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Listen while you read: "For Thy Mercy And Thy Grace"1 (Lyrics) |
Zechariah 14:20 – On that day even the harness bells of the horses will be inscribed with these words: Holy to the Lord. And the cooking pots in the Temple of the Lord will be as sacred as the basins used beside the altar. (NLT)
I love to listen to Evie Tornquist — and I especially love to hear Evie sing "Come on, ring those bells".
For those who do not know this beautiful Christmas song, it portrays all the joy and bliss we should take delight in over the Christmas holiday, as we celebrate the birthday of Him who is the King of kings.
Evie sings beautifully about the fact that everyone loves to set aside this special holiday season, spending time together, enjoying their family, and sharing lots of love and happiness as they light the Christmas tree and "ring those bells", remembering that it is Jesus' birthday.
Christians love this blessed season and many enjoy giving and receiving special gifts, gifts that often provide both giver and receiver with the pleasure of knowing that the gift is just what they wanted. Of course, everyone also loves the thrill of eating too much chocolate, fruit cake, and turkey. It truly is a time to ring those bells.
Yet, what really takes place in our lives after the glitter of the Christmas tree lights disappear, the tinsel loses its glow, and families go their separate ways, returning home to face the bills and disappointments that will be part of their everyday living in the coming year? Are we, as Christians, still able to ring those bells, the very same bells that guided us over the Christmas season, bringing joy and bliss into our lives? Are we, as Christians, now able to face the year ahead because we know that the Babe in the manger now sits on the right hand of God the Father and is there to guide us through the unrest, disappointments, and illnesses that will invade our lives in the coming year? Are we, as Christians, able to say, "On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand" as we endure the unknown, remembering the great event that we celebrated, ringing those bells but a few weeks or months earlier?
This is where our faith in the living God comes in — faith in Him Who thought it not demeaning to be born in a manger and give His life for us all — faith in Him who is there to guide and direct our path, if we but call upon His name in the coming year.
Let us always remember that He promises that He is always, always there, whether it be in happy times when we are ringing those bells, or in sad times when we must lean on the everlasting arms.
Prayer: Lord, may You give all those who read this a very blessed new year, remembering Your wonderful promise that You will never leave us nor forsake us. May we continue to ring those bells and live lives "Holy to the Lord" as we enter a new year, and make You the unknown guest in every phase of our lives in this coming year. Amen.
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Nicely put.
And I say amen to all you said!!
Thanks for your words. Blessings to you and yours.
Thanks so much for the devotional Azalia, and Happy New Year to the Mathesons.
Just want to wish you and your family a Blessed New Year 2013.
Dear Azalia: Thank you for today’s Devotional.
Always new teaching new things.
A wonderful message for the beginning of the New Year, Azalia!
God’s richest blessings to you throughout 2013.
Thank you so much for this devotional. It brings the joy and peace that Jesus gives. It speaks to my heart.
(B.C.)
Thank you again, for writing this devotion as well as the one before Christmas. Such thought and put so well – gives us a true meaning to our lives.
Blessings to you and all your family in this upcoming year.
Thank you so much for that wonderful devotion as we anticipate the new year. I love that piece too and like to pick up the bells to ring while singing it.
We understand you are getting a nasty storm and we pray that you and your loved ones will be kept safe.
Hi Azalia,
Happy New year!!
I find your devotionals very interesting, informative, and very inspirational.
It was very thought provoking.
A great word from you!
I love your devotionals.
Good Morning, Azalia:
What a beautiful message this morning – and food for thought about tomorrow and all the mysteries it has in store for us. How wonderful to remember that whatever the days ahead may bring, He is already there preparing our way. He will guide us along! What assurance!
Happy New Year to you and yours. May God’s blessings fill your hearts and your homes as you journey into tomorrow – in faith in the One who can keep us from falling!
Blessings from our home to yours.
Hello:
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone would still continue to visit the shut in all year round.
Nursing home residents need a visit more than just at Christmas. I see many people in to visit on Christmas Day but very seldom see those same residents get visits during the year.
They do appreciate it, even if they aren’t sure who you are. I try to remember each of their names and give a cheery “hello” to them all as I pass and a pat on the shoulder or hand.
They love any human contact of love. There is one particular nurse there that always either works or comes in on her own time to visit with the residents she knows don’t get visits too often. She also has a Mother in another home to look after and visit. Always has a smile on her face, a wonderful Christian person loving (to some, the unlovable, sometimes infirm) people of God. She says her reward is their smiles.
Dear Azalia,
Thank you for the cheery devotional reminding us of: “light the Christmas tree and ‘ring those bells,’ remembering that it is Jesus’ birthday.”
I pray that our whole lives will be inscribed with the words, “Holy to the Lord.”
I needed and enjoyed this:
Are we, as Christians, now able to face the year ahead because we know that the Babe in the manger now sits on the right hand of God the Father and is there to guide us through the unrest, disappointments, and illnesses that will invade our lives in the coming year? Are we, as Christians, able to say, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand” as we endure the unknown, remembering the great event that we celebrated, ringing those bells but a few weeks or months
earlier?
I pray for God’s blessing for your life.
Keep writing.
Hi Azalia,
As you said in your devotional the lights are dimmed and it is all over for another year. However it will not be too long before we “come on and ring” those bells again.
And I can assure you that in our case your prayer for a blessed Christmas was heard. My wife and I were blessed to see all the members of the family we went to visit all serving in the Eucharist in their church.