Shalom All,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord.
Tomorrow is Christmas Day. What a day of Joy for all of us! So Jenny and I would like to wish you all of you "Khag Molad Samekh and Shana Tova" in Hebrew...meaning "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year". Here also is a simple poem for all of you....
My reflections for this Christmas for all of us....First and foremost, we must continue to thank with joy our God for sending His Son, just like the shepherds of old were recorded to have been filled with joy in Luke 2 v 20: "The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them". And now, may I pray for each one of you, as I pray for myself, four very important gifts of Christmas from our Lord:
Greetings in the Name of our Lord.
Tomorrow is Christmas Day. What a day of Joy for all of us! So Jenny and I would like to wish you all of you "Khag Molad Samekh and Shana Tova" in Hebrew...meaning "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year". Here also is a simple poem for all of you....
Two thousand years ago the King of Kings was born.
'The Lamb of God' later made to feel the thorn,
If his words are accepted and not scorned,
They will make us all reborn.
Though God's grace, Joseph and Mary presented
A gift to the world that day, which we can all repay,
by living the ten commandments each and every day.
Try to remember and keep in your heart and mind
Jesus's gospel while here on Earth,
Redemption not a life lived in constant mirth.
Peace on Earth, good will toward man
Everyone should try it, whenever they can.
The Lord gave us the option and choice of 'free will,'
Now it's up to us to fit the bill.
So when you’re Christmas shopping for family and friends,
and money is tight at both ends,
Remember that the greatest gift of all,
Is your love of Jesus in the manger stall.
'The Lamb of God' later made to feel the thorn,
If his words are accepted and not scorned,
They will make us all reborn.
Though God's grace, Joseph and Mary presented
A gift to the world that day, which we can all repay,
by living the ten commandments each and every day.
Try to remember and keep in your heart and mind
Jesus's gospel while here on Earth,
Redemption not a life lived in constant mirth.
Peace on Earth, good will toward man
Everyone should try it, whenever they can.
The Lord gave us the option and choice of 'free will,'
Now it's up to us to fit the bill.
So when you’re Christmas shopping for family and friends,
and money is tight at both ends,
Remember that the greatest gift of all,
Is your love of Jesus in the manger stall.
My reflections for this Christmas for all of us....First and foremost, we must continue to thank with joy our God for sending His Son, just like the shepherds of old were recorded to have been filled with joy in Luke 2 v 20: "The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them". And now, may I pray for each one of you, as I pray for myself, four very important gifts of Christmas from our Lord:
The first gift is “The Gift of a Renewed Life”, in 2 Corinthians 5 v 17 “this means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun”.
The second gift is “The Gift of Service”. From Isaiah 6 v 8 - ''Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
The third gift is “The Gift of Worship”. May our heart be filled with joy always as we seek to worship our Lord! just as in Mathew 2 v 11 "They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him”.
The fourth and the last gift are... “Thanksgiving Gifts and Offerings” from our heart, for the abundant life we have received from Him...may we imitate what the wise men have brought to Jesus’ appropriate gifts” as in in Matthew 2 v11: “Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh”.
On the November 16th, 2008, Jenny and I went to a Tha Yang church in the Province of Petchaburi (two hours away from Bangkok towards the south of Thailand) together with Pastor Prasit, who was preaching that Sunday service....Jenny and I spent time with the children there and helped them watch a Thai Christian Cartoon movie.
On the November 22nd, 2008, I attended a Filippino speaking church service, this service was held on Saturday as on Sunday, the pastor would have to conduct services in Thai. The Fillipino church workers are doing missionary work in Thailand. I was invited to share a short message to the congregation. Praise the Lord for opening doors!
On November 29th, 2008, Jenny and I went to Bang-Pa In and we had a meaningful time fellowshipping with the Full Gospel church leaders. In the evening, we went to a market to distribute Christian leaflets to the local people. The following day, that is Sunday, I preached for almost 2 hours on the topic “The Return of Israel”. Two Myanmar brothers came to me after the service to tell me they believe that they are from the Tribes of Benjamin. God loves His people and has said "Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel”. So God renamed him Israel. Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai - “God Almighty”. Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you” - Genesis 35 v 10 - 12.
May the Lord bring you joy and peace throughout this Season and the coming Year 2009 and may His light wash away all the shadows of your life.
God Bless!
Blessing,
Pastor Steve Peter H S Kok
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