Semi-retired

Well, here it is, the last day of November for 2010 and I feel the need to write.

I have been unemployed now for just over a week and, already, I feel the need to go back to work for a rest! It's OK, I'm not really going to do it, but I am planning to study in the early part of 2011. (How easily that rolls off the tongue - 2011)
As I have written previously, I believe that God has great plans for my future and I have prayed believing that He would reveal them to me.

I am going to enrol in a course for teaching English to speakers of other languages. That will probably take up the first half of the year and then I will find out for sure, just where God wants me. I still feel strongly, that it will be Ho Chi Minh city. If you happen to wander on to this blog, maybe you can pray for that part of God's plan to be made definite for me.

Now to what is happening in my life at the moment. I am responsible to my Church Council for the Ministry of Children and Youth, I'm teaching Sunday School, running an after school club once a fortnight, on the Church Carer team and lead Worship Services occasionally. Fortunately, no one cares if my housework doesn't get done on time.

As we approach the time of the year when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I think of the billions of dollars that will be spent on presents for young and old and I lament. Oh Lord, how many lives could be saved by even half of that money? How many families could be fed, clothed and housed? Lord, I just pray that in the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, people will stop and think of how He, for Whom this holiday is remembered, would celebrate it. He, who healed the sick, fed the hungry and raised the dead but who also cleared the temple of those who used it for the wrong purpose: how would He celebrate this season?? Would He be up early on Christmas Day, looking under the Christmas tree for some expensive gifts? I think not.

What about you? Will you take the time and make the effort, to show the love of Christ to those who do not know it? Will you sacrifice a little of your time and money to make someone else's Christmas special? Will you show others, Christ through your actions? I pray for our Lord to help me to do just that!

No matter how you spend Christmas, I pray that Our Heavenly Father will truly bless you as you praise Him and give Him the glory for the great things that He has done.
Have a happy and safe Christmas.