hope

PROPHESY TO DRY BONES

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DRY BONES 2

The hand of the LORD was upon me,
and he brought me out
by the Spirit of the LORD
and set me in the middle of a valley;
it was full of bones.
He led me back and forth among them,
and I saw a great many bones
on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
      I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”
Then he said to me,
“Prophesy to these bones and say to them,
‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones:
I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.
I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you
and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you,
and you will come to life.
Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ “
Ezekiel 37:1-4

At this time of year children are thinking of what costume they will dress in for what some call Halloween and many Christians call Fall Festival. At any rate, it is the time when stores are filled with skeletons and ghouls and such. As Believers we don’t dwell on the macabre. But there is a wonderful story in the Bible regarding skeletons that is a great story to relate to children or adults in this season.

Ezekiel was a Prophet of God who lived in Old Testament days. The Lord often had the prophets do things that would seem extremely strange to us and probably to the people back then also. If you simply hear something it may or may not make an impression on you. But if you see something, especially something spectacular, you are likely to remember it for a long time. So oftentimes God would have the Prophets give a sort of “over-the-top” object lesson to the Israelites. In this instance, the Lord took Ezekiel to a valley that was filled with human skeletons, the Bible says “dry bones”. Probably it was once a battlefield. Then the Lord asked Ezekiel the strangest of questions. He said, “Ezekiel, can these bones live?” If it had been me I probably would have said, “Of course not, Lord! These people are not only dead, they are fully decayed!” But not Ezekiel! He knew the Lord too well. He said, “Lord, only you know that.” It’s a good thing Ezekiel thought that way because the next thing the Lord said was, “Prophesy to these bones and say, ‘Dry Bones, hear the Word of the Lord. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord!’” The Lord did just what He said He would do and verse ten says, “So I (Ezekiel) prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.” Wow!

The scripture goes on to say that the reason the Lord did this was to restore hope to the House of Israel. They were saying, “We feel like our bones are dried up and all hope is gone. We are captives in a foreign land with no help in sight!” But the Lord told them, “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.”

As born again Believers, God gives us that same promise. Do you sometimes feel as if your spirit is a pile of dried bones? Circumstances of life have left you feeling depleted of hope and you’re in desperate need of a fresh infusion from the Spirit of God. You need Him to breathe upon you. Prophesy to your own dry bones and say like David did in the Psalms…

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?
I WILL put my hope in God! I will praise him again
—my Savior and my God!
Psalm 43:5 NLT

THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

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EAGLE
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

As I was having my devotional this morning, for some reason the song entitled “Wind Beneath My Wings” came to mind and I started singing it. When I got to the line, “I can fly higher than an eagle…for you are the wind beneath my wings”, I started thinking about my relationship with the Lord and how it relates to that particular line.

I pictured myself first as a baby eagle learning to fly. Sometimes my tiny wings would tire as I struggled against the elements that surrounded me. I would start to panic as I felt my strength failing and my altitude decreasing. But right in the nick of time, despite my state of chaos and lack of confidence, I felt a strong presence underneath me, supporting me in my weakness, carrying me completely as I shifted the weight of my burdened breast onto the back of the mother eagle.

What an awesome picture of our Father God! He covers us with His feathers. (Psalm 91:4) He upholds us with His Righteous Right Hand! (Isaiah 43:10) Though we fall seven times, He will lift us up again! (Proverbs 24:16) Just like that mother eagle, He watches over us even when we are not cognizant of His presence.

Then we grow and mature and strive to become eagles in our own right…strong in the face of adversity, soaring above the storms of life, resting in the strength of His love. We don’t always soar, however. Sometimes we let the storms overtake us. Sometimes we allow the highwayman of our faith to rob us of our rest and waylay our hope. That is when we need the the blessed Holy Spirit to be the “wind beneath our wings.” Jesus knew we wouldn’t always be strong. He knew that we couldn’t make it alone. That’s why He said that The Father would send us a helper in the form of the Holy Spirit. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.” (John 14:16,26 AMP)

Whether you are soaring today or whether you are still in the stages of learning to fly, the Holy Spirit is there to empower you. He will be the “wind beneath your wings.” You don’t have to struggle in your own strength, for sometimes it’s just not enough. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring a strong current of the Lord’s grace and lift you above the circumstances that are trying to make you earthbound. Relinquish the care to Him and you’ll find yourself unburdened and mounting up with wings like the eagle, strong and soaring!

