A welcome from Pastor Colin Bond

e wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and at this time of financial difficulty may our God bless you with prosperity.

So many of us are sitting on a gold mine yet have lost the wealth that's there for us. Programmes like 'Cash in the attic' are popular because they stir up dreams of sudden wealth. Then there are so many temptations to get rich quick by 'Who wants to be a Millionaire?' or for us to try the lottery.

The Bible says that God has given us all things "richly to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6.17). To those that have "received Jesus" He has made them God's children, their Father is the King of kings and they are royal children of His royal family and He wants them to be rich! What king wants his children to live in poverty? Or living in depression because their finances won't stretch? Or living in fear of what the future may hold?

We have all been deceived into believing a lie, or not believing what God says for us. He has wonderful gifts for us, material ones as well as spiritual and social but we have been persuaded to expect problems and pressures rather than priceless gifts. Jesus said "…all these things will be added to you!" Matt.6.33. Then again He says, "…your gifts will return multiplied, flooding over!" (Luke 6.38). Paul, the Apostle, discovered these truths and wrote, 'my God will supply all your need from His riches' Phil. 4.19.

s we celebrate another Christmas we celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus as a Babe into our world. The Bible says that He became poor that we may become rich! (2 Cor 8.9.) As I work some months a year in Third World situations, I am so challenged by lovely people living in painful poverty when their heavenly Father is so rich and wants to share it with them. Their history of pain and poverty speaks so loudly that they cannot hear the promises of God.

Now I don't profess to be living in the total wealth of what I say but it is an exciting path to follow and I am learning! Sure, I agree there are more important things in life than wealth but God offers those too! There's peace, love and happy relationships, there's health and hope, family and faith, forgiveness and a clear conscience. But wealth is included too! May God bless you with the wealthiest Christmas ever. Don't lose this gift.

Colin