Name Tags

The image shows some name tags. The green ones are all owned by the same person.

The first one: Jane tells us the person is female. She has an English name which means “God is gracious”

The second name tag: Mrs Smith tells us she is married.

The third name tag: Mum tells us she has children.

The last name tag: Nan tells us she has grandchildren.

All these names indicate something about this person.

The red name tags are for Jesus.

What can we learn from Jesus’ name tags?

Jesus was given his name at birth, but His name was chosen by God and told to his parents beforehand.

In Hebrew the name Jesus is derived from Yeshua which means to deliver, to rescue. An Angel told Joseph to call the baby “Jesus” because “ He will save people from their sins”. Luke 1:35 (NIV)”

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.”

God planned to send His Son in human form, to live amongst us, identifying with us and dying on the cross for us. God planned for Jesus to come to the world. God’s people were promised a child many centuries before.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)”For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

This passage was written 750 years before Christ’s birth. Israel was under God’s judgment for its wickedness and idol worship. Assyrians took the Jewish people into captivity. Isaiah’s prophecy gave Gods people the hope they desperately needed.

Jesus was given names 750 years ago and each name tells us a little about what He would be like.

Wonderful Counsellor = wonderful…incomprehensible/full of wonder (love enemies, rejoice and be glad in persecution, amazing teaching, power to heal etc).
                                           = Counsellor…giving guidance to his people. In praying to Him, we are trusting in His guidance as He loves us and understands us and our life.

Mighty God = unlimited power. Against ruling powers of heavenly realm and earthly/sin.

Everlasting Father = Always be with us now and for all of eternity

Prince of Peace = restores broken relationship between us and God.
Provides a well ordered and balanced life
Assures our eternal destiny

This Christmas, as we dwell on the birth of Jesus, let us also dwell on who He is, through His names given by God through Isaiah’s prophesy. The same as Isaiah’s prophecy gave the captive Israelites, hope, Jesus gives all of humanity, hope!

GFS Purpose

The world today contains many selfish people who care little for others and never think about God. Our world needs love and compassion. It needs “Alive” Christians.

GFS reaches out to girls and women to build their lives on a strong foundation of Christ who showed us how to love. GFS helps girls and women to understand what it is to be a Christian within their own particular life situation and to provide opportunities, by means of creative leadership, to discover their own relationship with their God, family, community and the world.

GFS tries to help girls and women to cope with the pressures brought to bear on them. Also it encourages the creative use of their leisure time; to help others, care for themselves and their homes, develop friendships and appreciate the simple and beautiful things in life.

This then strengthens them to face the world, decide what is right from wrong, help to think through conflicting opinions, attitudes and actions. They learn to understand themselves and how they affect others and how others affect them.

All this aids girls and women to move towards discovering standards for themselves and gives them the ability to make wise decisions including standing up for what they believe in. Ultimately enabling them to live a Christian life the way God wants us all to do.

Thus the purpose of GFS is to give glory to God by bringing girls and women into the full life and fellowship of the Church and by helping them to know, love and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

This purpose is fulfilled when members live their lives on a secure Christian basis by loving their friends, family and community with an out-going genuine love and spreading the influence of Christ throughout the world in which they live.

The Christmas Tree Speaks

A beautifully decorated Christmas Tree thrills young and old alike. Do you know the message of the shining and colourful ornaments which make it so lovely?

As GFS girls trim your tree, tell them how the decorations remind us of the true Christmas message.

A STAR on the very top of the tree reminds us of the wise men who followed the star to the manger where Jesus lay. (Read Matthew 2:2)

There were ANGELS who sang to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born. The angels brought good news of Jesus’ birth to them and the heavens sang and praised God. (Read Luke 2:8-14)

ROPES OF TINSEL and STRINGS OF LIGHTS remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. He came to bring spiritual light to everyone. (Read John 8:12)

BRIGHTLY COLOURED BALLS take the place of fruit which once was used to decorate Christmas Trees. The kind of fruit Jesus wants your life to bear is listed in the Bible. (Read Galatians 5:22-23)

We will hang some BELLS on the tree. Long ago bells were rung to let people know that something important had happened. Christmas bells remind us that Christ’s birth was the best news which has ever come to the world.

We give GIFTS at Christmas as a symbol of God’s greatest gift. Everyone who accepts Christ as Saviour receives God’s gift of eternal life. If you become a Christian this week, you could make this your happiest Christmas. (Read Romans 6:23)

GFS Motto

The word burden means “a weight, a concern, a worry, a struggle or a difficult situation. But Galatians 6:5, says, “Each one should bear his own load.” How can we bear someone else’s burdens if we are each supposed to carry our own loads?

We each have certain obligations for which we alone are responsible. For example, for our families, friendships and our personal relationship with God. We cannot assume the responsibility for someone else. We can, come alongside a struggling person and help shoulder the weight of a trial or temptation that threatens to pull him/her under.

We can illustrate this idea with the picture of a woman trying to get a stroller with a child in it down a set of stairs. She will try to negotiate the stroller slowly and carefully as she allows the wheels to slowly lower onto each step. But there is a danger that a slip could injure the child. A friend sees the situation offers aid by lifting a part of the stroller and assisting the woman to the bottom of the stairs thereby easing her load. Although the supportive one does not assume the whole load, her help allows the struggling one to carry on to her destination.

We are each responsible before God for the gifts and resources He has given to us. We cannot blame others, shift responsibility, or make excuses about why we have difficult situations – we must bear our own loads. But there are also times when life threatens to overwhelm: a spouse dies, a child is injured, a job folds or a house burns down. As part of the family of God, we are to come to the aid of others in need. When a load suddenly becomes too heavy for one person, we are to bear one another’s burdens. The added strength and encouragement of others is often the difference between someone pressing on or giving up.We should aim to bear our own loads, while always being available to bear the burdens of others as Christ asked us to do.