MONDAY 12/5 — “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Phillips Brooks, music by Lewis H. Redner. I always think of children’s choirs when I hear this one. 1 O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by:…
“The First Nowell,” a traditional English carol. Born is the King of Israel! (For simplicity’s sake, I’ve changed “nowell” to “noel.”) 1 The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold…
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent,” from the Liturgy of St. James, translated by Gerard Moultrie. My favorite line: He will give to all the faithful His own self… 1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly-minded, for with blessing in his…
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” by Charles Wesley. God keeps His promises! He sent Jesus, and He will send Him again! 1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation,…
At first glance, this verse seems rather insignificant when compared to others like John 3:16 or the 23rd Psalm. But the more I looked at it, the more “meat” I found. Note some of these important words: For God is MY King… “My” indicates a personal relationship. A king’s first…
Continuing his reminder to remain faithful until the Lord’s return, James mentioned the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name. They were ridiculed and persecuted for doing so, yet they remained faithful. These prophets were revered by the first-century Jews, so this reminder would have caught their attention and reiterated…
James is bringing his letter to a close, and he adds a gentle admonition: be patient. These first-century believers were so eager for Christ’s return, they were becoming anxious and impatient. (Sometimes I feel that way myself!) These people wanted Christ to return and bring judgment on those who’d oppressed…
“Watch and Pray” is one of Fanny Crosby’s many hymns. Such a wise woman she was! These words are an encouragement to us today. 1 Watch and pray that when the Master cometh, If at morning, noon, or night, He may find a lamp in every window, Trimmed, and burning…
Most of the time we think of sinning as doing things we shouldn’t do, such as lying, stealing, or being unkind to someone. But there’s another side to it: if we know we should do something and choose not to do it, these are sins of omission. The Bible gives…
Apparently the people to whom James sent this letter were making their plans for travel and business and life in general without consulting God for guidance or giving a thought to His will for them. James reminded them—we might make our plans, but God directs our paths (might sound like…
