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DAY 6 Paradise in His Presence

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DAY 6 Paradise in His Presence

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  Revelation 21:3

“There was never a stable so like paradise.”  Indeed, when Christ dwelt as an infant in the manager, that became paradise for where he is, there is paradise.  Now, for us who believe, we too have a bit of paradise within as Christ dwells in us through his Holy Spirit.  With expectation, we wait eagerly for Christ’s return when we will dwell with him and he with us in fullness.

 

 

 

 

 

SING WE NOW OF CHRISTMAS

 

Sing we now of Christma

Sing we now of Christmas

Noel sing we here

Sing our grateful praises

To the babe so dear.

Sing we Noel!

The King is born, Noel!

Sing we now of Christmas

Sing we here, Noel!

 

Angels called to shepherds,

“Leave you flocks at rest,

journey forth to Bethlehem,

find the child so blessed.”

Sing we Noel!

The King is born, Noel!

Sing we now of Christmas

Sing we here, Noel!

 

In Bethlehem they found him;

Joseph and Mary mild,

seated by the manger,

watching the holy child.

Sing we Noel!

The King is born, Noel!

Sing we now of Christmas

Sing we here, Noel!

 

From the eastern country

came the kings afar,

bearing gifts to Bethlehem

guided by a star.

Sing we Noel!

The King is born, Noel!

Sing we now of Christmas

Sing we here, Noel!

 

Gold and myrrh they took there,

gifts of greatest price,

there was never a stable,

so like paradise.

Sing we Noel!

The King is born, Noel!

Sing we now of Christmas

Sing we here, Noel!

DAY 5 Adore on Bended Knee

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DAY 5 Adore on Bended Knee

 “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:16)

 The narrative does not tell us how the shepherds reacted to finding the Christ child except that in the verses that follow, they went out and proclaimed what they had seen.  I image though, that when they saw Christ, they went down on bended knees.  After the message that had been proclaimed to them, how could they have responded in any other way.   We too, when we realize the gravity of the coming of Christ, must fall on bended knee before him.

 

 

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

 Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

 Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

 See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

DAY 4 Christ Was Born for You.

Posted on by Mark

DAY 4 Christ was born for you.

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”  (Luke 2:10-11)

In the clutter and busyness of what Christmas has become, we often forget this simple truth.  Christ was born for each and everyone of us.  “For unto you is born…”  He was born to be the ultimate gift to mankind.   He accomplished for mankind what we could never accomplish for ourselves.  He is our Savior, Christ, and Lord.

 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

Infant holy, infant lowly, For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swiftly winging, angels singing, Bells are ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all! Christ the babe is Lord of all!

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story, Tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, Praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you! Christ the babe was born for you!

DAY 3 I AM

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DAY 3 I AM

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

(John 8:58)

He spoke and the universe came into existence.

By his Word his creation is sustained.

Without him nothing could be that is.

He says of himself, “I AM WHO I AM.”

Now, the majestic God, is cradled in the arms of his creation.

The awesome mystery of the incarnation of I AM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARY, DID YOU KNOW

 Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you’re holding is the great “I am”

DAY 2 Open Wide Our Heavenly Home.

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DAY 2 Open Wide Our Heavenly Home

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us.).” (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14)

Israel longingly waited for the advent of Emmanuel. He came and human history was altered forever.  We eagerly wait for the fulfillment of Emmanuel’s promise when he came,  “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3) May you be filled with inconsolable longing as you wait for his second advent.

“Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;”

 
OH, COME, OH, COME, EMMANUEL

 Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save;
Bring them in vict’ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Day 1 What Child is This?

Posted on by Mark

DAY 1

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  (John 1:14)

On this first day of advent this question must be answered.  “What child is this?”  If this question remains unanswered, this season will only be a walk down memory lane with the spirit of Christmas Past as our guide.  It will only be a secular festival of material lust and glutton.  It will be a moment to put on a face of kindness and then return to the way we were.

“What child is this?”  He is the One whom the prophets foretold.  He is the Word made flesh.  It is he who borne our sins on the cross. He is Christ the King of kings.

Come with loving hearts and enthrone him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT CHILD IS THIS

 What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross he borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

 

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

Posted on by Mark

DAY 14

BLINDED BY THE LIGHTS

Lights have become an integral part of Christmas celebrations around the world.  For those who do not know the meaning of Christmas, it may seem that this holiday is a festival of lights.  The use of lights during this season reminds us of the star that guided the magi in their quest to find the one born king of the Jews.

I want you to consider this thought for a moment. The magi traveled a great distance because they understood the sign of the star.  What if they had looked up into the night sky and saw that beautiful star but were unmoved by it.  What if they had merely admired its beauty but did not heed its message.

The chorus of “We Three Kings of Orient Are” says:

O star of wonder, star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect light.

