'The Night Before Christmas' by Pastor David

Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the church,

Everyone was praying, for the lost and the hurt.

The prayer-list was laid upon the altar with care,

Knowing that Christ Jesus hears every prayer.

Some Christians knelt at the pews instead,

While the Words of Christ spoke softly in their heads.

As I stood on the platform wondering what next to do,

The church bells rang clear and true.

The stillness of the scene suddenly was shattered,

And I opened my eyes to see what was the matter.

To the clear-glass window I ran in a flash,

Wiped off the moist fog, and leaned on the sash.

High in the sky, with the most spectacular glow,

Shined the brightest star, over our church below.

Within me at first was this holy fear,

That the Lord himself was about to appear.

Then I remembered that when Christ returns, it will be quick,

And the thought of being left behind, made me extremely sick.

In His Lamb’s Book of Life, from which He will read,

Whose name will He not find, whose indeed?

Will it be Bryan, Joshua, Kevin, or John?

Brittany, McKenzie, Lily, or their Mom?

I fell to my knees and began to bawl,

I must pray and believe, and intercede for them all.

As my cheeks became wet from tear drenched eyes,

“Please save my family”, to the Lord I cried.

I sobbed and sobbed and blew my nose too.

But, I would not be deterred, until for them I prayed through.

And then in a twinkling, my voice became mute,

As through my body His Spirit did shoot.

Seconds before, in fear was I bound,

But, now was no time to wear a frown.

Christ had borne nails in each hand and each foot,

And pain and torment upon His body He took.

While the whip raged angrily upon His back,

Himself He did not defend, No one did He attack.

His eyes how they drooped, as He saw His mother Mary,

His cheeks were bruised and swollen, His body battered and dirty.

His bloodied mouth was drawn up just so,

And the beard of His chin had been plucked and let go.

The Words of Life He formed in His teeth,

As he struggled for air so He could breathe.

A last message He needed to get out, He must tell it,

The sacrifice was almost done, His Father was ready.

The grave had always claimed victory, the enemy was death,

But on this day Christ, was freely offering Himself.

In a few moments the Son of God would be dead,

Little did satan know, he soon had a lot to dread.

As Christ Jesus spoke those climactic words,

All became still, from mankind to little birds.

“It is finished”, He cried, His authority now showed,

For death and Life, are under His abode.

So now as His Word pierces the air like a whistle,

Will you accept Him as Savior, and soften your heart as a thistle?

Will you call upon His name, and let Him be your light?
For Jesus is the reason for Christmas, and in Him you can delight!