A JEWEL OF A FRIEND
Good friends are like rubies, precious and rare -
They are there when you need them, with comfort and care,
Ready to help with whatever you need,
To give of themselves with a kind word or deed.
Good friends are like sapphires, both rare and true blue,
Compassionate, helpful, faithful and true,
Always there for the other, whatever the cost,
Sharing in sorrow, in pain or in loss.
Good friends are like emeralds, the rarest of stones -
They never forsake you or leave you alone,
But unlike the emerald, with its sparkling green hue,
They aren’t green with envy, or jealous of you.
Good friends are like diamonds, enduring through time,
They never forget you, have you ever in mind,
And, though miles separate you, they still keep in touch
Through nice cards and letters and phone calls and such.
But there is no friend like Jesus, God’s own dear Son -
He’s like all of the PRECIOUS STONES compressed into one;
Forgiving, compassionate, He gives life without end.
He’s completely trustworthy, a Jewel of a Friend.
He’s a Jewel like no other, the Pearl of Great Price
Who reconciled us through suffering, and, by giving His life,
That we might be perfect and have life without end -
There’s no friend like Jesus; He’s the Jewel of all friends.
a. franklin staples
March 19, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by Allison F. Staples
Saturday, December 31, 2016
YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO HELL...
You are on your way to hell
Though you may think that all is well,
If you’re living just for pleasure and for gain.
‘Tis a road that’s paved with sorrow,
You who think there’s no tomorrow,
A road that ends in eternal loss and pain.
‘Tis the road of sin and death
To a place where there’s no rest,
Where tormented souls forever will abide;
There’ll be gnashing of the teeth,
Fear and pain will never cease,
And the great gulf fixed will keep you from the Other Side.
‘Tis a road you need not tread!
Hell’s fire you need not dread
If you’ll but come to Jesus Christ just as you are;
Lay your burdens at His feet,
Experience victory, not defeat;
Come while Heaven’s Gates are still ajar.
Worldly gain and earthly pleasures
Cannot compete with Heaven’s treasures;
This life, at best, is but a fleeting thing
That will quickly pass away.
Won’t you come to Christ today,
And own Him as your Sovereign Lord and King?
You are on your way to hell
If you think that all is well
In this life of sin you’re living here below,
For to hell you’re surely bound
If King Jesus you’ve not found,
If the precious Son of God you do not know!
a. franklin staples
May 11, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by Allison F. Staples
You are on your way to hell
Though you may think that all is well,
If you’re living just for pleasure and for gain.
‘Tis a road that’s paved with sorrow,
You who think there’s no tomorrow,
A road that ends in eternal loss and pain.
‘Tis the road of sin and death
To a place where there’s no rest,
Where tormented souls forever will abide;
There’ll be gnashing of the teeth,
Fear and pain will never cease,
And the great gulf fixed will keep you from the Other Side.
‘Tis a road you need not tread!
Hell’s fire you need not dread
If you’ll but come to Jesus Christ just as you are;
Lay your burdens at His feet,
Experience victory, not defeat;
Come while Heaven’s Gates are still ajar.
Worldly gain and earthly pleasures
Cannot compete with Heaven’s treasures;
This life, at best, is but a fleeting thing
That will quickly pass away.
Won’t you come to Christ today,
And own Him as your Sovereign Lord and King?
You are on your way to hell
If you think that all is well
In this life of sin you’re living here below,
For to hell you’re surely bound
If King Jesus you’ve not found,
If the precious Son of God you do not know!
a. franklin staples
May 11, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by Allison F. Staples
Thursday, December 29, 2016
THIS LIFE IS VERY SHORT
There’s one thing of which I have no doubt
About this earthly life,
And that is that it’s very short
And filled with pain and strife.
The span of life from birth to death
Does not amount to much;
The time we’re given to spend down here
Is but a fleeting touch.
We’ve just touched down for this brief time,
In a world that’s not our home,
To prepare to live or choose to die -
Just a moment and this life is gone.
A moment is all it seems to take
To go from birth to death,
From the first intake - a new baby’s cry -
To an old person’s final breath.
And yet each short life is valued by God
For He purposed to put us here
To live a life of service to Him -
He patiently draws us near.
He offers us Life through His own Son,
Eternal Life with Him
Who died to redeem us, on Calvary’s cross,
And paid the price for our sin.
