©Jeanne E Webster
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It isn’t far to Bethlehem town—
It is anywhere that
Christ comes down
And finds in some one’s
Shining face
A welcome, and a biding place.
The road to Bethlehem
Runs right through
The homes of people
Like me and you—
~anonymous
What a gracious thought. We’re all on the same road, Christian brothers and sisters. Let us sing praises this Christmas of unity and love, one for another. May the Body of Christ be born anew and Love shine all around. Amen
©Jeanne E Webster
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Are you ready for Christmas? I guess that depends on what I mean by “Christmas.”
Is your shopping done? Have you gotten all the gifts on your list?
If not, you’re not ready for Christmas. It takes quite an organized person to bring this about so early in the season. You still have over two weeks to shop, select necessary items, make catalog purchases, order gifts online, and perhaps have time remaining to gift wrap, package, ship out, then take a deep breath of relief. You’ve got it all in hand. You’ve done your duty, to family and friends.
On the other hand…are you ready for Christmas? Are you ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ?
No shopping list needed, no gifts to buy, no weeks of shopping ahead, no hurrying and scurrying here and there in a frantic rush amid the masses. All you need is an open heart and a listening ear.
Do you hear the music? Listen…with your heart and spirit:
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O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
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For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth;
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.
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How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.
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O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. Amen
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Father, we celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ…
Your Heavenly gift to us so long ago on that dark night in Bethlehem town. No one heard His coming as Mary gave birth in a lowly manger. The angels heralded the news to meek souls below, as they told us that a Savior was born, which was Christ our Lord. As we sing praises and glory to you this Christmas day, we give thanks for this precious Child, our King. Come into our hearts, abide with us, O Lord, be born in us today! In His dear name we pray, amen.
Are you truly ready for Christmas? May we join together and say a heartfelt amen to that. AMEN!
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©Jeanne E Webster
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Once upon a long ago time
Time when days were dark
Dark was hunkered all around
Around old Jerusalem town
Town was ruled by ole Herod
Herod, nasty king of Judea
Judea held little Bethlehem
Bethlehem birthed a Child
Child was baby, Son of God
God so loved the whole world
World was lost in terrible sin
Sin was finally overcome
Overcome by the shed blood
Blood of Jesus, our Lord
Lord of heaven and earth
Earth saw the shining Light
Light chased the darkness
Darkness ran, driven away
Away it fled from the Son
Son rose up from the dead
Dead souls shall one day rise
Rise up into God’s heaven
Heaven is our eternal home
Home with God and Jesus
Jesus our Savior and King
Amen!
Image by kelsey_lovefusionphoto via Flickr
He is There
©2011 Jeanne E. Webster
Luke 2:15-16 “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe (was) lying in a manger.” (KJV)
Ring the bells! We have a New Year presented to us by Almighty God and through this gift, let us submit to Him and allow Him to create within us a new spirit. May You renew our hearts and minds, O heavenly Father, that we might see more clearly the things that are from You and give You thanks. Amen!
As the shepherds sought out the Christ-child with haste, let us do likewise.
Throughout this New Year let us get re-acquainted with this Christ, our Savior, this Person Who lives within our hearts.
Yes, we are all getting older; some of us are older, older! Yet we can still let Jesus walk with us and talk with us. He reminds us of His peace, joy, and love. Whether we lie on beds of painful affliction or can no longer hear well enough to listen to a sermon, Christ is still there. If we would only drop the worn and tattered garment of SELF, we would see more clearly the blessings all around us that He has provided.
He is in the family member who comes to cheer you, the caring friend who greets you with a big smile, the letter or card from someone who has thought of you. The good hot meals you eat every day, the sunrise each morning, the air you breathe, the song of the bird outside your window… in everything that ministers to you each and every day, He is there!
“In everything…give thanks.” (jew)
~Shalom
©2010 Jeanne E. Webster
“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie…”
Plodding into the small city Joseph and Mary sought shelter after their week-long trek from Nazareth. It was census time; registration was mandatory. It was also an important time in their lives. Mary would soon give birth to their first born child. Unable to find room in a lodging house, they huddled in an animal shed to find solace and rest under the still night sky.
“For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love…”
An angel suddenly appeared in the night sky to a group of shepherds tending their sheep. Though deeply frightened, they listened to the “good tidings of great joy.” Moments later a myriad of angels hovered above them, praising God and declaring, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” The shepherds hurried to the manger to worship this “Savior,” to see firsthand this babe who was “Christ the Lord.” They returned to their flocks glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen in the still of that night.
“O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.”
Come, our Lord Emmanuel, come into our hearts this day. Open our ears so we too may hear the wonderful news from on high, “Behold I bring you tidings of great joy…for unto you is born this day…a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” May we take this into our hearts as a personal invitation, a Gift with our name on it, a blessing we sorely need. Like Mary and Joseph, we have been on an arduous journey and have found no lodging for our weary souls. Yet, out of the stillness of this Nativity night, we find solace and rest in Your wondrous message.
“O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.” Amen. (jew)
[Words in italics taken from "O Little Town of Bethlehem" written by Phillip Brooks; scripture from Luke 2:1-20 KJV]
