Read Psalm 119:113-120.

Over and over again in Ps 119, the psalmist prays to be kept, preserved or sustained according to God’s Word (see Ps 119:50, 93, 107, 116). The promises of God are the bottom line for His people. Aaron Shust reminds us ‘it doesn’t matter what we see’ (‘Deliver Me’); these promises are our hope in times of trial, visible reminders that we live by faith and not by sight.

Faith is never a comfortable ride, for it involves believing what is humanly impossible. Mary, when confronted with an angelic visitation proclaiming a miraculous conception and a virgin birth, unsurprisingly didn’t understand! ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ she asked (Luke 1:34). The angel’s explanation required her faith, for it went beyond the limitations of human minds: ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.’ (Luke 1:35). Mary’s acceptance of God’s Word (‘may it be to me as you have said’, Luke 1:38) remains our example of living by the very words God speaks.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, it’s worth pondering the faith responses of Mary and Joseph, thrust into parenthood of the Almighty with only God’s Word to sustain them. They had to battle doubt, fear, uncertainty, ridicule and contempt, just as we do. God’s promises kept them through the months of waiting and they are still the only thing which keep us going. The psalmist prays ‘do not let my hopes be dashed’ (Ps 119:116). His request, his plea, is ‘uphold me and I will be delivered.’ (Ps 119:117)

Our whole lives are lived in trembling awe of God (Ps 119:120). If He does not fulfil His word, we are left flat on our faces, with no hope, for we have jumped off the cliff edge, so to speak. Faith is risky; it leaves us out of control and trembling… but it also leaves us safe in the arms of a God who constantly astounds us with His faithfulness.

Mary carried the promise of God within her for the nine months of pregnancy. She and Joseph knew, as no one else could have known, that the fluttering and physical changes within her had not been caused by their sexual union. They watched the visible signs of faith in her and waited for the birth of their Saviour. As we pause to remember that miraculous story, let’s remember that we serve the same God of miracles who will uphold us, sustain us and deliver us according to His Word.

Read Psalm 119:105-112.

There are many TV programmes which deal with heritage and genealogy (eg ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’), and seeking to find out more about our personal history has become something of a hobby for many. People have an innate need to belong; it matters to us where we came from and where we are heading. One of the great needs of the human heart is to find ‘our place in this world’ (Michael W. Smith) and to know that we have significance, that we matter.

Ps 119:111 says ‘Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.’ This ‘book on living’ shows us our place in this world, outlines what it means to be human, gives us directions for life and assures us of a blessed future with a God who loves us so much He sent His only Son as a baby born in Bethlehem to be the Saviour of the whole world. Christmas is an annual reminder that we matter to God, no matter how insignificant we may feel or how confused we may be about our earthly heritage.

God’s Word is ‘a lamp to our feet and a light for our path’ (Ps 119:105), illuminating the way we should go. Through suffering and despair (Ps 119:107, 109), it guides us safely and expertly. All that is required from us is a heart set on obeying it. (Ps 119:107, 110, 111) We can move forward in security because the light of the world has come into the world (see John 1:4-5, 9; Is 9:2) and His light gives us all the illumination we need, ‘enough light for the next step, enough light for the way ahead.’ (‘Enough Light’, Worship Central)

Christmas is a ‘must have’ time, according to the media, but it can be very difficult to get to the heart of the reason for the season if we allow ourselves to be influenced in that way. The nursery rhyme ‘Mary had a little lamb’ gives us insight into the true meaning of Christmas, for Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the real reason we celebrate at this time.

