Little Child In A Manger

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)(KJV)

I wrote a Christmas song a few weeks ago and sang it in the Hanging of the Greens service. I've written many songs, and the vast majority of them are contemporary christian. I will usually write as the inspiration hits me, and I firmly believe that God gives me the songs and allows me to create them through His anointing. Sometimes I will struggle with an idea for a song, especially with lyrics, for quite some time before it comes to fruition. Other times, it's like God sends me an idea, and then all the words flow into my mind and the music comes together almost by itself. As I was putting together the music for the Hanging of the Greens service, I realized that I had never written a Christmas song. So the wheels started turning--so to speak--and God inspired me with these lyrics. Worship the child in the manger as you read:

Little child in a manger
born that first Christmas morn
We treated You like a stranger
but You knew us before we were born
Please forgive us for failing
to see who You truly are
And guide us like the three wise men
who came seeking You from afar

Shepherds out on the hillside
watching their flocks by night
The angel spoke and they trembled
surrounded by such a great light
"Please fear not for I bring you
tidings of great joy...
In the city of David is born now
Christ the baby boy"

Alleluia, Glory to, Glory to God in the Highest
Alleluia, Peace on earth, good will to men

Wise men came bearing treasure:
frankincense, gold and myrrh
They sought to worhsip King Jesus
the Maker of heaven and earth
They followed a star to the cradle
where they found a young virgin girl
And Mary just smiled as she gazed at
her Savior, the Light of the World

And they cried Alleluia, Glory to, glory to God in the highest
They sang Alleluia, Peace on earth good will to men

Little Child in a manger
born that first Christmas morn
We treated You like a stranger
but You knew us before we were born
Please forgive us for failing
to see who You truly are
And guide us like the three wise men
who came seeking You from afar

You know the old saying you see on church signs around Christmas--"Wise men still seek Him." My prayer this Christmas is that all of us will keep our eyes on Jesus; and just like the wise men who were drawn to the cradle by a star that first Christmas, we will seek Him in worship.

Joey C.

Wonderful One

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6)(KJV)

As we celebrate the holidays each year, we hear all kinds of favorite Christmas songs on the radio: songs like "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", "White Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland" to name a few. One of my favorites has always been "It's the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year", because for me, Christmas has always been a special time. When I was a kid it was the excitement of Santa Claus, Christmas presents, lights, decorations and trees. I remember drawing pictures of Christmas trees and Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. I was so excited on Christmas Eve, wondering when Santa was going to come. My brother and I would look at the sky and imagine seeing his flying deer and sleigh.

But as I grew up, it became a special time more for the Christ of Christmas than all the other stuff. Oh, I still love all the decorations and the songs and the family get-togethers, but now I have a better appreciation for the true meaning of Christmas: the coming of the Christ Child. We can be excited about the fact that Jesus came. He left all His glory on high and became like us, born in a lowly manger so that He could make a way for us to be restored to the Father. Just think of it...the King of kings and Lord of lords came to earth as a poor, unknown baby in a little town called Bethlehem. He sacrificed all His power and authority for us because He is wonderful. As He lay in the manger, He was beginning a journey that He knew would end at Calvary. God loved us enough to give us His only Son as the very first Christmas Gift. (Jn. 3:16)

So as you celebrate the season this year, remember what all the celebration is truly supposed to be about. If you get a little stressed out by all the shopping and parties, etc., turn to the Prince of Peace for some much needed peace and rest. When you need someone you can confide in, someone who will listen to your hurts, turn to Jesus---the Counselor. When you feel scared and alone like a little child, just turn around and let your heavenly Father put his arms around you and protect you. He wants to do all those things, because He is wonderful!

So as you sing or hear "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and other songs of the season, rejoice in the fact that you know the One who is Wonderful! If you don't know Him, contact me and I'll gladly help you to accept the best Christmas present of all time. It will be the most wonderful decision of your life!

Merry Christmas!
Joey C.

What A Holy God!

Isaiah 6:1-3---In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (NIV)
I Peter 1:16---for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (NIV)
I've often wondered how we would respond or react if we could get a glimpse of the Lord like Isaiah did. When we realize just how holy He is, and how unholy we are, would we fall on our face and cry out to the Lord like Isaiah, or would we turn away from the Lord in disdain? Would we volunteer for the mission God had for us, or would we walk away with indifference in our heart?

