Carol Purves

As I now don’t climb mountains I love the text in the Bible which refer to us climbing to great heights.

‘The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.’ Habakkak 3:19

Some days I fall down on some of the fruits of the spirit and other days I fall down on the other fruits of the spirit. And yet other days I fall down on all of them. Oh dear.

‘But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.’ Galatians 5:22

‘Yet with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long;

Beneath the angel-strain have rolled two thousand years of wrong;

And men, at war with men, hear not the words of peace they bring;

Oh, listen now you men of strife, and hear the angels sing.

‘For unto us a child is born. To us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.’ Isaiah 9:6-7

‘Like silver lamps in the distant shrine the stars are sparkling bright,

The bells of the city of God, for the Son of Mary was born tonight

The gloom is past and the morn at last is coming with Orient light.

C. Steggall

‘Good people all, both great and small, the which do hear my voice,

With one accord let’s praise the Lord and in our hearts rejoice:

In love abound to all around, while we our life-time spend:

While we have space, let’s pray for grace; so let my carol end.

Traditional Carol

‘Oh may we keep and ponder in our mind,

God’s wondrous gift in saving lost mankind;

Trace we the Babe who has redeemed our loss,

from His poor manger to the bitter cross;

Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,

till man’s first heavenly state takes place.’

Even when I don’t believe in myself, God believes in me.

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. We have both and everything else in between. The great thing is that God is with us through it all.

‘I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

I like the way the Bible encourages us to give thanks, not just have requests.

‘In every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God.’ Philippians 4:6

EVERY situation can be covered by prayer along with petition. We mustn’t forget the ‘thanksgiving.’