Blessed Christmas!
The week before Christmas was anything but quiet on our end, because the weeks around Christmas bring opportunities!
- Prayer team after the church service
- 5x coaching/therapy sessions with missionaries
- Conversation with a homeless person about whether he is going to hell
- Returned empty bottles for a homeless person
- 6x meals given away (and paid for)
- 3x showers made possible (and paid for)
- 5x service at the station
- 3x podcasts developed
- Budget for 2026 prepared
- Christmas cards sent
- Preparation for year-end closing
- Movie night for families with Home Alone
- Sound job at a church
- Visit to the Christmas market with a low social target group
- Helping out that same target group
- Preparation for a new project (more news will follow later)
And then some more… in one week. And then, then it is Christmas!
“We” (generally speaking) celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Or do we… not really?
For many people, this season is actually heavy. Loneliness becomes more tangible, the absence of a loved one feels sharper. Not every family experiences it as “cozy.” At the same time, commerce is running at full speed: monthly incomes disappear into gifts and lavish meals.
We have become good at pretending. We put on a mask, or we withdraw. And yet… even when there is pain, emptiness, loss, or poverty, we can still celebrate a feast.
How and why?
Because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became human and came into this world. Not just for any reason, but to give us hope. Hope for a future with Him. Hope for a real relationship with God the Father.
In this dark period of the year (here in Europe at least), we light lights. A candle for the atmosphere. A floor lamp against the dark corners. Christmas lights, a star in the window.
Have you ever thought about the nature of light? Light drives out darkness. But the reverse is not possible. Darkness cannot drive out light. The only way darkness exists is through the absence of light. Interesting, isn’t it?
The Bible says the following about this:
God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness. (John 12:46)
The darkness has not overcome the light. The light shines precisely in the darkness and drives it away. The world may feel dark, but there is a light that shines.
And that light is Jesus Christ. Wow. So beautiful. So wonderful.
We do not have to remain in darkness, but may follow Jesus, the Light, and be with Him. That is something to celebrate.
Once again: Blessed Christmas! ✨
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