It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening,

I read the 92nd psalm on the first day of this New Year. I was wondering what little changes or adjustments I could (or should!) be making to my routine. I’m not a big fan of New Year Resolutions as when I inevitably falter, I feel a bit like a failure. So small changes, with no penalty for missed days, works in a better way for me.

So in the morning I have been reminding myself of the unfailing love of the Lord. I also often speak the truth out loud as a declaration ‘The Lord loves me with an unfailing love.’

And in a similar way, in the evening I remind myself of the faithfulness of the Lord. I may even reflect on how I saw His faithfulness during that day.

He submitted himself to dwell in the womb of an unmarried teenage girl from nowhere special. The song The servant King contains the line

‘Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrendered’

But even before that, Jesus submitted to be in flesh that he both designed and created, the very dust that He breathed into life.

He came, to ordinariness, not a special, royal crib but a feeding trough. He was not born into luxury - which would still have been ‘less than’ He was used to or deserved, but He was born among God’s chosen family - the Jews.

John 1:10-12 says

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

This is why He came, to allow us to become children of God!! What a privilege for us and what an incredible price He paid for our salvation. Thank you Jesus, that you came to the ordinary, that we who believe may have extraordinary privilege.

But what if there was a wrapped present left sitting under the tree? It would have been chosen and purchased to bless the recipient. But this gift has been overlooked; it remains unopened and therefore unused. Aww, it’s a little sad if that happens!

But what if there are gifts that God has for us that remain overlooked, unopened, and unused? God knows us, in fact He knows us very well. He is kind, He is love, and He knows what we need. Matthew 7:11 says,

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

I believe His gifts for all believers include:

• Jesus Himself as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:15)

• salvation (Ephesians 2:8),

• adoption into His family (Ephesians 1:6),

• the Holy Spirit,

• the armour of God (Ephesians 6:10–18), and

• spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12 & 14).

These are beautiful and amazing gifts for all believers. However, I believe that there are also more personal gifts that God gives to us, for example:

• specific answers to our prayers,

• healing,

• peace in storms, etc.

I really don’t want to arrive in heaven at the end of my days and see gifts that I needed—and that God had provided for me—left abandoned and unclaimed because I didn’t ask! Living a life surrendered to Jesus in our world is not easy, and if there are gifts that could help me, then I will ask for His help and His supply.

As we give and receive gifts this Christmas, please remember the wondrous gifts purchased for us by the sacrifice of Jesus.

And finally, Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

‘O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant’

But I believe the message of ‘O come, let us adore Him’ also rings out this Christmas to the ‘wish-I-was-more faithful’, to the one who skipped a few times with God this week and dozed off during prayer. This call to adoration also rings out to the not-so-joyful ones, those for whom 2025 has been the most awful year imaginable, those who mourn significant loss, those in need of comfort.

And finally the offer to join in adoration of the baby, born to be our Saviour, also goes out to those who feel less than triumphant, who don’t feel like their life is glorious in victory but a series of hard slogs.

This is you, this is me, this is us!

As the season of advent begins today my prayer is, no matter how you are feeling, that you may join with me in adoration of the Lord. This is not just for the faithful, joyful and triumphant but it is for each of us.

May our advent 2025 be marked by the words

‘O come, let us adore Him!’

But the one thing I want for him more than anything else, is absent. He has turned away from  his childhood faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord. 

I am sure he still remembers the truth of Jesus that he heard in Sunday School, church, Boys Brigade and in school. He must remember how I was ill for over a decade and now, he has seen the undeniable miracle of my healing. 

The Lord has heard my many earnest prayers for my boy (ok,  he’s a man now but he will always be ‘my boy’). 

I read the parable of the ‘prodigal’ son with yearning, marvelling again at the faithful, extravagant love of the father.

🙏🏻I pray,

Lord, would you give me patience as i wait in faith for you to answer my prayers for my boy. Would you help him see beyond the glitz of the world and perceive the truth of your redeeming love.

Lord cleanse from me every hint of the resentful older brother, that I may fully rejoice with heaven when my son returns to You’.🙏🏻

I have an idea to put together a little bag of treasures as a wee gift for her. Each little ‘treasure’ would be a simple charm or bead but it would relate to a bible verse about her future or how much she is loved/valued.

My first idea is a little pearl bead with the verse

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”(Matthew 13:45–46)

and a message that she is very precious to me.

I have found a small magnetic compass on Vinted and thought I could use the verse

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6)

with a message from me that she can trust her future to God and always come to me advice/discussion.

Another idea was to crochet a cute little flower like a daisy with the verse

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers …he will certainly care for you.” (Matthew 6:30)

And for me to let her know just how much I love and care for her.

What other wee things could I add?