And though this life is short - so very brief -
Like a mist that the sun burns away,
The new life God gives through Jesus Christ
Is ETERNAL! IT WILL NOT PASS AWAY!
a. franklin staples
March 3-4, 1991
Copyright © 1991 by Allison F. Staples
There’s one thing of which I have no doubt
About this earthly life,
And that is that it’s very short
And filled with pain and strife.
The span of life from birth to death
Does not amount to much;
The time we’re given to spend down here
Is but a fleeting touch.
We’ve just touched down for this brief time,
In a world that’s not our home,
To prepare to live or choose to die -
Just a moment and this life is gone.
A moment is all it seems to take
To go from birth to death,
From the first intake - a new baby’s cry -
To an old person’s final breath.
And yet each short life is valued by God
For He purposed to put us here
To live a life of service to Him -
He patiently draws us near.
He offers us Life through His own Son,
Eternal Life with Him
Who died to redeem us, on Calvary’s cross,
And paid the price for our sin.
And though this life is short - so very brief -
Like a mist that the sun burns away,
The new life God gives through Jesus Christ
Is ETERNAL! IT WILL NOT PASS AWAY!
a. franklin staples
March 3-4, 1991
Copyright © 1991 by Allison F. Staples
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
IF I COULD...
If I could write ten million words
Or music rich in perfect chords
In praise of Christ, who died for me,
I could not better state in human words
Nor in that music’s most perfect chords
Why the King of kings and Lord of lords
Would die to set me free
Than this one small word -
L - O - V - E !
a. franklin staples
August 10, 1990 Copyright © 1990 by Allison F. Staples
TO WRITE A POEM
To write a poem of any kind
Is an exercise of the mind.
Sometimes the right words are hard to find,
Especially those that will make it rhyme.
The poems I like to write the best,
Far ahead of all the rest,
Are those that tell of Christ, the Blessed,
He who mastered life’s every test.
To give to Him both glory and praise
And mighty anthems to Him raise;
He Who is perfect in all His ways,
Outshining the sun’s most brilliant rays.
To thank Him for dying on the cross;
For suffering such great pain and loss
That He might pay sin’s awful cost
And redeem the souls of those who were lost.
To watch until He comes again;
To win the lost to Him ‘til then,
For none down here knows just when
He’ll come to take us home with Him.
Until that time I’ll write and pray
And try to follow in His Way,
To live for Him throughout each day
In all I think and do and say.
a. franklin staples
August 10, 1990
Copyright © 1990 by Allison F. Staples
To write a poem of any kind
Is an exercise of the mind.
Sometimes the right words are hard to find,
Especially those that will make it rhyme.
The poems I like to write the best,
Far ahead of all the rest,
Are those that tell of Christ, the Blessed,
He who mastered life’s every test.
To give to Him both glory and praise
And mighty anthems to Him raise;
He Who is perfect in all His ways,
Outshining the sun’s most brilliant rays.
To thank Him for dying on the cross;
For suffering such great pain and loss
That He might pay sin’s awful cost
And redeem the souls of those who were lost.
To watch until He comes again;
To win the lost to Him ‘til then,
For none down here knows just when
He’ll come to take us home with Him.
Until that time I’ll write and pray
And try to follow in His Way,
To live for Him throughout each day
In all I think and do and say.
a. franklin staples
August 10, 1990
Copyright © 1990 by Allison F. Staples
Thursday, December 22, 2016
DON’T SPEAK OF “THE MAGIC” OF CHRISTMAS
Don’t speak of the “magic” of Christmas
For magic had no part to play
In the miraculous birth of the Saviour
On that night long ago, far away,
For magic is fake and deception,
The tool of the “father of lies”,
While Jesus is Truth and Perfection,
The Master of earth and the skies.
Don’t speak of the “magic” of Christmas
For magic had nothing to do
With the birth of God’s Son to a virgin,
In Bethlehem, to Mary, a Jew.
The miraculous birth of that Baby
Was wrought by the power of God;
No magical spell could perform it
For magic and spells are a fraud.
No, there’s nothing of magic in Christmas
Except what the world has brought in.
The day marks the birth of the Saviour
Who would die to save us from sin.
The Bible makes no mention of Christmas
For what the observation is worth;
In fact, but very few people
Were informed of the miraculous birth.
So don’t speak of the “magic” of Christmas
For magic could never have done
What God’s supreme power has accomplished
Through the marvellous gift of His Son.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
Don’t speak of the “magic” of Christmas
For magic had no part to play
In the miraculous birth of the Saviour
On that night long ago, far away,
For magic is fake and deception,
The tool of the “father of lies”,
While Jesus is Truth and Perfection,
The Master of earth and the skies.
