Love Finds a Way . . .

There are many words to describe Christmas, but the sweetest descriptive word is "Love"!  Our Heavenly Father tells us about Love in His Holy Word, and John 3:16 tells us because "God so loved the world--He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
I have a feeling there is probably someone who needs Love from you and me at this blessed Christmas time.

In an issue of "Guideposts" several years ago, a lady prison chaplain, Kay Goldbeck, tells of her efforts to reach out to Barbara, one of the meanest and most hateful girls ever to be held in the Women's Prison in Goochland, Virginia.
     "Her face was scarred from knifings, and her neck and arms were horribly disfigured from a bucket of lye water thrown on her in a fight.  She was so mean, even the other prisoners would have nothing to do with her.
      All of Kay's efforts to reach her seemed in vain.  One day, Kay said, 'Barbara, do you know that God loves you?' 
     'Ain't nobody loves me!'
     'But Jesus gave His life for us so that we can start new lives for ourselves.'
      She spat on the ground and glared up at Kay.  'Don't want none of that preachin' stuff.  It's all words---don't mean a thing.'  And she got up and left.
      One hot summer day during recreation time, Kay noticed Barbara standing apart from the others, as usual.  Her scarred throat looked so hot.  Kay went back to her room and found a soft, pink scarf.  As she approached Barbara, she could see the anger seething in her dark eyes and was almost afraid to go on, but she did. 
      'Barbara, the sun is so hot, and your neck looks so sensitive, let me pin this little piece of silk around your neck to protect you from the sun.'  She fastened it with a gold pin.
      Barbara said nothing, but it looked as if a tear came into her eyes.  But she stomped her foot, gritted her teeth, and spat on the ground.
      But it was the beginning of a changed relationship.  Barbara had found that 'preachin' wasn't all just words---that love reached out and cared enough to share a little pink scarf.  Eventually, Barbara became a Christian, accepting God's love; and after her release from prison, became a county supervisor of all the nursing homes for the elderly in a mid-western state.
      Love finds a way -- sometimes by way of a piece of pink silk -- but always some way that bridges the gap."

Perhaps you know someone today who needs a "piece of pink silk".  Christmas is loving!  Christmas is giving!  And Jesus said -- "It is more blessed to give than receive!" 

That Beautiful Name!

In Matthew 1:21, we read these blessed words:  "And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins."  There are many wonderful names and titles ascribed to Christ throughout the Bible.  A few of them are -- Counselor -- Emmanuel -- Messiah -- Rose of Sharon -- Sun of Righteousness!  But to the child of God, the sweetest name of all is "Jesus"!

This lovely hymn, by Jean Perry, first appeared in a hymnal published in 1916 especially for use at the Moody Bible Institute.

     "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.

      The One of that Name, my Saviour became, my Saviour of Calvary;
My sins nailed Him there; my burdens He bare; He suffered all this for me.
      I love that blest Name, that wonderful Name, made higher than all in heaven;
It was 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!"

As we prepare our hearts for the coming Lord's Day, let us lift our voices in praise and worship to the One whose Name is above every name!!  Praise the Lord!

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

In the little book of Micah, written several hundred years before Jesus was born, we read this beautiful prophecy:  "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

HARK!!  The Angels are trying to get our attention!  Are we listening for their heavenly music announcing the birth of the Newborn King?  Let's listen to the thrilling words written by Charles Wesley, and the beautiful melody by the master composer, Felix Mendelssohn.

Like many of Charles Wesley's more than 6,500 hymns, this text clearly presents Biblical doctrine in poetic language.  The first stanza describes the song of the angels outside Bethlehem, with an invitation to join them in praise of Christ.  The following verses present the truths of the virgin birth, Christ's deity, the immortality of the soul, the new birth, and a prayer for the transforming power of Christ in our lives.

     "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 angelic hosts proclaim, 'Christ is born in Bethlehem'!

      Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin's womb.
      Veiled in flesh the  God-head see; hail the incarnate Deity --
Pleased as man with men to dwell; Jesus, our Emmanuel.

