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© 2011 Connie Faust
Daddy-Love for Boys
"C H R I S T M A S I S A B O U T H A L L E L U J A H !"
REJOICE!
The story of the birth of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, has been related countless times through the years. It's a story without equal, shining with a light that could only have its origins in the heaven of heavens.
Replete with adventure, surprise, bravery and deprivation, it resonates through the centuries as a revelation of God's gracious mercy, laid in a feed trough. Royalty-under-wraps, a soft, vulnerable new-born babe holds the fate of mankind in his tiny hands, those same hands that in 33 years would receive the spikes that would nail his body and our sins to a splintered wooden cross.
From the Manger to the Throne
by Connie Hinnen Cook
"C H R I S T M A S I S A B O U T H A L L E L U J A H !"
REJOICE!
“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things
from the wise and learned, and
revealed them to little children.
Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."
(Luke 10:21)
CELEBRATE JESUS
by Connie Hinnen Cook
Celebrate Jesus! Christmas is here!
Great jubilation, excitement and cheer!
Time to rejoice at the Christ Child's new birth ~
Celebrate Jesus' coming to earth!
Celebrate Jesus! Praise the Most High!
Ring out the bells and shout to the sky!
Laugh like a slave who is granted release ~
Jesus, Emmanuel, the Prince of Peace.
Celebrate Jesus! Put up the lights!
Dance like the angels, soar to new heights!
Give Him all glory, honour and praise ~
Jesus is born, the Ancient of Days!
Celebrate Jesus! The King of kings!
He who created the earth and all things,
God of the universe, come to our sphere ~
Celebrate Jesus! Christmas is here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even the angels celebrated at the birth of King Jesus!
The angel spoke to the shepherds,
"I bring you the most joyful news ever announced,
and it is for everyone!
The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord --
has been born tonight in Bethlehem!
How will you recognize Him?
You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket,
lying in a manger!"
Suddenly the angel was joined by a vast host of others -- the armies of heaven -- praising God:
"Glory to God in the highest heaven," they sang,
"and peace on earth for all those pleasing Him."
(from Luke 2:10b -15, The Living Bible)
 | ||||||
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
"I have seen the Savior You have given to the world.
He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and He will be the glory of your people Israel!"
* And Featuring the Poetry of the Late Connie Hinnen-Cook
CHRISTMAS IS . . . . .
by Jonny
Christmas is about Hallelujah!
Jesus. . . . . .and snowflakes. . . . . .
Santa Claus and his Honey. . . . . .
Kids love presents
under the Christmas tree!
Christmas is the Greatest! ! !
WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT CHRISTMAS
by Jimmy
Christmas day; not June or May --
The thing that I like about Christmas day
is that Jesus has his birthday that day!
The way we celebrate Christmas
is to celebrate God
and to trust Him all our life.
CHRISTMAS
by Susan
Christmas is the time of year
To me that is so very dear.
Not because of the presents --
Not because of the tree --
The reason to me, you see
is, Jesus was born on Christmas day!
. . . . "CHRISTMAS NIGHT". . . .
by Kim
On this night . . . .
In Bethlehem was a couple named
Joseph & Mary . . .
Mary was going to have a baby!
They tried to find room
but all the rooms were taken.
So they stayed in a stable.
And that night she had a baby boy!
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes
and laid him in the manger.
Then an angel appeared to them
and said. . . . "I bring you
news of great joy. Your son
is a Savior. He is Christ the Lord!"
And then a star appeared in the sky,
And all the people sang!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jonny, Jimmy, Susan, and Kim, though
they are children, understand that the
birth of Jesus is the most important
thing about Christmas.
Messiah, Master, King of Kings, no longer babe are You,
Everlasting Father, Lord, it's time the whole world knew:
Rabboni, please teach us that you are a babe no more,
Righteous judge, You reign supreme, the king which we adore.
You are now the Cornerstone, the hope of all the earth.
Chosen One, we praise you as we celebrate your birth.
Hope of glory, our High Priest, we lift our hearts in praise,
Rising Sun, Lord Jesus Christ, You set our hearts ablaze;
Immanuel, You left Your throne, came down to earth to be
Sacrificial Lamb, aware you'd end up on that tree.
True light, shine into our hearts, and make our spirits yearn;
Mighty God, make every heart prepared for your return.
Alpha and Omega, you are worthy, you alone,
Saviour, turn our focus from the Manger to the Throne!
Another side of Christmas is GIVING.
Jesus is the greatest GIVER of all!
He gave up His place in heaven to come to earth.
He gave up His glory
and became one of us,
a mere mortal.
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death --
even death on a cross!"
