Christmas Past

     Amos 5:21  "I hate, I despise your feast days-----" Amos 8:10  "And I will make all your feast days into mourning-----"
     We are in the week between Christmas and New Years.   Wonderfully, I don't have the post-Christmas blues or the let-down that usually comes after the rushing mad dash preceding the day we celebrate as Christ's birthday.  I think that this is the first year I moved through it all without stress.  Its almost as though I was observing and not partaking.   I love Jesus and am glad beyond measure that He was born to Virgin Mary, never sinned, taught Father God's pure and holy heart, laid down His life on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Praise His Holy Name!  This year, He kept me calm---almost as though I was a little girl holding my daddy's hand, trusting Him to keep me safe in the midst of madness.   I think (I hope) that this year's peace may indicate I am drawing closer to Him and to Heaven.   As the old song says, "The things of earth grow stangely dim"............I'm keeping my eyes upon Jesus! 
     I have a question.  God gave the Jews seven feast days to follow and made it clear that any others they celebrated were not of Him---that He even "hated" those extra ones.   I don't believe even the early church celebrated Christmas---that it began when Constantine mixed pagan holidays with Holy days to appeal to the masses.  My question;  Is Father God pleased with our celebration of Christmas?
 Personally, I think not!
    I am dismayed at the mixture of good and evil at Christmas.  Of course, there is the blatant commercializing and over use of plastic.  There is a determination in every heart to have a wonderful Christmas and everyone knows that means spending gobs of money on "stuff".   Giving is good, right?  Giving can also be terrible if the wrong things are given for the wrong reasons.
     The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is so mired in the muck of panic ridden preparations that, for a lot of folks, its just an afterthought!  A lot of money is spent to give needy children toys---but what kind of toys?  A stroll through the toy department at Wally World will reveal mostly toys with an undeniable occult slant.  Harry Potter is still on the wish list of the innocents vulnerable to demonic influence.   I even saw today they have a yoga teaching Barbie.   God help us blind and stupid people who give such things to our kids and then wonder when they have "behavior problems."
     I do love the good will and acts of kindness of Christmas.   The sentiment of giving and friendship is great to behold.   We could use more of it year-round!   We could use the peace, goodwill toward men, too.  God sent His Son that we might become His children. He alone is the source of real peace and goodwill.  He is love, joy and mercy.  It is my prayer that all would come to know Him.  
     All the crazy activity only seems to create in me a yearning for the peace, tranquility, the glory and purity, the holy love of God.   I am "homesick" for heaven, but, oh how I want to see lost souls saved!  That would be the most perfect Christmas gift of all!   
 P.S.   I had a dream that I was expressing all this to a friend on the phone.   She called me a "spoil sport."  My feelings were hurt and, wonderful Christian that I am, I threw a big glass of milk all over the plush seats of her car.  Then I was mortified and frantically trying to clean it up before it soaked in.   Hey---it was just a dream---I'm glad of that!   If that dream means anything--does it mean for me to "lighten up" concerning Christmas or to work on an obvious anger problem?  Maybe both.  Maybe neither---who knows?






 
   

The Angels Sing (a Christmas poem)

The angels sang in abandoned joy

when Mary was delivered of a baby boy

they stayed with Him through the years' span

as He grew in stature and grace to become a man

 

They were close by Him in the desert's hot wind

where Jesus was tempted; but He never gave in

the angels always near Him stayed

as under the stars He nightly prayed

 

They watched every dusty step He took each day

proclaiming Himself the life, the truth, the way

they listened with awe as He taught and spoke

the sick were healed and the dead awoke

 

The angels must have been sorely grieved

when most of the people failed to believe

they agonized when He hung on the cross

wanting to help but at a complete loss

 

They watched in sadness as He hung in shame

shedding His holy blood to pay for our blame

Holy angels knowing that it had to be

to give fallen man a chance to be free

 

Oh, how the angels in triumph sang

when out of the grave our Lord Jesus sprang

They accompanied Him to Father's right hand

Proclaiming their joy---an unnumbered band

 

The angels are worshipping at His throne

rejoicing in heaven over His beloved own

who choose to call Him Master and Friend

rejoicing for everyone who repents of sin

 

Join the angels this Christmas time

sing, too, of the Son of God, divine

Let Him be your Savior, too

He came to redeem me and you!

 

written 'bout 20 yrs ago. CS



Oh, the Children!

Oh, Father, I mourn

The babies unborn

Torn from the womb

Suffering doom

As trash despised

Sacrificed!

I hear their cries

The little ones

Born into evil

Granted no love

Exposed to porn

Unspeakable

Molested, abused

Neglected and used

Carelessly raised

Entertainment dazed

Disciplined not

Values taught

By the TV

Oh, Father, I see

The children dying

The children crying

How will they know?

That

You love them so!

Their hearts turn

To stone

Lost and alone

Learning

Evil ways

Living empty days

Oh, the children

How long

Must they be

Despised?

Sacrificed?

Oh, Come, Lord Jesus!

Save the children!

Jesus said: 

"Suffer the little children,

Come unto Me."

He loved them all

Why can't we? 

 

CS 12/6/12

 

Doomed!

     I had a dream last night that I think may have been from the Lord.   I dreamed I was climbing the steps of one of the federal buildings in Washington, DC.  As I ascended the many white marble steps, I was in anguish.  Over and over I was hearing, "doomed, doomed, doomed."  It was a lamentation first and foremost for lost souls.  The wickedness of our land and the blindness of the people was overwhelming to me.  Before I reached the top I turned to look out upon thousands of people below.   I began praying and crying out to God to have mercy and to save their souls.  Even though I knew America is in deep trouble, it was the people I was praying for---not the nation.
      Father, I pray that You would send Holy Ghost conviction upon the people, that they might repent and be saved---that workers might be raised up for the harvest---and that You will make Your bride without spot or wrinkle.  Perfect Your church, make us over comers who never deny you even in the persecution times ahead.  Praise Your Holy Name forever and ever.  amen