The Christmas morning service.

For as long as I can remember, my mother has made it SUPER clear that Christmas is not about the material gifts, but about the greatest gift of all, THE SAVIOUR OF THIS WORLD. As a little girl I can remember Mommy teaching us that God loved us soooo much that he wanted to give us a present, and that present was His Son Jesus, who then gave us the best gift ever, LIFE EVERLASTING. So why then Mommy do we give gifts? We celebrate the greatest gift of all by sharing gifts with those we love.

And then of course Mommy made it very clear, that since God gave us this super gift, we should go to HIS house on Christmas and go to say thank you to God for loving us so much that he gave us the best gift ever.

Between the ages of 5 and about 12 (I can’t remember much before 5); we NEVER went to our own congregation for Christmas service. There were a number of contributing factors, but mainly we overslept. Mummy en Daddy was seker te besig om Father Christmas te speel die vorige aand. So Christmas morning was spent driving around looking for a service to attend.

Then when I was about 12, we starting attending the VGK Sarepta (then NGSK) Christmas services. OOOOOOO this was so beautiful for me!! They had a brass band that played in church and filled my heart with happiness. It all seemed so posh and magical, just perfect for Christmas. And of course my best friend at the time, Liezel Windvogel (aka Dude) attended here. I was in heaven. I was so happy and loved Christmas even more. We eventually became members here in 1992 and we just couldn’t imagine ever attending another service on Christmas morning. My favourite hymn always was Silent Night at the end of the service. There is just something so enchanting about that hymn, I can’t but cry whenever I sing that hymn.

Well I said I could never imagine attending anywhere else on Christmas morning, until Christmas morning in 2009 when my sister Ilse and I went to church at VGK Sarepta but when we got there, the church was PACKED!!! We didn’t ‘smaak’ being sardines on Christmas morning and decided to follow in my parents’ tradition and roam around the Northern Suburbs looking for a church to attend. Then Ilse remembered the Bellville Presbyterian Church (BPC) my dad had once taken us to. So we took a chance, went there and just our luck, we were early for their service

From the moment I stepped into the church, I felt that there was something special here and then I got a box of Lindt chocolates because it was my first time attending BPC. But besides the chocolates (which Ilse ate of course) this service was just special. They had such friendly greeters at the door, people in the pews were friendly and chatting to friends in a normal voice, not that hush ‘church’ tone I was used to. And then the ‘dominee’ had on an open-necked short sleeved shirt and his name was just Rod. Not pastor, not dominee, not reverend, not minister, not even Mr., just Rod. Almost like someone else I knew…just Jesus.

If I my memory serves me correctly the sermon was about how we describe Jesus. So he used some examples cos early on a Christmas morning the brain matter is not so lekker wakker. If we hear Kit Kat, we immediately say: ‘Have a break’. When we hear Smarties, its: ‘what a lot I got’. And for Bells…give that man a bells. (now at this point I knew I was in the twilight zone version of churches cos the dominee is talking and joking about whiskey on Christmas morning. LOL)

And then he asked us what do we think of when we hear the name Jesus and Isaiah 9:6 tells us:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

It’s been 4 years and I still remember this sermon so well. It reminded me of the lesson my mom about Christmas as a little girl. That simple message is what is all about. Who is Jesus? The greatest gift ever.

I have attended BPC Christmas service every year since then and in July 2011, I became a member and loving it.

I think it really doesn’t matter where you attend church on Christmas morning, just as long as we hear more of the good news of the gift that saved the world. THE BEST GIFT EVER!!!!!

Devotions for Lent: Week Two

The Second Week of Lent
Focusing on God can be a huge struggle: each day we are surrounded by things that compete for our affections. When we say "no" to the distractions of the world and choose not to indulge our overactive appetites for food, media images, or some other thing, we may feel surprisingly weak; even nervous. Our anxiety level jumps at the thought of being empty of some familiar thing.

But this emptiness pleases God. When we empty ourselves for his sake, he can fill us in ways nothing else can. When we make ourselves weak, he is able to make us strong. ... This emptying also reminds us of how Jesus emptied himself of his divine rights and humbled himself when he came to walk with us, and to die on the cross in our place.

