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Quiet now Listen to the snow Fall upon the ground Falling, falling Covering every fault I ever had Softly, tenderly, quietly From the hand of God Blessed be the Christ-child Who became a holy man Filled with sorrow and despair All because of sin From the hearts of men Triumphant in the end As angels sang alleluia Amen and amen and amen (Written on Christmas morn, 2014)
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ALL FOR THE BEST Wrote Robert Browning... "I have lived, seen God's hand through a lifetime, and all was for the best." Browning's philosophy is easy to accept when our path is smooth and there are no stones in our shoes. But, what of the tough times? During traumas filled with sorrow and pain? Does Browning's affirmation still ring true? We believe it does, especially if we accept the scriptural truth..."All things work for good to those who love God." (Romans 8:28) God constantly reaches out for the hand of every person. Some of us have been drawn closer to Him in times of happiness and joy, But, we suspect many more have come to know him best in times of trials and stress. It is in the most difficult of times, the very worst of times, that we may witness God's best. For the deeper we search for him. the closer he comes toward us. And we are comforted still. (First published on December 4, 2014, Revisions made on December 30,2021) WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE (12.2021)? That's the question millions of us in America, and around the globe, are asking. Will 2022 be any different, or any better than the last two years of this Covid-19 pandemic. Will 2022 be more to our liking, our satisfaction? How high are our hopes, our dreams, our ambitions? Do we simply give up, or may we re-energize, push ahead, with new hope, renewed faith, that the God who made us, will again sustain us and see us through? Answers are not always simple or easy to obtain. We hope, for you, and for us, that the light will brightly shine and the new year will be filled with God's goodness and sacredness. The Lord willing. (Written and published on December 29, 2021) OUT OF THE TUNNEL 163 An unknown writer has written... "Some of us may enter the light sooner than others. But we are all moving toward it" A train in a tunnel does not bring each passenger out of the tunnel, out of the darkness, into the light of day, at the same time Those in the front part of the train are the first to see a glimmer of light. They leave the tunnel behind while many of their fellow passengers are still in the dark. Even so, while the train is still in the tunnel all are moving towards the light. So, all who have started on the journey towards health of body and soul may reach their destination as long as they continue toward the light. Out of the tunnel Into the light Hello to sunshine Goodbye to the night Farewell to wrongdoing If we cling to the right Victory is ours If we'll stay in the fight (First published on May 4, 1976) with revisions made on December 18, 2021) GO FORWARD 696 "The business of life," wrote Samuel Johnson is to go forward" Through failures or successes, go forward Through rough times or smooth, go forward Through the heart aches and the tears, The victories and the cheers, go forward, Be not overly affected by the happenings of this day This day shall pass away and And another one most likely will take its place The sun still comes up in the morning Press on (First published on November 15, 1979, with revisions made on November 3, 2021) LUKE 2:1-20 THE CHRISTMAS STORY And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed, And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and linage of David--to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But, Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them. CHRISTMAS (2012) Christ Jesus was born for you and me His name shall be called Wonderful, Risen now, with healing in his wings Into His courts we shall come with praise Son of Mary, Son of God, the begotten one The Prince of Peace, our Lord on high May God bless you with his love Amid the chaos, the baby Jesus sleeps Silently, Bethlehem lies, quiet and deep CHRISTMAS 2021 Snow all around floating toward the ground Sunday bells are ringing really love the sound Old Dobbin to the shay what a day to play Sing Christmas hymns with loud accord Pick up the plow drop the sword Christ was born to save us all Shall we not heed his call Bless the Lord with all our might Banish all darkness with His light He'll always treat us as His friend And travel with us 'till the end (Written on December 11, 2021 and published on December 12, 2021) FURTURE CONCERNS "We should all be concerned," wrote Charles Kettering, "about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there." Perhaps the reason most of us may wind up being ill equipped to live in the future is that we spend too much time squandering the present and fretting about the past. Can we not see that our present thoughts quite often determine our future actions. And, we cannot escape our future any more than we can ignore the present or deny the past. We would speak well of the past, for it is by remembering the past that we become educated. We would applaud the present moment, for only in the present moment does any action take place. We would extol the virtues of the future, for the future permits us to dream, to envision, to hope and to plan. Without the future, there could be no past and our present would be shallow indeed. (First published on December 29, 2012) |
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