Tidings of Comfort and Joy

TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY

(A collection of holiday and heart reflections to last throughout the year)

Scripture quotations used in this book are from: The Holy Bible, New King James Version, 1985.

Dedicated to the flickering stars that have graced the skies of my life, and to Jesus, the One true light.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A New Season Tidings Of Comfort And Joy Bid Me Come The Angel Tree Spread Your Wings and Fly Ship of Dreams The Interrupted Life Behind Closed Doors Sweet Serenity Rest In Me Fireside Chat A Cup Of Christmas Tea The Birthday Party Silver and Gold The Princess Bride No Crib For A Bed No Room In The Inn Heart Of Stone Sam I Am Humpty Dumpty Puppy Love Where He Leads Me Following Yonder Star Embracing The Light Ave Maria The Silent Stars Go By Silent Night, Lonely Night Sleep In Heavenly Peace The Good Shepherd Song Of Grace Washed In Grace First Steps And Heaven And Nature Sing All I Want Is You And The Gift Goes On Touched By An Angel Cry Peace Angels Unaware Heart Cries The Little Drummer Boy Fly Carol Of The Bells Freedom Is Not Free Repeat The Sounding Joy Auld Lang Syne Dreamgiver

Introduction

What began in 1991 as my personal gift to family and friends has grown into the collection you now hold in your hands. It started with the collision of my minivan with the babysitter’s house, by our then five year-old daughter, Samantha . . . but that’s another story. After writing a holiday rhyme on the incident and including it in our family’s Christmas cards, I was encouraged to write another the following and subsequent years. Tidings of Comfort and Joy is a compilation of those, as well as some of my other writings. All with the hope of bringing a little holiday cheer.

Tidings of Comfort and Joy contains more than just seasonal entries however. Some have to do with ordinary circumstances, as well as the unexpected, experienced in every day life. If you are in the throes of a winter season of life, be encouraged by A New Season. Enjoy a love rhyme on relationships in Humpty Dumpty; see the 23rd Psalm in a holiday light in Sleep In Heavenly Peace; and be reminded of the Lord’s love and faithfulness in All I Want is You. Some pieces are personal and some were written for others. All with the purpose of encouraging hearts with the hope found in Christ.

To all of those who have either been on our Christmas card list or offered words of affirmation regarding my writing, I thank you. Your encouragement has given me the confidence to continue putting pen to paper. And to Jesus, whose love stirs my heart and tongue to be the pen of a ready writer, please receive my composition concerning the King. For You, O Lord, are worthy.

It is my prayer that the Lord will use the imagery penned within these pages to fill your heart with Tidings of Comfort and Joy.

The trees dividing our property from that of our neighbors were waving their branches, as if trying to get my attention. I was lonely. We had just relocated three thousand miles, leaving a community, a church and a people we had grown to love. I remember looking out the window from my kitchen’s alcove that day, watching the leaves scattering in the wind, when a thought blew across my mind. Lay down your cares and trust God. The following was my nonverbal response.

“Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt you in due time. Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

A NEW SEASON

Looking out my window, I see the changing of the seasons. Foliage once green is now burgundy, copper, mahogany and gold. The rich, earthy colors make one feel warm amidst the cool winds of autumn. And as I find pleasure in the changes about me, I realize that not only do the seasons change in nature, but in our lives as well.

Looking inward, I find myself entering a like season in life. As the leaves have been falling outside, blanketing the ground in autumn splendor, the Creator has been calling to me in the wind. His voice has been rustling the foliage of my own life, calling me to cast them upon Him. “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

And as I listen, it is the words preceding that verse that pierce my heart. “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt you in due time.” Humble yourself. Before we can cast our cares upon Him, we must first humble ourselves, surrender our wills to Him. We must fully realize that we cannot handle life’s situations in our own strength, even those our mind tells us we can. For we were not made as trees, to be weighed down with leaves, no matter how light, no matter how colorful. No, our branches are to be lifted in praise to the One who created us.

So as the cares of my life continue to wither and fade like the changing of the leaves, I pray that I will humble myself completely. Casting all of my cares upon Him so that I can stand before Him as a tree in autumn. Unhindered. In so doing, as in nature, the Creator can begin a new work in me. A new season.

Looking out the window of my heart, I see the ground around me blanketed with the cares of my life. How free I feel as the winds of change rustle through my now bare branches. And though these said winds are cool, I am warmed, for I am filled with the presence of God’s love. My fallen leaves bear witness. He really does care for me.