~A CHRISTMAS POEM

Hymn of the Nativity

Gloomy night embraced the place
    Where the noble Infant lay;
The Babe looked up and showed his face--
    In spite of darkness it was day.

We saw Thee in thy balmy nest,
    Bright dawn of our eternal day!
We saw Thine eyes break from their east,
    And chase the trembling shades away:
We saw Thee, and we blessed the sight,
We saw Thee by Thy own sweet light.

~Richard Crashaw (c. 1613-1649)~

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~KYRIA.COM: ADVENT

Kyria.com is offering a download entitled "Rediscovering Advent" for $5.95.

There is also a free article available that was published in Today's Christian Woman magazine; it's entitled "Slower Than Christmas."

~GOODBYE TCW MAGAZINE--HELLO KYRIA.COM

Christianity Today International has decided to cease publication of Today's Christian Woman magazine--the September/October issue was the final one.

This magazine was such an informative and inspiring resource--it's sad to see it go.  A new resource has been created called Kyria, which means "honored woman" in Biblical Greek.  The epistle 2 John is addressed to such a woman.  Kyria is a web-based magazine and ministry.  It will replace todayschristianwoman.com, and all of their archived articles are now at kyria.

For full access to the site, including the monthly digital magazine (digizine), you can buy a subscription for $19.95 a year ($14.95 introductory price).

There are also blogs and downloadable resources.  The downloads aren't free, but if you have a subscription, you'll receive a 20% discount when you buy them.

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~SPARROW WALLPAPER

I found a sweet sparrow wallpaper  at manywallpapers.com--enjoy! :)

~PROVISION

"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young--
a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King
and my God."
~Psalm 84:3 (NIV)~

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Drawing from commentary in The MacArthur Study Bible*, Psalm 84 extols what a blessing it is to live in the house of God. In the above verse, the psalmist has noticed that birds have tucked their nests in the courtyards of the temple, thereby dwelling very close to the presence of God.

*Note: I am not in agreement with all of the views MacArthur expresses in this study Bible; however it is an inexhaustible resource which I highly recommend.

~HYMN: "HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW"--LYRICS , VERSES, STORY

Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely,

And long for heaven and home,

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," 

His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness,

I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth,

But one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted,

Whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing,

When hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him,

From care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

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Here are some Bible verses which go along nicely with
this hymn:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
~Philippians 4:6 (NIV)~

"I cry to you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.'"
~Psalm 142:5 (NIV)~

"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth--he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do."
~Psalm 33:14 (NIV)~

"The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand."
~Psalm 121:5 (NIV)~

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
~Romans 15:13 (NKJV)~

"Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."
~John 14:1 (RSV)~

"Does he not see my ways and count my every step?"
~Job 31:4 (NIV)~

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."
~James 4:8a (RSV)~

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
~Hebrews 4:16 (RSV)~

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~The Story Behind the Hymn~

A woman named Civilla Martin wrote the lyrics to this hymn.  Here is the story behind it, in her own words:

Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York.  We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle, true saints of God.

Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years.  Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair.  Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them.

One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it.  Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me.  The hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience....

The next day, Civilla mailed the poem to Charles Gabriel, who supplied the music; during his lifetime he wrote and/or composed between 7,000-8,000 gospel songs.

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