December 22, 2008

"And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

"So this is He. Immanuel. So this is God's gift. A Savior. He shall save His people from their sins. 'Worthy is the Lamb.' I (Gabriel) whispered, as I knelt before my God. My heart was full. I turned to Mary as she cradled her child and I spoke. It didn't matter that she couldn't hear me. The stars could. All of nature could. And most of all, my King could.

'Do you know who you hold, Mary? You secure the Author of grace. He who is ageless is now moments old. He who is limitless is now suckling your milk. He who strides upon the stars, now has legs too weak to walk; the hands which held the oceans are now an infant's fist. To Him who has never asked a question, you will teach the name of the wind. The Source of language will learn words from you. He who has never stumbled, you will carry. He who has never hungered, you will feed. The King of creation is in your arms.'

'What manner of love is this?' Michael whispered, and again we were covered with silence. A blanket of awe. Finally, Michael again opened his mouth, this time to sing. He began quietly, pausing between the words.

'Glory,

glory,

glory to God in the highest.'

One by one we joined.

'Glory, glory, glory to God in the highest.'

Gradually the chorus grew louder and faster; 'Glory, glory to God in the highest. Glory, glory to God in the highest. Glory, glory to God in the highest.'

Our praise rose into the realms of the universe. In the most distant galaxy the dust on the oldest star danced with our praise. In the depths of the ocean, the water rippled with adoration. The tiniest microbe turned, the mightiest constellation spun, all of nature joined with us as we worshiped Immanuel, the God who had become flesh."

Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado pages 95-97

 

Thought for the week: When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. Jimi Hendrix

Funny for the week: Immortal Tombstone Inscriptions

Harry Edsel Smith of Albany, New York: Born 1903--Died 1942.

Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down. It was.

On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in East Dalhousie Cemetery , Nova Scotia :

Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102. Only The Good Die Young.

In a Ruidoso, New Mexico , cemetery:

Here lies Johnny Yeast... Pardon me for not rising.

In a Uniontown, Pennsylvania , cemetery:

Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake. Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.

In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery:

Here lays The Kid. We planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger But slow on the draw.

England, cemetery:

Reader, if cash thou art in want of any, Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny.

In a cemetery in Hartscombe , England:

On the 22nd of June, Jonathan Fiddle went out of tune.

On a grave from the 1880s in Nantucket, Massachusetts:

Under the sod and under the trees, Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.

He is not here, there's only the pod. Pease shelled out and went to God.

On Lester Moore's grave in Tombstone, Arizona

Here lies Lester Moore Shot by a 44 No Les, No Moore

 

I don' do grave stone inscriptions................Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: Who was the wife of Aquila? Priscilla (Acts 18:2-3)

This week’s question: Approximately how many miles did Jesus walk from Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem – 8, 23, 45, 66 or 80?