| This month's newsletter is special in that it is being published in the month we celebrate our Lord's birth, God made man. Based on my experiences during the past half century, I firmly believe that the true joy of the Christmas season comes from putting my focus and energies on Christ's birth. I must admit that it is difficult to keep that focus when all around us we see retailers, Hollywood and television focused on anything BUT the Savior. However, it is possible to turn our back on the world's feeble attempt to provide temporary happiness and fix our gaze on our Savior and Coming King. Included in this newsletter are Paul's article entitled "Christmas Prayers;" Ang's news about our beautiful web site; Carols and their history shared by Ng'erechi and Ang; inspirational poems; the Christmas Story as found in Luke 2; and finally a closing prayer. ********************************************************************** We are truly indebted to Ang for the beautiful work she continues to do on our website. Her research has helped her to update and create the beautiful site that, like us, is always a "work in progress". Recently, Ang has added an article that she has written about how to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The process is so simple that many can't believe that God made it so simple. If you want to know more, please check out HTTP://GEOCITIES.COM/PRAYINGHEARTSSANCTUARY.CHRISTIANITY.HTML Also, coming soon is another article that Ang has been working on entitled, "How Can Being A Christian Help In My Recovery." If you haven't spent time at our website lately, here's your opportunity to fix yourself a cup of something warm (or cold if you are in the Southern Hemisphere with Selwyn and Les) and spend some time perusing what all is there. OUR WEBSITE IS HTTP://GEOCITIES.COM/PRAYINGHEARTSSANCTUARY OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS [email protected] ********************************************************************** ANG'S FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROLS Go Tell It On The Mountain ~ A Traditional Spiritual Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. The shepherds kept their watching o'er silent flocks by night, behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. The shepherds feared and trembled when, lo! above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior's birth. Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. Down in a lowly manger Our humble Christ was born, and God sent out salvation that blessed Christmas morn. Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. He brought with Him forgiveness He lived to show us the way He came to redeem all creation And to wash all our sins away Go tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born. ************* Baby Jesus is born Tell the children of Abraham there's a star over Bethlehem and the light in the manger come a Christmas morn. When baby Jesus was born angel came to Mary said, "I'm tellin' you the Light of this world is shinin' inside of you. His sweet forgiveness gonna set men free. The lame will walk and the blind will see. Tell the children of Abraham there's a star over Bethlehem and the light in the manger come a Christmas morn. When baby Jesus was born wise men following a holy light, shepherds heard singing in the midnight sky and they all come a runnin' through the stable door. The meek and the mighty, the rich and the poor tell the children of Abraham there's a star over Bethlehem and the light in the manger come a Christmas morn when baby Jesus was born. Baby Jesus is born. (Randy Handly/Cam King) ************ I know many of you have a hard time during the holidays. I too have a very hard time. Songs about family, coming home for Christmas, children playing all trigger me in a very bad way. What I've learned this year is to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By keeping my focus there and not on family, gifts, trees, dinners, and parties, this has been the easiest Christmas season. When God sent His Son on that blessed day, His intention was not for us to suffer every year but to rejoice in the best gift of all, Jesus Christ. I send these songs to you because hearing them and reading the words helps me stay focused and my prayer is that they will do the same for you. Take care of yourselves during this holiday season and do whatever it takes to stay safe. We love you and so does God. ********************************************************************** CHRISTMAS PRAYERS by Paul Francisco ([email protected]) "Dear Santa Claus, please bring me..." a childhood prayer, scrawled on paper or even said as a bedtime prayer! The post office accepts such a letter: God rejects the prayer. In fact, it never comes to His attention. A town in America is named Christmas, and letters sent there have an official response from "Santa". Here is our old "friend" SATAN in the form of "an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14). This jolly demon has captured the attention of children for generations, taking their young minds away from the birth of the world's Savior, Jesus Christ. Turning their minds away from God's greatest Gift. Anything or anyone engaged in this activity (even though only an imaginary person is involved) is an agent of the devil and part and parcel of this world's evil. Are you listening, parents? See how we can be fooled by a world that calls evil good and good evil? (Isaiah 5:20) Even some Christians will read this in horror. After all, Santa is a form of thought and behavior control over many children. He only visits good children, etc. And how does a "harmless" legend hurt a child? Well, for one thing it teaches children how to lie, for they all find out sooner or later that they have been deceived, and are expected to deceive their children in the future. Secondly, they learn to ask for temporal gifts instead of thanking God for His eternal gift! Satan IS the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:3,4), according to the Lord. He offers only temporary things. He is