Don’t speak of the “magic” of Christmas
For magic had nothing to do
With the birth of God’s Son to a virgin,
In Bethlehem, to Mary, a Jew.
The miraculous birth of that Baby
Was wrought by the power of God;
No magical spell could perform it
For magic and spells are a fraud.
No, there’s nothing of magic in Christmas
Except what the world has brought in.
The day marks the birth of the Saviour
Who would die to save us from sin.
The Bible makes no mention of Christmas
For what the observation is worth;
In fact, but very few people
Were informed of the miraculous birth.
So don’t speak of the “magic” of Christmas
For magic could never have done
What God’s supreme power has accomplished
Through the marvellous gift of His Son.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
CALVARY!
Calvary! Not a mountain,
Not even a hill,
Just a mound of earth
On which to kill
My Saviour.
Calvary! Outside the north wall
Of the Temple great
Where a mocking crowd
Was so filled with hate
For my Saviour.
Calvary! Where the jeering mob,
As they push and shove
Toward the foot of the cross,
Receive nothing but love
From my Saviour.
Calvary! The nail-pierced hands,
The thorn-crowned head,
The spite of the priests
Who wished Him dead -
My Saviour.
Calvary! Where ONCE FOR ALL
Sin’s price was paid,
For all mankind’s sins
That day were laid
On my Saviour.
Calvary! “Father, forgive them”
“I thirst”, “Woman, behold thy son”
Why hast thou forsaken?”
“IT IS FINISHED!” The work was done
By my Saviour.
Calvary! ‘Twas done for me -
For you as well!
Praise be to God!
He conquered hell!
He’s my Saviour.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1986 by A. Franklin Staples
Calvary! Not a mountain,
Not even a hill,
Just a mound of earth
On which to kill
My Saviour.
Calvary! Outside the north wall
Of the Temple great
Where a mocking crowd
Was so filled with hate
For my Saviour.
Calvary! Where the jeering mob,
As they push and shove
Toward the foot of the cross,
Receive nothing but love
From my Saviour.
Calvary! The nail-pierced hands,
The thorn-crowned head,
The spite of the priests
Who wished Him dead -
My Saviour.
Calvary! Where ONCE FOR ALL
Sin’s price was paid,
For all mankind’s sins
That day were laid
On my Saviour.
Calvary! “Father, forgive them”
“I thirst”, “Woman, behold thy son”
Why hast thou forsaken?”
“IT IS FINISHED!” The work was done
By my Saviour.
Calvary! ‘Twas done for me -
For you as well!
Praise be to God!
He conquered hell!
He’s my Saviour.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1986 by A. Franklin Staples
BOTH ARE EMPTY
Behold, both are empty,
Both the manger and the tomb,
Because that’s true there is no danger
Except to those who say, “No room!”
No room for Jesus, Saviour,
Wonderful, Counsellor, Prince of Peace,
The Mighty God, Emmanuel,
Whose wonders never cease.
From His home on high
To that manger, long ago,
Came the One who made the earth,
Who spoke, and it was so.
Angels to the shepherds sang,
On that evening long ago,
“In a manger you will find Him.
You are the first to know.”
But now the manger’s empty,
The child grew up, waxed strong.
On a cruel cross He died for me
Though He had done no wrong.
Buried three days inside the rock,
Death was forced to flee that room.
Angels rolled the stone away -
BEHOLD THE EMPTY TOMB!
Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius -
Their bones in tombs remain,
But JESUS’ TOMB IS EMPTY!
With joy I shall proclaim
Praise God! Both are empty,
Both the manger and the tomb.
Jesus lives with God on high
And prepares for me a home.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1986 by A. Franklin Staples
Behold, both are empty,
Both the manger and the tomb,
Because that’s true there is no danger
Except to those who say, “No room!”
No room for Jesus, Saviour,
Wonderful, Counsellor, Prince of Peace,
The Mighty God, Emmanuel,
Whose wonders never cease.
From His home on high
To that manger, long ago,
Came the One who made the earth,
Who spoke, and it was so.
Angels to the shepherds sang,
On that evening long ago,
“In a manger you will find Him.
You are the first to know.”
But now the manger’s empty,
The child grew up, waxed strong.
On a cruel cross He died for me
Though He had done no wrong.
Buried three days inside the rock,
Death was forced to flee that room.
