I think of oft-times, as the night draws nigh,
Of an old house on the hill,
Of a yard all wide and blossom-starred,
Where the children played at will.
And when the night at last came down,
Hushing the merry din,
Mother would look around and ask,
"Are all the children in?"
The years have come and gone since then,
And the old house on the hill
No longer echoes to childish shout,
And the spacious yard is still.
But I see it all, as the shadows creep
Where old memories merge and blend,
And I seem to hear her ask again,
"Are all the children in?"
I wonder if when the nightshades fall
On the last short earthly day,
When we say good-bye to the world outside
All tired with our childish play,
When we reach the shore of that other land
Where the folks so long have been;
Will mother ask, as she did of old,
"Are all the children in?"
Psychologists have long known that every person has two great longings and inward needs. The first is to be loved, and the second is to love. But when pressures and heartaches come into our lives, many give up any hope of ever finding love.
The tragedy is that we often look in the wrong place to fill this deep, deep need and longing. Some substitute lust for love. Others pursue material things or superficial relationships - all in the futile attempt to fill a God-shaped vacuum in the human heart. Sadly, it's our sinful natures that separate us from God and from fulfilling our deepest needs and longings.
But there is good news! There is a love worth finding and a love worth sharing. The Bible says that "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Here on the cross of Christ, God's mighty love was revealed and offered unconditionally to all who would be saved.
Do you long to know this mighty love? Then I need to ask you the most important question you'll ever be asked: do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves you, that your sins are forgiven, and that you are saved and on your way to heaven?
The great news is, you can know!
Admit your sin.
Abandon your efforts.
Acknowledge Christ's payment.
Accept Christ as your Saviour.
(Adrian Rogers)
I had walked life's way with an easy tread,
Had followed where comfort and pleasures led,
Until one day in a quiet place
I met the Master face to face.
With station and rank and wealth for my goal,
Much thought for my body, but none for my soul,
I had entered to win in life's mad race,
When I met the Master face to face.
I met Him, and knew Him and blushed to see
That His eyes full of sorrow, were fixed on me;
And I faltered and fell at His feet that day,
While my castles melted and vanished away.
Melted and vanished and in their place
Naught else did I see but the Master's face.
And I cried aloud, "Oh, make me meet
To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet."
My thought is now for the souls of men,
I have lost my life to find it again,
E'er since one day in a quiet place
I met the Master face to face.
(Author: Unknown)
At this time of year, gift giving is paramount in many people's thinking. It is one of the traditions that we can sometimes feel we could do without. But when Christmas morning comes, we forget about all the frustration and fatigue.
Of course the greatest gift ever given was when the heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus, as a Babe in Bethlehem... Jesus, the God-Man, who would save His people from their sins. God has also given us the special gifts of family and loved ones. Because we are social beings, we find much joy in the happy faces of children and the reunion of our families.
We could never thank God enough for all His material blessings. We have so much - too much. Christmas should always be a time of sharing with those less fortunate - a wider circle than "me and mine". god has also given us the gifts of our five senses to enjoy... snowy landscapes, glittering Christmas trees, the aroma of roasting turkey, the reading of the beautiful Christmas story and singing of the old carols. And as we stand before the dying embers of the fire, how precious is the touch of a loved hand. Truly God has given us all things to enjoy!
But what if God, in His wisdom, has sent sickness, sorrow, rejection, or monetary hardship this year? He always sends the best gifts, that is best for our ultimate good. He has not forgotten us, for in sickness we find "His strength made perfect in weakness," in sorrow He calls, "the heavy laden to rest," in being wronged and hurt, He says, "vengeance is mine I will repay." And in financial hardship, He reminds us, "my God shall supply all your needs."
Does God always give the best gifts? Yes, by His own loving standards, He sends just what we need. Our part is to receive the gift with an accepting and thankful heart.
(Joyce Rockwell)
There is something about Christmas that seems to bring out the best in human nature. Folks make extra efforts to help the less fortunate with food, clothing and where possible gifts for Christmas. Prince Edward Islanders are amongst the most generous in Canada.
I read recently of a five year old refugee being shown the wonders of a large toy department by his foster parents. His eyes grew wide with wonderment, but gradually an expression of disappointment clouded his face. He began to search up and down the aisles and under the tables and counters. At last he burst out, "But where is the child?"
After an embarrassed silence, a store official ordered a Christmas crib to be found at once and set up in a prominent place in the toy department. At this, the little boy smiled with delight. Young as he was, he had given a lesson in the real significance of Christmas. He was saying, Jesus is, indeed the reason for the season.
Since it is His birthday which we celebrate soon, what part will He have in your Christmas? Will He be ignored as you share gift giving among yourselves? What part does He play in your life? I hope you'll think about that today.
(Pastor Alex Rockwell)
He could not send us here alone
And leave us to a fate unknown;
Without providing for His own,
The outstretched arms of mother.
God could not watch us night and day
And kneel beside our crib to pray,
Or kiss our little aches away;
And so He sent us mother.
And when our childhood days began,
He simply could not take command.
That's why He placed our tiny hand
Securely into mother's.
The Children's Wish Foundation began in 1984 and since then over 15,000 wishes have been granted across Canada to children between the ages of three and eighteen who have been diagnosed with high risk, life-threatening illness. The Foundation endeavours to fulfill each wish in the highest quality and detail - a wonderful goal and a great encouragement to many families.
Sometimes it is easy to fulfill the wishes of our loved ones, but sadly, sometimes it is impossible. Wishes cannot always come true on this earth. But for those who have trusted Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation, there is a promise in the book of Revelation, Chapter 21. It says, "... God Himself will be with them, He will wipe every tear from their eyes... There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away."
What a wonderful promise to claim as we think about the future. For those with that hope, death is but passing from one room to another into the presence of our kind, heavenly Father.
Pastor Alex Rockwell
A few years ago, a well-known cynic acknowledged that the historical evidence for the resurrection of Christ is so great that it’s difficult to deny. His response was this: “So What? A resurrection 2,000 years ago doesn’t have any relevance for modern man." I strongly disagree. It means more to me than any other event in history. I have staked everything (my life on earth, my future, and eternity itself) upon Christ’s resurrection. Why? Because the resurrection of the Lord Jesus assures me and all true believers of: - The Resurrection of the body. Jesus told us, “because I live you shall also live.”
- The deity of Christ. The resurrection proves beyone a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is God.
- The forgiveness of sin. When God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, He was giving assurance that He accepted Christ’s sacrifice for the sins of the world. That’s why Jesus said of His provision for our forgiveness- “It is finished.”
So if someone says to you of the resurrection of Christ, “So what?” Respond by saying, “This is what! And though it happened 2,000 years ago, its results are eternal." Pastor Alex Rockwell
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