THE DREADED BLAHS

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BLAHS
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
 And why are you disquieted within me?
  Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
  For the help of His countenance.
Psalm 42:5

There are certain mornings that I just awaken feeling  BLAH Small. For some reason, Monday mornings are especially notorious in that respect. I don’t even have to explain myself, because without a doubt all of you know what I’m talking about. There’s no rhyme or reason to the blahs. They just appear out of nowhere like a small, dark rain cloud in an otherwise sunny sky and they seem to have the sole purpose of putting a damper on your day. You don’t really feel bad, but you would love to just crawl back into bed with a good book or a favorite movie playing and pretend for the moment that the outside world doesn’t exist. Can you relate?

Of course it’s not a sin to feel blah. If it were, we would ALL be in trouble! But it certainly doesn’t add credence to our Christian witness. And usually everyone who sees our face knows that something is not quite right. I know you’ve heard the saying, “If you’re really a Christian, you need to notify your face!” Well, is there nothing we can do about those random nondescript feelings? (That’s why they’re called the Blahs…you can’t describe them.) Thank God, He never leaves us without hope! These are a few things that help me to overcome this sneaky culprit at its onset:

1. Remind yourself that these feelings are only going to last a short time. They are not here to stay. (Tomorrow they will probably be gone and forgotten!)

2. Don’t try to figure out why you feel this way. You’ll only get frustrated, more dismayed and filled with anxiety to boot!

3. Think about all of the things that you have to be thankful for. I know that sounds trite, but it works. Nothing chases the blues or blahs away like a thankful heart!

4. Thank the Lord for abiding with you always and ask Him to help you to maintain an attitude of peace and hope until the feelings pass.

5. Praise the Lord for the good things in your life. Praise is guaranteed to dispel despair. And before you know it, the blahs will be history!

Thank you, Father
that my life is not controlled
by what I see or feel
For I walk by faith, not by sight (OR feelings)!
(II Corinthians 5:7)

GOD BLESS AMERICA

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AMERICA

Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
Psalm 20:7

The United States of America…Home of the Brave…Land of the Free! Those words still bring a tremendous sense of pride and allegiance to my heart! It makes me feel like I am a part of a nation build on a tradition of strength, loyalty, unity, bravery and fairness. It reminds me of the song Tevye sang in Fiddler On The Roof…“Tradition!” He sang it with such pride and yet it had an air of sadness about it because the tradition that was so engrained in him and an integral part of his life was deminishing…not on his part, but on the part of the up and coming generation. Does that remind you of anything?

This nation was founded on a tradition of Godly principles. The men who founded this country risked not only their own lives, but the lives of their wives and children to cross a vast ocean to get away from a tyrannical government…a government that told them how, when, where and IF they could worship God. The hardships involved were unimaginable, but some of them made it through to form a new government…a government that would eventually be called the United States of America.

I’m of the opinion that our forefathers would literally turn over in their graves if they knew how far our nation has drifted from the principles on which it was established! We no longer declare ourselves to be a “Nation Under (One) God”, but a “Nation Under (No One) God”. Our president himself said, “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation – at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.” But the fact remains that the people who crossed an ocean to form this nation, based its foundational concepts on the Bible, God’s Holy Word and on the precepts of Christianity as related therein. It was NOT Jews or Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus or nonbelievers who landed at Jamestown, but Born Again Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and Servants of the Most High God! And it was God’s favor and protection that safely brought them here and preserved them in order that they might found this nation on His principles of brotherly love, unity and peace.

But, alas, even as he used a form of pride to deceive Eve in the Garden by questioning God’s authority, Satan has used political correctness to question God’s authority today. “Yes, God said it, but SURELY He didn’t mean THAT!” Satan has perverted our love for God in such a way as to make it seem that it is a form of hate. In other words, if you are a Bible Believing Christian, then you are a hate-monger. You hate homosexuality, you hate abortion, you hate immorality in every form. We DO hate those things, but we DO NOT hate those who participate in them and neither does God. God loves this nation…He loves its people, both those who serve Him and those who don’t. He has no desire that anyone should perish, but that all should come to know Him. He extends every opportunity on a daily basis to take them under the shadow of His love and protection..

