Prayer December 2016

Gracious, loving and merciful God. 

On this Sunday a week before Christmas, we praise you for the same event the angels did 2000 years ago - good news of great joy that will be for all the people. A saviour has been born to us, and he is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest. And all over the earth, peace with God.

We are amazed, Lord, that the God of wonders beyond our galaxy, the most powerful being in the universe or outside it, humbled himself to be limited to the weakness and smallness of a baby. In that frail human body Jesus grew to take on the sin of humanity. Everything that separates us from you Lord - our rebellion, our selfishness, our darkest thoughts and humanity’s most atrocious acts of violence, he took on himself, and put it all to death in his own body, and rose to life again because death cannot hold God himself in the grave. Help us to remember that Christmas is more than a busy season, it’s more than a family season, or a very ancient birthday celebration. It’s the time we remember that you, our creator God, did not leave us alone in a dark and sinful world. 

A saviour has been born to us, and he is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest. And all over the earth, peace with God.

Lord, it’s still a broken world until Jesus comes again and makes all things new. So amidst the holidays and parties there are broken relationships, death and conflict, physical needs, sickness, loneliness, fear of the future, and a world full of people in spiritual darkness, blinded by false gods, selfishness, fear and sin. Reveal your gospel to many at this time, and help us to be compassionate to one another. We pray for civilians in Syria and Yemen who have been dying and living in fear for months. We pray for generosity towards refugees, resources for aid organisations, and for the governments and militaries fighting to stop killing. We pray for Christians in areas of conflict to be people of prayer, and hope, and peace, following your ways, shining like stars in a crooked and dark world as they hold out the word of life. A saviour has been born to us, and he is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest. And all over the earth, peace with God.

Sustain us in the busyness of December, give us energy for all the extra things that demand our time, and wisdom to rest, because all the important work is done by you. Give us eyes to see the needs around us and love to respond as you would. 

We pray for our gospel partners in other parts of Australia and the world, that they enjoy fellowship with their church families, and invite others to hear the gospel and be a part of the gospel story. We pray for the Gs preparing to go to M, that you connect them with more partnering churches in Australia and prepare them to be useful over there. We pray for an end to the drought in Kenya and for the Bishop to be able to source food and water deliveries to the many starving in his area. We pray that this will be an opportunity for Christians to share with Muslims both food and water AND the gospel. A saviour has been born to us, and he is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest. And all over the earth, peace with God.

We thank you for the Street Party, for the opportunity to welcome our friends and neighbours into our community and share food and the gospel with them, and thank you for safety at the event. We pray for Maitland Alive, that many who come hear about the person of Jesus. 

We thank you for the pastors, counsellors and home group leaders who have served faithfully this year. Thankyou for their perseverance in the faith, and their consistent labours in the word to grow each person here in godliness and maturity in Christ. May they rest during these holiday, take refreshment, and in your power be restrengthened to continue their walk with you next year.

May the lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage our hearts and strengthen us in every good work and word. 2thess2:16

We pray in the name of the Messiah, Jesus our Lord, Amen.

December Remember

It’s distant memories now, but I am sticking with this routine of a monthly reflection blog. I’ve got the photos to prove I did things!

So, I received the Barefoot investor blog and had my first date afternoon in a cafe with a pencil and paper to try and work out how to set up my bank accounts as per his bucket system. I am slowly working through the Barefoot Steps. It’s all fiddly work so I’m taking my time to think about it and work through it. I have now got the bank accounts working, and I like having separate accounts for essentials and treats. 

I dressed up Poodle-style for a Grease singalong movie night for the birthday of a friend from church. Borrowed this skirt from Jo, and felt perfectly appropriate. Note my super short haircut, the shortest I've gone yet. I figured shorter is better value.

A particular joy this Christmas was my next door neighbour decorating their TV antennae. A 20 foot flashing LED star out of my bedroom window.

And then work wound down. I finished the year on the Friday before Christmas, all the stress of finishing stuff ended with finishing stuff and leaving my desk all organised for 2017. Well done, past Jess. Thankful for that now.

On Friday night! I extended hospitality in a big way. I hosted a carols night! I thought of this the previous year, so I had plenty of time this year. We cleaned out the garage, decorated, borrowed the neighbour's BBQ, I printed song words and bought candles, and even had a couple of singing practices. It went really well. It was a very special night. I will extend the invitation a little further next year.

Holidays! There was 2 lazy weeks to fill at home. Beach. Sleep. Watch Netflix. Swim. etc. One nice variation was a day trip to Chatswood, with JK, meeting EL, and although the shopping was boring the food was good and the crowds were very quiet, and E gave me her slow cooker and a trolley she picked up off the street.

Christmas was the usual. Church. Pies and wedges and a few friends for lunch. Gifts.

The traditional visit from G for New Year was the next highlight! We tripped down to the newly reopened Bogey Hole pool for a swim. Wasn't super impressed, it's pretty but the water isn't very clean, it's weedy. G dived in with her glasses and they were lost. We searched for ages, with the help of other swimmers, but couldn't find them. The 6 of us then had a DELICIOUS lunch in Morpeth. I plan to go back there for my next flex treat.

We did the Maitland River fireworks this year. I was very proud of my planning. We had a quiet location with a good view and close to our car so minimal walking, and the fireworks started at 9, and we drove into my garage at 9:17. FIST PUMP

On New Year's Day we went back to the Bogey Hole with snorkles, and I found the glasses!

Then we went to Mereweather for a proper swim of laps. It was a perfect start to the year.