Away in a manger . . .

“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.  The little Lord Jesus, no crying He made.”

I’m sure Jesus cried, just like all other babies do, but His weeping was not limited to His infanthood.  He wept at other times.  Read  “Crying He Made!” on the sidebar.

Christmas Greetings

We wish all of our friends a Merry Christmas. May He who loves us so intensely bring peace and joy to your hearts during this season.

(This poem can be read down each column or from side to side.)

He is the Christ!

a teaching rhyme by Jerry Collier

Near the city of David,
in Bethlehem. . . . . . . . . . . . . He was despised and
`                                                       rejected by men.
A babe in a manger,
No room in the inn. . . . . . . . .All of iniquity
`                                                        laid upon Him.
An angel appeared to the
Shepherds that night. . . . . . . .A man of deep sorrow
`                                                         and grief was His plight.
“I bring you good news
of great joy and delight” . . . . .A Lamb to the slaughter,
`                                                          He put up no fight.
“Today in this town,
A Savior is born” . . . . . . . . . . Stricken and crushed,
`                                                         oppressed and forlorn,
“He is the Christ,”
All angels adorn. . . . . . . . . . .Though pierced for our sorrows,
`                                                        they laughed Him to scorn.
“Glory to God,
and peace be to all” . . . . . . . . His body disfigured;
`                                                         appearance appall.
The angels announcing,
Heaven’s enthral  . . . . . . . . . Cut off from the living;
`                                                       An offering for all.

. . . . and we by His wounds are healed!

“Gold!”

With fear of the weakening dollar, the price of gold has surged to new highs. But with all the commotion and uncertainty, one more level headed has said, “The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all of your money.” -Anonymous

Be content with food and clothes. 1 Tim. 5:6-8
Do not make money your ‘gold’.
Seek faith and love and godliness
And you will have riches untold.

You who are rich in the present world, 1 Tim. 5:17-19
Be rich in good deeds and share.
Wealth is uncertain but God is not.
In Him you have ‘gold’ to spare.

Who is He?

Ex 3:13-15
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites:  ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob — has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.  NIV

One of the most important names for God in the Old Testament is Yahweh, or Jehovah, from the verb “to be,” meaning simply but profoundly, “I am who I am,” and “I will be who I will be.”

One of the most important questions we can ask is  “Who is He?” and “What name does He go by?”  The poem “All in All” approaches this question,  from the magnificent to the personal.  It can be viewed by clicking “All in All” in the sidebar.

Happy Thanksgiving!

God is good and I am grateful.  Click on “Grateful” in the sidebar.

Exalted!

a teaching rhyme                                                  by Jerry Collier

. . . you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  Rom 8:15 NIV

Sovereign, Invisible,
Infinite, Immortal,
Unchanging, Eternal;

Exalted, Pre-eminent,
Transcending, Magnificent,
Almighty, Omnipotent;

In Glory, Resplendent,
In Wisdom, Omniscient,
His Being, All Sufficient;

. . . And His children call Him Dad!

Wake Up!

This four verse poem presents a very important aspect of Christian theology–that salvation, as presented in the Scriptures, has three tenses.  Verse one concerns past tense salvation, verse two is in the present tense, and verse three is future tense salvation.  The fourth verse summarizes all three.  Read this poem carefully and identify this basic Christian concept that aides our understanding of God’s Word.  I have been saved,  I am being saved, and  I will be saved.  All are true!  Read “Wake Up O Sleeper” in the sidebar.

In ancient days . . . . .

“In ancient days, in times that long have past;
God chose a man named Abraham to bless.
‘Leave this land.   Go to Canaan.  Possess.’
So Abram went and pitched his tent and cast
His lot with God.”

Thus begins the story of a covenant, a promise of a kingdom that passes on through many generations, right up to the present time; a covenant that encapsulates the greatest story in all of history.  Read “The Kingdom Story” in the sidebar.

Fair or Stormy?

Matt 16:1-4

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.  He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’  and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You knowhow to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”  NIV

There has been  much discussion over the years about “the signs of the times,” especially as it relates the the second coming of Christ.  I heard it once said that things are going to get horribly bad right before things get wonderfully good.  This is a case where the words “awesome fear” actually fits.  We stand in wonderment and awe at what He is about to do; yet with trembling fear at what is about to take place.  Matthew 24 and I Thessalonians 4:13-18 both speak of this event, but from different perspectives.  Read “The Sign of His Coming” in the sidebar.

Every Path Leads Somewhere!

The thoughts we ponder are important.  Every thought leads to another and eventually takes us down a path that leads somewhere.  But, do we want to go where it leads?  Our ponderings are not irrelevant.  Thoughts have consequences.   Read carefully the ideas set forth in the poem “Thoughts Have Consequences” in the sidebar.