This morning I am praising the Lord for His mercies and grace. In spite of my failings, HE is still their, I can never escape His gaze, as much as I am shamed and want to run and hide, He is their. When the pit of my life seems deep and dark, his name runs through my mind...I ask myself a question, is this a thought I have conjured up through church lingo? Or does He really chase me and press His hand upon ME? Can I be so prideful to think that my sin is to impossible and to big for God to forgive or my inadequates to many for Him to forgive? This I count of truth, is that He is NOT man and I am merely dust, but He is so grander than what I can imagine, how can He not be all these things for me? Though my friends may be tired of me, He seems not to be, much more than that,He, I believes pursues me with His Love, because He knows deep down this is what I desire and so need. I am thankful for my Friend, I rejoice that He calls me His friend. Praise the Lord, He is faithful, kind and gentle. But Bless His name, He won't allow me to wallow in self pity or guilt. He chastens me quickly and tenderly.

mike

... His gentle, and deepening, work in our family



Still the night, holy the night!
Sleeps the world, hid from sight,
Mary and Joseph in stable bare,
Watch o'er the Child, beloved and fair,
Sleeping in heavenly rest,
Sleeping in heavenly rest.

Still the night, holy the night!
Shepherds first saw the light,
Heard resounding clear and long,
Far and near, the angel-song,
'Christ the Redeemer is here!
Christ the Redeemer is here!'

Still the night, holy the night,
Son of God, O how bright
Love is smiling from Thy face!
Strikes for us now the hour of grace,
Saviour since Thou art born!
Saviour since Thou art born!



Tune: Stille Nacht, Heillige Nacht
[url=http://www.artline.ro/Colinde-Stille-Nacht--Heillige-Nacht-147-14214.html]http://www.artline.ro/Colinde-Stille-Nacht--Heillige-Nacht-147-14214.html[/url]

[url=http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/s/s128.html]http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/s/s128.html[/url]



Luke 2:16 - 20
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen [i]Him,[/i] they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard [i]it[/i] marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered [i]them[/i] in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

... just being with me on an ordinary day




See in yonder manger low,
Born for us on earth below,
See the gentle Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.
[i]Hail, O ever-blessed morn;
Hail redemption’s happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"[/i]

Lo, within a stable lies
He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.
[i]Hail, O ever-blessed morn;
Hail redemption’s happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"[/i]

Say, ye holy shepherds, say:
What your joyful news today?
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?
[i]Hail, thou ever-blessed morn;
Hail, Redemption's happy dawn;
Sing all through Jerusalem,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"[/i]

"As we watched at dead of night,
Lo! we saw a wondrous light;
Angels, singing 'Peace on earth',
Told us of the Saviour's birth."
[i]Hail, thou ever-blessed morn;
Hail, Redemption's happy dawn;
Sing all through Jerusalem,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"[/i]

Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.
[i]Hail, O ever-blessed morn;
Hail redemption’s happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"[/i]

Teach, oh, teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee
In Thy sweet humility.
[i]Hail, O ever-blessed morn;
Hail redemption’s happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"[/i]



Tune: Humility
[url=http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0010/x001003.htm]http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0010/x001003.htm[/url]



Luke 2:20
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.


Acts 2:25
For David speaketh concerning him,

'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.'

Men [i]and[/i] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.

... the hope of being able to finish my course with joy



Little children, wake and listen!
Songs are breaking o'er the earth;
While the stars in heaven glisten,
Hear the news of Jesus' birth.
Long ago, to lonely meadows,
Angels brought the message down;
Still, each year, through midnight shadows,
It is heard in every town.

Christ has left His throne of glory,
And a lowly cradle found;
Well might angels tell the story,
Well may we their word resound,
Little children, wake and listen!
Songs are ringing through the earth;
While the stars in heaven glisten,
Hail with joy your Saviour's birth.

Saw you never, in the twilight,
When the sun had left the skies,
Up in Heav’n the clear stars shining
Through the gloom, like silver eyes?
So of old the wise men, watching,
Saw a little stranger star,
And they knew the King was given,
And they followed it from afar.

Heard you never of the story
How they crossed the desert wild,
Journeyed on by plain and mountain,
Till they found the holy Child?
How they opened all their treasure,
Kneeling to that infant King;
Gave the gold and fragrant incense,
Gave the myrrh in offering?

Know ye not that lowly Baby
Was the bright and morning Star?
He Who came to light the Gentiles,
And the darkened isles afar?
And we, too, may seek His cradle;
There our hearts’ best treasures bring;
Love, and faith, and true devotion
For our Savior, God and King.




Tune: Chartres (15th century French melody)
[url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/a/sawyoune.htm]http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/a/sawyoune.htm[/url]



Luke 2:25 - 35
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to [i]bring[/i] revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this [i]Child[/i] is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

... the steady speaking of His written word, to my understanding



Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd,
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face,
Evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him,
And extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing,
Evermore and evermore!



[i]Aurelius Clemens Prudentius 348 - 413
~ translated by John Mason Neale 1818 - 1866[/i]


Tune: Corde Natus
[url=http://hymns-organ.com/Music.php?P=1&M=0&S=559&U=1186138108]http://hymns-organ.com/Music.php?P=1&M=0&S=559&U=1186138108[/url]

Soprano, Tenor and orchestral arrangement
[url=http://www.dangoellermusic.com/orv2040.html]http://www.dangoellermusic.com/orv2040.html[/url]




Luke 2:36 - 38
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she [i]was[/i] a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served [i]God[/i] with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 12
And in that day you will say:
"O LORD, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.

Behold, God [i]is[/i] my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
'For YAH, the LORD, [i]is[/i] my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.' "

Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.

And in that day you will say:
"Praise the LORD, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted.

Sing to the LORD,
For He has done excellent things;
This [i]is[/i] known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great [i]is[/i] the Holy One of Israel in your midst!"

Today and every moment of the day is to praise His wonderful work ...
Last sunday my youngest daugther accept Jesus to her heart, ... Today this sunday morning my husband step forward to dedicated and repent humbly back to Jesus. Praise God Praise God Almighty Haleluyea.

_________________
Claudette

... understanding



O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
Gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,
Bring and adore Him—the Lord is His Name.

Low at His feet lay Thy burden of carefulness,
High on His heart He will bear it for thee;
Comfort thy sorrows and answer thy prayerfulness,
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness
Of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine;
Truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
These are the offerings to lay on His shrine.

These though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
He will accept for the Name that is dear,
Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
Trust for our trembling, and hope for our fear.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
Gold of obedience and incense of lowliness,
Bring and adore Him—the Lord is His Name.




Tune: Was Lebet, Was Schwebet
[url=http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0006/x000682.htm]http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0006/x000682.htm[/url]




Jeremiah 33:14 - 22
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [i]is the name[/i] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; [i]then[/i] may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

the ability to forgive when it seemed impossible

and

the ability to start over.

_________________
Dawn

_________________
Claudette

Today right now in my heart of sorrow i PRAISE my REDEEMER, i know and i will proclaim His hand is not short to reach us in our troubles. My provider, My Jehova, My God, My Father... In the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ who gave His life for me to recieve Your mercy and grace, I Praise You Oh, GOD. I Praise You in Jesus mighty name. - Amen.

_________________
Claudette