|
The Real Christmas
|
|
Christmas is not meant to be
A time which centers on thee and me,
But is a time when we recall
What God has done for each and all.
God sent Jesus down to earth.
Focus on His wondrous birth!
Rejoice in what our God has done!
He gave us Jesus Christ, His Son.
Christmas really is about
The birth of Christ. Rejoice and shout!
For God has done a glorious thing!
Carols sing and worship bring!
"Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid,
for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy
which will be to all people. For there is born to
you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you;
You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths,
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!' "
Luke 2:10-14 NKJ
© 2005 Arlene Schwartzkopf
|
|
|
Christmas Lights
|
One year at Christmas time our family became aware of an older couple who were very poor. He was ill and somewhat disabled, so she would work at odd jobs to try to earn a little money here and there, but they didn't have enough.
Our children were in grade school, and we didn't have much extra, but I was moved that we needed to do something to bring the joy of Christmas to this couple.
So I went to the nursery and bought a small Christmas tree about three feet tall. Then I suggested to our children that we should look through our Christmas decorations and choose some light strings and ornaments to put on the tree. Having done that, we set out to go visit this couple.
When we arrived at their door, they were totally surprised. We set up the tree, and the children decorated it for them. They were delighted just to have children come to see them. My mom gave them a small gift, and they were thrilled because the man needed a watch and now he would be able to get one.
It didn't seem like we had done much, but to this couple it meant really a lot. They had not had a Christmas tree for many years, and their apartment wasn't a cheerful place at all. It simply was all they could afford. The colored twinkle lights on the tree seemed to transform the whole situation, and the fact that we had come lifted them up when they were really down.
This only took one afternoon of our time, but afterwards we were so glad that we had done it.
"But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he."
Proverbs 14:21b NKJ
© 2005 Arlene Schwartzkopf
|
|
|
Christmas Eve
|
|
Jesus came on Christmas eve.....
Within your heart to stay,
He brought so many gifts for you,
To celebrate that special day.
As you have opened up each one
And made discovery,
He began to shine through you
In love and grace and harmony.
Now He'll "decorate" anew.....
A new work to begin,
As in this lovely Christmas season
Again He rests within.
He'll spread His love and give you joy,
He'll light a fire warm,
And fill you richly once again
With yet more giftings which transform.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad!
His gifts are always new,
He'll fill your life with many riches.....
His Christmas gift to you.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and comes down from the Father of
lights, with whom there is no variation
or shadow of turning.
James 1:17 NKJ
"For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should
walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10 NKJ
© 2004 Arlene Schwartzkopf
|
|
|
Bethlehem Town
|
|
The still of night o'er Bethlehem lay
When Mary came her child to birth.
She found no place in which to stay
To bring her child of greatest worth,
Except a stable,
But God was able.....
Slumbering Bethlehem did not know
What was happening in her midst that eve.
That a tiny babe in a manger low
Was Christ the Lord..... She didn't perceive.
But the shepherds came.
They proclaimed His name.....
A small beginning..... this tiny flame
That was lit in Bethlehem town that night,
As silently the Christ child came
The course of history to rewrite.
The wise men knew.....
Wise men still do.....
Have you lived in Bethlehem town
And missed this story of great renown?
The manger still remains today.
Will you give Jesus room to stay?
God sent love.....
.....from above.
"God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved.”
John 3:17 NKJ
© 2003 Arlene Schwartzkopf
|
|