Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: It’s Christmas Day (in the present or living memory) (11/27/08)
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TITLE: It's My Birthday! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Helen Murray
12/01/08 -
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Ah, I see the sun rising first on the Phillipines, and the dump people are beginning to go to the rubbish looking for scraps to eat or sell. But look! There are My people, with a van full of gifts, presents for the children, food for everyone! The children don’t understand why they are being asked to make a line. They never make a line at the dump, they just crawl all over it, probing, searching. But today there is no searching, just undiluted laughter. There is a gift for everyone, wrapped in pretty paper, a doll for a little girl, a car for a little boy. Their faces are amazed for they have never had a gift before. This is joy for their King.
Look. In Australia the children have so much, but what do I see? Many have given to Samaritan’s purse, or sponsored a child through World Vision, or Compassion, and sent tiny arrows of joy right across the world into the heart of a child. These are a treat for a King. My scarred hands applaud their love.
Hush! In secret, in China, the people teach each other. See them visit the prisoners who suffer in my Name. Special treats are offered to even the guards so that the prisoners might receive their gifts of food. Fear has no hold on these dear children. They feel fear, yes, but it does not control them. Today they worship me and tell my story. I cry over them – tears of the Spirit to strengthen them.
See, in India, riches are rife and poverty is shattering. Why can they not share? Yet even here I see the schools for orphans that have been established in My Name. Children are being given truth, a future, opportunity, love and Life. They will be the future rulers on the planet with the authority of My Name on their lips. Today they will feast and sing for Me, and I will dance with joy.
There, in the Middle East, are those who may not leave their rooms for love of Me. Totally isolated, they have nothing to offer but their great love. Straight to My heart their arrows fly, even as one goes to the chopping block to have his head removed. The gift of his faith is the greatest gift possible. My heart leaps as I meet Him at the Pearly Gates, embracing. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Welcome home.”
Behold (an old word, I know, but how beautiful!) Israel, a warring nation led by blind Pharisees, even in the modern day. Yet, as I look closely, I see the tribe of true believers, growing daily, celebrating my birthday with glorious songs of praise, a thousand instruments, and joyous dancing, just like my king David used to do. How My heart delights in them, for soon I will answer their call and come to them, and all the world will know their day has come.
In hard-hearted Europe I see candle-lights of faith here and there, flickering, trying to fire up. Santa Claus gets all the attention but his ancestor, St Nicholas, was a faithful servant who gave Me much joy. Nevertheless there are candles here to light My cake!
It is hard to look at Africa. So many of My beloved people fight and war among themselves. What will it take to teach them of grace? Yet, amid all the terrible afflictions of poverty and war, there are some of the most powerful torches of fire. Their prayers ascend to Heaven and light up My heart constantly, so that I tell My Father of all that they do in My Name, of all their sacrifices for Me, of their great love for one another. And they make me laugh!
Ho, America, nation of contrasts, war and peace trying to live together, lies and truth vying for places at the table, prisoners embracing My Word while freemen paint pretty pictures with lies, seduction tries to walk hand in hand with integrity and My Word tangles with the snake of materialism. Yet the cry of My true people reaches Me, and their money stretches across the world to spread My Word to the darkest places, to feed the hungry and bring water to the thirsty. Their offerings are sweet.
The Day passes. I am coming soon, My people.
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I've often wondered how God feels as He looks at all that Christmas has become - especially, the commercialism here in America. I am glad that there are those moments, such as decribed in your piece, for Him to see. How it must gladden His heart.
Well done! And God bless you!