The star was a guide sent to the magi to lead them to the perfect light.  That is, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.  In Matthew 2:2 the magi say, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Then in Matthew 2:9- 11 we read,

“And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.  Then opening their treasures they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

This Advent season, do not be blinded by the beautiful lights of Christmas and miss what they point to.  Christmas is not the ends.  It is the means to carries us to the place where we can remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE

By John Hopkins

We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain]

Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high. [Refrain]

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]

Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]

 

ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Posted on by Mark

When I wake on Wednesday morning:

            Jesus Christ will still be

            King of kings

            And

            Lord of lords.

 

When I wake on Wednesday morning:

            His Kingdom will remain

            Firmly established

            Throughout eternity.

            The very gates of Hell

            Will not prevail against it.

 

When I wake on Wednesday morning:

            His desire will remain the same,

            To reign

            From the throne in the heart of each

            Man, woman, and child.

 

When I wake on Wednesday morning:

            My citizenship will continue to be secure

            In His Kingdom,

            Uninterrupted,

            Unshakeable,

            Unmoved by the storms

            Of the nations of man.

 

When I wake on Wednesday morning:

            He will continue to be all I need.

            Jesus you are not always what I want,

            But you never fail to be what I need.

 

When I wake on Wednesday morning:

            Jesus will remain

            My eternal King,

            And I,

            His eternal subject.

 

When I wake on Wednesday morning:

            I will recall that no one,

            But Christ,

            Has truly sacrificed anything worthy

            Of my honor.

            I will, therefore,

            Remember and realize that all is well.

To you,

Lord Jesus Christ,

Son of God,

Son of Man,

The Word of God,

The Worthy Lamb of God,

Be all,

Power

And wealth

And wisdom

And strength

And honor

And glory

And praise!

AMEN!!!

WHY FRANGIPANI KINGDOM?

Posted on by Mark

Frangipani is the common name of a flowering tree found in many places around the world.  The name stems from an Italian nobleman who in the sixteenth century was the first to make a ladies scent from the flowers of this tree.  The flowers come in various shapes and colors.  The flowers are a feast for the eyes and the fragrance is a pleasing aroma for the nose.

 

I first became familiar with the 17183096472_fe2d1c60f6_mfrangipani tree when I moved to Cambodia.  I immediately fell under the enactment of their flowering beauty a
nd fragrance.  There is a boulevard in my city that has about 50 of these trees all together.  It is wonderful to drive through there on my motorbike when the trees are in full bloom.  The smell is intoxicating and the beauty is captivating.

 

I have entitled this blog “Frangipani Kingdom” because this flowering tree has become a metaphor for me of the Christian life.  These are the reasons I have chosen this name:

 

  1. My favorite frangipani trees are those that have white flowers with a yellow center. Man’s ability to perceive color is an amazing gift from our Creator.  Isaac Newton was the first person to observe that color is not inherent in objects.  The color of an object is determined by the wavelengths of the color spectrum that are reflect off of it.  Objects that reflect all of the wavelengths appear to us as the color white.  Those objects that absorb all of the wavelengths appear black to us.  Therefore a strawberry appear to be red because it is reflecting the red wavelengths of the color spectrum.  I am not a scientist and this is an over simplification of our perception of color, but I think you can get the idea.  In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus calls us, “The light of the world.”  In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”  Jesus is the light source and we reflect his light to the world.  In the same way, the white frangipani flower reflects all of the light of the sun.  We, likewise, are to reflect the light of the Son.  The yellow at the center of the flower reminds me of eternity.  It is Christ at our center reflecting eternity to the world.

 

  1. This flowering tree is not only a sumptuous feast for our eyes but it is also a wonderful delight for our nose. Hence, this is why Mr. Frangipani made a scent for women from its flowers.  In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Paul says this, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.  Who is sufficient for these things?”  The fragrance of the frangipani is pleasing to my nose, but to some it might not be anything special or you might even think it stinks.  Whatever you think, it does not diminish the fact that it gives off a powerful scent.  Likewise, God, through us, spreads “the fragrance of the knowledge of him (Christ) everywhere.”  Some will simply say it stinks.  Those are the ones who reject Christ from the outset.  For those who believe, it is a most glorious scent.

 

  1. Each frangipani tree is resplendent with flowers. Each flower is beautiful and fragrant by itself.  When it is joined with its brothers and sisters on a single tree the beauty and fragrance increase expediential.  When you join a single tree with a multitude of other trees you are whisked away into a place of palatable splendor and scent.  Revelation 1:5b-6 says, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever!  ”  The Father, through Jesus Christ, has made each individual believer into a priest.  Those individual priest are joined into groups of believers all over the world.  Those groups of priests are joined together to form the glorious kingdom of our Lord which “spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”