OwensMinistries.org » Christmas

The Christmas Lamb

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:17:27 +0000

As I write this blog entry, Patricia and I are getting ready to fly to Tampa, Florida, to present a Christmas program we are calling The Christmas Lamb. Much of the music is from our music drama of the same name that was premiered in Moscow, Russia, at the House of Composers several years ago. It was also used by the Billy Graham Association as their Christmas outreach to the city of Moscow. The following words, sung by a tenor, are from the title song of the musical.

THE CHRISTMAS LAMB
Before the earth was formed, or stars were hung in space,
Before the breath of life was given to man.
God looked through time and saw a hopeless human race
And there devised His great Redemption Plan.
He sent His Son to earth to be our Savior,
The Christmas Lamb, born in a cattle stall,
That little child, born of the Virgin Mary
Was God incarnate, Savior, Lord, Immanuel.

This God of love looked down one day and saw my need,
He saw the hurt , the crying deep inside,
And with a voice so tender said: “Come unto me,
It was for you the Lamb of God has died.
And as I came, He washed the stain of sin away,
Guilt’s binding chains He broke, and gave me peace,
O praise His name, O what a hallelujah day,
He saw my need, He heard my cry, He took my place.

He sent His Son to earth to be our Savior,
The Christmas Lamb born in a cattle stall.
That little child, born of the Virgin Mary,
Was God incarnate, Savior, Lord, Immanuel,

Unto us a child has been born. Unto us a Son has been given. And his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…and even as the Wise-men of old searched for him, and brought their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and laid them at his feet, so will all one day be proven wise who in their hearts bow and worship him.

Thank God for His immeasurable gift of the Christmas Lamb!

A Christmas Remembered – by Patricia

admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:23:10 +0000

The unexpected happened—heavy fog enveloped a large area around Chicago, slowing trains, grounding planes, bringing all travel to a halt. It was Christmas break time, and as a 19 year old student traveling to my home town in Jackson, MS, I had boarded a train around 10:30 that evening in Rochester, NY. It had been snowing, which wasn’t unusual for that area of the country. I felt wiped out after studying for exams and was hoping I could manage to sleep some on a journey that was supposed to take about 24 hours. The train I boarded was scheduled to make a stop at a sub-station just east of Chicago where I would change to a different rail line for the remainder of the trip. And now, the unexpected fog changed everything. It caused my train to be late in reaching the Chicago area, I missed my connection, I was exhausted and had no idea what to do.

I managed to find a pay phone and called my parents. I talked to my Dad and told him about the situation. He told me to get a taxi, go into the city and check into a hotel. The problem was that I had never been to Chicago and didn’t know the names of any hotels. After hanging up, however, I remembered that my Dad had attended a business convention in Chicago a few years earlier, and for some reason I recalled that he had talked about staying at the Palmer House Hotel. So I found a taxi and asked to be taken to the Palmer House in downtown Chicago. When I reached there the desk clerk informed me that they couldn’t give me a room for the night because they were fully booked. However, they said they could give me a room for a few hours at a day-rate. I was so tired I took the room on that basis and went upstairs to try to get a few hours of sleep.

As I entered the room and shut the door the phone rang. It was my Dad! Somehow he had sensed where I would go. He told me that I was to go to the train station at 5:00 that afternoon and find the Station Manager with whom he had just spoken. My Dad had no connections with anyone at the Illinois Central Railway, yet he had gone to our local train station and insisted that he be put in touch with someone who was in charge. He was given the phone number of the Manager in Chicago. The Chicago Manager explained to him that there were no seats available on the next train scheduled to stop at Jackson, MS. My father pleaded with him and insisted that he find some way to get me on that train. Finally he told Dad that if I would come to his office at 5:00 that he would personally take me and put me on the Parlor Car of the train where I could stay as far as Carbondale, IL. From that point on a seat was open and available for the rest of the journey!

Can you imagine how I felt in hearing those words? I was exhausted, frightened, and alone in a huge unfamiliar city and didn’t know what to do. Yet in that moment I believe the heart of God was expressed toward me through my dear Dad. My Dad’s love drove him to find a way to take care of his daughter. And God’s love drives Him to take care of each of His children! Whenever I stop to reflect about what happened during that Christmas season so many years ago, I believe that God was giving me a special picture of what He is like. He sees, He knows, He cares, He acts in behalf of His children. He is the Good Shepherd, Mighty God, Everlasting Father.

And the love of God is what Christmas is all about. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9 Let us give Him thanks, and celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior, God’s only Son. Merry Christmas!

He Is Here!

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:54:49 +0000

As I write this “post” I am listening to the inspiring and beautiful carol, Angels from the Realms of Glory that climaxes with the words, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Though such songs are usually only sung during the Advent season, for those who know the Messiah as more than just a name, it is a reminder that not only was He fleshed out among us in the form of a baby in history, but that He lives in the now, birthed into the hearts of every “believer.” He is here!

He is here, He is here, the Messiah/It’s the fulness of time, He has come/ Heaven’s treasure, the brightest of jewels/ He is with us, the Savior, God’s Son!! Hallelujah, all glory to Jesus/Hallelujah, all praise to His name/Heaven’s light invaded sin’s darkness the night the Savior came!

As we look back on another year we do so with deep gratitude for the goodness and grace of our Savior which has been expressed in a myriad of ways, the least not being the encouragement and love we have received through many of you. May God return to you, many times over, the blessing you have been to us.

Though sadly, for some Americans, it is not the politically correct greeting to make, we do wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS, filled with all the wonder of what did take place when God was fleshed out among us. And though, due to the trials we may be going through it may not make human sense to do what the Psalmist admonishes—”Rejoice always…,” we can, in light of what God has done, is doing and will do in the days ahead as we anticipate what awaits us just over the horizon.

The bottom line is that Christmas, for us, is knowing that not only can we celebrate God’s plan of redemption but we can experience a peace that only He can provide. So, our true Christmas wish for you is that you will be comforted and encouraged and that the “joy of the Lord” will be your strength now and throughout the coming year.

Grace, peace and love…

Ron and Patricia