Not long ago I picked up a brochure from one of the banks here in town (ASB).

What I read in the pamphlet reminded me of a verse in the Bible, in the Old Testament.

The information in the booklet is all about training children to save money and the Headstart account is advertised.

The emphasis in the brochure is on two things. First of all to train children to save money from an early age and secondly to train them to save money regularly.

I really like that!

Readers who know their Bible will know by now that the verse in the Old Testament I am reminded of is Proverbs 22:6:

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Readers are invited to submit photos depicting the Far North’s special qualities. Send to editor@northlandage.co.nz or PO Box 45, Kaitaia.

I submitted this photo:

“Hold the chips: Mangonui’s famous fish and chip shop seems to be the place to go when one can’t be bothered diving for one’s lunch.” (The Northland Age, Thursday, November 15, 2012)

The rain made me look for shelter.

When I found shelter, I stopped walking, stood still and looked around. And then I saw the message written at the top of the building on the other side of  Commerce Street:

“Town & Country Food coming here soon! BAKERY – CAFE – ROASTS – WRAPS & MORE.”

It is so easy to miss things by just walking on the street!

While I was standing there under my shelter in front of the pharmacy I was reminded of my reading of the Bible, the word of God.

It is so easy to miss the message the Lord has for us by just reading.

We must stand still and look up.

If we do not do it the Lord is very likely to send us adverse circumstances to get our attention. He loves us! 

Remember the rain that made me stand still and look around to see things! 

PLease let me know!

“FAMILY IS LIFE’S GREATEST GIFT.”

Look into one of the shop windows here in Kaitaia at the present time, and you can see those words neatly framed.

I cannot agree with what I am reading there.

But I agree with what Alban Douglas says. He says that CHRIST is the greatest gift.

“Next to the gift of Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Bible is the third greatest gift.” (ONE HUNDRED BIBLE LESSONS by Alban Douglas, page 88)

The Lord Jesus Christ did a work for us. He was sent of God to do so.

In the Gospel of John we read 43 times that he was ‘sent’. In John’s Gospel we find also the purpose  why he was sent. Read John 20:31. There it says,

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

As the Messiah he has-

1.  He died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)

2.  He was raised from the dead for us. (Romans 6:9)

3.  The Lord Jesus Christ lives in us. (Galatians 2:20)

4.  He has redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:13)

5.  He brings us near to God. (Ephesians 2:13)

6.  The Lord Jesus Christ strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)

7.  The Lord is the object for our concentration in life. (Philippians 4:13)

But of course, people who have accepted the greatest gift, the Lord Jesus Christ, have the greatest life, and that includes the FAMILY.

Roger Miller says, “SOME PEOPLE WALK IN THE RAIN, OTHERS JUST GET WET.”

I belong to those people who just get wet.

That’s why I was so surprised to read what a lady writes about the perfect rainy days for walking in Germany, my home country.

She loves the rain!

She loves the sound of the rain, the feel of the rain drops on the skin and the beauty of the rain drops, when they are hanging trembling from the top of leaves and resist to fall to the earth.

Even after reading that I still belong to the ‘others’ who just get wet!! Going out here today probably means getting wet. The weather looks like that. 

What is the meaning of Christmas?

This is what I remember:

Years ago we used to work as missionaries in Kaikohe / NZ (United Maori Mission). One year during the Christmas season we arrived in Whangarei for our lunch break on our way from Whangaparaoa to Kaikohe. That’s when I asked a young man, “What is Christmas all about? What is the meaning of Christmas?” The answer was, “FAMILY, CELEBRATING WITH FAMILY.”

Not long ago I picked up some old Reader’s Digests. In the December 2006 Reader’s Digest I find the RD Christmas Poll and read the following, “‘Just what does Chrstmas mean to New Zealanders in 2006 – and what do we treasure most?’ Reader’s Digest commissioned  a national poll to find out. One theme shines through in the results: we love Christmas. Why? It’s  the one time of the year that’s all about family.”

In the same issue the Editor – in – Chief writes, “… seven out of ten said celebrating Christmas with family was what they treasured most.”

For me CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Jesus is the reason for the season.

What is Christmas all about for you? Is it FAMILY or is it  THE BIRTH OF CHRIST? 

It really cheered me up today when I looked into a shop window and saw

“I’M RIGHT 98% OF THE TIME … WHO CARES ABOUT THE OTHER 3%”

written on the front of a T-shirt!