He came down. Mary said YES, then He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to us. Born unto us. Born into us.
He came down from His Glory, Leaving Holy Home and Father,
to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . To be born most humbly into the broken,
reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world. To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that
I had made of my own wretched heart . . .
The holy, defenseless egg of God, having scarcely a shell. A tender shoot, a tiny lamb, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, mother’s blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to ‘cover’ all others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love. He came down to the dung heap, the lowest, the basest of places, a place of no honor; of ignobility, because that’s where we were, I and my neighbors, hiding under the layers of earthly dirt. He could have said “No, not again”. He could have said “To hell with this” . . . He didn’t have to rise from His manger to knock on my heart’s door. To come in and clean it all, just like new, Every room, from ceiling to floor, window, to wall, and spend His life, His all, for me, to bear away my sin. Yet, He would be the first to admit, if He weren’t so humble, that He did have to do it. Someone had to do something. But no-one could, except Himself. I didn’t deserve His coming down, this Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Immanuel. Savior Lord. JESUS CHRIST! But, He came down, out of love, bearing light, carrying forgiveness, sowing grace like seeds, ready with a cool drink, gentle hands to wash our feet, with tears of compassion, where sin and mercy meet, and I’m so glad, so happy, so joyously thankful that He did, that my meager glory goes up. I send it up. I glorify His name, Who was born into many names, and into ONE name, and that name is The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
That He. Came. Down! * ** *** * * * * *
He came down. Mary said YES, then He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to us. Born unto us. Born into us. He came down from His Glory, Leaving Holy Home and Father, to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To be born most humbly into the broken, reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world. To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that I had made of my own wretched heart . . . . . . . . . . . The defenseless egg of God, having scarcely a shell. A tender shoot, a tiny lamb, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, mother’s blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to ‘cover’ all others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love. He came down to the dung heap, the lowest, the basest of places, a place of no honor; of ignobility, because that’s where I was, I and my neighbors, hiding under the layers of earthly dirt. He could have said “No, not again”. He could have said “To hell with this” . . . He didn’t have to rise from His manger to knock on my heart’s door. To clean it all, just like new, from ceiling to floor, window, to wall, and spend His life, His all, for me, to bear away my sin. Yet, He would be the first to admit, if He weren’t so humble, that He did have to. Someone had to do something. But no-one could, except Himself. I didn’t deserve His coming down, this Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Immanuel. Savior Lord. JESUS CHRIST! But, He came down, out of love, bearing light, carrying forgiveness, sowing grace like seeds, ready with a cool drink, gentle hands to wash our feet, with tears of compassion, where sin and mercy meet, and I’m so glad, so happy, so joyously thankful that He did, that my meager glory goes up. I send it up. I glorify His name, Who was born into many names, and into ONE name, and that name is The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
That He. Came. Down! * ** *** * * * * *
He came down. Mary said YES, then He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to us. Born unto us. Born into us. He came down from His Glory, Leaving Holy Home and Father, to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To be born most humbly into the broken, reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world. To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that I had made of my own wretched heart . . . . . . . . . . . The defenseless egg of God, having scarcely a shell. A tender shoot, a tiny lamb, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, mother’s blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to ‘cover’ all others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love. He came down to the dung heap, the lowest, the basest of places, a place of no honor; of ignobility, because that’s where I was, I and my neighbors, hiding under the layers of earthly dirt. He could have said “No, not again”. He could have said “To hell with this” . . . He didn’t have to rise from His manger to knock on my heart’s door. To clean it all, just like new, from ceiling to floor, window, to wall, and spend His life, His all, for me, to bear away my sin. Yet, He would be the first to admit, if He weren’t so humble, that He did have to. Someone had to do something. But no-one could, except Himself. I didn’t deserve His coming down, this Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Immanuel. Savior Lord. JESUS CHRIST! But, He came down, out of love, bearing light, carrying forgiveness, sowing grace like seeds, ready with a cool drink, gentle hands to wash our feet, with tears of compassion, where sin and mercy meet, and I’m so glad, so happy, so joyously thankful that He did, that my meager glory goes up. I send it up. I glorify His name, Who was born into many names, and into ONE name, and that name is The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
That He. Came. Down! * ** *** * * * * *
He came down. Mary said YES, Then He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to us. Born unto us. Born into us. He came down from His Glory, Leaving Holy Home and Father, to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To be born most humbly into the broken, reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world.
