 To get us in the mood for Christmas it is worth reading the Bible story so that as we open each day on our Calendar we will have a better understanding of the events leading up to the Birth of Jesus. I hope you enjoy the Calendar - there are some new things and some items from last year - I hope you enjoy Advent and Christmas
You can read the Bible story here! Opens in a new window
Something to do today
Light a candle and watch it glow. Click here to light a candle! Opens in a new window
Some Short Bible Readings to guide our thoughts:
Psalm 62 v 5 & 6
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Isaiah 26 v3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 40 v31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Prayer:
Dear Lord we thank you for Your Word to us in this Season of Advent. There are so many things we have to do in preparation, but through it all help us to hear Your still small voice, coaching, coaxing, encouraging and guiding, help us to take time out to listen for it so that we may be in the right place spiritually physically and mentally, for we ask it in Jesus name Amen.
Something to think about:
 A minister of a parish Church put up a sign on the Church Noticeboard in the front of the Church which said, "Jesus is the reason for the season. Happy Christmas"! He received a complaint from a woman in the community who took exception to the Message. She closed the letter by saying, "I don't think the church should try to drag religion into every holiday".
You may think that is funny when you think about the woman's lack of knowledge of Christmas and the Christ Child, but it is a symptom of what is happening up and down our land, in our Schools, our councils and the politically correct attempt to dilute the message by calling it a winter holiday or some other trite euphamism for the Season. It is up to us as Christians to stand up and be counted and not be ashamed of Advent or Christmas.
"Each year, God asks us to shed one more coat of awareness, one more dream state and come alive to the vision of God’s plan for each of us and the world-at-large.
"The older we get, the harder this is to do. As children we had a sense of wonder. Our eyes were wide open and drinking in the fascinating gifts we beheld…Our thirsty souls could not have enough of the wonders of creation.
"Then, somehow, we grew too old to dream. We tired of the abundance of the world, or at least grew weary of keeping up with the feast of life, and stepped away from the banquet of life.
"The natural gift of wonder God gave us as children was meant to be kept alive. Instead we let wonder go to sleep. We entered the typical dream state of most humans.
"Why else does Jesus tell us today, ‘Stay awake!’…Advent says, ‘Wake up and realize the gifts of love you have received.’
"…Psychology says, ‘Let go.’ Spirituality says, ‘Wake up.’ In both cases there is a withdrawal from the busyness of daily life (our dream state) and a waking up to the subconscious and spiritual depths of ourselves." So enjoy Christmas, become as a child again and wonder at the story and the activities of Advent and Christmas - stop and thing, try it and see and have a happy, blessed and peaceful Advent Season.
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A Christmas Tree to Colour in, Draw a line through the numbers from 1 to 50, if you are small and don't know so many numbers yet, get Mummy or Daddy to help. Then colour in the tree and the the baubles - enjoy. Right click to copy or download to your computer and use the paint programme in Windows to colour it in.
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