It's that crazy-busy time of the year again. It’s that time of the year again, when Christmas is upon us, and many of us take time out, but life still somehow becomes crazy—busy with festivities and family and friends, and queues and gifts and logistics. It seems to be a time when we often lose [...]
God grants us new opportunities each day God grants us the opportunity of a new beginning each day—and annually we have the opportunity of starting a brand new year which can have a profound effect on how we approach the future. New year’s resolutions are usually enthusiastically decided upon giving us a fresh chance to [...]
The New Year is upon us and, although you can start following a reading plan at any time of the year, now is an excellent time to start! The big decision, though, is which plan? And how much time will it take? For some of us, reading the whole Bible in a year is a [...]
At this time of year, I always look back over the previous year, with the intention of looking forward to the new year ahead, and planning for the areas of achievement I have in mind. What worked? What didn't work? And where do I want to focus my efforts and my energies? There are times [...]
This time of year reminds us of a familiar story. An innocent soul. She has never been with a man. About to be married to a good man. God interrupts her plans. The angel tells her she will conceive of the Holy Spirit and have a son who will become the saviour of the world. [...]
One of the phrases often heard in the Christmas holidays by Christians and non-Christians alike is ‘The spirit of Christmas.’ Many are mistaken about what the real spirit of Christmas is and I trust this will remind us again of what that really looks like. The spirit of Christmas is not something you 'catch' in [...]
It’s December, and it may be a difficult time for some of us who have lost loved ones, are lonely or get disheartened over the festive season. One person told me that every Christmas day she becomes depressed, as since childhood, Christmas has never lived up to her expectations. What is Christmas, really? I have [...]
Sometimes, in the frantic rush to get everything done, the peace of the season seems to elude us. Below is a list of potential things that happen at this time of year which may contribute to increased stress during the December period. See if any of these ring a bell! Shopping for gifts Getting to [...]
Christmas is a time for family, holidays, relaxation and fun – it’s not the time to be worrying about what you eat, how you feel or the state of your health. Can you still have a wonderful time and remain relatively healthy? I think so. In the process, though you don’t want to spoil the [...]
Christmas is a joyous season for most of us. It's a season of joy; a time to enjoy family and friends; a time to be happy. But what if it’s also a season to grieve? What if you're in a season of grief this Christmas? Grief comes to all of us. Grief is an intense [...]