As Christians, we have a right to declare that we are Born Again Believers in Jesus Christ! We have a right to believe in the Bible and uphold its principles in our life! We have a right to believe that this nation was founded on Godly principles and Christian ethics! And we have a right to stand up and say with boldness and pride and conviction…GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

AN ANCHOR FOR YOUR SOUL

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The following was written by a Christian Brother…Jeff Bama Ritch
Jeff Bama Ritch

God has given both his promise and his oath.
These two things are unchangeable
because it is impossible for God to lie.
Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge
can have great confidence as we hold
to the hope that lies before us.
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:18-19

There have been a lot of changes in my life since my momma gave birth to me in 1959. These changes have been brought on in various ways: Deaths, births, illnesses, accidents, retirement, altered relationships, job loss, marriage, divorce, stupid decisions, bad choices, good decisions, good choices, accepting Jesus as my Savior, etc. etc. As you can see not all changes were bad but ALL were life-altering. In every situation I had to ADJUST and ADAPT to the change at hand. Change is a part of life and we deal with it the best we can.

However there is ONE THING that never changes and that is the promise of God to give us hope in the midst of the changes we go through! In the verse above it describes this hope as a STRONG and TRUSTWORTHY anchor for our souls. An anchor for our souls …. WOW!! This says to me that no matter what life changes we are going through, relying on the unchangeable promises of God guarantees WE will not loose our minds with worry or depression or suicidal thoughts or want or falling into sin or fear or hate or violence. BUT this hope takes you by the hand and leads you (okay picture it) through the curtain…into God’s inner sanctuary where He can wrap His arms around you, hug you close and whisper in your ear, “you’re home, don’t worry, I got this, I PROMISE, TRUST ME!!!”

Won’t you trust Him today with the changes you are facing. It may be the death of a loved one, a baby that is sick, finances, illness, relationship issues or wants, or it may be a change in ministry or a move you are making. Whatever it is TRUST in God and His promises, that strong anchor of HOPE!!  Shalom

ARE YOU HOT, COLD OR LUKEWARM?

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PLOWING

But Jesus said to him,
“No one, having put his hand to the plow
And looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:62

Have you noticed how prevalent it is today for people to have an issue with commitment? Even marriage, the greatest commitment of all between two people, seems to be totally conditional these days. “I love you and I’ll commit to you as long as you make me happy. If I become unhappy in our relationshipment, the commitment goes out the door along with your packed bags!” It is extremely rare these days to find a couple that has been married for a long time. It is not uncommon now for couples who have been together for ten, fifteen, twenty years to part ways. And what about commitment to a job, an organization or a church? Real commitment is almost a thing of the past and it is so, so sad. It simply reflects the flighty, self-centered, all-about-me attitude of this present generation.

But when it comes to our commitment to Jesus Christ, there is absolutely no allotment for halfhearted commitment. It has to be all or nothing! Jesus said to The Church of Laodicea in the Book of Revelation...“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Revelation 3:15-16

There is a place in scripture where the Lord tells us that, like a builder who takes into account all the costs before he starts building, we should consider the cost of discipleship before we make a commitment. It is not a light thing, for Jesus signs that covenant with His precious Holy Blood. (Luke 14:28) And if we then, deliberately turn away from that partnership, how can we obtain redemption a second time? “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” (Hebrews 6:4-6)

There was a time in Jesus day when some of His disciples did leave following Him.  He had taught something that was difficult for them to understand, so they just called it quits! So Jesus asked the twelve, “Will you leave also?” Note the answer that Peter gave, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life.” (John 6:66-68) Anytime I’ve ever thought about leaving my Christianity behind because of worldly opposition, issues of faith or disciplines that seemed too hard to follow, I think to myself, “To whom or what would I turn if I didn’t have Jesus?” No one else and nothing else holds the key to abundant life on this earth and eternal life in the hereafter. He is my Best Friend. There is nothing I can‘t tell Him and nothing for which I can’t depend on Him. When I’m sad, He has words to cheer me and when I’m glad, He rejoices with me. How would I ever make it without Him? I’ll tell you something, “I don’t plan to try!”

