My Personal Christmas Eve Service

So on Christmas Eve my family went to our home church. The program was really geared toward worshipping Christ.  I worshipped, most of the time feeling like Christ and I were the only ones in the room.  One of the cool things that our church does at the service is the Family Lord's Supper where the Patriarch gives of Christ's body and blood to his family (talk about worship).  This year was special because Holt took from Christ  (for the first time) in rembrance of Him.

Because we lost another son, Josiah Birch, this year, I anticipated some sadness. I did well.  However, I didn't at all expect that Away in the Manger would emote such heaviness.  I was really worshipping my Christ-child when the following verse spoke to me in a very personal way . . .

Be near me, Lord Jesus,


I ask Thee to stay


Close by me forever


And love me I pray






Bless all the dear children


In Thy tender care


And take us to heaven


To live with Thee there



I held my little fella in my hand the day that he was born. The intense tightening of my chest began again as I recalled the extreme pain of holding another dead child with my wife in tow.  But, strangely, as I sang and listened to these lyrics . . . maybe for the first time . . . I realized that Anna Kay, John Crawford and Josiah Birch are in the DIRECT care of my Rescue.  Never to endure a heavy burden in an earthly life. 

For the first time in my life, for the first time since their deaths . . . I sang to my Lord with passionate meaning as I chokedback tears:

Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray

 Bless all MY dear children

 In Thy tender care


And take us to heaven


To live with Thee there

My Lady

For some reason, I was just reminded that the only time in my life that I was absolutely smitten by the sight of a girl . . . nearly twenty-one years ago . . . Knoxville Cherokees hockey game . . .

I was 18 years old.  I remember thinking . . . "WOW! Outa my league ... but I gotta try."

I got her.   How about THAT! (looking off in the distance with a silly smile because I am still smitten)

QUOTES

"Our level of knowledge far exceeds our level of obedience." Birch Jones




"There are only two types of church members sitting on our pews . . . those who talk about the lost and those who talk to the lost." William Faye



"'No Lord" is an oxymoron." Dave Hume



"I don't want to prophesy that I know God. I want to know God so that I can prophesy God rightly." Birch Jones



"Don't give your heart to Jesus. Give your all." Al Mohler



"Jesus started the church the way He wanted it. He wants it back the way He started it."



"There is no heavier burden than great potential." Charlie Brown



"I can't hear what you are saying because I see how you are living." Warner Smith



"God has made us a witness, not a judge." John Ewart



" I find rest in productivity." John MacCarthur



"Fasting is a desire to eat more at God's table than at your table." Chuck Lawless



"What if all you have tomorrow is what you give God thanks for today?" Dave Hume



"A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Worthy to be chased." Solomon



"It is better to set ten men to work than to do the work of ten men." -D. L. Moody