Category: Life in America
The Rose – Bette Midler on YouTube
Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger
an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower
and you its only seed.
It’s the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance,
It’s the dream afraid of waking,
that never takes the chance.
It’s the one who won’t be taken,
who cannot seem to give
and the soul afraid of dying,
that never learns to live.
When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong.
Just remember in the winter,
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed
that with the sun’s love
in the spring
becomes the rose
Christmas Carol: “Once in royal David’s city“
Once in royal Davids city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby,
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little Child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
For He is our childhood’s pattern;
Day by day, like us, He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles, like us He knew;
And He cares when we are sad,
And he shares when we are glad.
And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above:
And He leads His children on,
To the place where He is gone.
Morning Reading: Isaiah 11.1-4, 10 NLT- David’s heir
Isaiah 11:1-4, 10 NLT
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
He will delight in obeying the LORD.
He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
Advent Carol: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
The Peanut Gallery 