BUMBLEBEE FAITH

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BUMBLEBEE
How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
Psalm 104:24

SONG:  MY LORD WON’T LET ME DOWN

I was reading something just this morning about the bumblebee, one of God’s more interesting creations, although there are many such creatures. I am just fascinated to see how intricately and precisely He makes each one of them, from the ant to the antelope…from the chipmunk to the cheetah. But back to the Bumblebee…it is said that some time ago a group of aeronautical engineers decided to study the bumblebee. They measured its wingspan, computed body weight, examined its over-sized fuselage and concluded that there was no logical reason why a bumblebee can take off or land safely. Of course, the bumblebee doesn’t know this, so it goes ahead and flies anyway!

Whether or not the study is true, it makes sense in its claims. But the part they left out is the fact that the Bumblebee didn’t create itself. As I said, God created some amazing creatures! What about the ant that can carry a load many times its own weight? What about the camel that has its own reservoir for water retention? I could go on and on, but let me get to the point…

In the same way that God created animals to do amazing things seemingly far beyond their capacity, so He created us to excel far above our own natural ability through His enablement. Glory to God! The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” There are absolutely no exclusions in that verse, but it is understood that we must depend on that strength in order to tap into it. I love this verse in the amplified version… “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” All you can say after reading that is, “WOW!” I can do this thing! I am infused with strength from on high!

Do you need some empowerment today? Does it seem that your wings of faith are too small to lift your body of circumstances? It’s not a hopeless situation, you know. Just tap into THE Source of Empowerment. If He doesn’t change the circumstances, He will increase the strength of your wings so that you can rise above them. You’ll be equal to the task as He infuses you with His strength!

Don’t believe what the circumstances dictate. Don’t believe what the enemy of your soul is whispering in your ear. Don’t believe it when your family says, “You can’t do that!” Don’t believe it when your friends say you won’t make it. Don’t believe your own negative thoughts echoing in your mind trying to derail your faith! It really may look impossible in the natural. But we serve a supernatural God! It may even look difficult beyond your abilities. But nothing is too hard for God! So right now, just determine to have the faith of a Bumblebee. Don’t look at the size of your wings. Don’t look at the size of your body. Look at the size of your God! And when you do, nothing will be too hard for YOU!

A HOLE IN MY SIDEWALK

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SIDEWALK . HOLE
When you are tempted, He will also provide a way out
so that you can stand up under it.
I Corinthians 10:13

Some things you read, are just imprinted on your mind like photographs. And every so often something you experience or something you observe brings them back to your mind’s eye just as vividly as when the first impression was made. Such is this essay I read by Portia Nelson. It reads, “I walk down the street. There’s a hole in the sidewalk and I fall in. I’m lost; it isn’t my fault. It takes me forever to get out. I walk down the street again. There’s a hole in the sidewalk, but I pretend I don’t see it, so I fall in again. I can’t believe I’m in the same place; still, it isn’t my fault. I walk down the street again. There’s a hole in the sidewalk I see it, but I still fall in ~ it’s a habit. But now my eyes are open and I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. I walk down the street. There’s a hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it! Finally, I walk down another street!”

Oh, My Friends, I don’t know whether or not you can relate to this, but I think it’s been the story of my life and has caused me so much sorrow, guilt and pain! Let me give you my translation. “I am walking through life. Temptation is in my path and I fall in its trap. I’m devastated, but it really isn’t my fault. Satan tricked me! It takes me forever it seems to get over the guilt and shame. I am walking through life again. I am faced with the same temptation, but I PRETEND I don’t see it, so I fall into the trap again. I can’t believe I’m in the same place; still it isn’t my fault (so I say!). Satan tricked me again! I am walking through life. I am faced again with the same temptation. I see it, but I still fall in ~ now it’s a habit. But this time my eyes are open and I know where I am. It IS my fault! The choice is mine alone. I get out immediately. I am walking through life. I am faced with the SAME temptation. I recognize it as the same trap the enemy has used before. I resist it through the power of the Holy Spirit. FINALLY, I take another path through life!”

Those of you who are acquainted with me are wondering what that temptation is. I say IS, rather than WAS, because I am still faced with it on occasion. Suffice to say, I have a strong tendency to try to find security on my own, rather than depending on the Lord. It can lead to problems. But it is not in my best interest to declare that temptation in this blog.

