Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Here's the song lyricks to this wonderful Christmas carol.

When was the last time you just read the song lyricks?? Message in Song.

Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Son 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 newborn King"

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Psalm 118:24

"This is the day of the Lord's victory; let us be happy, let us celebrate."

Version TEV

Saturday, December 18, 2010

God's Christmas Gift to You

"God's Christmas gift to you has three qualities that make it unique. First, it is the most expensive gift you'll ever receive. It's priceless. Jesus paid for it with his life. Second, it's the only gift you'll ever receive that will last forever. Finally, it is an extremely practical gift - one you'll use every day for the rest of your life."

Rick Warren's "The Purpose of Christmas"

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Jesus Birthday on the Calendar

In Rick Warren's "The Purpose of Christmas" book, he points out that everytime you check your calendar or use the date you are using Jesus Christ as a reference point.

History is divided by BC (before Christ) and AD (anno Domini, in the year of the Lord)

Jesus Christ was so important that the world changed the calendar. Think about that.

My birthday (and yours) is dated by His birthday!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

It's Cold!

Here in Charlotte, it's very cold. 17 degrees right now.

How cold is it where you are??

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Pink Poinsettias

Pretty light pink poinsettias with Christmas scripture.

Luke 2:11 "A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord."

Light pink poinsettias in a soft finishLuke 2:11 A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Christmas Story in Matthew

The Message version of Matthew 2:1-20.

Mat 2:1-20
(1) After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory--this was during Herod's kingship--a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East.
(2) They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."
(3) When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified--and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well.
(4) Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
(5) They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
(6) It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."
(7) Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared.
(8) Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship."
(9) Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child.
(10) They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
(11) They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
(12) In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.
(13) After the scholars were gone, God's angel showed up again in Joseph's dream and commanded, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him."
(14) Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight.
(15) They lived in Egypt until Herod's death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: "I called my son out of Egypt."
(16) Herod, when he realized that the scholars had tricked him, flew into a rage. He commanded the murder of every little boy two years old and under who lived in Bethlehem and its surrounding hills. (He determined that age from information he'd gotten from the scholars.)
(17) That's when Jeremiah's sermon was fulfilled:
(18) A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lament. Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace, Her children gone, dead and buried.
(19) Later, when Herod died, God's angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt:
(20) "Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead."

Thursday, December 9, 2010

The Christmas Story in Luke

When was the last time you read the Christmas passage in Luke??

In Rick Warren's book "The Purpose of Christmas", he suggests reading the story when you gather with your friends and family at Christmas.

Here's The Message version.

Luk 2:1-52

(1) About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.
(2) This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
(3) Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for.
(4) So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there.
(5) He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
(6) While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
(7) She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
(8) There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep.
(9) Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified.
(10) The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide:
(11) A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
(12) This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
(13) At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
(14) Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
(15) As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us."
(16) They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
(17) Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.
(18) All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
(19) Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.
(20) The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Hands of God: December – The month for peace

The Hands of God: December – The month for peace: "“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14) December brings a chilly, gray looking sky. Colors are ..."

The Purpose of Christmas

I picked up this book the other day because I wanted to be ever mindful of the real reason for Christmas. In the following days, I want to share things from the book.

I hope you get a chance to buy this book because it's one of those that you'll keep on your bookshelf for a long time.

The Reason for the Season

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Pearl Harbor Day

69 years ago today. Let's remember those who died, the survivors and I thank them for their service.

God bless them!

Monday, December 6, 2010

By Faith

"I have gained access by faith into this grace in which I now stand, and I rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."
Romans 5:2

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Fill Me With Joy

Psalm 65:9

"Flood my dry soul with the streams of God and fill me with joy."