So many people have no reverence or fear of the Lord. They don't regard Him as holy, or in any case, you sure don't see any evidence that they do by the way that they live their lives. Many don't feel that they need a relationship with God. They don't particularly worry about the afterlife because they think that they are pretty good people. Some have been mislead by the erroneous concept that their good deeds are going to be weighed against their bad deeds, and if the good outweighs the bad, then they will be able to go to heaven. They compare themselves to others, and say "Hey, I'm not a rapist or a killer or anything, so I'm a pretty good person. I'm a much nicer and better person than a lot of people I've seen, so I think I'll be okay. I'll take my chances when it comes to what's after this life, because God knows that I'm not nearly as bad as others."

They forget that Jesus said that the man who looks at a woman with lust is the same as an adulterer, and that the one who hates his brother is the same as a murderer. They have no understanding of how holy God is. They don't grasp the idea that if God is perfect in holiness (which He is), then we can't come into His presence because of our sinful nature. The best we could ever hope to do falls way short of the mark. In fact, God's Word states that "even our righteousness is like filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6) when we compare it to how pure and holy God is. We can never be good enough, or do enough good things in this lifetime to earn or work our way into heaven. Unfortunately there are many mislead cults that strive to do just that. They think that if they give a certain number of years of their life to witnessing or teaching or helping the poor, etc., that they will be able to earn what God has already provided through the only means possible: the sacrifice of His only Son--Jesus. Jesus was the only perfect man Who ever lived. He is the only One Who can give us hope of an eternity in heaven because He alone lived a truly holy life. No one else who has ever lived on this earth was without sin. Jesus alone met that mark set by our Father in heaven. Only by Jesus taking the penalty for our sins, could we ever hope to be reconciled with a holy God.

Let's see some of the scripture references to how holy God is from the New Living Translation (NLT):

• Ps. 77:13--O God, your ways are holy
• Ps. 99:3--Your name is holy!
• Ps. 99:9--for the Lord our God is holy!
• Ps. 111:9--What a holy, awe-sinpiring name he has!
• Isa. 57:15--The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One
• Lev. 11:44--You must be holy because I am holy
• 1 Sam. 2:2--No one is holy like the Lord!
• Isa. 40:25--"To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One
• 1 Pet. 1:15--just as God-who chose you to be his children-is holy

There are also verses in the (NLT) which mention God's holiness:

• Ex. 15:11--Who is glorious in holiness like you
• Ps. 29:2--Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness
• Ps. 96:9--Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor
• Isa. 5:16--The holiness of God is displayed by his righteousness
• Ez. 28:25--I will reveal to the nations of the world my holiness among my people
• Heb. 12:10--we will share in his holiness

As Christians, we are called to be holy and to live a life of holiness which sets us apart from the world. We are referred to as a peculiar people, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. (1 Pet. 2:9)We are to be a reflection of the goodness and purity of God. Here's some scriptures from the (NIV) that testify to that fact:

• Ex. 19:6--holy nation
• Ex. 20:8--Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
• Lev. 20:7--Consecrate yourselves and be holy
• Lev. 20:26--You are to be holy to me
• Rom. 12:1--holy and pleasing to God
• Eph. 5:3--improper for God's holy people
• 2 Thess. 1:10--to be glorified in his holy people
• 2 Tim. 1:9--saved us and called us to a holy life
• Titus 1:8--upright, holy and disciplined
• 2 Pet. 3:11--holy and godly lives
• Rom. 6:9--righteousness leading to holiness
• 2 Cor. 7:1--perfecting holiness out of reverence
• Eph. 4:24--God in true righteousness and holiness

Let's think of that vision of Isaiah's as we consider God's holiness. Isaiah said, "I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple." (Isa. 6:1)(HCSB) God is high and lifted up. He is holy and pure and true; before Him we are like nothing. Isaiah realized that when He said in Isa. 6:5--"Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." God is holy and His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours. "For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:9)(HCSB)
When we come to the place in our walk with God that we truly understand in our limited capacity (with just a glimpse of His true perfection) how holy He really is, we should have a response similar to Isaiah's. We should get an increased and better perception of how utterly lowly and unrighteous we are in comparison to His perfect holiness. And then we should want to live a life that reflects those higher qualities of our Lord. We need to be careful to watch what we see and hear and say. We should live to a higher standard, shunning the wicked things that this world promotes, craves and seeks. We can only do that through the power of the Holy Spirit living in and through us. Remember that we are wearing His name, so let's strive with all we have to be holy, for ... HE IS HOLY!
Singing His Praises,
Joey C.