Since He Came

Since He came, a fallen world
Can be reconciled through Him.
The lives that sin defiles
Can be made new again.

Since He came, the chains that bind us
Can be loosed and lives are freed.
The bondages of Satan fall
With every “I believe!”

Since He came, new hope was born,
With great promises to claim!
The gift of man’s salvation
Was born in Bethlehem.

Since He came, He bids you: “Come”
To Him who yearns for you.
Who extends His open hands
And invites you to be “new.”

Since He came, to seek and save
You have paradise to gain.
By giving Him your heart,
You’ll find LIFE, in Jesus’ name.

By Tom Valles

2 Corinthians 5: 17-18 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Christmas in Iraq - a Poem for Our Soldiers

'Twas the night before Christmas in an Iraqi town;
And our brave U.S. forces had all just hunkered down.
Not a Humvee was moving, not a Jeep stirred the sand
As troops dreamed of their homes, each and every man.

Some longed for their sweethearts, other men missed their moms,
Others missed sons and daughters not seen for so long.
Sugarplums would be nice, but much nicer to be
At home with their loved ones 'neath their own Christmas tree.

When what to their wondering ears should be heard,
But the faint sounds of carols, music and joyful words.
At first heard so faintly, then the sound grew and grew --
The sound of your loved ones singing carols for you.

For you are not forgotten, you are not alone;
You are missed by the people you keep safe at home,
And we remember you as the Christmas bells ring,
As you're watched by the Christ Child whose carols we sing.

For no matter how far from your home you may be,
There once was a Babe born for you and for me.
So hark to the carols as their music draws nigh,
And look to the stars in the Iraqi sky.

Remember the star which on Bethlehem shone,
The star that still guides those who yearn to be Home.
So as Christmas Day dawns over here, over there --
Merry Christmas to you, with our love, thanks, and prayers.

By Kathryn E. Darden

See As Shepherds

First an angel, then a throng;
Glorifying God in song,
Beckoned shepherds: “Come along,
To Bethlehem you now belong!”

Once we reached the manger straw,
God’s appointed Lamb we saw.
Speechless, still and full of awe;
Staring at the face of God.

Now upon our knees we see:
The infant Child’s Divinity.
God through stabled majesty,
Gazing back at me.

A Holy realm before us lies!
Yahweh's love in human eyes.
We fell and worshipped, terrified
Till angels sang and Mary cried.

Shepherds: “Rise, and know your Lord.”
The One through whom mankind’s restored.
We wept, we prayed in one accord
With every breath, we more adored.

“See as shepherds” God implores,
Look intently, see there’s more!
Look until His gaze meets yours,
Stay fixed on Him, forevermore.

By Tom Valles

Luke 2:17,18 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Winter Is Just Ahead

The days are glorious this time of year
As yellows, oranges, and reds appear.
I love the brilliant colors all around,
But soon the leaves will fall upon the ground.

This time of year is beautiful, yet sad,
As I recall the many joys I've had.
The beauty of Spring and Summer is past,
Seems that Winter is just ahead at last.

When I think about the seasons of my life,
Knowing Winter’s ahead cuts like a knife.
That knowledge causes me to softly moan,
“How can the seasons have so quickly gone?”

Yes, I know it must be late Fall for me,
And no more Spring and Summer will I see.
All the child rearing is over and done,
As is my childhood, which was filled with fun.

But I choose to savor these fleeting days of Fall;
They have the potential to be the best of all.
Although the "Winter" of my life is just ahead,
Even in that season by God’s hand I'll be led.

Johnnie Ann Gaskill
November 7, 1999