Christmas comes but once a year
...and when it comes it brings...what? Dave Palmer investigates...

Do you really look forward to Christmas? Is it going to be undiluted "good cheer" for you again this year? For some of us it can be a really difficult time: for those who are alone, or thrown together with family members we find hard to get along with, squabbling over-excited kids, too much booze, too much food, too much telly – and nowhere to escape to!

Or am I being cynical? Didn't it used to be more fun when we were kids? The one thing I remember about those Christmases was studying with saucer eyes the presents round the tree to see who had the biggest parcel: after seemingly forever waiting for the Day to come and countless requests to Santa, at last the fun would begin: ripping off the carefully prepared wrapping paper to reveal all kinds of toys and games – a battery powered helicopter, a board game, "Lone Ranger" outfit (that dates me!), a fort…

And it was always great fun at first, but after a day or two when the batteries ran out or things got lost or broken the excitement soon drained away and life went back to normal! The presents, however good, never kept us in that thrill of "excitement" we had when we first opened them.

I don't get quite so excited about Christmas presents now. Can you remember what you got last year? Or gave to your dearest?

One day I discovered there are some gifts you can receive which you will never ever want to be without. It's all to do with the real message of Christmas we so easily miss.

It's easy to think of the Virgin Birth as just another Christmas story: but it is much more: it shows just how close God wants to get to you. In fact he's asking you the same question He asked Mary: "Are you willing to let me move in?" God wants to give Himself to us – to come and live in our hearts and bring other free gifts with Himself:

How about these?

The Gift of Forgiveness – to have a clean slate and know that whatever you have done wrong in the past can be completely wiped clean, the strength to forgive others and deal with our bitterness because of what others have done to us, setting ourselves free from the past.

The Gift of Peace - whatever turmoil is going on around you: cancer scares, financial uncertainty, family breakdown, you can be controlled by an inner peace and security which God gives us

The Gift of Hope - a third gift is hope: something to live for, new purpose, new strength and a new identity which makes us look forward to the future not with dread but great expectations.

Aren't those 3 gifts worth having? Money can't buy them, but God wants to give them to you this Christmas for free! That's why he sent Jesus, his as a special gift just for you. Make this the best Christmas ever: receive Him, the greatest gift and you will get all the others too. I did – I promise you'll find it a life changing Christmas of "great cheer" and like me with true gifts, which will never get broken or lost. Try Him!

Dave

PRAYER FOR NEW LIFE

To begin a new life with Jesus, please pray this prayer:-

Lord Jesus, you said you wouldn't turn away anyone who came to you.

Jesus, I come to you now. Forgive me for having shut you out. I want to stop living life my way and start living it your way.

I believe you are the Son of God. I believe you died for me and that your blood pays for my sins and provides me with the gift of eternal life.

I believe your promise, Jesus. I receive that gift and I acknowledge you as my Lord and Saviour.

Amen.

If you've prayed the prayer and aren't sure what to do next, phone us on 01822 612100, or contact a church near you - try the Yellow Pages.