Merry Christmas

FAIREST LORD JESUS (HYMN)

Fairest Lord Jesus,
Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul's glory, joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good Morning Friends! From the Bottom of my heart, I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas! May the Love of Christ shine upon you this day as we celebrate his birth. I confess I fight ever fiber in me not to take for granted the story of Christmas. Holiday rituals, family traditions, gifts, hustle bustle, traffic, lines at stores...all seem to demand priority over the profundity of the story of the Great HE, Light of the World. So today I decided to do an extended study of the birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. Over the past couple of weeks through sermons and Christmas worship services, I've been pointed to the fact that Jesus came to us in the most vulnerable, helpless and humble of states. Of all ways to make known His power, He came to us in the form of a baby, born to man. I see such a kindness in knowing that our Maker sent His only begotten Son to thoroughly and completely imbibe the human experience. Emmanuel...God with us indeed. May this day stir in you a heart of thanksgiving and celebration of God's Good and Perfect Plan for man through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Incidentally, I am not saying you should forgo the wonderful and beautiful landscape of Christmas that can be seen in the gathering of families and friends. Eat well, stay warm and safe, laugh a lot, pray contemplatively this day and above all love generously!

Love and Peace in Him,
MEL