Twelve Christmas Angels

Twelve Christmas Angels

Twelve Christmas Angels
Twelve Christmas angels met
Up near the Milky Way;
To discuss why joy was missing,
From the Christmas holiday.

It gave them so much sadness,
As they tracked the negative trend;
So each decided to do their part,
To bring this madness to an end.

Angel one would touch memories,
Reminding of the blessings of life;
Angel two would tenderize hard hearts,
Removing bitterness and strife.

Angel three would gather families,
From far reaches of the earth;
Then stir feelings of love and peace,
Giving hope and joy new birth.

Angel four would return Merry
And Christ to holiday greetings.
Angel five would clear calendars,
To make time for family meetings.

Angels six would flame enthusiasm,
Angels seven would spread cheer;
Angel eight would grow generosity,
Angel nine would diminish fear.

Angel ten would dispel darkness,
By lighting colorful decorations;
Angel eleven would draw the lonely,
To warm and friendly celebrations.

Angel twelve would have the hardest job,
Bringing wonder back to each heart;
And reminding all the people,
Of how Christmas had its start.

So with haste they met the challenge,
And made everything all right;
They restored the joy and happiness,
Before that Christmas night.

So Merry Christmas then to one and all,
May every tongue employ;
And thank you Christmas angels,
For bringing back the Christmas joy!

Jan Bagwwell
God Bless !!

Christmas: When Your Heart Grows Three Sizes

Christmas: When Your Heart Grows Three Sizes

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

In Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas tale, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch suffers from having a small heart. The source of his heart problem is his lack of understanding the meaning of Christmas. As the story goes, the Grinch tries to put a stop to Christmas, but in the end, he comes to understand what Christmas is all about and his heart grows three sizes! This heart change makes a big difference in his life.

I’m not sure what Dr. Seuss’ intentions were when he wrote the story back in 1957, but it certainly comes across as a Christian parable to me that parallels the change that takes place in a person’s life when he or she comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, who was born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). When the light of the Good News of Jesus dawns upon the heart of a person, God replaces the old heart of stone, with a new, fleshy heart – and a new person emerges. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Welcome Christmas – While we stand – Heart to heart – And hand in hand.”[1] It might just make all the difference in the world.

Holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today!

We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
(from O Little Town of Bethlehem)

We celebrate Christmas because of the power Jesus brought to change our hearts.

Going Deeper:

Give an example of a time when you changed your mind about something.
How did the words or actions of others influence your change of heart?
Towards the end of the story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” what happened that caused the Grinch to change his mind about Christmas? What lessons might we learn from the story?
How has understanding the true meaning of Christmas made a difference in your life?
Family Time: Gather your family together and watch the classic half-hour Christmas cartoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Then, using the content above, lead your family in a discussion about how Jesus has the power to change our hearts.

Jan Bagwell

God Bless !

Merry Christmas !

The Rustle a Wing

Life is a narrow vale

Between the barren peaks

Of two eternities ,

We strive in vain to look beyond the heights

We cry aloud and the only answer

Is the echo of our wailing cry.

From the unreplying dead

There comes no answer .

But in the night of death

Hope sees a star ,

And listening love

Can hear the rustle of a wing .

Jan Bagwell

In Me...

In me I am weak.....in Him I am strong,
In me I am lost....in Him I belong,
In me I am scared...in Him I've no fear,
In me I am distant, in Him I am near.
In me I am tired....in Him I'm revived,
In me I am dead....in Him I'm alive,
In me I'm impatient...in Him I do wait,
In me it's an act....in Him I'm not fake.
In me I am restless....in Him I find peace,
In me I'm forgotten....in Him never cease,
In me I have questions....in Him I feel calm,
In me I say can't...in Him I say can.
In me I don't trust...in Him I rely,
In me I give up....in Him I will try,
In me I am drowning...in Him I will swim,
In me I'm so guilty....In him I've no sin.
In me I am running...in Him I stand still
In me I am selfish....in Him do his will,
In me I'm in darkness....in Him I'm in light,
In me I give up....in Him I will fight.
In me I am reckless...In Him I do care,
In me I'm unjust....in Him I am fair.
In me I feel hopeless....in Him I believe,
In me there's no point unless He's with me.
Jan  Bagwell
God Bless

The Bell Ringer

In front of the store Sits a wrinkled old man Weathered of life Wrinkled of hand Ringing a bell Projecting a smile A far away family Many a mile He's a part of the festivities The holidays, the mood Shoppers rush by Appearing to be rude But still the bell ringer Rings the bell Ringing in the present There's a future to foretell If no one drops a coin Or tosses a buck Many unfortunates Down on their luck Won't get a present Or a tasty turkey dinner Yet, the person who is serving Is really the winner A woman in a hurry Spots the old man Weathered of life Wrinkled of hand She stops by to talk Though she hasn't much time Since when did being thoughtful Become such a crime She pats him on the back He has stories to tell He shares them for a while Then starts ringing the bell The woman in a hurry Smiles with a wink Together they shared A holiday drink Not one with wine Whiskey or beer But a holiday drink Of good will and good cheer What is the purpose? My friend, you might say If by serving yourself You're in your own way The holidays are not Just about feeding you But making sure that others Are eating too Not only during the holidays But throughout the year Every servant should serve God makes that real clear The bell ringer rang Till the department store closed The shift of the bell ringer Comes and goes He went home to a mattress That lies on the floor Pajamas with holes Were the night clothes he wore He thanked the Lord humbly For the food on his plate Though a roll and some rice Were all that he ate He bowed his head in prayer Then slipped off to sleep In God's Holy Place He sees this and weeps But God hears the bells That the bell ringer rings He sees all the good That the bell ringer brings God saw the bell ringer And the woman who stopped to talk Each one a servant Walking the walk A servant lives to serve Not to be served like kings And it's truly in service That the bell ringer rings... Jan Bagwell God Bless