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| From the Pen of the Executive DirectorDo we know what it's like to "fix our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2). What does it mean to be "just like Jesus"? The world has never known a heart so pure, a character so flawless. His spiritual hearing was so keen he never missed a heavenly whisper. His mercy so abundant he never missed a chance to forgive. No lie left his lips, no distraction marred his vision. He touched when others recoiled. He endured when others quit. Jesus is the ultimate model for every person. And God invites each of us to do the same for the rest of our lives. He urges us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Heaven invites you and me to set the lens of our hearts on the heart of the Saviour and make him the object of our lives. So, what does it mean to see Jesus? It wasn't enough for the shepherds to see the angels. You'd think it would have been - the light, song, angels singing "Glory to God in the highest." The shepherds wanted to see for themselves the son the angels spoke about (Luke 2:15). Then there was Simeon - a good man who served in the Temple during the time of Christ's birth. He didn't want to die until he had seen the maker of the world. Somehow he knew that the baby bundled up in Mary's arms was the Christ. He prayed: "God, you can now release your servant. For my eyes have seen your salvation ..." (Luke 2: 25-32). The wise men or Magi had the same desire ... It wasn't enough to see the light over Bethlehem; they had to see the Light of Bethlehem. It was him they came to see. And they succeeded. It did not matter from what station in life they had come, whether rich or poor, whether they lived in a temple or with sheep, they were welcomed. You won't find one example of one person who desired to see the infant Jesus and was turned away. But there are many who did not want to see him or seek him. As you remembered the birth of Christ this Christmas, who did you see yourself to be like? What is the reward that waits for those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus. "And we, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2Cor 3:18). Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt, he had no bad habits, he had no fear of death, he had kindness for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious and courage for the challenges. God wants you to have the same. God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be like Jesus. May this be the gift you seek. Staff Matters 13 of the ACS' counsellors with 1 LRCCS student and a few other people working in the counselling industry in our area met in Inverell at the beginning of November 2003, for training in Child Development, Attachment Effects, the Importance of Play and Emotion Inclusive Therapy. Dr Eleanor Knox, with 12 years association with ACS and many years working with children as a paediatrician and counsellor led the session on Child Development and Attachment Effects. Ruth Blakely, another Counsellor in the Tamworth Centre led the session on the Importance of Play and how it can be incorporated in counselling. The session on Emotion Inclusive Therapy was led my Miss Lois Reid, the founder of ACS and LRCCS. EIT is one of many tools that counsellors use when working with their clients. ACS insists that its counsellors have training in Emotion Inclusive methods. The counsellors enjoyed their time together, learning from each other, sharing with each other, and catching up with each other. There are not many occasions during the year when the counsellors from all the centres can get together. When they do they really make the most of it. Praise Matters
Prayer Matters
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