The twelve days of Christmas

December 26 - January 6th

And the fame of his name
will birth hope among the people.

Matt 12:21 (TPT)

I made gingerbread for Christmas.

I always do - it's one of our family traditions, passed down from my grandmother, whose recipe I still use, copied out a long time ago from her recipe book into mine.

It's an exercise of restraint - and hope.

First, there's the mixing. Then the use of my grandmother's old baking tin. Both my daughters want this tin when I'm gone! Maybe

I'll leave it to someone in my will - the granddaughter who is a superb cook already?

Now for baking. The house fills with an aroma of fragrant spices and sweetness. Our mouths anticipate a treat. Ah - gingerbread! everyone exclaims with joy. With hope!

Because you are not allowed to eat it for at least 2 days. 5 is better. The gingerbread gets wrapped and stored. The aroma fades.

And then, oh bliss, a few days later, there are squares of deliciousness served on a china plate alongside a cup of Lapsang Souchong tea.

The waiting made the tasting even more enjoyable.

We're all waiting and hoping in anticipation in other ways, too.

We're all waiting for this pandemic to end.

Hoping for a better 2021.

Waiting for life to return to 'normal.'

Hoping for an end of trying to normalise the abnormal.

But more than that, waiting for Jesus the Messiah, Immanuel-God-with-us, to return for his coming in glory.

Hoping that his name will be a fragrance to all the people.

Because we are living with the NOW and the NOT YET.

NOW he has come for the first time, at Christmas.

NOT YET because he has yet to come again in glory,

It's a tension.

But, like the gingerbread wait, it's a glorious, hopeful tension.

It will be worth the wait.

He has birthed hope in us by coming the first time. (Matt 12:21)

The power of his Spirit helps us radiate that hope to the world. (Ros 15:13)

So while you wait and hope, why not try my gingerbread recipe and remind you and yours of the joy that will be ours when Jesus comes again in glory. And enjoy some fragrant sweetness while you do.

THE SPICE RETREAT

It's not too late to register for this 5 session special retreat, which is available for you over the new year. A great time to reset and discover who God intends for you to be!

I finally engaged with your Advent Retreat this weekend and found it deeply moving and profoundly helpful. Thank you so much for your gifted and sensitive leading and for all that you are and do. It was my experience of the Advent Retreat which prompted me to sign up for the Spice Retreat, something I now very much look forward to. It will be a privilege to sit once more under your anointed ministry. P. M.

The spice retreat was an oasis in my week and for that matter day as I worked through some of the things in the journal. H.C.

Thank you for the SPICE retreat. There was a lot in it, and I am continuing to use the resources. Thank you, as well, for the 1 to 1 spiritual guidance session. That was very helpful. C.W.

The SPICE RETREAT starts on December 31st - although you can chose to do the retreat at a time to best suit you.

So sign up NOW - full details of the retreat and sign up form can be found here.

Many of us are feeling a little lost, a little weary, with all that's going on right now.

Wondering who am I?

Wondering what's the point of me?

Or even, what difference can I make in the current world situations?

Here’s where the SPICE RETREAT online can be of help: By the end of this online retreat, you’ll know how God made you YOU, you’ll know your best YOU, and you’ll be able to be your best YOU in everyday life, work and relationships.

No matter what is going on around you.

Pop over here and register so that you can start the new year with a new best you.

May the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope throughout the coming year.

- Penelope

Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!

Roms 15:13 (TPT)