ALMOST THERE

Snippet

And at this day, the blessedness brought to us by Christ cannot 

be the subject of our praise, without reminding us, at the same 

time, of the distinguished honor which God was pleased to 

bestow on Mary, in making her the mother of his Only Begotten 

Son.  John Calvin: Commentary on Luke 1:42

Scripture

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore 

the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.  And 

behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived 

a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 

For nothing will be impossible with God.”  And Mary said, 

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according 

to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:35-38 

ESV

Song 

Almost There  

Michael W. Smith & Amy Grant

http://youtu.be/-ClYL3pKCwI

Mary, full of innocence

Carrying the Holy prince

You're almost there, you're almost there

Mother of the Living Word

Trusting in the voice you heard

You're almost there, you're almost there

You're almost where the angels see

Redemption's plan unfolding

All hope is in the Son you'll bear

You're almost there

A lonely road, a willing heart

Pray for strength to do your part

You're almost there, you're almost there

Trust the Father to provide

Bread of heaven prophesied

You're almost there, you're almost there

You're almost where the waiting ends

Delivering the life within

The answered prayer, Emmanuel

You're almost there

You're almost where the journey ends

Where death will die and life begins

The answered prayer, Emmanuel

You're almost, almost there

Sentence Prayer

Lord, it sounds so easy to follow you because you only call us to 

love.  But love is too much for us!  Overwhelm us with your love 

so that our song of praise might continue in patient kindness and 

generous support of our neighbors throughout the day.  Amen

(Common Prayer A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals pg 74)

Starting January 1st I will no longer do daily devotions, there are two years worth of daily devotions on my blog http://www.windtales.blogspot.com. I will make the devotion weekly on classic country. I am going to use the time to find an mobile application developer or publisher to make them available to the public.  Pray I find the right outlet for my devotions.

RESTLESS

Snippet

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless 

until it finds its rest in thee.”  Augustine of Hippo, The 

Confessions of Saint Augustine

Scripture

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In 

repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is 

your strength, but you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:15

Song

Restless by Switch foot

http://youtu.be/iwqb3sRwAyw

I am the sea on a moonless night,

Calling, falling, slipping tides

I am the leaky, dripping pipes

The endless aching drops of light

I am the raindrop falling down,

Always longing for the deeper ground

I am the broken, breaking seas

Even my blood finds ways to bleed

Even the rivers ways to run

Even the rain to reach the sun

Even my thirsty streams,

Even in my dreams

I am restless, I am restless

I am restless, looking for you

I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore

I’m looking for you

I am the thorn stuck in your side,

I am the one that you left behind,

I am the dried up doubting eyes

Looking for the well that won’t run dry

Running hard for the other side

The world that I’ve always been denied

Running hard for the infinite

With the tears of the saints and hypocrites

Oh blood of black and white and gray

Death and life and night and day

One by one by one

We let our rivers run

I am restless, I am restless

I am restless, looking for you

I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore

Looking for you

I can hear you breathing,

I can hear you leading

More than just a feeling

More than just a feeling

I can feel you reaching

Pushing through the ceiling

'til the final healing

I'm looking for you

Until the sea of glass we meet

At last completed and complete

The tide of tear and pain subside

Laughter drinks them dry

I’ll be waiting

Anticipating

All that I aim for

What I was made for

With every heartbeat

All of my blood bleeds

Running inside me

Looking for you

I am restless, I am restless

I am restless, looking for you

I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore

I'm looking for you

I can feel you breathing

I can feel you leading

More than just a feeling

More than just a feeling

I can feel you reaching

Pushing through the ceiling

'til the final healing

I'm looking for you

I'm looking for you

Sentence Prayer

Jesus;

My burden of sin is too heavy

My pride won’t surrender

My soul knows I must

My being is yours

Let me rest in you.  Amen

CHRISTMAS

Snippet

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of 

kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in 

spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.” ― Laura Ingalls 

Wilder

Scripture

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which 

is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find 

the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And 

suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly 

host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and 

on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:11-14 KJV

Song

You Gotta Get Up by Rich Mullins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX60F472GFw

"I thought Christmas Day would never come 

But it's here at last so mom and dad the waiting's finally done 

And you gotta get up ~ you gotta get up ~ you gotta get up 

It's Christmas morning 

Last night I heard reindeers on my roof 

Well you may think I'm exaggerating but I swear I'm tellin' you the truth 

And you gotta get up ~ you gotta get up ~ you gotta get up 

It's Christmas morning 

Did my sister get a baby doll? Did my brother get his bike? 

Did I get that red wagon the kind that makes you fly? 

Oh I hope there'll be peace on earth 

I know there's good will toward men 

On account of that Baby born in Bethlehem 

Did my sister get her baby doll? Did my brother get his bike? 

Did I get that red wagon the kind that makes you fly? 

Oh I hope there'll be peace on earth 

I know there's good will toward men 

On account of that Baby born in Bethlehem 

Mom and Daddy stayed up too late last night 

Oh I guess they got carried away in the Christmas candlelight 

And you gotta get up ~ you gotta get up ~ you gotta get up 

It's Christmas morning

Sentence Prayer

Jesus 

May my Joy be greater

Than a little kid

On Christmas morning.

