Then the angel said to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night,
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is Christ he Lord…” (Luke 2:8-14)+ + +
Readers, have a ‘Mega-merry’ Christmas, as may be inferred from the OT Hebrew word ashar (Strong’s #833, as in Proverbs 31:28 on the virtuous wife), meaning
‘happy, blessed, prosperous, successful, from original root ‘be straight, upright’.’
Better still is New Testament Greek’s makarios (Strong’s #3107), which means
‘from root mak, indicating large, or of long duration…happy, supremely blessed, a condition in which congratulations are in order. It is a grace word that expresses the special joys and satisfaction granted the person who experiences salvation.’
This ‘Blessed’ is used in The Beatitudes, or the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5. (From NKJV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Exec ed. Dr Jack Hayford)
May it be an especially blessed night of spiritual silence and insight for everyone.
The Austrian carol Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht is one of my old favourites. First played on this day in 1818 near Salzburg, my father heard it during his long stay in Stalag IIIA. (He liked the look of Austria as seen whilst being conveyed en-route as a captive from the Battle for Crete in 1941. So we holidayed in the Tyrol in 1950-60s.)
This Celtic version with superb voice and violin is sublime…
Richard's Watch 
and to you Richard God Bless
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Thank you Lynne and I trust you and yours had a blessed celebration and will continue so throughout 2016.
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Merry Christmas Richard. We are living in great times of wonderful prophetic fulfillment. Thank you and be blessed.
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Thank you RJ and I trust you and yours had a blessed celebration and will continue so throughout 2016.
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for such a time (of year) as this
O Christmas Tree 2009
They chopped down Gods tree. Laid on Him, the bare naked edge of their axe and cut him down from the Garden of Life.
He was planted years ago, just like any other fir tree. Quietly and without fuss or real notice. Carefully placed by the hand of its creator. The planting of greatness, in the forest of man. Within, its seed, providing the hope, of one day this sapling surviving the rigours and dangers of this worlds life. Like us, to daily struggle to find height, to find light, to find space, that we might desperately find His life, space and place in Him.
They cut him down. This fair tree, destined for what? Does he now stand acknowledged in your room or on your shelf? Is he lit with lights or bedecked with baubles? No, this tree is the Light. Purity beyond purity. Light beyond light, and of himself is every Jewel, every Gem and Stone imaginable. Is he covered in glory, or tinsel and tat? Today is his tree, still, the tree of His cross? So grown, on which is hung your, our shame!
He has always lived. Always lived and grown amongst us, besides us and have we esteemed him? Or not? But have we been, or are we aware of the greatness that stands within our homes, within the planting of our human hearts. The centre piece of life. This tree is life. For this tree is living, from him all others grow. From him the whole root of life abides and flows. Humbly planted within the soil of humanity. Lowly laid. Lowly lived. Lowly died. Destined for wood, destined for dying … destined for burning. Will we throw him away or, wrap him up for another year?
Jesus, Gods man-size tree.
Chopped down, laid low. Dragged from his place of falling, with chains of sin. The egos, the avarice, the pride and greed of man. This fallen tree, whose bark was crushed and splintered his pulp bruised and torn, became battered and bleeding, to bring Him here to you, to us into the heart of our home. Brought by Gods good intention, so that you may find, He has brought Him here for you.
Yes Father Lord, as I look afresh on your frame, I find faith in your fir. Life in your frame. I find meaning, and light in your hope. Help Lord, help me, help us to collect your life giving sap, that flows from your fractured bark, your broken branches, broken to help me find your place of expression for me. Crushed by the machinery of life, and the heel of mans boot, to help us discover by your grace, the Healing, Health and Hope, that is in the meaning of your coming. That we may find the true meaning of your hope.
Thank you for these blessings, in Jesus name Amen.
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Thank you for such deeply inspirational reflections Dave. I trust you had a blessed celebration and will continue throughout the new year
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Brother.. that was given to you by the Holy Spirit.. amen! and when I read that, I was thinking of that part of Isaiah where Jesus is mentioned as a “Root out of dry ground”.
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