also a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44), as Jesus taught His enemies. This puts Santa in good company. Satan will be deposed one day and vanquished forever (Rev. 20:10). God is sovereign and in complete charge of the way all things eventually work out. We know not the actual birth date of our Lord Jesus. "Shepherds in the field keeping watch over their flock by night"(Luke 2:8) argues for a different time of year than our winter, I have read. Historically, the December 25th feast of Bacchus, Roman god of alcohol and debauchery, was replaced with Christ's birth celebration, by the early Christian church. The present day similar Roman-like Christmas time bacchantic (alcoholic) practices were not prevented. The Christmas season of "cheer" has been assisted by Santa, no doubt. Well, in the midst of Christmas toys, gifts, parties, lights, decorations and loud music, how should Christians pray, and for what? First and foremost, pray thankfully for the birth of our Savior. We ARE extremely glad He came, aren't we? Or does His Advent fade into the noisy background of our lives. Are we happy in the Christmas season because of the excitement, the Christmas music, the pageants, the planning, the secrecy, and the like? Or because Christ came? Let us be honest with ourselves. Of course Christians should always be generally thankful for our Lord's presence here, even though it was nearly 2000 years ago. But for a real Christmas Season of happiness and contentment, even in the midst of the turmoil of it, we should place a huge emphasis on the Sacred Birth in our decorations, our talk with our families and friends and, of course, in our prayers of thanks giving. We cannot be grateful enough for Christ's coming! We cannot talk and think about it fully enough to really encompass that Miracle which taught us all we know about God, life, truth, godliness, forgiveness of sin, new life and everlasting life. It taught us all we need know to make this life worthwhile. Christians! What would you hope for, or live for, or believe in this world of jumbled ideas, if Christ had not come? Have you thanked Him enough for what you have spiritually? What you have to live for? Do you count your blessings "one by one" in His presence as you pray? This giving of thanks should be foremost in our Christian lives, conduct and prayers at Christmastime. Other prayer matters are our health, peace of mind, wisdom in seeking a mate, wisdom in raising children, wisdom in keeping marriage intact and a praise (glory) to God, and the free offering of ourselves to serve Him as He wishes in the coming year. The thought of New Year's resolutions comes to mind. Will they be well-meaning promises to ourselves, soon to be broken, or will they this year be the kind that honor God? These can be the subject of prayer throughout the year, and if we are in earnest, these promises will be the ones that last and bear the fruit of righteousness and blessings in our lives. Praying during the Christmas Season can take on a special glow and meaning because it is Christmas and the doorway to a new year. May the Lord who is coming again grant us special blessings this year in our thankful Christmas prayers. "Even so, come soon, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 21.20). Amen. ******************************************************************** THE PERFECT GIFT We worship Thee, O Son of God, On this most holy day, Who came to earth a little Babe And in a manger lay; Thou who didst leave Thy heavenly home To break earth's chains of night, Whose advent brought a world new hope, Changed darkness into light. The angel of the Lord appeared As shepherds vigil kept, Proclaiming good tidings of great joy To man, which � �round them slept. The heavenly host sang praise to God And peace, good will on earth; The shepherds sought the Christ Child's bed And marveled at His birth. As wise men traveled from the East, Led by that gleaming star, And brought their precious gifts to Thee From their own lands afar; So we to Thee would homage bring And sing that heavenly strain Of peace on earth, good will to men, The world so needs again. At this glad time we too would bring Our greatest gift to Thee; Lord, first ourselves, then all we have, Our perfect gift would be. Wilt Thou through us shine forth to men Who need Thy light so clear; Use us, our money, talents, time, In Thy sweet service here. -Julia Benson Parker PRAYER POEMS (Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1942) ********************************************************************** PSALM 63:5 - O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. ********************************************************************** We'd like to welcome Ng'erechi as our most recent member of our prayer team. When I asked our prayer team about any Christmas Carols that were especially meaningful, Ng'erechi shared his research about these two carols and one hymn. Below are his background information as well as songs: "Oh, Come, oh, come, Emmanuel, and rescue Israel" (the people of God)... This carol/prayer is apparently all that remains today from the worship of twelfth century Christians in Spain. Similar in theme to many spirituals of black slaves of the Ante Bellum South, those servants of Arab masters who ruled Spain for almost 800 years, cry to God in their sadness, desolation and darkness, anxiously hoping for liberation from all evil. Sung to a plaintive French plain song tune of the 15th century, we sing with them today, Heavenly Wisdom, God with us, correct us and help us to know that with your help we will overcome. O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own form Satan's tyranny; form depths of hell Thy people save and give them victory o'er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! O Come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here; and drive away the shades of night, and pierce the clouds and bring us light! Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! ~Latin Hymn translated by John M. Neale; melody by Thomas Helmore.. