Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

I love my job!

Trinity serves hundreds of children every week, through our Childcare, Preschool,Elementary Academy, Children's and Youth Ministries. I'm so grateful for the opportunities I get to very regularly share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with children and youth. This morning I enjoyed the precious time of leading little ones to discover the truth about the manger and the Savior who came to give us all a new life and eternal joy with God. They were amazed to think that Cattle really ate from Baby Jesus' bed of all places! I told them that the sweetest place for Jesus was a place in their heart. Receiving and trusting in Christ for his work of salvation is the greatest way to celebrate CHRISTmas. Our hearts were made to receive Him, not to push Him away. The prophet Isaiah said that this child was born "to us"... a "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." It grieves me that countless people would forfiet such a gift at CHRISTmas time, or any other time. I hope that you will join me in this holy season to share with people the truth of Christ and His gift of salvation. An old CHRISTmas carol includes this precious prayer...

"O dearest Jesus, Holy Child,
Make Thee a bed soft, undefiled
Within my heart that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee."
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My little friends and I all agreed that we would like Jesus to find a quiet sweet place in our hearts this year. It seemed so easy to convince them to love the Baby from heaven. They have "child-like faith". For adults, though it usually means that we must become humble, realizing that our sinful rebellion has made us in desperate need of God grace. We thankfully welcome the Savior and trust that He has come to save us. That's the "Merry" in "Merry Christmas!" It's a heart that is free in Christ. It has made me the "NEU Mann" I was meant to be. It is God's desire to make us all new in His Son.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Christmas Tell Overture

I'd like to introduce you to Cheri Buelow. She is our Family Ministry Director and Praise Team Worship Leader. This is a video of what she wrote and sang at out last Christmas Eve service. It's a message to parents about the Christmas season. We are fortunate to enjoy her many talents. (PLEASE NOTE!!! She is NOT available to book at your congregation this Christmas Eve.)


Christmas Tell Overture
Cheri Buelow
Christmas 2007

Get a tree, get a tree, get a Christmas tree
Cut it down, drag it out on your hands and knees
Put it up, put it up, get it straighter, please
How about a plastic tree?

Get the lights, get a star, get the ornaments
Get the cat out of here, I am feeling tense
Hang 'em high and low, I need balance
And no, don't give me your two cents

Onto the house, the decorating...everything must look festive
Boughs and bows and holly and the mistletoe - it's poisonous!
Gotta keep up with the guru, Martha Stewart, she's the queen of home
But I bet is she did try, she could not write a better poem

My house is all ready, my tree is still standing tall
It's time to go shopping, with VISA, I'll have a ball
Buy a gift, buy a gift, it's getting late
My list is long, one thing I hate
Is to stand in line and wait and wait
It wrecks my mental state

Oh, look here it comes, it starts to snow
If I don't slow down my car will go in the ditch and then I'll really know
I'm in deep...trouble!

Why do we rush about at Christmastime
Bake cookies, see Santa, attend the Nutcracker Ballet
Why don't we take the time to slow it down and ponder and wonder
What Christmas really means

And there were shepherds abiding in their fields
When suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared
Fear not, I bring you good news
For tonight in the city of David, a Savior has been born
And a host of heavenly angels began to sing
Wisemen followed a star and traveled to the East to see the babe
And they found Him in a manger
With His mother, Mary, and His father, Joseph
God has sent His only Son
The Christ Child had come

This is the meaning of this time of year - a story - it happened a very long, long time ago
I need you all to understand the power and glory that really did unfold
So forget all about the shoveling, the Christmas cards, the light parade
There's nothing else that matters more than saving those who've strayed
Our children need to grow up hearing everything about God's Word
Our job is to make sure that every person has heard

God loves you...His Son came to save us from all our sin
Accept Him...and heaven is the gift that you will win

Light a candle, it's an Advent thing
A nativity will help to bring clarity
Be sure to sing songs about the newborn King
Joy to the World and Silent Night
Sings songs about the star so bright
Peace on the earth that holy night
Let's not lose sight of all the people in the world who do not know
About the Lord who came to show us how to live and love and He, He has a plan for you and me - a plan to prosper and be free
From all the hustle and the bustle and the stress and strain

God has, He has a purpose for your life
It doesn't mean there won't be strife
But without Him the world is lost - that cannot be!
It's up to you...it's up to me
We need to raise a generation that will follow Jesus Christ
And so I plead
Raise 'em up, raise 'em up, get your Bible out
Raise 'em up, raise 'em up...don't you pout, take this route, there's no doubt

That...
Jesus is the great I AM
The Prince of Peace, Redeemer, God
He's worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
And now my song is done, I give all glory to the Son! Hurray!
And so this is the end, the end, Amen!