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THE GREAT AMULET “To love is the great Amulet that makes this world a garden.” -Robert Louis Stevenson Thy love O Lord What great and gracious Charm this be That wards off all The evil one may send And purchases for us Thy calm serenity Hang gently round our necks O charm of fragrance sweet Make of this evil world A refuge and retreat And cause the winds Of pain and sorrow Waft rose petals At our feet (Written in 1979)
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THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN AND THE LITTLE GIRL I rapidly made my way toward the library. It was a cold and very windy Saturday. It was a couple of hundred yards from warm car to warm building. Nearing the steps of the library, I was complementing myself for only having a few more feet to go, thinking surely I could hang in there without becoming the abominable snowman. Suddenly a little girl age six or seven hopped by, trying to skip her rope with only fair to moderate success. She was attired with coat, mittens, and stocking cap. She seemed oblivious to the windy cold. She was unconsciously concentrating, seeking success, and enjoying herself. And I, I was just trying to get inside quickly. Hey! That little girl is going to make out okay! Say, if she can make it, so can I. Indeed, so can I, said the abominable snowman. (Written in 1978) WINTER IS THE TIME FOR YOUTH Winter is the time for youth They view not this season As common or uncouth But believe with all their hearts That this blustery winter season Was 'specially created just for them Now while winter with its bitter cold May not be pleasurable for those grown old Winter truly is the time for youth Or so we've been told By little ones with frost-bitten toes And tiny cherry cheeks and ruddy nose We take it for the truth With great veracity Winter is the time for youth (Written in 1979) WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT Who would have thought It could have happened Exactly as it did That a tiny babe In a manger born Would become The King of kings Who would have thought That God would have sent His son to earth this way So meek and mild Just another child A lying in a crib Who would have thought Angels would appear To a simple band of shepherds Tending their flocks On a starlit night Singing anthems clear Who would have thought Magistrates with wealth galore Would leave their specious homes And travel from afar To search for a babe unknown But then, wise men seek him still (Written in December, 1978) NO MORE BUZZ During the Christmas holidays, Donna became caught up in one of those "plastic bowl" parties that are so prevalent at this time of year. I wound up as the upstairs baby sitter, while Donna played hostess downstairs. At the party's end we had received a digital clock-radio. I didn't know at first if I was going to like it or not, but after the first morning of being awakened by soft, soothing music, I quickly decided it was much more enjoyable than the old buzz, buzz, buzz that we had awakened to for so many years. Everyone likes to be blessed at Christmas time. With the gift of our new radio, we knew that the Lord had used a small item to bestow upon us a great blessing (Written in January, 1979) CHRISTMAS (1978) O, Christmas babe, O Christmas babe We rejoice to see thy star Come fill our hearts With glad rejoicings For now and evermore O, Christmas babe, O Christmas babe To all the word impart Love, patience, peace And tenderness In every human heart O, Christmas babe, O Christmas babe Return our hearts to thee Make ready our tongues To praise thy name In joyous felicity O, Christmas babe, O Christmas babe O, child of humble birth Send forth thy Holy Spirit From thy manger stall To all children of the earth O, Christmas babe, O Christmas babe Expectantly we look forward To when every knee shall bend And every tongue confess That Jesus Christ is Lord AT WINTERTIME Perhaps it is not Too difficult To be children again If we truly wish to be If our hearts are right With God Then our homes Shall become our havens And our foes Shall become our friends And our doubts Shall become our hopes And there shall be A new spirit in the land At wintertime (Written in January, 1979) THE GIFT OF A CHILD The gift of a child Is a wonderful thing It makes the heart Skip a beat And resurging hope Take wing The gift of a child Is a magical thing It makes old folks Grow younger And silent voices Sing The gift of a child Is a most holy thing A gift far greater Than any Magi Ever could bring (Written in December, 1978) IN TOUCH We recently purchased a very exciting little book entitled, "In Touch," that contains selections from The Living Bible, a paraphrase by Kenneth Taylor. Nearly ever page seems to jump out at us and say, "This is for you." We heartedly recommend this script. Speaking of getting in touch, we hope that as you head down Christmas holiday road that you'll get in touch... With that loved one you've neglected to call on for so long With that next door neighbor that you've been too busy to see With that old enemy whose wounds have long been forgotten and forgiven With that old friend with whom you have been separated by distance and miles With the Lord of your life through the witness of the Word, that your life may be changed for the better. O yes, now is the time to get in touch. (Written in October, 1978) WHAT IF What if there had been no decree of taxation two thousand years ago? Would Mary and Joseph have travelled to Bethlehem? What if shepherds had not been tending their flocks on the Judean hiisides? Who would have heard the angelic choir? What if certain intellectuals from the East had not meticulously studied the scriptures and ancient prophesies concerning the signs of the times? Would we still have called them wise men? What if there had been several inns with many vacancies? Would Jesus still have been born of humble birth? And, most importantly of all, what if Christ had never entered our world as a tiny baby? Who would have given us the light and the hope we so desperately need to lead a full and abundant spiritual life? Over this Christmas season, we joyously celebrate God's greatest miracle, the birth of his son, Jesus Christ. (Written in December, 1978 568) |
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