Music Blog 12-19-2024
MUSIC BLOG
12-19-2024
NEVER ALONE!
My wife and I have the privilege of working at churches. I work at Cedar Falls Baptist, and my wife works at The River Community Church, a relatively new church plant on the north side of town. My church is radically different from hers. Our office is open 5 days a week from 8-5. We have many meetings every week and have a flurry of activity in the church as well as in the office. Ronda’s church is the opposite. Her day consists of her, the children’s director, and the Church administrator. The Children’s director works in the office a couple of days a week and the administrator has off-campus duties that take him out of the office. Ronda is by herself in the office all day regularly.
Like most jobs there is a usually as well as the exception. Yesterday was the exception. She had a young lady drop by her office, This lady is single. She has a heart for missions, both locally and foreign. Her reason for dropping by was her concern that there were others in the congregation who had no place to go for Christmas. She was on her own for Christmas and instead of being depressed because she had no way of getting to family this year, turned it into an opportunity to get with others in similar circumstances. She was using this negative and turning it around.
I remember times when we lacked the time and funds to get together with family. The holidays, although hectic, can also be a time of sadness and depression for many. Newly single people, first responders who are single and on call, and others often spend the holidays watching TV or going to a restaurant, (Waffle House is open, and maybe Denny’s). What a great way to think outside the box!
In our Christmas musical, one of our readings is about a woman who recently lost her husband. It is a poignant reminder for us to be compassionate but also shows the ability of Christ’s birth to renew our faith and trust in a Loving Heavenly Father. I’d love to share it with you:
This Most Holy Night (a “Night Before Christmas” poem)
Posted on December 24, 2018
by Cindy Powell
T’was the night before Christmas And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring Not even a mouse
I finally sat down With a cup of steaming hot tea
To ponder the beauty Of what this season truly means
Christmas hasn’t always been The easiest of times
Deep loneliness and pain Often left me wondering “why?”
Why couldn’t I forget The ache within my soul
And joyfully roll With the season’s festive flow?
But finally I realized— THAT is why He came
Not to deny our hurts But to carry our pain
He invaded our darkness With the promise of new life
Hope reborn within us On that most holy night
I don’t have to be jolly Or have everything figured out
To know that Immanuel Is what Christmas is all about
He is God with us— In both good times and bad He is our hope
And the reason we can stand
So wherever you find yourself On this most holy night
May the Love of all loves Surround and fill your life
Tonight it may be dark But let Christmas remind us
Love will never fail— He is standing right beside us!
May you know that Immanuel The One Who never leaves your side
IS the miracle of Christmas On this most holy night
Let me take a moment to remind you, that you are loved with an everlasting love. You are reborn into a heavenly and earthly family. Sin makes our families dysfunctional, but the Love of Christ heals the hurts and brings us into deep relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Don't allow your difficulties to keep you from enjoying this blessed Season. Choose to look for ways to be a blessing. Get yourself out there and find someone else who needs a friend and a brother or sister. Your life will be the better and your Christmas will reflect the Love the Savior came to share.
Merry Christmas to All and to all a good night.
Blessings,
Marty