Christmas Baby

 

I am a Christmas baby

Regarding my birth

And please do not think

This was my first day on earth.

 

I was not born

On a Christmas day,

Oh no my cherished reader,

Not in that way.

 

Date and day

Is not important here

But the fact that I know

Brings me good cheer.

 

I am born again

Making me God’s child,

I dare to follow Jesus Christ

Meek and mild.

Jesus’ birth

On that first Christmas day

Opened my eyes to the fact

That he is the way.

 

And when I said yes

To God’s will and His way

I became a Christmas baby

From that very day.

 

It has nothing to do

With a festival

And what is more important,

It is not even seasonal.

 

It is all year round

In the country and the town,

I once was lost

But now I am found.

 

Jesus is the reason

For the Christmas season

And when he is left out of it,

It’s worse than treason.

 

 

I am a Christmas baby

But by my spiritual birth

And it’s all because one day

Jesus came to earth.

 

You can argue

All you like

As to the season

Or whether day or night.

 

But this I know

And am convinced the more

That I am a Christmas baby

And that is for sure.

 

Stewart Russell © December 16, 2024

 

Shepherds Quaked

 

 

Out on a lowly hill

While their sheep attending

Shepherds quaked in great fear

Seeing angels descending.

 

“What could this mean?”

They thought to themselves

For surely it couldn’t be Santa

And his fairy tale elves.

 

Tales of Santa Clause

Was not back then rife

So why the presence of these angels

At this time in their life?

 

Fearing the worst

They huddled together

When words of the angels hinted

No need to bother.

 

 

“Fear not,” they said,

Stilling the shepherd’s fear,

And told to them the promise

We still hold dear.

 

For God so loved

That He selflessly gave

His only begotten Son, Jesus,

Our lives to save.

 

In a manger he lay

Right up the shepherd’s street

For unhindered they could go

And at Emmanuel peep.

 

I used peep for rhyme

But their eyes feasted

On the King of kings, Lord of lords

Whom they had visited.

 

 

With fear they had quaked

But not for long,

“Let us go and see,” they said,

Reminding us of a song…

 

A song we love to sing

At this yuletide season

About who it was that came

As well as the reason.

 

“While shepherds watched,

All seated on the ground”,

From heaven there came singing

As angels came down.

 

Shepherds quaked

At that wondrous sight,

When into this world of darkness

Came Jesus, the Light. 

 

To you, is born this day,

In the city of David,

The Saviour,

Who is Christ the Lord.

 

They had endured long

Expecting the Messiah

But in fullness of time he came,

Sing Alleluia.

 

Stewart Russell © December 9, 2024

 

Christmas Time Again

 

 

A little less heat

In the day and in the night,

And as though on cue, the appearing

Of Christmas lights.

 

The yellows and blues

From our Independence

With the reds, greens and orange

Oh, what resplendence!

 

Twinkling in radiance

Both day and night

And to both the young and old

Bringing much delight.

 

Some started counting

From January 2024,

And the time flew by so quickly

It wasn’t a bore.

 

 

Just a few months ago

Twenty-twenty-four began,

At least, that is how it presently feels,

Given how the time ran.

 

And now it’s Christmas,

It’s upon us again

With its chilly nights, hectic days

And unseasonal rain.

 

There is a hue and a cry

About times being rough

And the forecast for Christmas says

It most likely will be tough.

 

We’ve had a hard year

Trying to make ends meet

And there’s not much in the kitty

For Christmas treats.

 

But the call still goes out

Regarding the needy,

Look out for that familiar red kettle

And give generously.

 

 

Not that tea kettle

That’s sitting on your stove

But that of the Salvation Army

Today as you rove.

 

The poor is ever with us

The words of the Master,

Help someone this Christmas tide

With what you can muster.

 

Opportunity, I perceive,

Is what Jesus meant,

To give help as he abundantly did

When from heaven sent.

 

Christmas time again,

The season of goodwill,

A time of love and hope and grace

And seeking hearts, fill.

 

Of the many carols

And hymns of the nativity,

Of him who came down at Christmas

To save such as you and me.

 

We celebrate his coming

Into our world of sin

And we commemorate this event

That drew us back to him.

 

 

Such blessed assurance!

Such redeeming grace!

That gives us the hope of one day

Looking on his face.

 

A time of celebration!

It’s Christmas time again

When we give unlike all year round

And sing the joyous strains.

 

Hark, hear the angels sing,

O come all ye faithful,

To a little town in Bethlehem

Come all ye people!

 

A king for all:

Both the rich and poor!

The life the light the way the truth

And the eternal door.

 

Let this Christmas time

Speak to your heart

And don’t wait for January 1^st

To press restart.

 

Stewart Russell © December 4, 2024