Angels rolled the stone away -
BEHOLD THE EMPTY TOMB!
Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius -
Their bones in tombs remain,
But JESUS’ TOMB IS EMPTY!
With joy I shall proclaim
Praise God! Both are empty,
Both the manger and the tomb.
Jesus lives with God on high
And prepares for me a home.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1986 by A. Franklin Staples
Through These Weak Imperfect Vessels
Through these weak, imperfect vessels
Has chosen God to work,
For 'tis through this frail clay vessel
That He builds His glorious church;
To such men He gives commission
To preach and teach His Word
That those whom He has chosen
May be called unto the Lord.
Yes, God works, has worked, through mortal men,
Imperfect though they be,
To call out those He's chosen
To receive salvation free.
Through these weak, imperfect vessels
God chose His Word to preach;
To them He gives instructions
As to what they are to teach.
Just mortal men, like you and me,
But imbued with the Spirit's power,
They take their stand upon that Rock,
That strong and mighty tower
That is the one and only Saviour,
He who paid sin's awful price,
Our one and only Potentate,
The God-man, Jesus Christ.
Yes, through these weak, imperfect vessels
Has chosen God to work;
Those called by Him from the depths of sin
Into His glorious church —
That Church whose head is the Lord Himself
And not some mortal man,
Made up of the saints that God has called
According to His plan.
a. franklin staples
November 12, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
The basic theme of this poem is certainly not new or unique, nor are the words "original". This theme is substantially supported by the Scriptures.
God Has Everything Under Control
Be ye not anxious of what may happen tomorrow;
God has everything under control.
Whether it brings happiness or trouble and sorrow,
God has everything under control.
Though the view may be terrifying from your private perspective,
God has everything under control,
Trust Him in everything; keep calm and cool and collected;
God has everything under control.
Seek daily His counsel in matters that alarm you;
God has everything under control;
Fear Him and reverence Him: He's the One you can turn to —
God has everything under control.
He alone knows the future that no man can foresee;
God has everything under control;
He knows all that has been and what's still yet to be;
God has everything under control.
Yes, we've no cause to be anxious of what may happen tomorrow
For God has everything under control.
Let us live for Him today, tomorrow's trouble not borrow;
God has everything under control!
a. franklin staples
October 26, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Safe In the Palm of God's Almighty Hand
Safe in the palm of the mighty hand of God,
Saved by His wonderful grace,
Washed clean by the blood of God's Son on the cross,
When he died for my sins, took my place.
Safe in the palm of the mighty hand of God,
Secure in His unfailing love,
Held safe in His hand, His almighty hand
That He reached down to me from above.
Safe in the palm of the mighty hand of God,
In the hope of salvation secure,
With strength from the Spirit that dewlleth within
Earth's trials and cares to endure.
Safe in the palm of the mighty hand of God
From which naught of creation can take,
For my trust is in Jesus, my Saviour and Lord,
He who died on the cross for my sake.
Safe in the palm of the mighty hand of God,
Held safe and secure in His care,
Where none can alarm and no foe can molest,
For by faith in God's Son I am there.
a. franklin staples
October 19-20, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Peace Dwells Not Among Us
For reconciliation
Between every man and nation
Should be our prayer;
For peace and good relations,
Without distrust or hesitation,
Between all people everywhere.
With the hope that God provides
Which forever doth abide
With faithful men,
Let us onward, upward stride,
For He is on our side,
Has always been.
In Him alone is life and peace
And blessed, sweet release
From all our fears,
For wars will never cease
'Til comes the Prince of Peace,
And though 'tis near,
Men still strive with men
With weapons, voice and pen;
There's fighting still,
Men still seek for better ways,
With each and every passing day,
To maim and kill.
Though we've been among the blessed,
Tho' our nation's not been sore distressed
By guns and tanks,
Peace dwells not among us yet
So let us not forget
To give God thanks.
a. franklin staples
Copyright© 1995 by Allison F. Staples
The Awesome Thoughts of God
Too deep for me to fathom are the awesome thoughts of God;
Too far above my feeble mind is the lofty Way He trods;
Too complex is His creation for the finite mind of man —
He's the Master of Creation and He made the Master Plan.
He's the One who drew the blueprint for this universe we know,
And He put each tiny particle in the place it ought to go.
He knows the end from its beginning and all that's in between;
He knows all that will ever come to pass and all that's ever been.
