It's Christmas Time AGAIN!!

Well here we are at that time of the year when the world goes mad: CHRISTMAS.
Why does the world rush around buying expensive gifts that they really can't afford? Gifts that they say must give because they need to keep up with their friends.
I heard that the average family will spend around £2,000 on presents for their children, friends etc. Then another £1,ooo on food for over the holiday period from Chrismas Eve to New Years Day.
All they get is a bigger debt and a bigger wieght problem.
So what is Christmas all about? What are we really celebrating? Will it change our lives?
There is an old saying "The Reason For The Season" and that is the gift of God to the world His Son Jesus. "God so loved the World that He GAVE His only Son that whoever believed in Him should not perish but have Eternal Life" [John 3:16 the Bible].
We Celebrate His (Jesus) birthday, the only gift that really mattered was and is God's Gift! So yes we can have a party and we should because Jesus invites us to join his birthday party.
Will it change our lives?? Well YES it will, Jesus said "I have come that you may life and life in abundance" [John 10:10 the Bible].
There is an advert from the RSPCA every year that says "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas" which is so true..but I want to say that "Jesus is for (Abundant) life not just for Christmas".
Now I want to invite you to a great party; that will be the one in heaven when someone repents and turns their life over to Jesus. So go on give GOD the gift He is waiting for... your life!
Teresa and I are spending our 2nd christmas back on Tyneside and I'm hoping that I wont spend it alone, this time last year Teresa spent Christmas in Hospital and in ITU for 4 days after breaking her wrist.
We are looking forward to a great time at Lighthouse Christian Centre ending the year with a Fancy Dress Party on New Year's Eve.
However we are missing two members of the family this christmas my mum and my brother-in-laws mum who both died within a month or so of each other. But we do have a new member to the family- Sarah who married my nephew Alan in July.
Our church are facing christmas without one of our older saints Bob Skelton who died on Tuesday 4th Dec very suddenly. He had been doing his second favourite pastime playing his accordian, (his first being serving God). Bob is celebrating Christmas in the presence of his saviour Jesus, where he will gaze on the Glory of God WOW!
We can all be sure of that same assurance if we give our lives completly over to Jesus this Christmas.
What ever you do this Christmas have a good one. (Don't get TOO Merry!!)