THE NEW YEAR!

Today is December 30, and tomorrow is New Year's Eve!  Standing on the brink of 2021, I seem to hear the prophet, Isaiah, saying -- "Watchman, what of the night?  Watchman, what of the night?"  The year of 2020 has been a difficult year for many, as sorrow and heartaches have entered the homes of the godly, as well as the ungodly.  So how are we to face the New Year?  I believe we should face it in the words of the great Apostle, Paul, to the church at Philippi -- "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Praise the Lord for this wonderful challenge for the New Year!                                                      And then, I believe we should walk this new year of 2021 in the challenge given us by Lillian Gray --                                                                                          

"Let us WALK SOFTLY, friend, for strange paths lie before us all untrod.                                                   The new year, spotless from the hand of God, is mine and thine, O friend.                                                  Let us WALK STRAIGHTLY, friend, forget the crooked paths behind us now,                                          Press on with steadier purpose on our brow to better deeds, O friend.

Let us WALK GLADLY, friend, perchance some greater good than we have known                                  Is waiting for us, or some fair hope flown shall yet return, O friend.                                                           Let us WALK KINDLY, friend, we cannot tell how long this life shall last,                                                How soon these precious years shall all be past.  Let love walk with us, friend.

Let us WALK QUICKLY, friend, work with our might while lasts our little stay                                        And help some halting comrade on the way.  And may God guide us, friend."

And, finally, let us keep this sweet song in our heart and on our lips -- 

    "Moment by moment I'm kept in His love; Moment by moment I've life from above.                                 Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine, Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine."                                                                                                                

DAILY BLESSINGS

It was so good to be in the house of the Lord yesterday on the last Sunday of 2020!  As we near the end of the year, it is customary to think back over the year and meditate upon our blessings.  Perhaps many have experienced defeats, losses, disappointments, and injuries -- some in great number.  But if we are honest with ourselves, I believe the Christian will acknowledge that his blessings have far outweighed his burdens.  Psalm 68:19 says -- "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."  And we have the blessed promise in Romans 8:28 that we have proven true many times:  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

It is also important for us to remember that even a burden can become a blessing if we will take it as a gift from God for our spiritual benefit.  Therefore, we can say with the Psalmist -- "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.  The Apostle Paul said in I Thessalonians -- "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  And he reminds us again in Philippians to "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."

When we think about the God of our Salvation, it is so blessed to know that whatever we have, or don't have, in this life, we can all have the wonderful gift of knowing Jesus as our personal Saviour, Sanctifier, and soon-coming King!  We can walk with the King in humble obedience, and be ready to meet Him whenever He calls!  Every day we can sense the indwelling presence of the blessed Holy Spirit, the illuminating guidance of His Holy Word, the daily provision of our needs, and the assurance of His love!

And for the icing on the cake -- our Heavenly Father assures us as we prepare to enter the unknown future of 2021 -- if we will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will take care of everything else!  Praise the Lord!!      

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 "And the angel said . . . Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

"Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Sing this Christmas morn;                                                                                       Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Christ the Lord is born!"

"Alleluia!  O how the angels sang!  Alleluia!  How it rang!                                                                             And the sky was bright with a holy light; 'Twas the birthday of a King!"

May the presence of the King be especially near to you and your loved ones as you gather together on this blessed Christmas Day!  

THT BEST CHRISTMAS PUDDING!

 On this Monday before Christmas Day, I expect many of you that love to bake are finishing up your favorite breads, cookies, candies, etc.  Yesterday I saw this wonderful recipe for "The Best Christmas Pudding" by Frank Peairs.  Be sure and include it in all of your Christmas gatherings!

"Take some human nature -- as you find it, the commonest variety will do --                                                  Put a little graciousness behind it, add a lump of charity -- or two.                                                                  Squeeze in just a drop of moderation, half as much frugality -- or less.                                                          Add some very fine consideration; strain off all of poverty's distress.