      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!  Are you listening?  The herald angels are singing -- let's join them! 
                  "GLORY to the new-born KING"!
                

Away In A Manger

In Luke 2:7, we read:  "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn."

There is probably no Christmas song that is more loved than this sweet and tender Christmas carol.  It is usually thought of as a children's song, but it is loved by old and young alike.
 
For some time, it was entitled "Luther's Cradle Hymn" because it was thought to have been written by Martin Luther for his own children, and then passed on by German mothers.  However, according to Kenneth Osbeck, modern research discounts this claim.  The first two stanzas first appeared in the "Little Children's Book" published in Philadelphia in 1885.  The third verse was written by a Methodist minister, Dr. John McFarland, in the early 1900's when an additional stanza was desired for a children's day program.
Let these sweet words minister to your heart as you meditate upon them through the week:

     "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
      The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

      The cattle are lowing; the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
      I love Thee, Lord Jesus!  look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

      Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay --
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
      Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there."

And this Christmas --- let us not forget the words of Jesus:
       ""Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." 

"What Child Is This?"

What Child is This??  Even the title of this lovely Christmas carol speaks of awe and mystery!
To me, there is something uniquely different and special about the lovely Christmas carols!  They seem set apart -- as if God moved upon the writers of both verse and melody to try and help us grasp a little of the awe -- the wonder -- the miracle of that first Christmas in the manger! 

Perhaps we should begin with that "hauntingly" beautiful carol, written in a minor key, and challenging our thinking and contemplation by asking the question -- "What Child Is This?"

Kenneth Osbeck says:  "The question asked in this well-loved carol must have been uppermost in the minds of those present at Jesus' birth.  This thoughtful text was written by William Dix, one of our finest lay hymn writers.  While a successful insurance salesman in Glasgow, Scotland, he was stricken with a sudden serious illness at the age of 29.  Dix was confined to bed for an extended period, and suffered deep  depression until He called out to God and 'met Him in a new and real way.'  Out of this spiritual experience came this beautiful carol.  It was taken from a longer Christmas poem, 'The Manger Throne', written by Dix about 1865.  The melody, 'Green Sleeves' is a traditional English melody written before 1642."

     "What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
      Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear -- for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

      So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh -- come, rich and poor, to own Him;
The King of kings Salvation brings -- let loving hearts enthrone Him.
      This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud -- the Babe, the Son of Mary."

Yes, this Child -- this Babe in the manger is Christ the King!!  Let us adore Him and give Him everything !! 

"Down From His Glory"

A silent night -- shepherds in the field keeping watch over their flock -- when Suddenly -- "the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."  Then an angel spoke to them -- "Fear not: for, 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.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

It seems to me that, perhaps, thousands of angels could hold back their voices no longer, and Luke 2:13 tells us:  "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."
I don't think you can have Christmas without music, so let's begin with a beautiful song by William E. Booth - Clibborn which expresses the great love of God the Father who gave His only begotten Son -- who came Down from His Glory, and went all the way from the Cradle to the Cross!

     "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."

Praise the Lord!  Let us love Him, adore Him, and worship Him!    

A CHILD Is Born ---

Yesterday, our pastor preached two wonderful messages from the beautiful prophecy in the 9th chapter of the book of the prophet, Isaiah, where he tells of the divine Child to be born:
     "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".

What a thrilling scripture!!  It makes me want to -- "Bow down before Him -- Love and adore Him -- His name is Wonderful -- Jesus, my Lord"!  It is difficult, probably impossible,  for our finite minds to fully comprehend how Christ could be fully God and still fully man.  Truly, "the love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell."

So on this first Monday of December, let us begin singing the good news of great joy, and keep it ringing in our hearts throughout this blessed, holy season!
                                      "Joy to the world!  The Lord is come!  
                                             Let earth receive her King;
                                        Let every heart prepare Him room,
                                             And heaven and nature sing!"