Those of you who are my close friends probably know what it is, for you have been there beside me the whole time, helping dig me out of the trap and regain my self-esteem. Jesus knows, for He too, was right beside me all the way. But YOU know what that temptation is for you. Is it a trap that you keep falling into repeatedly? It may be what some people would consider a small sin, such as a bad temper or a stinking attitude. It may be something with far more lasting consequences such as alcoholism, drug addiction, chronic lying or sexual impropriety. I don’t have to know, but if after reading this you recognize it, then you are at the last stage of this analogy. It’s time that you recognize it as a recurring trap of Satan, a habit and something that only you can resist through the power of the Holy Spirit. Habits are not easy to break, even with God’s help, for as the Apostle Paul says, the flesh with its desires has a mind of its own. But it is not impossible, for ALL things are possible with God! If there is something in your life that is making you miserable because you keep falling into the same trap, leading to guilt and depression, it’s time for you to repent, turn around and take another path of the Holy Spirit’s leading!

I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me!
Philippians 4:13

THE GAME’S NOT OVER

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HOMERUN
SONG: MY LORD WON’T LET ME DOWN

Everyone who competes in the games
goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last,
but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
I Corinthians 9:25

♫ One, two, three strikes…you’re out…♫ in the ole ball game! ♫ ♪ The line from that old song is about all I know about baseball. So why I started thinking about the analogy between baseball and life, I do not know! But often times, the Lord just brings something to my mind that I would not have thought of myself.

In baseball, the goal of the pitcher is to strike out the batter before he can hit the ball and make any bases. (Now aren’t you impressed with my vast knowledge!) The pitcher will throw a fast ball (cutter), a curve ball (deuce), a split-finger fast ball (forkball) and many others in order to catch the batter off guard. (Isn’t the internet just a trove of trivia?!) Sometimes it works…sometimes it doesn’t. It depends on how vigilant and tuned in the batter is. It is not a game of chance, but of skill, persistence and heightened awareness. Are you starting to get my drift?

Life is often referred to as “the game of life”. Actually there is even a board game by that name. The Apostle Paul likens our spiritual walk in this life to an athlete running a race to win a prize, that prize of course, being ETERNAL LIFE! He talks about the stamina, focus and determination required to do it successfully. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (I Corinthians 9:24-27)

In any sport, we have to discipline our body to perform to its highest potential. Does my body want to be disciplined and trained? Of course not! Did you get what Paul said, “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave.” I know from experience, if you don’t master your body with its carnal desires and motives, it will master you and the result can be devastating! Sometimes I actually look in the mirror, look myself in the eye and say…“Stop it, Nancy! You are NOT going to do that! You are NOT going to think that way! You are NOT going to give in to that temptation!” The devil bombards your mind and emotions. He is just like that pitcher on the baseball field. If he can’t get you with a cutter, he’ll try a deuce and if he can’t strike you out with a deuce, he’ll try a forkball! And if he can’t send you to the dugout with any of those, he’ll invent something new.

The only chance you have of hitting a home run or at least running the bases is to be wary of his tactics. Look at some of the film footage in your own life. What balls did he throw at you previously? Bone up on your game by reviewing the old tapes and learning from them! Practice your swing until you can knock that ball completely over the fence and into the stands where it can’t be retrieved! Give the devil a black eye! The Book of James says this…“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

And if you do strike out sometimes, don’t quit! Step up to the plate again! Never give up and never give over! The games not over until you’re six feet under and I know you don’t plan on being there anytime soon!

HOPE SHINES THROUGH THE DARKNESS

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O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.
Psalm 8:1
HEAVENS

Poem by Sherry Crowson Evans

When You made the stars did they shine like Your face?
They were a brilliant glimmer of Your glory in the dark.
Did the sparkling blue seas shine like the depths of Your eyes?
Do the mighty oak trees resemble Your awesome power and might?
Are the boulders on high an image of Your steadfast stance?
Is the purifying wind like the breath of Your love?
When You created man, an image of You, did You smile or did You pause…
knowing the future and what was to come?
What sadness You must bear to have the beauty You created fall into darkness.
Thankfully, Your patience stretches out like the universe.
What joy You must possess knowing all will be well in time.
Darkness may reign, yet the beauty isn’t overshadowed. The world speaks of Your glory.
The Redeemer has been sent…a spark of Hope for all to see.
One tiny baby…One boy…One man…One God…One King for all…Forevermore.
His light shines like a beacon, guiding us onward. It never extinguishes.
It always endures. He will unite the world one day
to live in everlasting harmony with our Maker.