Philippians2:5-8 NIV
Every gift we have to give can be used
to glorify God. After all, He was just
a baby that first Christmas Day.
JUST A SAVIOR
Just a poor couple, so young and in love,
Yielding their lives to Jehovah above
Just an old stable, the animals' home,
Shelt'ring the travelers; no longer they roam
Just a gray donkey, an ox and a lamb,
Sharing warm breath with the tiny I Am
Just a wood manger, becoming a bed,
Fit for the Christ Child to cradle His head.
Just some clean straw, tiny infant to hold;
While angels who guard Him in wonder behold
Just God in mercy, the Almighty One,
Sending redemption through Jesus, His Son
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary and Joseph were GIVERS. They gave their
reputations in order to remain faithful to God first
of all, and also to each other.
Mary, struggling through advanced pregnancy,
rode on the back of a donkey for many miles,
only to be denied a welcoming room and
a comfortable bed.
Joseph cared for Mary on the long
journey, searched wearily for a haven in
Bethlehem, and helped his betrothed through the
difficult experience of giving birth-- in
a stable!
THE JOURNEY'S END
Never had she expected it to turn out this way,
jostled on the donkey's back thru all this tiresome day.
The little one inside of her liked to jostle, too;
Mary knew the angel's words would soon be coming true.
It seemed the trip to Bethlehem would never, ever end.
Surely they'd reach a shelter just around the next bend.
Her aching back cried out for rest, a welcoming bed;
was that the Inn of Bethlehem looming there ahead?
She watched as her dear Joseph knocked on a wooden door,
but at each door he knocked on, the answer was "No more!"
Her hands reached down to soothe the babe as He kicked inside;
hopeless tears slid down her cheeks, and Mary softly cried.
Then she heard a kind voice gently say, "I know a place."
(He hadn't made the offer 'till he glanced at Mary's face.)
Their haven was a stable; this was Jehovah's provision.
To gladly praise Him for it, was Mary's wise decision.
Mary, the little mother, was so weary that long night.
Her baby boy was born as the stars shone down their light.
She tenderly held the Christ-child, caressed his fuzzy head,
then laid Him oh, so gently in the cozy manger-bed.
Visitors would be coming soon to see her royal son;
an angel's proclamation had told them He was The One.
But for now, she was exhausted beyond what words could say.
Mary slipped into sweet slumber, nestled in the hay.
"...the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to
her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths,
and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn."
(Luke 2:6 & 7, Revised Standard Version)
| ||||||
THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM
TO THE HIGHEST PLACE
AND GAVE HIM THE NAME
THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME,
THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS
EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW,
IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH
AND UNDER THE EARTH,
AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD,
TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11, NIV
How old does a poem have to be to be called "A Classic"?
I remember seeing this one perhaps 35 years ago. It's a
hard-hitting parody of The Night Before Christmas, which
I share with you today for Christmas 2011.
The poem is often credited to Audrey Patricia Woolverton.
'Twas The Night Before Jesus Came
'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a person was praying, not one in the house.
The Bibles were left on the shelf without care,
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby in her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the east there rose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
The light of His face made me cover my head--
It was Jesus! returning, just as He said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said, "It's not here" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is now drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all.
~Audrey Patricia Woolverton~
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND! AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.
This poem was written by a Marine. The following is his request.
I have honored it by sharing his poem with you. By passing it on, you
will be showing your love for those who protect us and the freedom we love.
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can?
Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women
for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.
Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead,
who sacrificed themselves for us.
Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.
© 2011 Connie M. Faust
All Rights Reserved By Law
Joseph was called upon to lead Mary, pregnant
with the Christ-child, on a long and difficult journey.
Over 2,000 years later, our men and women
in The Armed Services are being called upon
to risk life and limb in the name of freedom,
traveling thousands of miles to serve on
foreign fields.
One such soldier, a Marine, has written this
version of The Night Before Christmas,
portraying the visit of Santa to the home
where the brave soldier was living on that
Christmas Eve.
A SOLDIER’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
A SOLDIER’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
They made their way to Bethlehem
this quiet, humble pair,
It's said they came for the census
but something much larger happened there . .
They say there was no room at the Inn
for the virgin to give birth
To the Word of God, Our Savior,
when he lovingly came to earth . . .
Hosanna in the highest!
All hail the new born babe,
upon whose shoulders rests the fate
of all God's earthly creation,
Jesus, the Christ who came below
to show us the path to eternal salvation.
Bless this day and praise His name
in thankfulness today and always,
No other name could compare --
What a glorious, wonderful day of days!
© 2011Theodore B. Rutkoskie
A Special Christmas Present:
A Poem written by Connie's Brother!