To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that I had made of my own wretched heart . . . . . . . . . . .
The defenseless egg of God, having scarcely a shell. A tender shoot, a tiny lamb,
in perfect humility, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, a mother’s sacrificial blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to coverall others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love.
For us here below, from Him, up above. He came down to the dung heap, the lowest, the basest of places, a place of no honor;
of ignobility, because that’s where I was, I and my neighbors, hiding under the layers of dirt. He could have said “No, not again”. He could have said “To hell with this” . . . He didn’t have to rise from His manger to knock on my heart’s door. To clean it all up, just like new, from ceiling to floor, window, to wall, and spend His life, His all, for me, to bear away my sin. Yet, He would be the first to admit, (if He weren’t so humble), that He did have to. Someone had to do something. But no-one could except Himself. I didn’t deserve His coming down, this Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty God, this Everlasting Father, this Prince of Peace. This Immanuel. Savior Lord. JESUS CHRIST! But, He came down, out of love, bearing light, carrying forgiveness, sowing grace like seeds, ready with a cool drink, gentle hands to wash our feet, with tears of compassion, where sin and mercy meet, and I’m so glad, so happy, so joyously thankful that He did, that my glory goes up. I send it up. I glorify His name Who was born into many names, and into ONE name, and that name is The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven! That He. Came. Down! * * * * * * * * * * *
The Happiest Christbirth Celebration to you, today! LS< Your Gloryteller * * * * * * * *
*
He came down. Mary said YES, Then He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to us. Born unto us. Born into us. He came down from His Glory, Leaving Holy Home and Father, to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To be born most humbly into the broken, reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world.
To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that I had made of my own wretched heart . . . . . . . . . . .
The defenseless egg of God, having scarcely a shell. A tender shoot, a tiny lamb,
in perfect humility, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, mother’s blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to coverall others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love. He came down to the dung heap, the lowest, the basest of places, a place of no honor;
of ignobility, because that’s where I was, I and my neighbors, hiding under the layers of dirt. He could have said “No, not again”. He could have said “To hell with this” . . . He didn’t have to rise from His manger to knock on my heart’s door. To clean it all up, just like new, from ceiling to floor, window, to wall, and spend His life, His all, for me, to bear away my sin. Yet, He would be the first to admit, (if He weren’t so humble), that He did have to. Someone had to do something. But no-one could except Himself. I didn’t deserve His coming down, this Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Immanuel. Savior Lord. JESUS CHRIST! But, He came down, out of love, bearing light, carrying forgiveness, sowing grace like seeds, ready with a cool drink, gentle hands to wash our feet, with tears of compassion, where sin and mercy meet, and I’m so glad, so happy, so joyously thankful that He did, that my glory goes up. I send it up. I glorify His name, Who was born into many names, and into ONE name, and that name is The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
That He. Came. Down! * * * * * * * * * * *
The Happiest Christbirth Celebration to you, today! LS< Your Gloryteller * * * * * * * *
*
He came down. Mary said YES, Then He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to us. Born unto us. Born into us. He came down from His Glory, Leaving Holy Home and Father, to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To be born most humbly into the broken, reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world.
To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that I had made of my own wretched heart . . . . . . . . . . .
The defenseless egg of God, having scarcely a shell. A tender shoot, a tiny lamb,
in perfect humility, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, mother’s blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to coverall others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love. He came down to the dung heap, the lowest, the basest of places, a place of no honor;
of ignobility, because that’s where I was, I and my neighbors, hiding under the layers of dirt. He could have said “No, not again”. He could have said “To hell with this” . . . He didn’t have to rise from His manger to knock on my heart’s door. To clean it all up, just like new, from ceiling to floor, window, to wall, and spend His life, His all, for me, to bear away my sin. Yet, He would be the first to admit, (if He weren’t so humble), that He did have to. Someone had to do something. But no-one could except Himself. I didn’t deserve His coming down, this Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Immanuel. Savior Lord. JESUS CHRIST! But, He came down, out of love, bearing light, carrying forgiveness, sowing grace like seeds, ready with a cool drink, gentle hands to wash our feet, with tears of compassion, where sin and mercy meet, and I’m so glad, so happy, so joyously thankful that He did, that my glory goes up. I send it up. I glorify His name, Who was born into many names, and into ONE name, and that name is The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
That He. Came. Down! * * * * * * * * * * *
The Happiest Christbirth Celebration to you, today! LS< Your Gloryteller * * * * * * * *
*
Peace is kind of like love. Everyone needs it. Most civilized people want it. Many seek it in one way or another. So do I.
