By Nell Dobbs
Christmas is almost here! God is love. He sent His son who was with Him before the world began.
The children’s “Christmas Pageant,” led by Martha Beggs and Martha Register and other was so beautifully done and touched our hearts. Bill Brown gave the offertory prayer that covered the world. The Worship Choir sang “Gloria! He is born!”
Our dad’s youngest sister, Aunt Helen Fligh, of Jacksonville, wrote a book in 1977, “Thinking Bet of God,” inscribed with “As love never fails, let’s keep on loving.” That’s what God does. He keeps loving us, as shown in every way. Our message Sunday morning by Preacher Manning Hicks was from John 1:1-18 and verse 29. He said it could have been entitled “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” In fact one year, I had a Christmas card about that. His cousin John came before Him saying he was not that light but loved witnessing of that light. It was sad He came to His own and they received Him not.
Preacher closed by reading one of Helen Steiner Ride’s poems about the man who received word Jesus would be his guest that day, so he got his house in order and waited. A beggar came by and he invited him in and gave him good shoes, and a coat.
A woman came by weary and worn and he gave her, a place to rest and food, night was coming – no Jesus. Then a little girl came crying. She was lost, so he helped her find her way home.
As he knelt to pray he was sad but was told “inasmuch as he had done it unto the least, he had it unto Him.” May we be led that way – to see needs and to meet our needs. Amen! We are indeed thankful Jesus came and came the way he did.
Some years ago our nephew, Gene Clyde Wall, of Atlanta wrote, “The Christmas Lamb” and said I could use it; thank you, His mother Sue, and he are visiting us now.
“The Christmas Lamb”
By Gene Clyde Wall
I used to think it very strange
A king should come this way;
Born in a stall with cows and sheep.
And in a Manger lay.
A king should come to palace warm
That’s made of stone not clay,
To gold and silk and silver spoons
And all suck royal array.
And servants to obey,
To dine and wine at tables fine
And hear musicians pay;
A baby king no doubt would have
Bright toys to make him gay,
And there’s a maid or two or three
To make his cradle sway.
But Christ was born within a stall,
Yes, where the cattle stay.
And it’s for sure His swaddling robe
No royalty did display.
This Babe was there amidst the flock
And lay upon the hay.
And instead of stately music sweet
He heard the horses neigh.
And this the King of Kings of Kings,
So men and angels say,
Was born within a humble barn;
Its walls were dark and grey.
But then the Lord a stable chose
A message to convey;
That in His eyes a baby Lamb
Is what was born that day.
On the 19th from 1-4, there was an Open House at the Middle Florida Baptist Association Building, to meet our new Director of Missions, Mike Miller and his wife Jan.
Christmas Caroling was Wednesday the 21st.
Christmas Eve, we will have a candle light service and the observance of the Lord’s Supper on the 24th at 5 pm.
Congratulations to John Mack Smith on graduating from FSU and thanks to everyone for prayers, for him and his parents. Give God thanks for their son. Flowers were placed in his honor.
We need prayer of comfort for the family of Catherine Carver, and all the other sad ones.
We have a prayer of thanks. Our preacher Larry Law is healing and is home. We would like to pray for all the others who are ill.
Thanks to the Youth, of our church for their wonderful Christmas Program Sunday night.
My God bless us, one and all! Amen!
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