Yes, too deep for me to fathom are the awesome thoughts of God;
Too far above my feeble mind is the lofty Way He trods,
But He's told me all I need to know in the pages of His Book
About this world that He's created, if I but take the time to look.
He's told me of His love for man and the origin of sin
And of His great Salvation Plan to bring man back to Him.
He's told me of His precious Son who left His home above
To die on a cross to pay sin's debt, because of His great love.
He's told me He's prepared a place that I may dwell with Him,
A mansion built by the Lord Himself who died to conquer sin,
And that I will live forever more because in Jesus Christ I trust;
That my spirit will go to be with Him though this body turns to dust.
Yes, too deep for me to fathom are the awesome thoughts of God;
Too far above my feeble mind is the lofty Way He trods.
Of everything that happens He's in complete control,
So I'll put my trust in His dear Son who died to make me whole.
a. franklin staples
October 8, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
The Lord Is More Precious
The Lord is more precious than silver or gold,
More precious than houses or land,
But costly He's not, for His blessings are free
To all who will hold to His hand.
All that He costs me is the surrender of self,
Turning this poor, wretched life o'er to Him
So that He can remake it into what it should be
Instead of what, without Him, it has been.
Now all of this blessing is not without cost,
But that cost is not one whit borne by me,
For the dear Lamb of God paid sin's price long ago
When He died there on Calvary's tree.
It's free for the asking, this so great a salvation,
This marvellous gift of God's grace;
'Twas purchased at Calvary by my dear Saviour's blood
When He died on the cross in my place.
Yes, the Lord Jesus is more precious than silver or gold,
More precious than rubies is He,
But costly He's not, for by grace He is mine,
And His marvellous salvation is free!
a. franklin staples
October 6-7, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
A Part of God's Circle of Love
If your heart to the Lord Jesus you've given,
Then you are bound for a home up above
Where the Lord reigns forever in heaven —
You're a part of God's Circle of Love.
You're a part of God's Circle of Love,
For He sees every need from above;
Don't you ever forget that He paid all of sin's debt
To make you part of God's Circle of Love.
When you get down-hearted, morose or dejected,
You need to raise your eyes, look above;
When you think you're forgotten, alone and neglected,
You're still a part of God's Circle of Love.
You're a part of God's Circle of Love,
For He sees every need from above;
Don't you ever forget that He paid all of sin's debt
To make you part of God's Circle of Love.
Count your blessings, each one,
a. franklin staples
October 1, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Monday, December 12, 2016
Something Very Special
There was something very special about that Babe in Bethlehem,
For He was the God of heaven come down to earth as man,
That He might go to Calvary to die there in man's stead.
But no earthly grave could hold Him! He is risen from the dead!
There is something very special about every man, don't you see,
For the sovereign God who made him also died to set him free
From the curse of sin that bound him and sentenced him to hell.
That's the blessed good news that we Christians have to tell.
Yes, there's something very special about this↓ "ordinary" man,
For the God of heaven loves me, I'd have you understand,
And now I'm in His Family, for I'm washed in Jesus' blood,
And my Father up in heaven works all things for my good.
a. franklin staples
December 24, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
There was something very special about that Babe in Bethlehem,
For He was the God of heaven come down to earth as man,
That He might go to Calvary to die there in man's stead.
But no earthly grave could hold Him! He is risen from the dead!
There is something very special about every man, don't you see,
For the sovereign God who made him also died to set him free
From the curse of sin that bound him and sentenced him to hell.
That's the blessed good news that we Christians have to tell.
Yes, there's something very special about this↓ "ordinary" man,
For the God of heaven loves me, I'd have you understand,
And now I'm in His Family, for I'm washed in Jesus' blood,
And my Father up in heaven works all things for my good.
a. franklin staples
December 24, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
What A Sight It Must Have Been...
What a sight it must have been,
On that night so long ago
When poor shepherds tending flocks by night
Saw the heavens set aglow
By the glory of Almighty God
And the hosts of heaven sang
Of the birth of God's Messiah
In the town of Bethlehem;
When God's angel spoke in sonorous tones
Of the blessed Saviour's birth
Which proclaimed to God the glory
And promised peace to men on earth.
What precious sights they did behold
When they found Him where He lay
In the stable in the manger there,
As the Angel's word did say.
In awe they bowed to worship Him
In that lowly stable room,
As the glory of His majesty
Shone forth amid its gloom.
