Came Our Joy!

Celebrating Christmas is exciting!  Although we are thankful every day of the year for Christ's incredible gift of Love, Christmas takes on a joyous air for those of us who remember what it's really about. But there are some people, even in "Christian" communities, for whom this time of year lacks that special sparkle.  They may be all alone, with no family or friends with whom to celebrate; it may be the anniversary of the death of a loved one; they may not have the means to provide the traditional gifts for their families; they may be dying with no one at their side...

Thank God for His very UNtraditional gift!!  Have you ever received a package of comfort, healing, refuge, friendship, salvation and eternal JOY? God offers it to us, gift-wrapped in infinite love. So let's share it!!! If you know someone who needs a special touch, remind him/her that this incredible gift has his/her name written on it. 


                                    Came Our Joy

                        Came to us our Seeker and our Savior,
                        gift-wrapped as a little Baby Boy.
                        Came to us our Healer and our Haven,
                        holy incarnation of our joy.

                        Come to us, our courage and our wisdom,
                        with virtue sprung from that once-Baby Boy.
                        Come and be our hope, our inspiration,
                        the continuation of our joy.

                        Coming for our hearts' Love Celebration,
                        your wooing started with that Baby Boy.
                        Coming soon as our triumphant Bridegroom,
                        You'll be the consummation of our joy!
                                                                                               -Becky Rhon

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                                Fire in the Manger

               The Fire of God's Hope and Life was burning
               "before the foundation of the world",
               never going out,
               just...waiting...waiting...yearning...

              Then, Divine Little Spark,
              You hurtled to Earth
              and set the hay in the manger ablaze!
              You inserted Your timeless Fire of Hope
              into our continuous NOW of days.

              Though Satan fought to stamp them out,
               the flames grew ever more intense, insistent, searing, LOUD,
               till they EXPLODED
                      in filthy conflagration
                      at the deadly confrontation of the Cross.
                            My sin lay as ashes, charred;
                            the Fire-quencher fatally scarred;
               and Your resurrection flames - of Hope and Life!-
                      blasted through the cave
                      that tried to be Your grave...
               Your Fire couldn't die!
                      When the smoke cleared,
                       the air was clean...and so was I.

               NOW, in my heart that seeks Your heat,
               eternal scorching coals You place,
               then bid Your Holy Wind - now gentle, now rushing -
               keep fanning them with power and patient grace.

               Divine Spark,
                   the fire You kindled for me in the manger
                   still burns inside
                   with Your Hope, with Your Life, with Your Love in its flame,
                        yet waiting...waiting...yearning
                        to return to the Fire from whence it came!
                                                                                                  -Becky Rhon
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Hold His love and peace and joy close to your heart as you continue preparing for the holiday...remember that, at its core, it is a HOLY DAY!