One More Sleep Until Christmas Eve!

"After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne of heaven with someone sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stopped saying:

'Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,

who was, and is, and is to come.'

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and worship Him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

'You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honour and power,

for You created all things,

and by Your will they were created

and have their being.' Revelation 4:1-11

'In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazateth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you whoa re highly favoured! The Lord is with you.'

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and youa re to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end." Luke 1:26-33

"Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of Me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' Isaiah 45:22-24

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death." Psalm 68:19-20

For thousands of years, God has been saying the same thing over and over again. He is faithful and He keeps His promises. Salvation is in Him alone and we do not need to fear. He has the power to save and to change our hearts - if we say, 'Yes, Lord'. Maybe you know the story, yet wonder why you continue with the same struggles you've had for so long ... maybe you just don't think God could accept someone like you - you're just too far gone.

Well, my friends, God loves you. God loves you - He loves you ... and you need not fear. Put your trust in the only One who is worthy of our honour and worship. Faith brings a relationship that is the most precious relationship any of us could every have ... faith in salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ - the only way, truth and life - brings peace and an eternal perspective that changes everything, if we take the time to let it.

May we all, truly see His glory this Christmas ...