In Yorkshire there is a saying ‘strength goes in at t’mouth.’ The Bible says ‘those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.’ (Is 40:31) Today is a busy day with the Parent & Toddler party this morning (9-11 a.m.) and the Christmas Market/ community carol service this afternoon (4-8 p.m. with the carol service at 6 p.m.) As we wait on God and hope in Him, He will renew our strength so that we soar on wings like eagles, run without faltering and walk without getting faint.
Please pray for our Christian witness at this event. We pray God will open our lips and fill our mouths (see Ps 51:15, Eph 6:19), giving us words of boldness and courage to ‘fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel’ so that others may hear of the love of God for them.
For us, the Christmas Market and community carol service are not ultimately about raising money for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal (though we long to do that so we can help those who are struggling financially and who need a visible reminder of God’s love for them) or about being known in our local community (though we want to be God’s representatives in the community in our local area.) For us,the Christians from all local churches, this is an opportunity to declare God’s praise and testify to His goodness to us and to tell people that Christmas is about Christ: how God, in the fulness of time, sent His only Son to become human so that He could live sinlessly, reveal God’s heart of love to all humanity and offer Himself as a sinless sacrifice for our sins so that we could have the opportunity to become children of God. Christmas is about so much more than Santa Claus, mince pies, chocolate logs, carol singing and twinkling lights. Christmas is about Jesus, ‘God with us’, coming to rescue and restore us. There will be much fun and laughter today, but in it all, hope in God and renew your strength, for Christmas reminds us we’re not alone and don’t have to walk this journey on our own.