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Happy Christmas


Hi Tweeps and Friends,

 Hope you're not all feeling like the two in the pic above! Have a great day tomorrow as you celebrate the birth of our Lord. Sometimes the 'Christmas' passages in the Bible are so familiar that we gloss over them. I must confess, as I shared the story of the angel appearing to the shepherds on Saturday with some kids, I was so filled with wonder. What a sight and sound that must have been as the heavenly host started to praise and sing. They couldn't contain their joy and no wonder! The most astonishing event in the history of mankind had just taken place. They understood the significance of the arrival of this baby.  These words echoed among the hills of the plain:

 Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

 Charles Wesley penned the magnificent carol:

Hark! the herald angels sing 
Glory to the newborn King 
Peace on earth and mercy mild 
God and sinners reconciled. 
Joyful all ye nations rise 
Join the triumph of the skies; 
With the angelic host proclaim 
'Christ is born in Bethlehem'
Hark! the herald angels sing 
Glory to the newborn King. 

 Christ by highest heaven adored 
Christ the everlasting Lord 
Late in time behold him come, 
Offspring of a virgin's womb. 
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; 
Hail, the incarnate deity, 
Pleased as Man with man to dwell, 
Jesus, our Emmanuel! 
Hark! the herald angels sing, 
Glory to the newborn King. 

 Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace! 
Hail the Sun of righteousness! 
Light and life to all he brings, 
Risen with healing in his wings. 
Mild he lays his glory by, 
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, 
Born to give them second birth. 
Hark! the herald angels sing, 
Glory to the newborn King.

 I had the privilege of singing these words in a carol service last week, which is a rare treat for an ex-pat who doesn't always make it home for Christmas. Christians, let's marvel. Let's never cease to thank God for His redemption plan which started to unfold in a simple stable in Bethlehem. 

 ...the Dayspring from on high has visited us to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79

 God bless you this Christmas. Sing with the angels, for this is too much to contain.

 Olive. xxx




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