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!" 

 

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

 Today is the last day of November!  The Thanksgiving feast has been put away -- the Thanksgiving table linens and decorations have been put away, soon to be forgotten.  But let us be careful not to lay aside our thankful heart, but may we daily take time to "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving" and begin each day remembering (in spite of some sorrows and difficulties) how very blessed we are!  

As we turn our thoughts toward the blessed Christmas season, it is so easy for our minds to be filled with shopping lists, holiday baking, etc., that we almost forget that JESUS is the reason for this blessed season!  So I, personally, just feel a need as I view the world around me to spend more time at Jesus' feet, trying to comprehend a little of the love He had for you and me, that He would be willing to leave the splendor of heaven and be born as a lowly babe in a manger!

There is an old song in our hymnal, "In Life's Quiet Hours".  I don't remember ever singing it or hearing it, but the words have been speaking to my heart, and I trust that you will join me in having some "quiet hours" as we begin our journey to Bethlehem this year.

"Often while in meditation on His love so free, comes a message from my Father spoken just to me.              Or it may be I have struggled thro' some trial sore; when my struggling turns to trusting, Lo, the trial is    o'er.  Or perchance while I am waiting still on bended knee, comes a quiet revelation of His love for me.   At my work or in my closet---almost anywhere---if in quietness I listen, I find Jesus there.

In life's quiet hours I find Him waiting for my call.  It is there He meets me, greets me, holds me lest I fall."  Amen!  

THANKSGIVING EVE --

It is Thanksgiving Eve, so let us take a few moments before we get too involved with our cooking and preparations for tomorrow to reflect upon this glorious knowledge and "Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations." 

And let us sing from our hearts -- "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."  Amen!

And from my home to yours -- "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."

THE MONDAY BEFORE ---

It is Monday morning of Thanksgiving Week, and it just seems appropriate as we begin this special week to say with the Psalmist, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord."  Amen!                         I agree with Martin Luther who said, "Next to Theology, Music is God's greatest gift to man!"  So I thought it might be a blessing to you to keep a song in your heart, and on your lips, throughout this Thanksgiving Week!  Perhaps you would like to begin and end your day by singing one of these wonderful hymns!

T -- Take Time to be Holy 

H -- Have Thine Own Way, Lord

A -- At Calvary

N -- Near the Cross

K -- King of My Life, I Crown Thee Now

S -- Standing On The Word

G -- Glory to His Name

I -- Is Your All On The Altar

V -- Victory In Jesus 

I -- I Have Settled the Question

N -- No Not One

G -- Glorious Freedom

May you sense the sweet presence of the Master as you Thank Him and Praise Him throughout this special week!!  God Bless You!                                                                                                                                

THANKSGIVING SUNDAY!

 As we look to the coming Lord's Day, Thanksgiving Sunday, it may be, for various reasons, that you will not be able to be in the house of the Lord!  But even though you may not be able to be present, physically, I am thankful that we can be together in spirit, and can lift our hearts in praise, and Thanksgiving, and worship to our wonderful Lord who has invited us to "enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise -- to be thankful unto Him, and bless His name, for He is good: His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations."

And if you are not able, physically, to be in God's House this Thanksgiving Sunday, you can "Gather Together" wherever you are, lift your voice in praise to God and sing this beautiful Thanksgiving Hymn!  This hymn, "We Gather Together", was written sometime in 1597 to celebrate Holland's freedom from Spain.  Its author, an unknown Dutchman, was full of thanksgiving that his people were finally free from Spanish tyranny, and free to worship as they chose.  I trust it will bless and challenge your heart today!

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; He chastens and hastens His will to make known;    The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing -- Sing praises to His Name: He forgets not His own.           Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining -- Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;                     So from the beginning, the fight we were winning: Thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant, and pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.                       Let Thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy Name be ever praised!  O Lord, make us free!"

And Jesus said in St. John 8:36 -- "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."             

GIVE THANKS!

It is a beautiful Wednesday morning, and I hope you have not forgotten that one week from tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day!  I'm so grateful that we have this National Holiday when we can lay aside the cares of life and just "give thanks"!  In the midst of very trying and difficult times in our nation, I think it is important that we take time to reflect on our many, many blessings and name them one by one!  You may be surprised to discover how blessed you really are!  In fact, you'll probably want to start singing---   

"I am blessed!  I am blessed!  Every day that I live, I am blessed!  When I wake up in the morning 'till I lay my head to rest--I am blessed!  I am blessed!"  I trust that you will join me this Thanksgiving week, and take some time to "Give thanks with a grateful heart; Give thanks to the Holy One; Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.  And now let the weak say, 'I am strong'!  Let the poor say, 'I am rich', because of what the Lord has done for us.  Give Thanks"!

The last five Psalms, 146-150, each begin and end with "Praise ye the Lord".  So as we begin this Thanksgiving week, let's take a Psalm each day and make sure we begin and end the day with praising our wonderful Lord!                                                                                                                                                 "Praise ye the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights.  Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts!  Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light.  Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.  Let them praise the name of the Lord: for He commanded, and they were created.  He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass.                                                                                                          Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: fire and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His word: mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is excellent: His glory is above the earth and heaven.  He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him.  Praise ye the Lord."