take their initial “No” as a “maybe” & invite them again. Remember, every relationship not linked to Jesus will be lost forever one day. If you want to keep that person around for eternity, today is the day to invite them to share it with you.
Our next Morning Tea is Sunday 21st December. That doesn’t have to be quite as festive as last week…but I know we always have a grand morning of fellowship when we share food together!
We’re back to our regular schedule 10:00 a.m. on Sunday 28th December & we’ll discuss the truth ignored by our world & sadly by many in the church…Christmas is…Every Day
And before you know it…2026! I’m sure I’ll see you before then.
I’m sure I’ll see you before then.
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