What a blessing they received that night
From God in heaven above,
For they were the very first to hear and see
The full Expression of His love.
a. franklin staples
December 24, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
What a sight it must have been,
On that night so long ago
When poor shepherds tending flocks by night
Saw the heavens set aglow
By the glory of Almighty God
And the hosts of heaven sang
Of the birth of God's Messiah
In the town of Bethlehem;
When God's angel spoke in sonorous tones
Of the blessed Saviour's birth
Which proclaimed to God the glory
And promised peace to men on earth.
What precious sights they did behold
When they found Him where He lay
In the stable in the manger there,
As the Angel's word did say.
In awe they bowed to worship Him
In that lowly stable room,
As the glory of His majesty
Shone forth amid its gloom.
What a blessing they received that night
From God in heaven above,
For they were the very first to hear and see
The full Expression of His love.
a. franklin staples
December 24, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
The Reason for the Season
JESUS is the reason for the season,
But so, my friend, are you,
For by His birth
God came to earth.
Oh, yes, the story's true
That God was born in human form
In a lowly manger there,
Where shone so bright
God's heavenly light
Upon his face so fair.
He came, you see, to set men free
From the awful curse of sin;
Now you and I
Don't have to die!
Our debt was paid by Him!
He bore our sin who knew no sin,
Upon Calvary's cruel cross.
On Him believe!
God's gift receive!
Be saved, my friend, not lost!
a. franklin staples
December 26, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
JESUS is the reason for the season,
But so, my friend, are you,
For by His birth
God came to earth.
Oh, yes, the story's true
That God was born in human form
In a lowly manger there,
Where shone so bright
God's heavenly light
Upon his face so fair.
He came, you see, to set men free
From the awful curse of sin;
Now you and I
Don't have to die!
Our debt was paid by Him!
He bore our sin who knew no sin,
Upon Calvary's cruel cross.
On Him believe!
God's gift receive!
Be saved, my friend, not lost!
a. franklin staples
December 26, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Of King David’s Royal Line..
It was not two lowly peasants, on that night so long ago,
Who trod the road to Bethlehem where Cyrenius had them go,
But a man and wife of royal blood, of King David's royal line.
A prince and princess they would have been at some other point in time.
But David's house no longer reigned upon Judea's throne
For the land was in subjection to the Emperor of Rome
And Roman legions trod streets and roads of all of Israel,
While the faithful waited for Messiah to come, the King — Emmanuel.
No Royal Suite awaited them at the inn in Beth'lem town,
For when they sought for lodging, no room could there be found.
Naught but a lowly stable could be offered to them there,
A humble lodging, to say the least, for such a royal pair.
The woman, being great with child, in labour soon did lay,
And ere long brought forth a baby boy upon the bed of hay.
And to poor shepherds in the fields the host of heaven sings
For the child born in that stable there will be the King of kings.
Born of a virgin mother, Mary, herself of royal blood,
He was the Heir to David's Throne that the prophets had foretold.
The Son of God had come to earth from His home in heaven above
To dwell with men and to die for them to show His Father's love.
Wise men from far, far away came bearing gifts to Him
Of gold and frankincense and myrrh, as befits a Saviour King.
Not in a palace would He dwell, but a carpenter's humble home,
The perfect, sinless Son of God, heir to David's throne.
One day He would die upon a cross, rejected, despised of men,
To pay the price that God demanded as payment for their sin.
But the heavenly Heir to David's throne, born of the royal seed,
One day will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords indeed!
a. franklin staples
December 18, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Saturday, December 10, 2016
The Bethlehem Star
( An introduction to “The Glory’s Return”)
God has given us a mind with which to think and to attempt to understand what He has written for our instruction in His Word. Far too often, it seems, we fall into the trap of accepting tradition as fact rather than comparing it to the clear teaching of Scripture by adhering to the principles of Bible study laid down in those Scriptures.
Each year at “Christmas” time Christians give special attention to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and to the marvellous events that accompanied His birth. One of those “secondary” events, for all such events are secondary to the birth itself, was the sudden appearance of the mysterious “star” which guided the Magi to the house where the baby reposed in the town of Bethlehem.
That “star” has puzzled many for centuries for there are no astronomical records of any kind of any strange or unusual heavenly bodies appearing at that time, not withstanding the fact that accurate astronomical records were kept as a matter of course by astrologers in many lands long before that time, Various attempts have been made either to explain the “star” or to explain it away, none of which attempts is satisfactory or in complete accordance with the Scriptural record. It has been labelled a very bright “comet”, some have even suggested Halley’s. It has been explained as a periodic conjunction of several planets, similar to one which we observed just a few years ago. Some have even said that it was an angel.
