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December 5 - Christmas Angel . . . (back)
Christmas Angel
It
was just a Christmas angel,
That my Mom put on
our tree.
She bought it at a
five and dime,
When I was only
three.
Each
year we'd trim our Christmas tree,
With lights and
ornaments.
Then Mom would
always tell me,
What the angel
represents.
The
angels came to tell the shepherds,
Of the Christ
Child's birth.
And, angels are
still here with us,
To guide us here on
earth.
The
angel on our Christmas tree,
Was made in such a
way.
That if the light
inside burned out,
You just threw it
away.
The
light burned out when I was twelve,
The angel would not
shine.
But, Mom would not
throw it away,
She said it looked
just fine.
She
loved that little angel,
That she put upon
our tree.
She said it didn't
need a light,
For anyone to see.
Then
I grew up, and I moved out,
To start my family.
And, I'd go home at
Christmas time,
To help her trim her
tree.
My
wife and children went with me,
To mom's house every
year.
The house was filled
with love and joy,
As we shared
Christmas cheer.
The
kids would always say to her,
The angel is burned
out.
Then, she would
smile and tell them,
What the angel's all
about.
She
told another reason,
For it's specialty.
Your daddy picked
that angel out,
When he was only
three.
My
mother passed away this year,
Early in the spring.
And then I had the
painful task,
Of going through her
things.
The
beautiful old house she owned,
Was left me in her
will.
We moved back in the
summertime,
We feel her in it
still.
Early
in December,
We brought out our
Christmas tree.
I went up to the
attic,
Just to see what I
could see.
I
saw a cardboard box, with markings,
"Ornaments and
stuff."
And in it was the
little angel,
That she loved so
much.
I
brought the cardboard box downstairs,
And showed the
family.
Then they persuaded
me to put,
The angel on our
tree.
We
trimmed the tree that weekend,
And we talked of
Christmas past.
Then when the tree
was finally done,
The angel went on
last.
Every
night till Christmas,
All the lights were
burning bright.
Except the little
angel,
That had longed
burned out her light.
Then
on Christmas morning,
I arose before the
rest.
I had to have my
coffee,
To be at my very
best.
I
walked into the living room,
My coffee cup in
hand.
Then what I saw, so
puzzled me,
I could not
understand.
I
just stood in silence,
As, my eyes filled
up with tears.
The little angel all
aglow,
That had been dark
for years.
~author unknown~
December 12 - Christmas Reminders . . . (back)
CHRISTMAS REMINDERS
Christmas has become extremely commercialized. Everywhere we look we see Christmas trees, lights, presents, signs enticing us to buy this or that for the people on our lists. But let's try to keep our thoughts focused on the real meaning of the season.
When we see a wreath, let's remember that God's love is never ending.
When we see the lights, let's remember that Jesus is the light of the world.
When we see candles, let's remember that our lights, however small, shine brightly enough to spread to those around us.
When we see presents, let's remember that God gave us the greatest gift of all in His Son, Jesus Christ.
When we see a Christmas tree, let's remember a tree on top of a hill called Calvary.
When we see snow, let's remember the One who cleanses our sins in a way that makes them pure white.
When we sing carols, let's remember the importance of making a joyful noise unto the Lord.
When we sit down to Christmas dinner, let's remember that Jesus is the bread of life.
When we see all those around us in need, whether physically, financially, emotionally, or spiritually, let's remember that Christmas really shouldn't be limited to one season of the year. God's gift was for all seasons. And, every time we share that gift, it's Christmas!
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)
~Linda
J. Gilden~
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December 19 - A Visit from the Christ Child . . . (back)
A VISIT FROM THE CHRIST CHILD
'Twas
the morning of Christmas, when all through the house
All the family was frantic, including my spouse;
For each one of them had one thing only in mind,
To examine the presents St. Nick left behind.
The
boxes and wrapping and ribbons and toys
Were strewn on the floor, and the volume of noise
Increased as our children began a big fight
Over who got the video games, who got the bike.
I
looked at my watch and I said, slightly nervous,
"Let's get ready for church, so we won't miss the service."
The children protested, "We don't want to pray:
We've just got our presents, and we want to play!"
It
dawned on me then that we had gone astray,
In confusing the purpose of this special day;
Our presents were many and very high-priced
But something was missing -- that something was Christ!
I said, "Put the gifts down and let's gather together,
And I'll tell you a tale of the greatest gift ever.
"A
savior was promised when Adam first sinned,
And the hopes of the world upon Jesus were pinned.
Abraham begat Isaac, who Jacob begat,
And through David the line went to Joseph, whereat
This carpenter married a maiden with child,
Who yet was a virgin, in no way defiled.
"Saying
'Hail, full of Grace,' an archangel appeared
To Mary the Blessed, among women revered:
The Lord willed she would bear -- through the Spirit -- a son.
Said Mary to Gabriel, 'God's will be done.'
"Now
Caesar commanded a tax would be paid,
And all would go home while the census was made;
Thus Joseph and Mary did leave Galilee
For the city of David to pay this new fee.
"Mary's
time had arrived, but the inn had no room,
So she laid in a manger the fruit of her womb;
And both Joseph and Mary admired as He napped
The Light of the World in His swaddling clothes wrapped.
