Apple Creek Poetry by Paralee Eadie

 Who was it that came that first Christmas Day,

The Babe who was swaddled upon the hay?

Angels stood watch over the Babe that night,

Leading the shepherds to see this great sight.

 ‘Twas not the sun placed as a sign,

Nor even the moon so bright,

Constellations or Milky Way

That led others to Jesus that night.

 There is a certain peace

That comes only with the snow,

A soft, quiet, stillness

No other time can know.

 This Christmas is different.

There's much fear in the land.

Yet there is something

You must understand.

 The world is a mess.

The economy's crashed.

Disasters have struck.

Hurricanes have lashed.

Celebrate Jesus!

 The ingredients are simple,

Just use what you have on hand,

Ingredients that are common

To every living man.

 Once upon a time there was a little boy

Who wasn’t exactly what you would call a joy.

 Shepherds and Wise Men came that first Christmas Day,

Each worshiping Jesus in his own unique way.

 When I took hold of God's hand,

His Spirit empowered me

To be His hand extended

That others His love might see.

 Mary sat at Jesus’ feet.

Martha was distracted.

Both in Jesus’ presence,

How differently they reacted.

 Amidst chaos and government decrees

God set His star in the sky.

A census and political unrest

Would not His promise deny.

 A cozy fire, crackling bright,

Christmas tree in the hall

With presents piled underneath,

Dolls, trains, and a ball.....

While in the shadows stood the homeless.

 If this were your last Christmas

To spend upon this earth,

Would you do anything different

To celebrate Christ’s birth?

 Have you ever wondered

How different it would have been

If you had been the innkeeper

On Christmas Eve way back then?

 “Peace on earth, good will toward men”

At Christmas time we hear.

If only we would realize

That peace is very near.

 What was the view from Heaven

On that very first Christmas Day

When God exchanged robes of majesty

For swaddling clothes and hay?

 I gave a precious costly gift

To the one I love most dearly.

There was no doubt it came from me

For it was marked most clearly.

 God set in the heavens

A star so bright

To mark the birthplace

Of the Christ child that night.

 A pine or a fir

Is not the true Christmas tree,

But a rough hewn cross

On the hill of Calvary.

You were in the Father's heart,

Even before time began.

 If you were the only one,

The only sinner on this earth

Who needed a loving Saviour,

Would there have been a Christmas birth?

 'Twas twelve days before Christmas and all through the house

Everything was a mess, including my spouse.

 What gift do you bring the Christ Child

As we celebrate His birth?

Have you gold, frankincense, and myrrh?

Just what do you have of worth?

 Jesus who came on Christmas day

Will come again, but not the same way.

He came as a Babe so fair and so small,

But His next coming won’t be like that at all.

 My husband is an average guy

When it comes to giving Christmas gifts.

Too often he thinks I really want

Something that sweeps or cleans or sifts.

 1. Start with Jesus, a cup of tea, a notebook, and a pencil.

2. Ask Him to guide you, give you ideas for keeping Him the main part of Christmas. Ask Him to give you ideas to keep your kids and grandkids focused on Jesus. Get ready to write! Expect Him to send ideas your way throughout the year through various means........

 (Sing to the tune of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town".)

There was a bright star

Way up in the sky.

The time of God's grace

Had now drawn nigh.......

 We picture the beauty of Christmas Day,

Of Baby Jesus upon clean, white hay,

Angelic choirs singing hymns so sweet,

Shepherds and Magi kneeling at His feet,

Mary, Joseph, and Babe with halos aglow,

Fluffy, white sheep bleating soft and low.

How we love to worship this Babe of glory,

But it's not a true picture, nor the end of the story.