We had a beautiful Christmas service last Sunday, one that left me filled with the spirit of Christ's birth. I was grateful when the poem shared below came to me rather quickly on Saturday morning, as I had been running behind all week, and it was meant to conclude the program. Happily, I was able to read the completed poem as planned, proving to me once more that prayer works! I hope it honors the Savior as much as I honor Him, on Christmas Day and always.
one perfect, starlit night.
He came to bless us with
His truth
and fill our souls with
light.
He was the Son of God and
Mary,
human yet divine,
the only One who had the
pow’r
to take your sins and mine.
The angels heralded His
birth;
the very skies took part,
and shepherds ventured from
their flocks
to offer Christ their
heart.
Even the Magi worshipped
Him,
arriving from afar
to celebrate the newborn
King
beneath that guiding star.
His mission was a saving
one.
Christ taught us how to
live.
No sacrifice too great, He
offered
all He had to give.
His gifts were many. When a
child,
He spake as if a man.
The people wondered at the
boy
but did not understand.
Though Jesus could not
fully know
the path His feet would
trod,
He soon began to sense His
mission
as the Son of God.
He grew in strength and
wisdom as
His purpose was defined.
He was the Father’s
firstborn Son,
the Savior of mankind.
His ministry began with
words:
three words, “Come, follow
me.”
He chose apostles, simple
men,
to share His company.
Disciples followed Christ
as well,
inspired by His stories.
Beside Him, they learned
much about
God’s kingdom and its
glories.
Along the way, from place
to place,
Christ healed, and saved,
and blessed.
The blind could see; the
lame could walk;
the suffering soul found
rest.
Even the dead took up their
lives,
if Jesus willed it so.
“Who is this man?” the
people asked,
“and whither does He go?”
“I go before thy face,”
said He.
“Hear me, and heed my
voice.
Who chooses to obey my
words
hath reason to rejoice.”
The righteous loved His
goodness, but
the wicked feared his
power.
They yearned to steal His
life and
plotted evil, hour-by-hour.
When Jesus knew the end was
nigh,
He gathered up His men
and gave them a last supper…
His way to say amen
to all that He had taught
them.
Later, He brake the bread
and offered up the wine
as blood and body in His
stead.
“One of ye shall betray me,
one
deny me,” Jesus said.
Judas revealed Him with a
kiss;
Peter, in panic, fled.
Early, entreated by their
Master
a close watch to keep;
Peter, James, and John
failed Christ
by falling fast asleep.
But Jesus knew the task was
His
and bore the weight alone
of every sin and grief and
sorrow
all the world could own.
He bore it until blood
escaped
from every sacred pore;
and when they raised Him on
the cross,
He chose to suffer more.
He chose to suffer, for the
power
was His to end it all;
but He was born to rescue
us,
to save us from the Fall.
“Here am I, send me,” He
said,
so long and long ago.
Jesus knew well the
sacrifice
required here below.
Christ gave His life so
willingly,
‘midst earthly judges’
scorn.
In agony, He bled and hung;
for us, His flesh was torn.
For us, His life was
forfeited.
He died, that we might
live;
and ere He gave His body
up,
pled, “Father, please
forgive.”
He begged forgiveness for
us all.
As shepherds guard their
sheep,
our Savior and Redeemer
gave
His life, our souls to
keep.
And when He took it up
again,
the promise was fulfilled.
The Son of God, the Son of
Man,
had done as Father willed.
A
newborn baby in a stall,
a
gentle mother’s heart.
Two
fathers,
one on earth and one
in
heaven, from the start.
Animals
and angels, shepherds,
wise
men from afar…
all beheld the baby Jesus,
born beneath a star.
The brightest star in all
the heavens…
How else could it be?…
The Light of Christ is
brilliant.
May it shine through you
and me.
On this and every Christmas
Day,
the gift He seeks is clear:
that we receive His gift to
us
and keep it through the
year.
Our love for Him is
manifest
in how we choose to live…
in loving one another;
in striving to forgive;
in honoring His sacrifice
by offering our own;
in doing what we must to
kneel,
one day, before His throne.
To this end was He born;
for this
cause came He to the earth.
Rejoice! Rejoice! And sing
Noel
for our dear Savior’s
birth.
Hosannah in the highest…Peace
on earth, good will to men.
Let every soul sing praise
to Him
