It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

And still it comes, whether the sky is bleak or clear.  Stop now and Listen, to that still small voice- so you can hear;
 
Angel wings hovering, as the Spirit draws us oh so near.   Awake o' slumbering heart and sing- make joyful melody to the King of Kings!

Rise up oh man and woman, for Christ was born. Seeking to mend your lives so torn. Homes that are broken and hearts too.  Christ comes to you bringing life anew!

Weary ones, and faint of heart, surrender now-He gives a brand new start!
Lay your burdens at His feet, Take His yoke, it is light and He is Meek.
In your heart He will put a song, and give you Peace to sing along.  

This Christmas let's give back to Heaven the song that the Angels sing. Let us join in exultant voice with Praises to Our Lord and King. Jesus the Messiah, of Whom the Angels sing! 

© NEM 12-02-2011

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song  

Which now the angels sing.

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear!

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear was written by Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849. The carol started life as a poem written by its author who was a minister living in Massachusetts at the time. The music for It Came Upon A Midnight Clear was composed by American musician Richard Storrs Willis in 1859 who was inspired by the words of the poem.

MERCY

Mercy-
not getting what you so deserve, and also getting something that you don't deserve;
as in favor, compassion and mercy when judgement could have been given.


                    Meritorious
                    Evidence of
                 a Righteous
                    CHRIST who
        Loves YOU so!


Next time you are tempted to really let somebody have it...remember the MERCY that has already been shown to you and then ask Father what HE would have you do.  Sometimes, the loudest reprimand comes in the form of gentle mercy! 


We don't WANT to do things that  would bring shame to the Name of Christ, and yet we all fall short, we all mess up even if it is in a little thing... and we need His mercy and forgiveness.  So too, our mates, and our friends are not usually purposely trying to mess up... they may just be caught in a spiral that needs Divine intervention.  Our children may be in a stve of acting out and they need correction, but they also need much love!


I have a sign in our guest bathroom that reads: "People need loving the most, when they deserve it the least."  How true!  While we were YET sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8


If HE did that for us as sinners, HOW MUCH more Love and Grace and MERCY will HE give to us as His children who want to do right and are seeking to change more and more by drawing nearer to Him?  Remember we are told;  For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. Heb.4:12 


Jesus is the WORD made flesh... HE KNOWS our hearts, our thoughts, our motives and intents. So if He is dealing with you about something, be quick to repent and ask Him to help you, to change you and then LET HIM>  Don't frustrate the Grace of God, like our kids sometimes frustrate us when we are trying to help them and they are not listening!  How very patient and kind and long suffering HE is with each of us!  Since HE is still working on me, I think I can extend some mercy while HE is still working on you too!  Amen?

© NEM 12-01-11