\u201c<\/i>The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world\u2026The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.<\/i>\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
John 1: 9 and 14a<\/p>\n
Christmas is almost here. There is so much celebrating this time of year; people decorate their homes, the songs on the radio change, gifts are wrapped and special desserts are made. But why? What are we celebrating?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s right, Jesus. And do you remember his other name? Immanuel. Which means God with us.<\/p>\n
This is why we celebrate.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZrpOJ3ujEBQ&index=11&list=PL752C533FD58E78CF<\/p>\n
When we say that God is with us, we mean that He is with us, right now, right this second. He is in you and beside you, He is in front of you, near and far. He is everywhere.\u00a0 Read Psalm 139:7-12<\/a>.<\/p>\n Well, I think that is certainly something worth celebrating. And, think about who God is? He is stronger than the strong, bigger than the big. Knowing and remembering that He is beside us and that He is everywhere, helps us to not be afraid. Isaiah 41:10<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jesus came to earth and said: \u201cI am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life\u201d. What does that mean?<\/p>\n Remember that God created physical light, so that our eyes could see, but Jesus is a different kind of light. His light isn\u2019t for our eyes, it\u2019s for our hearts. His light is truth, it is what helps us see right from wrong, it\u2019s what helps us find a good solution to a problem, it\u2019s a light that shows us the best way to go. Remember the example of trying to find our friends\u2019 house using a fake map? Would we be able to find it? No, of course not. Lies and sins are like that fake map, they do not help us, they make things unclear, just like darkness. But the truth makes things clear, the truth is helpful, just like light.<\/p>\n Can you spread Jesus\u2019 light? When you\u2019re at the store or the playground, what could you do? How about when you\u2019re at home? Or with your friends?<\/p>\n Stop and look around. Can you see others spreading light? What are they doing?<\/p>\n As a family decide on what you would like to do to spread some light in your neighbourhood. Maybe it\u2019s volunteer at Siloam Mission, maybe it\u2019s bake cookies for the nursing home down the street. Maybe it\u2019s leaving a note for the mailman or shovelling the neighbours driveway. It doesn\u2019t matter what you choose, what\u2019s important is that you act. Choose to act, choose to spread the light, because remember that God is with you wherever you go.<\/p>\nThis week\u2019s challenge<\/h4>\n