Neil's blog

Tree’s down, lights out, nativity scenes & decorations set to hibernate in their box beds for another year. It all looks so bare after the brightness of Christmas! But, looking out at God’s Creation reminds me that there is so much beauty around us which continues to point us to an awesome Creator God, who continues to daily show His love to us in the love of family, friend, colleague, brother & sister (see attached photo).

Having said that, there are numerous people for whom the wintry weather has meant a painful slip, fall & damage to both pride & person. And the forecasters tell us that the cold snap is to continue (more like an ice age). Are there people we know, who’ve not ventured out for shopping & provisions, or would appreciate our company to break their long internment? Let’s look out for our neighbours! There are so many lonely people.

Let’s prove the presence of Jesus in our neighbourhoods! As Paul puts it,

“Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.” Philippians 2:14-16 (The Message)

Happy New Year!