The quality of peace is not strain’d either. It, too, falls like gentle rain from Heaven upon the needful ones below. (thanks, Shakespeare)
Some folks have real peace and some have a pseudo, temporary, fleeting kind of peace. So do I and so have I.
Some look for it in all the wrong places. Yup, that was me.
Many have no peace whatsoever and have no idea
where it comes from, how to get some,
or even what it is. Again, been there.
When I find myself in need of the comfort and enjoyment of peace, which is most of the time, like many folks I seek and readily find peace in what is commonly called “Nature”. “Nature”, in a broad sense, is universally understood. You are probably forming mental pictures right now about how you perceive and define “Nature”. Now envision some of your favorite peace-inducing “Nature” scenes; places you have been, or even pictures of real places or those imagined by someone. Did that bring you a bit of peacefulness?
But – “Nature” (nature – to bring it down off its pedestal) is only a reflection of the super-natural; of God’s supernatural glory. (He is above nature – He made it!) Isn’t it delightful that even this somewhat hazy reflection of Heaven can still bring us earth-side peace?
I personally enjoy a pastoral scene, one with water in it, and even better, one with a mountainous theme.
A clear, unpolluted, starwatching-sky is also a delight.
Sunshine and sheep, Cattle and a creek, Grass and rolling hills, Green and blue and still.
A clear night sky, Star-filled and wide, Shapes made of light, Faith becoming sight.
A picture will do, but being there in person is best.
Sitting and contemplating;
meditating and cogitating;
or simply ‘taking it all in’ and enjoying the serenity,
the quietness,
and the upwelling joy begotten of His Light and Life.
It’s great!
But if I am walking, I like an upward path through my favorite “Nature”.
Ascent is so metaphoric.
I walk upward into His waiting embrace.
What peace, elation, and joy all at once!
I like to visit nature alone to find great peace, and this occurs to me – even my extrovert friends seek peace alone there sometimes. Many of them enjoy walking an upward path by themselves.
There is something calming about solitude.
Peace is this: Just being still and knowing that He is God.
And this: “. . . the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind . . .”
Wonderfully this:
“You will go out with joy and be led out in peace.
The mountains and the hills will break into songs of joy in your presence,
and all the trees will clap their hands.” Especially this: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.” Yes, that was The Prince of Peace speaking to each of us, in fact He mentions ‘peace’ at least four hundred times in His Word in all its different meanings and nuances.
Personal peace is important. Without it, there is a certain emptiness;
an unmet longing. In today’s turmoil, peace is elusive. Tranquility, and quiet, harmony and calmness, concord and agreement, safety and security, and freedom from anxiety and worries are in short supply. But peace is important to God. As His creations, He made it important to us as well, and He saw how incapable we were
of having any through our own devices. So He sent His Son, The Prince of Peace, while we were still enemies of His, to humble Himself as human in order to make peace between the warring parties, The Father vs. the fallen. Jesus’ sacrificial death was the condition of the cease-fire, the requirement of justice, thepeace treaty,
the just agreement of concord,
the new covenant of peace between mankind and The Father,
between each person and Father God,
and between Him and myself.
I believe that with His final exhalation, He whispered Divine peace into the heart of Creation, and into mine. His peace, like His joy – gifts that cannot be
lost, if guarded, once they are embedded in your heart.
It is said that all Creation rejoiced when this treaty was struck. I believe that “Nature” “broke into song, and the trees clapped their hands” not only for mankind, and myself, but for Its Own sake as well, for that was the beginning of the restoration, the redemption and the repair of not only humanity, but of all Creation –
in peace.
Thank You Lord, for peace. Without it, life earth-side would be much more difficult.
So, what better way to seek and find peace than to walk with The Bringer and Giver of Peace,
The Wonderful Counselor of Peace, The Prince of Peace?