Read and think about the following Scripture passages as a way to focus on God this week.

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Psalm 63.1-8

O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night ... for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (NRSV)

Psalm 33.13-20

The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory – for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield. (NLT)

Matthew 4.1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' " then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (NRSV)

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Prayer
Lord, I ask you for the strength to persevere, for I am weak. Help my eyes to see this world as you see it; help me to look to you when I am tempted to fear the emptiness. I choose to stand before you and wait for your comfort, and not to run from that which I fear, or run back to old habits.

Help me to find my strength in you, and to abandon thoughts of saving myself. Help me to find my comfort in you, and to reject the messages I hear every day about the fulfillment I will find in food, riches, sex, and power. God, be my strength and comfort! I need your peace ... I need you. I am making space for you in my life today: Lord meet me in the empty places I have made. Lord, draw near to me, and fill me until I overflow.

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Why and How do I pray?

Why and How do I pray?

Since he respects our freedom of choice and free will, prayer enables him to step into our lives. God has limited his powers in our lives to the importance that we place on prayer. Prayer gives God the permission to do what he has been longing to do all the time. Even when we do not see anything significant occurring, God is still at work solving the problem. When there are apparently no answers, God is still is waiting for the proper time to give us the solution. (http://robertwells.tripod.com/howtopray.html)

1.   What is Christian Prayer?

 Read : Matthew 6: 5-13

God cares deeply about each and every one of our problems and is just waiting for us to come to him with all our problems. The Bible tells us over and over to constantly bring our problems to our Heavenly Father. Prayer is not to inform God of something which He may not be aware of or to try to convince Him to love us more. He already knows our needs and He has certainly shown his love. Prayer's purpose is to assist us in building our relationship with God

Prayer is the most important activity of our lives

Through prayer we have access to the Father

“but when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then you’re Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”

Matthew 6: 6,9

Through the Son

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.  Ephesians 2: 18

By the Holy Spirit.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans Romans 8: 26

2.   Why pray?

                             i.        Model of Jesus

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1: 25)

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. (Luke 6:12)

Once when Jesus was praying in private… (Luke 9:18)

About eight days after Jesus said this; he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28)

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1

                           ii.        Developing a relationship with God

God cares deeply about each and every one of our problems and is just waiting for us to come to him with all our problems. The Bible tells us over and over to constantly bring our problems to our Heavenly Father. Prayer is not to inform God of something which He may not be aware of or to try to convince Him to love us more. He already knows our needs and He has certainly shown his love. Prayer's purpose is to assist us in building our relationship with God (http://robertwells.tripod.com/howtopray.html)

                          iii.        Rewards of prayer

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:24)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6,7)

                          iv.        Results of Prayer

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who sees finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will you give a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him? (Matthew 7:7-11)

3.   Does God always answer prayer?

Yes, but we don’t always get what we want. God cannot act against his nature.

Barriers to unanswered prayers:

a)   Unconfessed Sin

But your sin has separated you from you God, your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)

b)   Unforgiveness

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14,15)

c)   Disobedience

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:21,22)

d)   Wrong Motives

You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:2, 3)

e)   Misapprehension of the will of God

‘Good Gifts’

God will answer ‘No’ if the things we ask for ‘are either not good in themselves, or not good for us or for others, directly or indirectly, immediately or ultimately.’ – John Stott

4. How do we pray?

·       A – ADORATION

·       C – CONFESSION

·       T – THANKSGIVING

·       S – SUPPLICATION

Model of the Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6: 9:13

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,

The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

There are four basic steps involved in the proper way to pray.

1--Bring the problem to God's attention immediately. But always keep the problem God centered and not problem centered.
2--Supplication. The definition of supplication is---a very honest and clear confession that tells God that you need his help.
3--Then focus on God and not on the problem. Keep in mind that our prayers are always to be God centered.
4--Thanksgiving. You are thankful because you know the following about our great and mighty and glorious God.

• That you can come to the Father with your problems anytime
• That he is concerned about you
• That he loves you
• That he said that he would help you
• That he will see you through this problem
• That he has the power to solve this problem
• That you trust him 100%

(http://robertwells.tripod.com/howtopray.html)