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Good King Wenceslaus with a spritely tune even boisterously interpreted by some orchestras, invites us to join the good man and patron saint of the Czechs, a real life historical figure, who braves a fierce winter storm with a timid page at his side, to reach out to a shivering and hungry subject out scrounging for firewood. The godly and kindly leader casts aside all protocols and shrugs off his Secret Service to go share a generous portion of his Christmas dinner with the penniless peasant and his brood. This inspiring tale catches us up in the mood of the First Christmas, God become One with us to help us, not out to get, but giving, cheering, affirming others. GOOD KING WENCESLAS Good King Wenseslas looked out, on the feast of Stephen, whent he show lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, when a poor man came in sigh, gathering winter fuel. "Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou knowest it telling, yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?" "Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain, right agains the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain." "Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither; thou and I shall see him dine, when we bear them thither." Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together; through the rude wind't wild lament and the bitter weather. "Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind grows stronger; fails my heart I know not how; I can go no longer." "Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread thou in them boldly; thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly." In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted; heat was in the very sod which the Saint had printed. Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing; ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing. COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING, sung to a vigorous Haydn tune (Austria), again prays, You are my hope, my future. You died for me, I want to live for You.... I wandered lost and sad when Christ sought me out. By your grace, dear Jesus, I am ever your debtor, More and more you attract me by your bonds of love.... Because the truly CHRISTmas carols focus on Jesus Christ and God's good purposes for us in His Son Jesus, they lift us out of our hurts, wrongs and woes to look to Emmanuel, God with us. This brings us joy, hope and purpose, at the end of the year and all year long. No other music gets my vote as often, every month of the year! -Ng'erechi COME, THOU FOUNT Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above; praise His name! I'm fixed upon it! Name of God's redeeming love. Hitherto Thy love has blessed me; Thou has brought me to this place; and I know Thy hand will bring me safely home by Thy good grace. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, bought me with His precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee: prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for Thy courts above. Amen. ~ Words by Robert Robinson; traditional American melody or sung to the Haydn melody usually associated with "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken." ********************************************************************** HOPE Whenever I'm depressed And feeling so distressed, Friend's easy platitudes Can't change my attitude. To halt my dark despair I turn to God in prayer. He tells me that I need To start some helpful deed. So, with His aid I rise, Like the old Phoenix wise, From my bitter ashes To rejoin the masses. -Paul Francisco ********************************************************************** I climbed a hill last night. I scaled the mountain of my fears, And on a plateau spread below Were written all my years. I gazed and gazed from on this height, And with my hand some tallies cast. Some were cast for years of wrong And some were cast for years of right. They altogether made a song: A song of pain A song of joy A song of hate A song of love A song of height A song of depth All for the life that was--- And then I placed my counters down And laid me down to rest; Content with life as I had lived And ready now for life anew: The life the Bible calls the Best. Ruth Francisco, 1923-1998 ********************************************************************** LUKE 2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 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." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. ********************************************************************** CLOSING PRAYER Our Precious Lord and Heavenly King, we praise You for Your love and wisdom in sending our Blessed Lord Jesus to come to earth as a Perfect Baby, born to and raised by a beautiful couple who understood what a privilege it was to have God incarnate living and growing in their humble home. We thank You and praise You for being willing to send Christ Jesus to live a sinless life so that we who are sinners might have an escape from eternal punishment and might know the peace and joy that only You can give. As we spend this month of Advent reflecting on Your willingness to send your Only Son, we pray for those who struggle with former abuse or mental illness issues that interfere with their ability to completely trust Your presence in their lives. We pray that Your manifestation will enlighten us all about Your love for us and Your desire that we live healthy and peaceful lives. I pray that You will empower us to seek to overcome evil with good, to pardon those who need our forgiveness, and to try to understand as much as to be understood. Lead us in Your paths and help us to trust You moment by moment for strength and power. I pray this in your Beautiful and Matchless Name, Jesus Christ, Amen. Grandytoon :-) [email protected] |
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| Praying Hearts Sanctuary |
| Newsletter |
| December 2001 |
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| Volume 1 Number 8 |