Pour some milk of human kindness in it; put in all the happiness you can.                                                      Stir it up with laughter every minute, season with good-will toward every man.                                            Set it on the fire of heart's affection; leave it till the jolly bubbles rise;                                                            Sprinkle it with kisses -- for confection, sweeten with a look from loving eyes.

Flavor it with children's merry chatter, frost it with the snows of wintry dells,                                                Place it on a holly garnished platter, and serve it with the song of Christmas bells."

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day their old familiar carols play,                                                                   And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men.                                                      Then pealed the bells more loud and deep; God is not dead; nor doth He sleep;                                              The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.  

CHRISTMAS WISH!

Tomorrow, December 20, is Christmas Sunday!!  Sadly, because of sickness, some will not be able to be in the House of the Lord!  But wherever you are, you can open your heart, lift up your voice and sing with the angels -- "Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Sing this Christmas morn; Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Christ the Lord is born!"  This poem, "Christmas Wish", by Pollyanna Sedziol, is a lovely gift which I hope each of you will open on Christmas Day! 

"May you know the TRUTH of Christmas, that Jesus Christ is King ---                                                          Both in a lowly manger where heavenly angels sing,                                                                                        And on the throne of God where hosannas ever ring.

May you know the LOVE of Christmas, made incarnate on that night,                                                            When Jesus came to live on earth, bringing hope and light;                                                                             Atoning, healing, giving life, conquering wrong, enthroning right.

May you know the PEACE of Christmas that Christ alone can give,                                                               Not only in your home, and daily as you live,                                                                                                   But hourly, weekly, yearly, and onward to life's eve."  Amen!                                                       

A SONG IN THE AIR!

 Praise the Lord for this day He hath made!  Let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Christmas is filled with beautiful music -- you can almost hear the Angels singing again this morning -- "Glory to the new-born King!"  "There's a Song in the Air" this morning, and I trust it will fill and thrill your soul as we look at this lovely carol.

"The author of this carol was a medical Doctor.  Josiah Holland was a native of Massachusetts, and the four verses of the lovely Christmas Carol, There's a Song in the Air, were initially composed for a Sunday School journal as a poetic retelling of the Christmas story.  In 1874, when Holland published a collection of his poetry, he included this Christmas poem but did not consider it one of his finer works.  A Latin professor, Karl P. Harrington, working 25 years after Holland's death, discovered it while compiling a new hymnal for the Methodist Church.

In his research, he read through volumes of poetry and stacks of old hymn collections.  Then he picked up a small volume by a popular 19th century writer named Josiah Holland.  Leafing through the pages, he happened upon a poem based upon the Christmas story.  The verses weren't filled with deep theology, but they communicated a spiritual joy that struck the emotions.  Harrison sat down and began composing a melody, line by line, for Holland's poem.  When he finished, he had helped to create a simple, yet powerful carol that has been sung in churches of all denominations every Christmas for more than a century."  I trust that it will be a blessing to your heart today!

"There's a song in the air!  There's a star in the sky!                                                                                      There's a Mother's deep prayer and a Baby's low cry!                                                                                 And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,                                                                                       For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

 There's a tumult of joy o'er the wonderful birth,                                                                                          For the virgin's sweet Boy is the Lord of the earth.                                                                                     Ay!  the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,                                                                                        For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;                                                                                              And that song from afar has swept over the world.                                                                                       Every hearth is a-flame, and the beautiful sing                                                                                             In the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!

We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song                                                                                               That comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.                                                                    Ay!  we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,                                                                                            And we greet in His cradle our Saviour and King!"    

THAT BEAUTIFUL NAME!

 Every Christmas, I like to recall this sweet little story from a Children's Christmas Program.  All the children had been given their parts, Mary and Joseph had been chosen, but the director wanted every child to have a part and be included, and she wasn't sure where she could use little David who, because of a learning disability, wasn't capable of learning a very long piece.  She finally decided he could be the Inn Keeper.  She instructed him that when Mary and Joseph came wanting a room, he was to say very sternly -- "Go Away!  There is No Room!"  He practiced until he could do it perfectly, and with great sternness! 

