Building Bridges.....

I AM The Good Shepherd Silent night, Holy night All is calm, all is bright. Mary was pretty young, perhaps as young as 12-13 years old. No experience. Mary and Josef was not in a sterile hospital with a number of nurses around. King Herod was ruling the country at this time and he let his brutal soldiers kill every little boy child up to two years old they could find. The soldiers big needle-sharp swords chop the little babies to pieces. It was a horrible time and it was in the midst of this God became flesh. It was not silent, it was not in peace. In the fields around, shepherds were watching over their flocks, day and night. Same kind of routine, leading their sheep, keeping them safe, watching over them, continuing to count. Run after a sheep that was lost. I read somewere that shepherds were not treated with all the dignity and respect many other professions had. In fact, it was above the lowest common denominator in the ancient world. Some said about shepherds, "you hope your...

I love the Christmas lights.   Every year my family and I have a tradition of putting up Christmas lights.  Have you ever asked yourself why we do all this work, to put all these lights up for Christmas? When did it start? What is the purpose of it?  I know it looks nice, but is that the only reason? Is it just to spread some Christmas cheer? Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth, is all about the lights.  Jesus, the eternal Son of God, creator of the universe, stepped out of Heaven and became God incarnate (God in flesh).  Why did he come? According to John, Jesus came to bring light. He came to shine in the darkness. A light so strong that darkness can never overcome it.  Jesus is the light of the world.  John 8:12    Jesus spoke to them again._ ‘I am the light of the world,’ he said. ‘People who follow me won’t go around in the dark; they’ll have the light of life!’ As one theologian puts it: “Christmas is God lighting a candle; and y...

Celebrating Advent involves spending time in spiritual preparation for the coming birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas.   The word advent comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "arrival" or "coming," particularly the coming of something of great importance.   No one is really sure when Advent was first celebrated but it dates back to at least 567 when monks were ordered to fast during December leading up to Christmas.   Not all denominations celebrate Advent, however, more and more Protestant and Evangelical Christians are recognising the spiritual significance of Advent. Advent is NOT:   * Shopping * Parties * Stressing   Advent is:   * Waiting * Preparing * Expecting * Praying * Hoping   for the arrival of Christ.   During Advent, people are using special advent calendars. There are many types of calendars used in different countries. The most common ones in the UK and USA or here in Sweden are made of paper or card with 24 o...

We are living in uncertain times. Some countries are opening up their borders now, lifting lock-downs but still people are suffering from the coronavirus. God is sovereign and he controls the universe. He is certainly in charge of all the things that are going on. Some say that this pandemic might be an alarm call over our beliefs and behaviour, our attitudes and actions. I'm not sure though, but we have to believe that God can give wisdom to scientists to find the vaccine, or to just totally eradicate the coronavirus. Many of us are worried about the virus and what it does to us and our society. Corrie ten Boom said : Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength. How true that is! Worring ruins our hope and joy for today. Worry is like a thief. It comes in to your life to steal your joy, hope and faith. Worring comes in at night, when you are alone, just like a thief, hiding in the darkness. Jesus says in John 10:9-10: 9 I am the g...

Lord Jesus I come to You because when I look at the hard times that we are facing – my heart seems to fail as I don’t know which way to turn – except to You. Thank You that You have always been there for me and thank You for the promises that you will always be there for me._ _Keep me from fear of what tomorrow may bring, knowing that I do not need to be afraid or fearful, because You have promised to supply all my needs according to Your riches in mercy._ _Thank You for this lovely truth and for the many promises that You have given to all Your children. May my heart rest in You Lord and keep me from fear in these difficult times, in Jesus name I pray,_ _Amen_ We are all going through difficult times at the moment. Our life situation has very quickly and dramatically changed. People are getting sick, many people around the world have died. The virus has swept the planet. It is easy at times like this, to get afraid, start worrying, even become angry. Angry at people aro...