Thought for December 19

History:

• 1686: Robinson Crusoe leaves his island after 28 years [per the book]
• 1776: Thomas Paine publishes "American Crisis" beginning, "These are the times that try men's souls."
• 1777: Washington settles troops at Valley Forge
• 1843: "A Christmas Carol" is published
• 1862: 80 casualties in skirmish at Salem Church, Jackson TN
• 1903: Williamsburg Bridge opens between Brooklyn and Manhattan
• 1910: Rayon first commercially produced
• 1918: Robert Ripley's first "Believe it or Not" column
• 1922: Theresa Vaughn confesses to being married 61 times over 5 years in 50 cities in three countries
• 1942: Robert Stroud transferred to Alcatraz--"Birdman of Alcatraz"
• 1946: Ho Chi Minh attacks French in Hanoi
• 1955: Carl Perkins records "Blue Suede Shoes"
• 1979: "Kramer v. Kramer" released
• 1980: "Raging Bull"  and "9 to 5" released
• 1998: House votes to impeach Bill Clinton
• Born: Leonid Brezhnev, Edith Piaf, Little Jimmie Dickens, Cicely Tyson, Bobby Layne, Al Kaline, Janie Fricke, Reggie White, Jennifer Beals,  Alyssa Milano, Jake Gyllenhaal, 
• Died: Emily Bronte, JMW Turner, Alois Alzheimer, Desmond Llewelyn [Q],  Hope Lange, Robert Bork, 

Two women of faith died on this date. Sarah Addison Pollard [your hymnal may call her Adelaide as she changed her name after her missionary plans failed] wrote "Have Thine Own Way Lord." Unable to raise funds to be a missionary in Africa, she was very disappointed. At a prayer meeting she heard an elderly woman say, "It doesn't matter what you bring into our lives Lord, just have your own way with us." Adelaide went home and read Jeremiah 18 about the potter and the clay and wrote the hymn we sing. Our goal for today is reflected in the final words of the hymn--"Fill with Thy Spirit til all shall see, Christ only always living in me."

The other woman was Martin Luther's wife, Katharina. Her last recorded words were, "I will cling to my Lord Christ as a burr on a coat." Might be good words to live by.

Thought:

 It is Christmas week! We celebrate, we sing carols and hymns, we prepare for family and friends, we finish the shopping list. As a child, Christmas was a special week. The Saturday before Christmas we put up our tree, Mom was sure that this was the appropriate timing and that the tree needed to be down by noon on New Year's Day. I loved the excitement and expectation for what Santa would bring. I loved the music of the season, both the old carols and hymns and the newer songs--I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Clause, Jingle Bell Rock, Sleigh Ride, the Chipmunks, Nat King Cole. A couple of years ago [yes, hard to believe this is the third Christmas I will be writing a thought], I wrote about our Christmas songs during Christmas week. I am back looking at what I said then. These are some revised ideas on those thoughts. 

In 1745, Charles Wesley published 18 Christmas hymns in a collection called "Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord.," one of which was "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus." I always liked this hymn as it speaks of our desire for the coming of the Lord. Today, our yearning is not for His advent, but for His coming again to gather His own for eternity. So Revelation ends with the plea "Come Lord Jesus." [22:20] And Wesley reminds us that He comes to set us free from fear and sin and to reign in us forever. I should begin every day asking for Jesus to come, come in His glory, come in my life, come in His Spirit, come to deliver and free us. And as Wesley concludes this hymn, come and "raise us to Thy glorious throne."

Another hymn calling for the coming Christ Child is "O Come O Come Emmanuel." This is one of the oldest Christmas hymns, beginning as a Medieval, antiphonal chant. We call for the promised one to Come. Each of the stanzas speaks to a name of the Lord:

• Emmanuel--The One who comes to ransom us, pay the debt we cannot pay, live the life we cannot live, and die the death in our place. The haunting text reminds us that without Emmanuel, we are separated and exiled from the Father.
• Lord of Might--The mighty, majestic One. The Lord of Host, mighty in battle; leader of the angelic forces; only He is able to fight the battle and win the victory.
• Rod of Jesse--Come Jesus and save us from Satan's tyranny. Comfort us with Your rod and staff. Protect and rescue us today.
• Dayspring--restore our joy, refresh us with living water. Bring forth Your light in our darkness. Joy comes in the morning.
• Key of David--open the doors to heaven. Isaiah 22:22 says God has given the keys to the House of David to our Lord Christ. He is the Door. He holds the keys. Our prayer is for Him to open heaven's door to us and to all who call on His name.

As the week begins, let's call on the Lord to Come, Come into our hearts, Come into our minds, Come and fill the earth with His glory, Come and set His people free. We wait with excitement and anticipation Your coming, Lord.

Blessings

Larry