Devotion for today: 20 Beautiful Children

‘Twas 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38...

when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air...
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

Devotion for today: have yourself a blessed, blessed Christmas Day!

 

 

Here are some thoughts on Christmas by Fulton J. Sheen

Chistmas

What is Peace? Peace is the tranquility of order...body to soul and of man to God.

There are two births of Christ: One unto this world in Bethlehem, the other in the soul when it is spiritually reborn. Both result from a kind of Divine invasion.

What can I Give?
There is only one thing in the world that is really our own--and that is our will...Our will is ours for all eternity. That is why the most precious gift that one can give to another is his will.

There were only two classes of people who heard the cry Christmas night: shepherds and wise men. Shepherds: those who know they know nothing. Wise men: those who know they do not know everything. Only the very simple and very learned discovered God -- never the man with one book.

The Christmas gift of peace was the uncoiling of the links of a triple chain that first unites a person with God, then with himself, then with his neighbor. ("Peace" from Rejoice)

The Christmas secret of peace is giving this secret garden and our whole human nature to God, as Mary gave Christ His human nature. Christmas reminds us that the reason we are not as happy as saints is because we do not wish to be saints. (Rejoice)

http://www.archbishopfultonsheencentre.com/Quotes.html

 



Devotion for today: The time of Christ’s coming is near!!

 

The King shall come when morning dawns

The King shall come when morning dawns
and light triumphant breaks;
when beauty gilds the eastern hills
and life to joy awakes.

Not, as of old, a little child,
to bear and fight and die,
but crowned with glory like the sun
that lights the morning sky.

The King shall come when morning dawns
and earth's dark night is past;
O haste the rising of that morn,
the day that e'er shall last;

And let the endless bliss begin,
by weary saints foretold,
when right shall triumph over wrong,
and truth shall be extolled.

The King shall come when morning dawns
and light and beauty brings:
Hail, Christ the Lord! Thy people pray,
come quickly, King of kings.

Words: Greek; trans. John Brownlie, 1907

My thoughts: This hymn reminds us today, Christmas Eve, that as we prepare for the festivities of tomorrow, we are going to celebrate the coming of Christ, our King, not Santa Clause! As adults, we must be awed and overwhelmed at the idea that God chose to come to earth as a baby, in poor conditions, born to a virgin and sought by Herod to be put to death. He was loved by those who believed in Him, and hated by those who didn’t. He was killed and then triumphantly rose, and He will come again. This hymn reminds us that tomorrow is the birth of the the Baby Jesus, but our King reigns, and will come again in glory. The darkness which covered the earth at His first coming reminds many of us of the darkness which covers our world today. But we are ever hopeful. The last verse tells us that Christ brings light and beauty. Those of us who believe in Him live in that world, one where we pray, “Come Quickly, King of Kings.” May your Christmas Eve be filled with a child-like anticipation, not for the coming of Santa, but for the coming of Christ the King, whose gifts of peace, love and eternal life, will never break or grow old.