Whatever it was, it constituted what C. S. Lewis describes as a Supernatural event, something from outside of the realm of nature that enters into it, and is accommodated by it because it is made to do so, since both have the same Creator. Because it was supernatural, it is therefore useless and futile to look to Nature or to Science, the explorer and material explainer of nature, for a satisfactory explanation of its occurrence. Instead we must go to the only Source of explanation that the Creator has given us for Supernatural events - His own Holy and inspired Word.
Have a look at the poem...
The Glory’s Return
On a night long ago, in Bethlehem town,
The LORD of creation to this earth did come down
To be born as a Babe in the kingdom of men,
And to die on a cross to save them from sin.
To poor shepherds a-watching their flocks on that night
God’s angels appeared - what a glorious sight -
And the ‘GLORY OF GOD”, the Shekinah of old,
Shone ‘round about them as the Good News was told.
For it had returned, that marvellous light
That signalled God’s presence in Judea that night,
As it had to the Hebrews as from Egypt they fled,
In the Pillar of Fire by which they were led.
Around Moses on Sinai that Glory did flood
And his face, in its presence, did shine as he stood
To deliver to Israel the Law that was given,
With a brilliance of glory directly from heaven.
In the wilderness Tabernacle it also did dwell,
Between the two cherubim to show all was well
Between God and His people with whom He would meet
When the blood of the bullock stained the gold Mercy Seat.
It dwelt in the Tabernacle throughout David’s reign,
And King Solomon’s Temple it did not disdain,
But as Israel’s people to idols did turn
And of God’s promised judgment of captivity learn.
The prophet Ezekiel saw it depart
From between the two cherubim, then saw it start
To exit the Temple, yet hovering near,
Until over Mount Olivet it did soon disappear.
Under the Old Covenant ‘tis not again to be found,
For the Light of God’s Presence no more did abound;
God had withdrawn it and ‘twas not seen again
‘Til arrived “God’s due season” on Bethlehem’s plain.
Could this be the “aster” the Magi did see
As they waited and watched for the great King-to-be?
Was this the Great Light that guided them far,
Which men have mistakenly labelled a “Star”?
For no star could accomplish what this light had done,
For it guided those Magi so unfailingly on
That at last it did bring them to the place they did seek -
Where lay Baby Jesus, so tender and meek.
Emmanuel, “God with us”, as Isaiah foretold -
The Light of God’s presence we now do behold
In JESUS, God’s Son, His image expressed,
God in man’s form; by Him man is blessed.
And when, as transfigured, the LORD Jesus did stand
Before His disciples on the mountain so grand,
His Glory, kept hidden, shone forth as the sun,
And God’s voice from the cloud declared Him His Son.
And with mankind still that Glory doth dwell
In the form of God’s Spirit, the o’erflowing Well
Of the water of Life, God’s Breath of His Word,
Sent by Jesus to dwell in the saved of the Lord.
a. franklin staples
December 17, 1988
© 1988 by Allison F. Staples
( An introduction to “The Glory’s Return”)
God has given us a mind with which to think and to attempt to understand what He has written for our instruction in His Word. Far too often, it seems, we fall into the trap of accepting tradition as fact rather than comparing it to the clear teaching of Scripture by adhering to the principles of Bible study laid down in those Scriptures.
Each year at “Christmas” time Christians give special attention to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and to the marvellous events that accompanied His birth. One of those “secondary” events, for all such events are secondary to the birth itself, was the sudden appearance of the mysterious “star” which guided the Magi to the house where the baby reposed in the town of Bethlehem.
That “star” has puzzled many for centuries for there are no astronomical records of any kind of any strange or unusual heavenly bodies appearing at that time, not withstanding the fact that accurate astronomical records were kept as a matter of course by astrologers in many lands long before that time, Various attempts have been made either to explain the “star” or to explain it away, none of which attempts is satisfactory or in complete accordance with the Scriptural record. It has been labelled a very bright “comet”, some have even suggested Halley’s. It has been explained as a periodic conjunction of several planets, similar to one which we observed just a few years ago. Some have even said that it was an angel.