He willingly, eagerly, whole-heartedly Walks and talks with me,
(and wants the same with you) on my upward path through nature,
and not only through idyllic scenes,
but through every season, taking me, leading me, pushing me, supporting me,
carrying me, giving me, showing me, His peace, and wonder, and glory, until we reach the arms of The Father, where I’ll be wrapped in the Ultimate Peace, the final, enduring, everlasting, Peace of His eternal presence.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There is a special hymn that is commonly associated with peace: “Peace Like A River/All Is Well With My Soul”. If you don’t know the background of this song, you should check out the remarkable story of the author, Horatio Spafford. There is a line in the fourth verse which speaks deeply within me: “Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.” Many versions of this hymn are slow and, well, peaceful. Here is a version that is upbeat and joyous. It really struck a chord in me:
Thank you Spring Harvest for the music and Humpty Fell for the fine video!
He came down. Mary said YES, then He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to us. Born unto us. Born into us. He came down from His Glory, Leaving Holy Home and Father, to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To be born most humbly into the broken, reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world. To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that I had made of my own wretched heart . . . . . . . . . . . The defenseless egg of God, having scarcely a shell. A tender shoot, a tiny lamb, he came down naked, to be born covered with another’s blood, mother’s blood. Born to be pierced, and poured out, and to cover all others with His pure, holy blood. He came down with only Love as a defense. Double-sided love. He came down to the dung heap, the lowest, the basest of places, a place of no honor; of ignobility, because that’s where I was, I and my neighbors, hiding under the layers of dirt. He could have said “No, not again”. He could have said “To hell with this” . . . He didn’t have to rise from His manger to knock on my heart’s door. To clean it all, just like new, from ceiling to floor, window, to wall, and spend His life, His all, for me, to bear away my sin. Yet, He would be the first to admit, if He weren’t so humble, that He did have to. Someone had to do something. But no-one could except Himself. I didn’t deserve His coming down, this Wonderful Counselor, this Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Immanuel. Savior Lord. JESUS CHRIST! But, He came down, out of love, bearing light, carrying forgiveness, sowing grace like seeds, ready with a cool drink, gentle hands to wash our feet, with tears of compassion, where sin and mercy meet, and I’m so glad, so happy, so joyously thankful that He did, that my glory goes up. I send it up. I glorify His name, Who was born into many names, and into ONE name, and that name is The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
That He. Came. Down! * ** *** * * * * *
He came down. Born like us. Born with us. Born for us. Born to, and unto us. Wonderful, Mighty, Everlasting, Prince. Immanuel. God With Us! JESUS! God Saves! His many names are ONE name, and that name is: The Name Above All Names. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven! He. Came. Down!
He came down.
Mary said YES,
then He came down.
Born like us.
Born with us.
Born for us.
Born to us.
Born unto us.
Born into us.
He came down from His Glory,
Leaving Holy Home and Father, to become a creation, in a real sense, just like us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To be born most humbly into the broken, reeking mess that we, mankind, had made of the world.
To be born into the shameful, smelly mess that I had made of my own wretched heart . . . . . . . . . . .
The defenseless egg of God,
having scarcely a shell.
A tender shoot,
a tiny lamb,
he came down naked,
to be born covered
with another’s blood,
mother’s blood.
Born to be pierced,
and poured out,
and to cover all
others with His
pure, holy blood.
He came down
with only Love as a defense.
Double-sided love.
He came down to the dung heap,
the lowest, the basest of places,
a place of no honor; of ignobility,
because that’s where I was,
I and my neighbors,
hiding under the
layers of dirt.
He could have said
“No, not again”.
He could have said
“To hell with this” . . .
He didn’t have to
rise from His manger
to knock on my
heart’s door.
To clean it all,
just like new,
from ceiling to floor,
window, to wall,
and spend His life,
His all, for me,
to bear away my sin.
Yet, He would be
the first to admit,
if He weren’t so humble,
that He did have to.
Someone had to
do something.
But no-one could
except Himself.
I didn’t deserve
His coming down, this
Wonderful Counselor,
this Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
This Immanuel.
Savior Lord.
JESUS CHRIST!
But, He came down,
out of love,
bearing light,
carrying forgiveness,
sowing grace like seeds,
ready with a cool drink,
gentle hands to wash our feet,
with tears of compassion,
where sin and mercy meet,
and I’m so glad,
so happy,
so joyously thankful
that He did,
that my glory goes up.
I send it up.
I glorify His name,
Who was born into many names,
and into ONE name,
and that name is
The-Name-Above-All-Names. He came down, and now He reigns
King of My Heart. Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
That He. Came. Down! * ** *** * * * * *
Alone in the Rockies.
Gloryteller 