"It's the most wonderful time of the year."

This morning, as I stood at the bus stop, waiting for the bus to work, I realised I was excited. I could feel the coolness of the morning, a familiar indicator of the end of the year in our clime - sometimes accompanied by lengthy, heavy rain. And there had been a line from an old song running in my head the last 2 days, "It's the most wonderful time of the year." 

I had thought about cookies, about making gifts for people as part of my farewell to them when this year closes. 

But I needed to remind myself, Christmas is more than that.

(The following is an excerpt from the November/ December 2016 edition of Barnabas Aid.)

Christmas is God coming to sinful humankind to establish with us a covenant of peace, enabling us to have a right relationship with Him. God's peace transmitted through a Messiah, the Prince of Peace, whose authority will grow continually until there is endless peace and His Kingdom is established with justice and righteousness.

Not only has this Prince of Peace brought salvation, healing and wholeness, but also He has brought victory over Satan and all the evils of this dark and sinful world. Because of this we can live in the peace of God, knowing that by it we are not only saved from sin and made whole in our being, but also will triumph over Satan. So, whether the outward events of our lives are peaceful or rough, our souls continue to rest in the wellbeing of shalom.