“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel” (which means “God with us”).” Matthew 1:23

And that’s what Christmas is all about. Celebrating “God with us!”

This Christmas let us draw very, very near to Our Saviour entrusting to Him our hopes and dreams.  Let us pray that many people who have yet to love Jesus will open their hearts to Him, finding serenity in His infinite love and compassion.

There are so many problems in our world but let us be comforted by the fact that Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour, is with us. Just BELIEVE!

Faith is the starting point in our spiritual journey with God. It is a journey that promises to open doors that may seem for us in our ordinary, simple existence impossible.

Remember Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

If you don’t yet believe in Jesus, the Living God, then begin by praying for the gift of faith. Open the door to your heart and invite Jesus in so that God can be with you and your family.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3: 23-24

Jesus is waiting to be invited in and He is ready to forgive all who are humble and contrite.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Let us approach Jesus with the sacrifice He will not despise.

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

Recall over 2,000 years ago, Mary and Joseph could not find a room to give birth to Jesus. Jesus, The Prince of Peace, was born in a place where the animals were being kept.

Do you have room in your heart for Jesus?  Is your heart a place God can call home?

Recall the Angels of God did not announce the arrival of God’s Only Son Jesus to the ‘important dignitaries’ but instead revealed the miracle to the humble shepherds watching their flock.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2: 10-14

If there is one thing that I have learned over the course of the last seventeen years it is that when you invite Jesus into your life He changes your heart – slowly but surely.

God promised long before the arrival of Jesus that He would give us a ‘new heart’ and a ‘new spirit’.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

This promise begins to be fulfilled as we are Baptized into the love of Jesus Christ. At Baptism we receive the Holy Spirit of Jesus and we are redeemed by His Holy Blood. This promise of a ‘new heart’ and ‘new spirit’ continues to be fulfilled in our life as we strive to do God’s Will and we enter into a relationship with Our Lord Jesus that is more and more intimate. In this sacred intimacy we continue through the power of the Holy Spirit to become more and more united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Holy Heart of God that never stops loving, never stops forgiving and never stops trying to bring souls to redemption.

JESUS IS THE TRUE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS!

REJOICE IN GOD’S GREAT LOVE FOR YOU! HE GAVE YOU HIS ONLY SON JESUS!

When we let Jesus into our life He fills us with peace, joy and hope that we would not otherwise have. Jesus gives us the strength to deal with the challenges of today.  With Jesus we know we are not alone!

This peace Jesus gives us is not a peace that erases all the problems in our lives, but it is a peace of knowing that ‘God is with us’ to help us to carry our cross as He strengthens and consoles us.

Jesus is our Divine Teacher who helps us to learn about His Holy Way. The ‘new heart’ that God promises us will keep growing as we keep learning how to be a little more like Him.

Our world is suffering and in need of Our Lord to bring healing. Jesus continues to wait for people to embrace Him as Lord, Teacher, Comforter, Redeemer.

“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

Jesus comes to save us, to teach us, to guide us one day at a time, if we are open to allowing Him to come near, very, very near.  Pray for the Holy Spirit of Jesus to continue to transform your heart and your life.  Pray that Jesus shows you how to fulfill the dreams He has for you.

This Christmas find some time to be very quiet. Maybe that time will be when the children are nestled all snug in their beds. Embrace the gentle rhythm of silence in the quiet of the night and let Jesus embrace you.

“Be still, and know that I am God…”   Psalm 46:10

Let us pray: “I love You Lord! I give You my life. Help me to honour You!”

Open your heart to Jesus and listen carefully and you will hear Jesus say:

You are Mine!

You are My Beloved!

As we approach the New Year, remember none of us can become the people God wants us to be until we allow Jesus to be with us in each and every moment.

Please join Christians all over the world that are stopping (if but for a few moments) @ the Time Jesus died for us, 3pm (in our local time zones) to remember the Passion of Christ and thank Jesus for dying to save us.   You will discover that a daily remembrance of the Passion of Christ will penetrate your heart with a deep and tender love for Jesus!

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Pray at the Hour of Mercy – The Time Jesus died for us (3pm) that all souls may come to make room for Jesus in their life. Learn more about The Mercy Movement here.

Merry Christmas and may Our Holy Lord bless you and your loved ones today and always!