Finally, the night of the big program came!  Everyone was excited, but as the program began, it seemed a holy hush settled over the audience that took them back to Bethlehem the night that Jesus was born!  Mary and Joseph were very weary from traveling as they approached Bethlehem, and Mary was great with Child.  They stopped at the first Inn they saw, but there was No Vacancy!  The city was crowded with people who had come to pay their taxes.  Everywhere they stopped, the answer was the same -- No Room!

Finally, they came to the very last Inn, and Mary could go no farther!  When Joseph approached the Inn Keeper, little David remembered his line, and said quite sternly -- "Go Away!  There is No Room!"  Joseph tried to explain that Mary was heavy with child, and could not go on!  He humbly pleaded, almost begging for a room, but David was firm in his command -- "Go Away!  There is NO ROOM!"      At last, giving up hope, Joseph and Mary turned away and started very slowly and sadly back down the crowded street.  As little David watched them, suddenly he could stand it no longer!  His tender heart broke, and he ran after them, crying -- "Wait, Joseph!  Wait, Mary!  Come back!  Come back!  You can have MY room!"

God's Word says -- ". . . she brought forth her firstborn Son: and called his name JESUS."                            The songwriter said --

"I know of a name, a beautiful name, that angels brought down to earth;                                                    They whispered it low, one night long ago, to a maiden of lowly birth.                                                       I know of a name, a beautiful name, that unto a Babe was given.                                                                The stars glittered bright throughout that glad night, and angels praised God in heaven.

I love that blest name, that wonderful name, made higher than all in heaven.                                             Twas whispered, I know, in my heart long ago---to Jesus my life I've given.                                               That beautiful name, that beautiful name, from sin has power to free us!                                                    That beautiful name, that wonderful name, that matchless name is Jesus!"

This Christmas, have you given Jesus YOUR Room -- the Room of your heart?  "Jesus -- not just a part, or half of my heart -- I will give ALL to Thee!"  Amen!         

DOWN FROM HIS GLORY!

This Christmas, I am trying to comprehend even a fraction of what it meant, and what it cost, for Jesus to come DOWN -- DOWN from His Heavenly Father --  DOWN from the presence of the holy angels -- DOWN from the glory; the beauty; the wonder; the majesty of Heaven -- DOWN to the lowly stable -- DOWN to be born, not in splendor befitting a King, but as a lowly Babe with only the stable animals to welcome His birth!

No, I cannot begin to comprehend at this blessed Christmas time the glorious love of Christ, my Lord divine, that made Him stoop way DOWN to save a soul like mine!  But I am so very thankful to know at this holy Christmas time, Jesus came all the way "DOWN From His Glory" for you and for me!

"Down from His glory, ever living story, my God and Saviour came, and Jesus was His name.                     Born in a manger, to His own a stranger, a Man of sorrows, tears, and agony.                                                 What condescension, bringing us redemption; that in the dead of night, not one faint hope in sight,              God, gracious, tender, laid aside His splendor, stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul.

Without reluctance, flesh and blood His substance, He took the form of man, revealed the hidden plan.       O glorious mystery, sacrifice of Calvary, and now I know Thou art the great "I Am."                                     O how I love Him!  How I adore Him!  My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!                                              The great Creator became my Saviour, and all God's fullness dwelleth in Him."

  

LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

To me, one of the most beautiful things surrounding Christmas is the myriad of lovely lights all around us, dispelling the gloom and darkness; shining abroad for every eye to behold the delightful colors, the glowing and dazzling beauty of thousands of little white lights sparkling in the midst of other colors!  But then, what a drastic change when all of the bright, shining lights are extinguished!  The beautiful Christmas tree that was aglow with many lovely lights that made the ornaments sparkle, is suddenly rather dull, downcast, and drab looking!

I thought about that in relation to our spiritual experience.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 -- "Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."  He went on to instruct us in verses 15 and 16:  "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  There are multitudes of people sitting in spiritual darkness this Christmas!  Will they be able to see the light of Jesus shining in and through us?

