Luke 24:5-7 Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
Last year, we spent the month of December reading through the book of Luke as a family, one chapter each night beginning December 1. As we reached chapter 24 on the 24th of December these words came to my heart. I would like to share this with all of you on this Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas from Hodge Lodge!
The Christmas Cross
It’s Christmas Eve, and the house is very quiet
As I peacefully recline and enjoy the pretty lights.
Bright white, green, purple, yellow, red, and blue;
They offer up such a gloriously blissful hue.
Nativity scenes are scattered around and even adorn my tree.
I love them all because they mean the world to me.
But even more than the lights, the tree, and the scenes,
One ornament stands out, shining with the brightest gleam.
A single little shiny cross reminds us why He came.
If not for the cross, the Baby in the trough wouldn’t mean the same.
We’ve been reading through Luke, chapters one thru twenty-four,
Remembering the first Christmas, and oh so much more.
Mary was alerted, “You are going to birth a son.
The Holy Spirit will come. He will be the Holy One.”
Mary was astonished. She had never known a man.
Only trust and faith in God could make her understand.
More than 700 years before, Isaiah did proclaim.
He prophesied the birth of the Messiah and even told His name.
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace;
He would come to earth a sinless man, so that from sin we could be released.
He had to be born in Bethlehem, as that was part of God’s plan.
A census was called, and they travelled there as part of David’s clan.
Sometime while there, Mary birthed the Son.
She swaddled Him up, the perfect, majestic One.
The angels alerted the shepherds at night
They told of the child that came to make us all right.
The shepherds were fearful, but they believed.
They hurried to Bethlehem for the Christ child to receive.
The Christ child was given the name Jesus,
Or Immanuel, meaning God is with us.
Remembering the birth, joy fills my heart,
But don’t forget that the birth was just the start.
That little baby grew up, fully God, fully man.
He showed greater love than anyone on the land.
He grew in stature, wisdom, and grace;
A perfect man with the most beautiful face.
He performed many miracles. He served the poor.
He taught lessons for life, and He gave us much more.
He walked as a man, but He was indeed deity.
For the reason He came, was to save you and me.
He came to suffer and die on that old rugged cross.
He knew if He didn’t, we all would be lost.
Jesus became the final sacrifice for you and for me
To give us the gift of everlasting life you see.
We think of salvation as a free gift from above,
But that gift was paid for with Christ’s love and blood.
That single little shiny cross reminds us why He came.
For if not for the cross, the Baby in the trough would NOT mean the same!
Inspirations from the Funny Farm 