MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE!
Davika, Kryer, Abby, Wanda, Frisky, Ginger, and I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and may the light of Christ continue to shine on in our hearts.
“Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright, round yon Virgin, Mother, and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”
Lord, it is because of you, that silent night, when Jesus Christ was borne, that you sent your son Jesus, to be our Savior and light of this world, that we are celebrating this season of joy. Heavenly Father, bless us with your peace, calm us with your presence and sustain us you will. Heavenly Father, we need you, we need your presence to manifest in our lives, so show up this Christmas season in bold and daring ways that we may fear your name. All this we ask in your precious name. Amen!
“Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, the hope of all the earth Thou art; dear desire of every nation, the joy of every longing heart.” Thank you, Lord, for the joy that is in my heart!
“Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.”
“And they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God with us.” Thank you, Lord, for your presence in my life!
“Prepare the way O Zion your Christ is drawing near, let every hill and valley a level way appear; greet one who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story, oh, blest is Christ that comes, in God’s most holy name.”
Blessed are you, O Lord God, ruler of the universe. You call all nations to walk in your light and to seek your ways of justice and peace; for the night is past, and the dawn of your coming is near. Bless us, Lord, with your light, and make us ready to greet your Lord when he comes, and to welcome him into our hearts, for he is our light and our salvation. (BCP)
You know what time it is, now it is high time to wake out of sleep, for salvation is nearer to us than when we became believers; the night is far gone, and the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorable as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. Romans 13
“There is a voice in the wilderness crying, a call from the ways untrod, prepare in the desert a highway, a highway for our God. The valleys shall be exalted, the lofty hills brought low, make straight all the crooked places, where the Lord our God may go.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are living in trying times, we are parched like the desert and longing for spring rains, but in these times, we must learn to listen to the voice crying in the wilderness, we must seek to draw closer to God who alone is able to turn our parched places into pools of water, he is the only one who is able to send us the early and latter rains and to make all of our crooked places straight. There is a voice in the wilderness crying, urging us to prepare to meet our God. Do not ignore the message because of the messenger.
“Oh, 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. For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, while mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love. Oh, morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth, and praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.”
Lord, teach us as we diligently keep watch for the Virgin birth, to spread hope, peace, joy, and love to one and all. As we adorn our homes with Christmas lights for all to see, so too let us allow the light of Christ to shine forth from within us so that it may illumine others for the glory of God.
“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to you, O Israel.” Come Lord Jesus!
“O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times did give the law, in cloud and majesty and awe. O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem, unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save and give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to you, O Israel.”
“Lo, he comes with clouds descending once for all when thou was slain, thousand, thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Christ the Lord returns to reign.”
“Yea, Amen! let all adore thee, high on thine eternal throne; Savior, take the power and glory, claim the kingdom for thine own. O come quickly! O come quickly! O come quickly!Alleluia! Come, Lord, come!”
“Redeemer of the nations come, reveal yourself in virgin birth, the birth which ages all adore, a wondrous birth befitting a king. We wait expectantly for your coming, come Thou Lord Jesus.”
“Jesus, your cradle shines with glory’s light, its splendor pierces all our gloom, our faith reflects those radiant beams, no night shall overcome it now.” Thank you, Jesus! May you give us more grace to cast away the works of darkness and to walk in your marvelous light.