Readiness

Hi friends.

It has been a huge year - We are pleased to announce the arrival of Jude Jeffery  to us on Nov 16th. Thankyou for your prayers. There were some initial complications but God is faithful and we are on the other side and thoroughly enjoying him! 

This year has been an interesting one as we have sensed God preparing us for something new. Daniel has had some great opportunities to develop his video and multimedia skills with some projects for One Community, which he is loving. Jess has completed her extra study with Stirling college (Churches of Christ college) and will look to be endorsed for ministry early next year.
We are excited  to see what the New Year brings for us a family and for Insideout. We continue to seek God's guidance and opportunities  as we move forward with this ministry. We will be looking to start playing and touring again in 2013. Let us know if there are any events or ministry opportunities that you would like to have us involved in. We would love to talk further.

In the mean time:  Here are some Christmas thoughts from Jess.

 Readiness 

I didn't believe them!   I didn't believe them when they said how wonderful it would be. I believed them when they said with a knowing laugh ' oh life will never be the same' or 'enjoy your sleep while you can'. I believed those Mum's when they said, 'no-one ever told me how hard it would be' , but I didn't believe the ones  that said .. 'It's the best thing you'll ever do'. Who knew there could be such joy in this life changing event.

It was as I sat awake at 3am in hospital 2 days after giving birth, being sooo grateful just for a second cuddle with my baby boy who had been taken to another hospital, that I got to thinking about the Christmas story - particularly Mary. And the idea of readiness came to mind.

I never thought ever that I would be ready to be a mum … ever! In fact I'm still not convinced that I am ready- lol. Here I was a 32 Year old wondering how on earth she would ever get used to this new little addition to life even after 9 months of preparation…. And then here was Mary: A 16 year old girl having this immense life change thrust upon her.. A beautiful, innocent 16 year old girl - Having her world turned upside down by the invitation of God. 

The Birth of Jesus Foretold - Luke 1: 26-38

 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Readiness  - I don't know that Mary was all that ready to receive this gift, and yet her response was total obedience.. blessed acceptance and obedience - 'May it be according to your word'.  Me, on the other hand - even though we were intentionally trying, I still cried when I found out I was pregnant. But man oh man what a wonderful, life changing gift!! But was I ready?? I didn't think so. Am I any readier now? Probably not. :) 

But this is not just about having babies. Mary's readiness and willingness to say yes to God represents so much more !!! It represents to us a readiness to say Yes to the things of God, a readiness to receive the King of Kings into our worlds. A readiness to have our worlds transformed - turned upside down in a beautiful , incredible, life changing way - How ready are u this Christmas? Where in your life do you need to be ready to receive the King of Kings and all he wants to do in your heart? For me saying yes to having a baby was an act of obedience, as it was for Mary, but for Mary it was not just having a baby.. But making a way for the saviour of the world. What an incredible responsibility and gift. But what about you- what is it this Christmas that God calling you to be obedient to? Is it a call to greater devotion, or a commitment to spiritual disciplines? Is it a call to respond to the needs of a hurting world? Is it a call to step out and do something risky for the sake of the Kingdom or to follow a dream God has place on your heart? Is it maybe to say Yes to getting to know God personally for the first time?

Readiness

This Christmas - are you ready to make way for the King of Kings  to come into your life and potentially turn everything upside down. I can assure you It will be the best thing you'll ever do.