In the Bleak Mid Winter

{Join in the fun or view more mosaics over at Mary's}

January is here, with eyes that keenly glow,

A frost-mailed warrior,

striding a shadowy steed of snow.

Edgar Fawcett

Go Tell

Go, tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching

o’er silent flocks by night,

Behold, throughout the heavens

There shone a holy light

The shepherds feared and trembled,

When lo! above the earth,

Rang out the angels chorus

That hailed our Savior's birth.

Down in a lowly manger

The humble Christ was born

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn.

Go, tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

Crossroads

This past week at my church, we held our annual teen conference-Empowered Youth. Oh how well I remember those days! :) So many good memories and great decisions made...

This year I was scheduled to work in nursery during that midweek service that ends the teen conference. I was extremely disappointed. So...what did I do?

I got a sub to take my spot in nursery so that I could once again feel like a teenager listening to Pastor Damron's corny jokes and get to hear wonderful preaching geared towards youth!

As I sat in the service I couldn't help but remember my friends and I, along with the several other churches' youth groups that used to gather some 6-12 years ago. I thought of the several I ended up going to Baptist college with and then I thought of the many who never made it to high school graduation; classmates who had come to the Crossroads in their life and chosen not to follow Christ. I looked out into the many faces of teenagers and I was filled with a burden for the teens of my church. So many of them at the same Crossroads that I was at when I was their age.

I was reminded of a song we used to sing with the bus kids I picked up on the Gary route:::

I met Jesus at the crossroads,

Where the two ways meet.

Satan too, was standing there,

And he said "Come this way,

There's lots and lots of pleasures,

I will give to you today."

But I said, "No!!

There's Jesus here,

Just see what He offers me...

Down here my sins forgiven,

Up there a home in heaven.

Praise God,

That's the way for me!"

Choosing Christ over the pleasures of sin for a season, is a decision I know I will never regret; a decision that I pray the teens of FBA will make as well.

Til the storm passes over

We have been getting alot of rain around here; watching the storm clouds rage and then seeing the after affects of a good rainfall reminded me of a favorite hymn of mine... Linking up with Mary to be a part of Mosaic Monday.

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,

While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.

'Mid the crash of the thunder,

Precious Lord, hear my cry,

Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try,

For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise

Where the storms never darken the skies.

When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,

Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore;

In that land where the tempest, never comes, Lord, may I

Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

Chorus Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,

Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,

Keep me safe till the storm passes by.