Matt 1:18-25 tells us that Joseph knew full well he was not the father of this child and needed angelic confirmation of Mary’s incredible story of a son who would be a Saviour. This ‘lamb’ would indeed be very special:

1. He was special because He was God’s own Son; his conception was totally different to any before or since (see Is 7:14, Luke 1:34-35), being born of a virgin. This is an essential doctrine, for if Jesus was not both fully God and fully human, He could not be our Saviour. He was untainted by Adam’s sin because of this virgin birth.
2. His conduct was special, performing miracles which caused everyone to marvel at Him (Luke 4:18). Even at a young age, people knew He was special (Luke 2:47). He always kept the Father at the centre of His life (John 8:29); He truly was one of a kind!
3. His claims were special, for He claimed to be the Son of God (see John 10:31-36, John 8.) Until we confess Jesus as the Son of God, we cannot be saved (John 14:9, John 10:30). His claims were offensive to the Jews and continue to offend today.

Mary’s lamb was a sacrificial lamb. The main purpose for Jesus coming to earth was to die for our sins; He came to seek and save that which was lost. He was a spotless lamb, without sin (see 2 Cor 5:21, Heb 4:14-16), and was also a submissive lamb who willingly followed His Father’s will. Ultimately, this lamb was sacrificed for us (Heb 9:22) so that He is a saving lamb (who has power to cleanse us from our sins, as 1 John 1:9 makes clear.) The heart is deceitful, but He is able to change our hearts and make us new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17).

Christmas marks the fact that God sent His Son so that He could save us. It’s a time of great joy that the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world has come to earth!

This is what (almost… there is still £20 left) £500 of shopping looks like:

Items bought include:

• 20 games
• 5 tractor toys
• 4 car sets
• 2 helicopters
• 2 pompom cheerleader sets
• 2 doctor’s kits
• 4 police sets
• 3 Sully bath washes
• 2 animal action figures
• 1 car track
• Make-up & nail polishes
• Jewellery
• Hobby horses
• Magician’s set
• Acrylic paint sets
• Top trumps games
• Connect 4 games
• Funky Monkey game
• Craft sets
• Selection boxes
• 15 can openers
• 90 toilet rolls
• 20 shampoo/ conditioner
• 10 shower gels
• Deodorants
• Bath flannels
• Bath sponges
• Sanitary items
• Washing-up items
• Baby-wipes
• Facial wipes
• Soaps
• Mouthwash
• Batteries for all the toys
• and much more…!

Today we held a carol service at Cherry Tree Court and Dave spoke about the real reason for Christmas. Nowadays, people see Christmas as a time for shopping, buying presents, drinking and eating, but Christmas is much more than this. It’s more than Santa Claus coming to town; it’s about how Jesus, Son of God, has come to earth!

The Christmas story is not just a fairy story or pantomime, but the story of how God decided to send His Son to show us how to live life and serve God and to die for our sins. John 1:12 reminds us that we can be born again and have God at the centre of our lives.

John then spoke about how ‘Christmas’ is often replaced by ‘Xmas’ these days, but X simply stands for excess. We cannot afford to take Christ out of Christmas, for this is the time when we see God’s love at the centre of our lives. This season can be extra special for us, as we celebrate who Christ is (Is 9:6), our source and life and light.

Read Psalm 119:97-104.

Life is not about what we know but about how well we live; the book of Proverbs was ‘written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; a manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair.’ (Prov 1:2-4, The Message) Ps 119 gives us guidance in this area too, reminding us that wisdom, understanding and insight are keys to a life lived well. Wisdom and insight give us an edge in life (Ps 119:98); they are crucial equipment for success, helping us in ways that academic knowledge alone cannot (Ps 119:99).

Obedience to God’s ways is also a key ingredient to a life well-lived (Ps 119:97, 100-1). We are privileged people, for God Himself is our teacher (Ps 119:102, see also John 14:26) and His word is our daily food (likened to honey in Ps 119:103.) Those who walk in God’s ways are kept from evil and know His blessing. Just as we need to follow a recipe to bake that perfect cake, we need to follow God’s ways to live well. Advent, that waiting period for God to act, reminds us that we could not save ourselves (Ps 49:7-8); we needed God to step in and act in ways that were beyond us. As we wait, our part is simply to follow the Maker’s instructions: ‘trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.’ (John H. Sammis)