Whatever it was, it constituted what C. S. Lewis describes as a Supernatural event, something from outside of the realm of nature that enters into it, and is accommodated by it because it is made to do so, since both have the same Creator. Because it was supernatural, it is therefore useless and futile to look to Nature or to Science, the explorer and material explainer of nature, for a satisfactory explanation of its occurrence. Instead we must go to the only Source of explanation that the Creator has given us for Supernatural events - His own Holy and inspired Word.
Have a look at the poem...
The Glory’s Return
On a night long ago, in Bethlehem town,
The LORD of creation to this earth did come down
To be born as a Babe in the kingdom of men,
And to die on a cross to save them from sin.
To poor shepherds a-watching their flocks on that night
God’s angels appeared - what a glorious sight -
And the ‘GLORY OF GOD”, the Shekinah of old,
Shone ‘round about them as the Good News was told.
For it had returned, that marvellous light
That signalled God’s presence in Judea that night,
As it had to the Hebrews as from Egypt they fled,
In the Pillar of Fire by which they were led.
Around Moses on Sinai that Glory did flood
And his face, in its presence, did shine as he stood
To deliver to Israel the Law that was given,
With a brilliance of glory directly from heaven.
In the wilderness Tabernacle it also did dwell,
Between the two cherubim to show all was well
Between God and His people with whom He would meet
When the blood of the bullock stained the gold Mercy Seat.
It dwelt in the Tabernacle throughout David’s reign,
And King Solomon’s Temple it did not disdain,
But as Israel’s people to idols did turn
And of God’s promised judgment of captivity learn.
The prophet Ezekiel saw it depart
From between the two cherubim, then saw it start
To exit the Temple, yet hovering near,
Until over Mount Olivet it did soon disappear.
Under the Old Covenant ‘tis not again to be found,
For the Light of God’s Presence no more did abound;
God had withdrawn it and ‘twas not seen again
‘Til arrived “God’s due season” on Bethlehem’s plain.
Could this be the “aster” the Magi did see
As they waited and watched for the great King-to-be?
Was this the Great Light that guided them far,
Which men have mistakenly labelled a “Star”?
For no star could accomplish what this light had done,
For it guided those Magi so unfailingly on
That at last it did bring them to the place they did seek -
Where lay Baby Jesus, so tender and meek.
Emmanuel, “God with us”, as Isaiah foretold -
The Light of God’s presence we now do behold
In JESUS, God’s Son, His image expressed,
God in man’s form; by Him man is blessed.
And when, as transfigured, the LORD Jesus did stand
Before His disciples on the mountain so grand,
His Glory, kept hidden, shone forth as the sun,
And God’s voice from the cloud declared Him His Son.
And with mankind still that Glory doth dwell
In the form of God’s Spirit, the o’erflowing Well
Of the water of Life, God’s Breath of His Word,
Sent by Jesus to dwell in the saved of the Lord.
a. franklin staples
December 17, 1988
© 1988 by Allison F. Staples
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Lord, I Thank You
Lord, I Thank You
Lord, I thank You for the trees and birds
And for the myriad flowers;
I thank You for the silence
Of the early morning hours.
I thank You, Lord, for air to breathe
And nourishing food to eat;
I thank You for the grace to take
The bitter with the sweet.
I thank You, Lord, for the family
That has so enriched my life;
I thank You for her whom You gave to me
To have and hold as wife.
I thank You for life’s blessings,
So many I can’t name;
I thank You, Lord, that in a changing world
You’re always just the same.
I thank You for the tests of life,
The hardships and the trials,
And I thank You, Lord, for the helping hands
And for the cheery smiles.
I thank You for Your Faithfulness
When I am plagued by doubt;
I thank You, Lord, for things I’ve missed,
Those that I’ve left out.
I thank You, Lord, for sunshine
And I thank You for the rain
And for all those things I’ve thanked You for,
I thank You, Lord, again.
a. franklin staples
October 7-16, 1991
He Makes the Ugly Beautiful
He Makes the Ugly Beautiful
So you messed up again today
And you’re feeling so let down.
You think that God’s forsaken you,
That you’re not worthy of a crown;
Or your life’s been O so ugly -
There’s no beauty you can find,
And you think that God can’t love you.
Well, you’d better change your mind,
For loving is God’s business!
He sent His Son to die
That grace might be extended.
He hears the sinner’s cry.
Ah, the God who forms a diamond
From an ugly lump of coal
Can take a life that’s marred by sin
And make it clean and whole.
He makes the ugly beautiful,
Makes glad the saddened heart,
Puts back together, nay, makes brand new
What sin has torn apart.
a. franklin staples
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