Saturday December 24 2016  A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

 

THE EVE OF CHRISTMAS

Kathleen Martens

December 24, 2016

www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

In darkness still before shadow’s flight

Waits the eve of Christmas light.

A day of anticipation, a day of delight.

A child now awaits their longest night.

 

Tis the eve of Christmas which brings to mind an ancient song

Sang in a meadow ore the land

When angels came to declare

The birth of the Great I Am.

 

The glory of the Lord shown round about

Causing fear and anticipation,

Delivered with love to shepherds

The good news with explanation:

 

“This is the night a Savior is born

In the Town of David good news of great joy!

Wrapped in swaddling clothes

Will be found the baby boy”

 

The startling sound of heavenly power

As angels sang that momentous hour,

So much unknown not yet shown

The shepherds listened and followed direction.

 

It must have been like a Christmas night

When a little child awaits with glee,

Anticipating the joys of tomorrow’s Christmas

Unknowing what gifts they’ll see.

 

But oh how awesome it must have been

When the shepherds walked Bethlehem’s way

Remembering the song the angels sang

And the words the angels did say.

 

The lowly shepherds were God choice

To be first to see His own Lamb

And the shepherds were God’s very first voice

To announce the GREAT I AM.

 

Twas the greatest gift ever given

To a world steeped in the darkness of sin.

A blessed Savior was born on Christmas

That all people could invite Him in.

 

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

“The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
 and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

WISHING YOU A VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS!