First Christmas in Heaven... author unknown

First Christmas in Heaven

 

I’ve had my first Christmas in Heaven,

A glorious, wonderful day!

I stood with saints of the ages

Who found Christ, the Truth, and the Way.

 

I sang with the heavenly choir -

Just think!  I, who so longed to sing!

And oh!  What celestial music

We brought to our Savior and King!

 

We sang the glad songs of redemption,

How Jesus of Bethlehem came,

And how they had called His name Jesus,

That all might be saved through His name.

 

We sang once again with the angels,

The song they sang that blessed morn,

When shepherds first heard the glad story

That Jesus, the Savior, was born.

 

O, dear one, I wish you had been here.

No Christmas on earth could compare

With all the rapture and glory

We witnessed in Heaven so fair.

 

You know how I always loved Christmas;

It seemed such a wonderful day,

With all my loved ones around me,

The children so happy and gay.

 

Yes, now I can see why I loved it,

And, oh, what a joy it will be

When all of my loved ones are with me,

To share in the glories I see.

 

So dear ones on earth here’s my greeting –

Look up ‘til the day’s dawn appears,

And, oh, what a Christmas awaits us

Beyond all our partings and tears.

Give Jesus Your Best Gift... by Rick Warren

I wanted to share a devotion written by Rick Warren from Saddleback Church.  It can be found on his "Purpose Driven" website at this link.

The idea of giving Jesus something for the day we celebrate His birth seems out of the ordinary, but I like the idea of putting Jesus first. Rick makes a point to say that Jesus still needs gifts, and the gifts He wants are:

1. Our trust
2. The first place in our lives
3. Our hearts
4. Other people brought to Him

I think that this is worth a thought...  Have a blessed day!

"Jesus- A Brief Life by Dr. James A. Francis"

I wanted to share this poem from Dr. James A. Francis (1864-1928), although I may not agree on every detail of his verse, I think the point he makes is that no one person has affected human history the way that Jesus did, and does.  He is the center of humanity, human history, and He is Lord!

Jesus- A Brief Life by Dr. James A. Francis

 

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another obscure village.

He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book.

He never held an office.

He never owned a home He never had a family.

A Man After God's Own Heart (Part 4)

I wanted to conclude my thoughts on David this month, and although there would be much more to say, I am going to end this theme for now…

So in our last episode, David has beheaded Goliath and the Israelites have routed the Philistines…

After that day, Saul refused to let David return to his father’s house.  Saul’s son, Jonathan, and David start a friendship that lasts for their lives.  Even after Jonathan is killed in battle, David remembers him, and takes care of his son.

David becomes a mighty warrior and King Saul sets him over all of his men of war. At some point, David is returning from battle and the women are singing and dancing with tambourines; when Saul hears their song, he begins to resent him.  From that moment on, Saul watched David because he was afraid of him.
 

A Man After God's Own Heart (Part 3)

So David has become Saul's armor bearer and plays anointed music to minister to the troubled king.  Yet occasionally he goes back to tend his father’s flocks.  Those are the times that David is refreshed in the Lord and spends intimate time with Him again.
 
Then comes the moment that changes David’s life again!  God has prepared him for this day that he slays a giant called Goliath. He has already faced a lion and a bear, while watching his father’s flocks, and has come out victorious.  His trust is in God, not in his own ability.
 
He is told by his father to take toasted grains, cheese (the original nacho chips), and bread to his brothers who were serving in King Saul’s army.  They have been camped on a mountain facing the Philistine army who was camped on a mountain facing them with a valley between them.
 
For forty days, each morning and each evening, Goliath had been taunting the Israelites (and especially King Saul- who stood a head taller that all the other men of Israel) crying out to them to send out a warrior to fight. Goliath was a giant of a man, an  intimidating dude standing about 9 feet 9 inches tall (six cubits and a span), his spearhead alone weighed the same as a bowling ball. and he walked around wearing about 150-200 lbs of armor.  He even had a servant whose job was to carry his shield for him!
 
David arrives on the scene at the moment the armies are going out to the fight and to shout for the battle. The fearful men of Israel ask David (remember, he is Saul’s armor bearer) if he had seen this man, and if he knew about the reward Saul offered anyone who would take Goliath on in battle.
 
David turns and asks about the reward just as his oldest brother Eliab comes up and overhears the conversation. He gets angry, starts to rail on David and tries to belittle him, accusing him of pride and insolence.  David does not argue or lose his focus (or temper), but he deflects the accusation with a question. He turns to someone else (ignoring his brothers words) and again asks about the rewards.