"I tell you there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Luke 15:7).
Another Christmas! What? Already?
It seems we've just had the last one!
More gifts to buy, and cards to be sending
The jingles and carols have even begun!
Another visit from all of the family
So many things yet to be done
But those dear faces around the big table
Are precious and loved, yes, every one
Another chance for every person
Amid all the festive-time fun
To stop and think, "All this celebration
Is really in honour of God's perfect Son."
Another life is touched by the season
A soul to Him has been won
The greatest gift by Him has been given
And another wonderful Christmas has come
"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savoir has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10)
"Put Christ back into Christmas"
You often hear it said
It doesn't belong to Santa
In his merry coat of red
The dazzling lights and music
And everyone excited
It isn't hard to understand
That often He is slighted
They pushed Him in the background
Of Jingle bells and snow
But how they keep Him
Out of Easter
I will NEVER know
"This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day"
(Luke 24:46).
Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe ...
Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" (Luke 24:25,26).
There are flowers that stand for Christmas
Poinsettia is the best
So why not one for Easter
Yellow Cassia, I suggest
It's not a shrub you'd notice much
When it is just in green
But when it blooms so suddenly
Its loveliness is seen
It comes out every Autumn
Just around that time of year
A bright and glorious sign of life
A life that Christians hold so dear
This plain bush tells of Jesus
When He walked among men
But when He rose on Easter morn
We saw His beauty then
"Your father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matthew 6:8).
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father" (Matthew 10:29)
Here's a tale of sparrows (two)
Call one yellow, the other blue
The first, like me, so bleak and sad
The other made me very glad
Led, helpless with fatigue, you see
To where I had no wish to be
Cruel cunning winning (so it seemed)
A victory over all I'd dreamed
But on the way, as I looked down
I saw the blue one on the ground
"God knows that sparrow's lying there
So need I doubt this loving care?"
The time went on, I persevered
Only, deep in my heart, He cheered
His wandering one; but soon I found
Another place on solid ground
As there in church once more I sat
O, joy! alighting on my hat
My yellow sparrow - flown to hide
By stained glass windows held inside
It was the most blessed of days
My service to the Lord was praised
The pulpit Bible was appointed
I felt as if by Him anointed
And so you see, when all seems lost
When life is hard, and tempest tossed
Remember, sparrows fall, it's true
But God is always there for you
"Every good and perfect gift is from above,
Coming down from the father of the heavenly lights,
Who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).
I had a pretty greeting card.
I had tucked it away
To send to someone special
Maybe brighten up their day.
It said; "Life is a tapestry
Of colours dark and light,
And God sends them all
To make it turn out right."
That is a nice thought, but I knew
This card I couldn't send
Until I knew what I believed
Before I showed a friend.
Do troubles come from God above?
We've quite enough from here
To fill in all the dark parts
Wherever they appear.
Although in His great Wisdom
There are things He does allow,
The Lord in His compassion,
And because He loves us so,
Would only send us good things-
So the card so sweet, but grim
Was torn in little pieces
And thrown in the bin!
"... God appointed Jesus of Nazareth
With the Holy Spirit and power
... He went around doing good and healing
All who were under the power of the devil,
Because God was with him" (Acts 10.38).