"The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin; the Light of the world is Jesus.                                       Like sunshine at noon-day His glory shone in; the Light of the world is Jesus.                                          No darkness have we who in Jesus abide; the Light of the world is Jesus.                                                  We walk in the Light when we follow our Guide; the Light of the world is Jesus.

  Ye dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes; the Light of the world is Jesus.                                           Go, wash at His bidding, and light will arise.  The Light of the world is Jesus.                                           No need of the sunlight in heaven we're told; the Light of the world is Jesus.                                            The Lamb is the Light in the city of gold; the Light of the world is Jesus.

  Come to the Light; 'tis shining for thee.  Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me.                                     Once I was blind, but now I can see.  The Light of the world is Jesus."  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                  

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS!

On this Monday morning, as we begin a new week, will you take a few moments to ----

 REJOICE With Me - - -                                                                                                                                            "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

SING With Me - - -                                                                                                                                                     "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!  There's just something about that name!                                                                          Master, Saviour, Jesus!  Like the fragrance after the rain.                                                                                Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!  Let all heaven and earth proclaim:                                                                                    Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that Name"!

WORSHIP With Me - - -                                                                                                                                              "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."                                                                                                                             "Oh, come, let us adore Him.  Oh, come, let us adore Him.                                                                               Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."                                                                                                                                     

THE ANGELS SANG!

 As I begin this lovely Christmas season, I like to try and visualize the amazement of the lowly shepherds out in the fields watching over their sheep on that star-light night so long ago!  No doubt it was just another ordinary night as they sat around the fire warming themselves and sharing stories, when suddenly!!  a miracle happened, and they were sore afraid, for we read in the 2nd chapter of Luke

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people . . . . And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

It was, no doubt, this beautiful story in Luke's Gospel that inspired Charles Wesley to write the beloved Christmas hymn, "Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing."                                                                                        "Upon his conversion, Charles Wesley immediately began writing hymns, each one packed with doctrine.  He wrote constantly, and even on horseback his mind was flooded with new songs.  He often stopped at houses along the road and ran in asking for pen and ink.  He wrote over 6,000 hymns during his life.  Charles was 32 years old when he wrote this Christmas hymn, one of his best-loved hymns!  It was Charles' friend, evangelist George Whitefield, who published this carol in his collection of hymns in 1753."

"Hark!  The herald angels sing:  Glory to the new-born King!                                                                       Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.                                                                     Joyful, all ye nations, rise;  Join the triumph of the skies;                                                                           With the angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

  Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord!                                                                  Long desired, behold Him come, finding here His humble home.                                                              Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Hail the incarnate Deity!                                                                        Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel!

  Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!  Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!                                                   Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.                                                                Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die;                                                                       Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.                                                                  Hark!  The herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King."

I want to take time to hear the angels singing this Christmas!   And, who knows -- if  we will faithfully serve this new-born King in our little corner where God has placed us, we may hear the angels singing in the most unexpected places!!

                                                                  

 

  

CHRISTMAS IS LOVE!

If we were asked to define Christmas in one word, it would have to be LOVE, for John tells us in his wonderful gospel -- "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."  It must have been the wonder of these verses that inspired Rev. J. M. Driver to write about the "Wonderful Story of Love."

"Wonderful story of love!  Tell it to me again.  Wonderful story of love!  Wake the immortal strain!             Angels with rapture announce it; Shepherds with wonder receive it;                                                               Sinner, oh, won't you believe it?  Wonderful story of love!

Wonderful story of love!  Though you are far away.  Wonderful story of love!  Still He doth call today!       Calling from Calvary's mountain, down from the crystal bright fountain,                                                        Even from the dawn of creation, Wonderful story of love!

Wonderful story of love!  Jesus provides a rest.  Wonderful story of love!  For all the pure and blest:            Rest in those mansions above us, with those who've gone on before us,                                                          Singing the rapturous chorus, Wonderful story of love!

Wonderful!  Wonderful!  Wonderful!  Wonderful story of love!"