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We came to the end of our evening services for the year on Sunday night.

Looking back, there have been many challenges that we have faced as a community, plus numerous things that individuals and families have had to deal with. But there have also been many times to celebrate and rejoice. Through all of them though, God has been there - and that’s what we focussed on in our last time of gathered worship.

We had a time of commissioning for the team that are heading off to the Philippines in a few weeks time. They will be constructing a facility that will be used as a community centre and church in one of the poorer parts of the region. As a community, we stood with them on Sunday night and prayed for them as they began an exciting journey that will no doubt be life changing for many that go.

Jeremiah 1:4-7 and Psalm 139:13-16 are pretty clear that God is closely involved in the beginning of our lives too. Before we are even born, he knows us. Yes, God wants us to come to a point where we accept the gift he offers, but God also wants us to know that he is right there with us from the very beginning of our time on earth.

It is no secret that baptism are my favourite out of all of out times together. Ending the year with a baptism was a bonus! After a year of highs and lows, one of our guys was baptised in front of friends and family, indicating that he wanted to have a faith that could be shared with others in the same way some caring folk at our church had shared faith with him. Baptism didn’t mark an end point for him, but part of the journey towards becoming what God wanted him to be.

Psalm 121:8 says that God watches over our coming and going. The exciting, the mundane, the funny, the boring, the happy, the sad, the confusing and the explained - God is part of all of those things that happen everyday. Yes, God is part of our beginning, but he is part of the journey itself. As we make face, make and deal with the consequences of the big decisions in life, God is there.

We also heard from two of our interns that come to the end of two years of torture study, ministry training and reflection. Both girls spoke of the impact it had on their lives and some of their expectations for what comes next. As they spoke, it was clear that the end was no end at all. There was still much to come in their journey - and God was part of that too.

Life is exactly the same. My physical body will one day die, but that won’t be the end of my existence. As I read the Bible, it seems pretty clear that none of us will cease to exist when our physical selves stop breathing, but will live on. God wants to be part of the life too, but will honour the decision of whether we want him too or not.

If we choose to live life without God wile we’re here on earth, then that’s how it will be for all eternity.

If we choose to live life with God now, then that’s how it will be forever.

As we approach Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is my prayer that, regardless of what point you are up to in your journey, you will make God a part of it. Don’t waste your life and forfeit your eternal destiny by ignoring God’s call on your life.