"Three
wise men from the East had come looking for news
Of the birth of the Savior, the King of the Jews;
They carried great gifts as they followed a star --
Gold, frankincense, myrrh, which they'd brought from afar.
"As
the shepherds watched over their flocks on that night,
The glory of God shone upon them quite bright,
And an angel explained the intent of the birth,
Saying, 'Glory to God and His peace to the earth.'
"For
this was the Messiah whom prophets foretold,
A good shepherd to bring His sheep back to the fold;
He was God become man, He would die on the cross,
He would rise from the dead to restore Adam's loss.
Let's have fun celebrating, but leave not a doubt
That Christ is what Christmas is really about!"
The
children right then put an end to the noise,
They dressed quickly for church, put away all their toys;
For
they knew Jesus loved them and said they were glad
That He'd died for their sins, and to save their dear Dad.
©1986 F.R. Duplantier
December 26 - Just One Small Babe . . . (back)
There
was no snow on that rare night,
No evergreens, baubles, or balls,
No carols, save, "Joy to the World",
No mistletoe, no Santa Claus,
Except the stars that shined, no lights,
Just one small babe.
A babe that grew into a man,
Bearing a sorrowful cross,
Taking on His back the sins of the world,
That none might be lost;
The universe groaned in His travail,
The Father turned away His face,
All of creation saved by His grace -
Just one small babe.
Happy Birthday
Jesus!
Resolve to help spread the love of the Lord
around the world in 2005
Reach Up, Reach Out and help win the world for Christ!
Bonus - Why Bethlehem? . . . (back)
Why Bethlehem?
Why
Bethlehem Of All Places?
I’ve been to Bethlehem. It’s fairly indistinguishable from many other
Judean towns, except for the Church of the Nativity built over the
traditional site of Jesus’ birth. Bethlehem is located on a ridge about
2500 feet above sea level, and five or six miles southwest of Jerusalem.
Why, with all the grand locations in the world to choose from, did God
choose for His Son to be born in Bethlehem? I can think of three good
reasons.
1)
TO FULFILL PROPHECY
Seven hundred years earlier the prophet Micah quoted God: “As for you,
Bethlehem Ephrathah...from you One will go forth from Me to be ruler in
Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, from days of eternity.” Now,
some Messianic prophecies are cryptic--they are identified and understood
only after the event has occurred. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 must have
perplexed readers for hundreds of years as to their meaning. Only after
the Savior went to the cross did the followers of Jesus realize how the
first seems to be the thoughts of the Lord on the cross, and the second an
eyewitness description of that event. God placed such prophecies in the
Bible so that when they happened, His people would be comforted to know He
had planned it from the beginning. However, Micah 5:2 stands out there in
the open. God wanted everyone to know the Savior would be arriving in
Bethlehem. And everyone did know, at least those familiar with the
Scriptures. When the magi arrived in Jerusalem asking at every street
corner where the newborn King could be found, word filtered up to King
Herod in the palace and he called in his advisors. “In Bethlehem,”
they all agreed, quoting Micah 5:2. God keeps His word; Jesus was born in
Bethlehem.
2)
TO IDENTIFY WITH DAVID
The Messiah would be a Son of David and sit on the throne of David. Old
Testament prophecies emphasized both points again and again. Since both
Mary and Joseph were of the lineage of David, Jesus was doubly covered.
When the census of Luke 2:1 called everyone to his ancestral home, they
made the journey of a hundred miles south to Bethlehem. Bethlehem was
where Ruth lived and where she gleaned the fields behind Boaz' harvesters.
Boaz spotted the lovely young widow and the rest, as they say, is history.
Their son Obed became the father of Jesse, who raised a large family of
sons and daughters, the youngest son being David. Thereafter, Bethlehem
would forever be known as the city of David. Even the angels called it
that. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,” they
said to the shepherds. Doubtless many of the psalms of David which God’s
people have loved and sung for thirty centuries were inspired by time
spent in the same fields and meadows where the shepherds met the angels
that wondrous night. One day as the Lord and His entourage were
approaching Jericho, a blind beggar sitting beside the gate began to call
out to Him. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Again and again,
he repeated that refrain. When our Lord came within earshot, He had the
man brought to Him and restored his sight. The son of God is the Son of
David! Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
3)
TO MAKE A CONNECTION
Bethlehem in the Hebrew means “House of Bread.” What more fitting
place for One to be born who would be known as the Bread of Life. One day,
the Lord Jesus fed thousands of people with the lunch of a child. Soon
afterward, He taught the people the meaning of the miracle. “There is a
bread that endures to eternal life,” He said. He Himself was the living
and true Bread from Heaven, “which a man may eat and live forever.”
(John 6) Isaiah asked the people of God in his day: “Why do you spend
your money for that which is not bread? (Isaiah 55:2) That is to say, why
are you working and worrying and spending your life for things that do not
nourish you, do not strengthen you, and do not satisfy you? A good
question for our day, also. Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecies given
hundreds of years earlier. Jesus Christ is the Son of David, born in the
City of David. Jesus is the Bread of Life, born in the House of Bread. How
much plainer can God make it? Jesus is Lord.