Starting January 1st I will no longer do daily devotions, there are two years worth of daily devotions on my blog http://www.windtales.blogspot.com. I will make the devotion weekly on classic country. I am going to use the time to find an mobile application developer or publisher to make them available to the public.  Pray I find the right outlet for my devotions.

SILENT NIGHT

Snippet

What a paradox that a babe in a manger should be called mighty! Yet even 

as a baby, Jesus Christ revealed power. His birth affected the heavens as 

that star appeared. The star affected the Magi, and they left their homes and 

made that long journey to Jerusalem. Their announcement shook King Herod 

and his court. Jesus' birth brought angels from heaven and simple shepherds 

from their flocks on the hillside. Midnight became midday as the glory of the 

Lord appeared to men.  Reference: His Name is Wonderful, Christianity 

Today. 4, p. 545, 

Scripture

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 

and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in 

cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest 

room available for them.  Luke 2:6-7 NIV

Song

Silent Night (sleep in heavenly peace)

Kim W. Smith

http://youtu.be/RvuGmCaOTsM

Silent night! holy night!
All is calm all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night! holy night!

Son of God love's pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth

Jesus, Lord at thy birth

Silent night! holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia

Christ the Saviour is born

Christ the Saviour is born!

Sentence Prayer

Christ is Coming

Christ has Come

Christ will Come Again

LOVE

Snippet

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time 

we give, it’s Christmas.  Dale Evans

Scripture

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the 

government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be 

called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting 

Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Song

When Love Comes to Town 

U2/B.B. KING

http://youtu.be/PJ0WyPAELsk

 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 

I was a sailor, I was lost in sea 

I was under the waves, before love rescued me 

I was a fighter I could turn on a threat 

Now I stand accused of the things I've said. 

When love comes to town, 

I'm gonna jump that train 

When love comes to town, 

I'm gonna catch that flame. 

Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down, 

But I did what I did before love came to town. 

Used to make love under a red sunset, 

I was making promises I was soon to forget. 

She was pale as the lace of her wedding gown, 

But I left her standing before love came to town. 

Ran into a juke joint when I heard a guitar scream, 

The notes were turning blue when I fell into a dream

As the music played I saw my life turn around 

That was the day before love came to town. 

Love comes to town, 

I'm gonna jump that train 

When love comes to town, 

I'm gonna catch that flame. 

Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down, 

But I did what I did before love came to town. 

I was there when they crucified my lord 

I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword 

I threw the dice when they pierced his side, 

But I've seen love conquer the great divide. 

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...

Sentence Prayer

Praise be to Almighty God,

he has given a gift of love

His only begotten Son; Jesus!

Starting January 1st I will no longer do daily devotions, there are two years worth of daily devotions on my blog http://www.windtales.blogspot.com. I will make the devotion weekly on classic country. I am going to use the time to find an mobile application developer or publisher to make them available to the public.  Pray I find the right outlet for my devotions.

Glory

Snippet

He was created by a mother whom He created. He was carried by 

hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in wordless 

infancy, He the Word, without whom all human eloquence is 

mute.  Augustine

Scripture

The Word was first,

the Word present to God,

God present to the Word.

The Word was God,

in readiness for God from day one.

Everything was created through him;

nothing—not one thing!—

came into being without him.

What came into existence was Life,

and the Life was Light to live by.

The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;

the darkness couldn’t put it out. John 1:1-5 MSG

Song

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Rend Collective

http://youtu.be/ir90g1TX6ug

Hark the herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled"

Joyful, all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With the angelic host proclaim:

"Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come

Offspring of a Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with man to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!”

Sentence Prayer

Praise be to our Immanuel

Mighty God with us

Light and Life you brings

as I follow you may

I lead many to a rebirth

by telling the old Old 

story of your birth.  Amen REM

BORN TO DIE

Snippet

Mary's virginity protected a great deal more than her own moral 

character, reputation, and the legitimacy of Jesus' birth. It 

protected the nature of the divine Son of God… Jesus had to have 

one human parent or He could not have been human, and 

thereby a partaker of our flesh. But He also had to have divine 

parentage or He could not have made a sinless and perfect 

sacrifice on our behalf.  John MacArthur Matthew 1-7, Moody, 

1985, p. 16-17.

Scripture

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin 

shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14 KJV

Song

Born to Die Shane & Shane

http://youtu.be/KtMXB9HZw-w

One, two, three

When the babe was born

In a manger on the hay

God saw a veil torn

He saw Good Friday

He was born to die

Gold laid before the Christ

Incense, His presence is sweet

Myrrh to signify

Victory over death's sting

He was born to die

It came in a dream

To Joseph late one night

That Herod sought the King

But could not take His life

He was born to die

He said, "You don't take my life

You won't take my life

You don't take my life

I lay it down"

We came here today

To celebrate His birth

But let us not forget

Why Jesus came to earth

He was born to die

He was born to die

He was born to

He was born to die

Sentence Prayer

Behold, The Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World 

Amen