A Christmas Prayer

I sometimes envy past generations because they had the ability to simply enjoy Christmas for what it is….the birth of Our Savior, Jesus.

The exchanging of gifts was to represent a birthday celebration. Yet somehow the greatest gift is lost in the commercialism that Christmas has become. God’s gift to man….his only Son.

As you sit down for your Christmas dinner this year, take inventory of God’s blessings in your life. We live in an imperfect world, and at times we can feel consumed by all the hate and sorrow we witness. We ask ourselves “what can I do to help?”

You can let God’s grace stay strong in your heart and share his message. Buy one less gift for each person, and give that money to charity. Because this season as many of us agonizes over trying to find a Zhu Zhu, there are children in this world who will not see their next birthday. As each of us worries about “putting on a few extra pounds,” there are parents struggling to feed their families. And as we gather with family and friends, there sits a person alone…thinking that they are not loved. But if each of us holds ourselves to the standard set by Jesus Christ, and do what ever we can to help our neighbors, we can keep the true meaning of Christmas alive.

So this Christmas, may God’s grace bless your home and shine into heart. May you find your meaning in life through God’s Peace.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

A Christmas Canon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cP26ndrmtg

Lyrics to a Christmas Canon:

This night
We pray
Our lives
Will show

This dream
He had
Each child
Still knows

We are waiting
We have not forgotten

On this night
On this night
On this very
Christmas night

Silent Night, Holy Night

There truly is a Spirit of Christmas that transcends the worldly events that somehow occupy mans being on Earth. One such event is war. There is no more brutal expression of man’s ignorance then the conflicts that have littered our history. Yet, even in war, “love’s pure light” will shine.

On December 24th, 1914, heavenly peace did descend upon the trenches of World War One, when the soldiers of the Germany, French, and English Armies castaway their hate, and for a brief moment in time found “Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Men.”

On that cold Christmas Eve night, Germany soldiers began decorating their trenches by placing candles on trees while singing Christmas Carols. One such carol was “Stille nacht, heilige nacht.” The British soldiers responded by singing the English version…….. “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

Eventually both sides would walk across “No Man’s Land” and exchange greetings and small gifts. Little did Father Josef Mohr, the composer of “Silent Night,” know that one day the words he penned would, even if only for a short time, help stop the madness of war and bring enemies together in peace:

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

The Christmas Story

On Christmas Eve millions of families will gather together for the reading of “Twas The Night Before Christmas.” At the end of the story our children will place cookies out for Santa, sprinkle food on the lawn for his reindeer, and scamper off to bed for an anxious night of sleep.

When they wake up early in the morning, they will be overcome with the joy of finding gifts mystically left under the Christmas tree. But wouldn’t be nice if, after they open their presents, they were read another story which brings the true meaning of Christmas into your home.

Luke 2: Versus 1-20, tells the Nativity Story with simplicity, yet manages to convey the great joy that was delivered to man with the birth of Jesus.

The Story of Christmas

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar 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, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage 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 Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be 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.

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth.

A Christmas Prayer

I sometimes envy past generations because they had the ability to simply enjoy Christmas for what it is….the birth of Our Savior, Jesus.

The exchanging of gifts was to represent a birthday celebration. Yet somehow the greatest gift is lost in the commercialism that Christmas has become. God’s gift to man….his only Son.

As you sit down for your Christmas dinner this year, take inventory of God’s blessings in your life. We live in an imperfect world, and at times we can feel consumed by all the hate and sorrow we witness. We ask ourselves “what can I do to help?”

You can let God’s grace stay strong in your heart and share his message. Buy one less gift for each person, and give that money to charity. Because this season as many of us agonizes over trying to find a Wii, there are children in this world who will not see their next birthday. As each of us worries about “putting on a few extra pounds,” there are parents struggling to feed their families. And as we gather with family and friends, there sits a person alone…thinking that they are not loved. But if each of us holds ourselves to the standard set by Jesus Christ, and do what ever we can to help our neighbors, we can keep the true meaning of Christmas alive.

So this Christmas, may God’s grace bless your home and shine into heart. May you find your meaning in life through God’s Peace.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.



Lyrics to a Christmas Canon:

This night
We pray
Our lives
Will show

This dream
He had
Each child
Still knows

We are waiting
We have not forgotten

On this night
On this night
On this very
Christmas night