Our opponents say, 'Salvation belongs to the free will of man; if not to man's merit, yet at least to man's will;' but we hold and teach that salvation from first to last, in every iota of it, belongs to the Most High God. It is God that chooses His people. He calls them by His grace; He quickens them by His Spirit, and keeps them by His power.
C.H. Spurgeon

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"I Knew You Would Come"

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#1 · December 15, 2002, 1:02 pm

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

*** I Knew You Would Come ***
 
Barbara  and I locked our general store and dragged ourselves home.  It was 11:00p.m., Christmas Eve.  We were dog tired.  We had sold almost all of our toys; and all of the layaways, except one package, had been picked up.
Usually we kept the store open until everything had been claimed.  We wouldn't have woken up happy on Christmas knowing that some  child's gift was still on the layaway shelf.  But the person who had put a dollar down on that package never returned.
 
Early Christmas morning together with our children,  we opened  our gifts.  But I'll tell you, there was something humdrum about this Christmas.  The kids were growing up; I missed the childish exuberance of past years.
 
As soon as breakfast was over the kids  left to visit  their  friends  next door.  Barbara  mumbled, "I'm going back to sleep.  There's nothing left to stay up for."  So there I was alone, feeling let down.
 
And then it began.  A strange, persistent urge.  It seemed to be telling me to go to the store.  I looked at the sleet and icy sidewalk outside.  That's crazy, I said to myself.  I tried dismissing the urge, but it wouldn't leave me alone.  In fact, it was getting stronger.  Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer, and I got dressed.
 
Outside, the wind cut right through me and the sleet stung my cheeks.  I groped my way to the store, slipping and sliding.  In front stood two boys, one about nine, and the other six.  What in the world?
 
"See, I told you he would come!" the older boy said jubilantly.  The younger one's face was wet with tears, but when he saw me, his sobbing stopped.
 
"What are you two doing out here?" I scolded, hurrying them into the store.  "You should be at home on a day like this!"  They were poorly dressed.  They had no hats or gloves, and their shoes barely held together. I rubbed their icy hands, and got them up close to the heater.
 
"We've been waiting for you," replied the older boy.  "My little brother Jimmy didn't get any Christmas."  He touched Jimmy's shoulder.  "We want to buy some skates.  That's what he wants.  We have these three dollars." he said, pulling the bills from his pocket.
 
I looked at the money.  I looked at their expectant faces.  and then I looked around the store.  "I'm sorry," I said, "but we have no--" Then my eye caught sight of the layaway shelf with its lone package.  "Wait a minute,"  I told the boys.  I walked over, picked up the package, unwrapped it and, miracle of miracles, there was a pair of skates!
 
Jimmy reached for them.  Lord, let them be his size.  And miracle added upon miracle, the were his size.
 
The older boy presented the dollars to me.  "No," I told him, "I want you to have these skates, and I want you to use your money to get some gloves."  The boys just blinked at first.  Then their eyes became like saucers, and their grins stretched wide when they understood I was giving them the skates.  What I saw in Jimmy's eyes was a blessing.  It was pure joy, and it was beautiful.  My spirits rose.
 
We walked out together, and as I locked the door, I turned to the older brother and said, "how did you know I would come?"
 
I wasn't prepared for his reply.  His gaze was steady, and he answered me softly.  "I asked Jesus to send you."
 
The tingles in my spine weren't from the cold.  God had planned this.  As we waved good-bye, I turned home to a brighter Christmas.
 
************************************************************
 
*** Christmas For The Homeless ***
 
I turned out the lights and lit the tree,
Then settled back, just Rover and me.
The family is scattered here and there,
Christmas is lonely . . . but I don't really care.
 
No noisy unwrapping of gifts will I hear,
No stacks of dishes after dinner this year.
The lights flicker, the tinsel gleams,
The perfect Christmas eve, or so it seems.
 
Then at my door came a timid tapping,
Startled, I jumped, as though I was napping.
I opened the door and to my amazement,
A small crowd stood on my front pavement.
 
An old man, wrinkled and gray,
Stepped forward as though he had something to say.
We thank you kindly for having us
To share the joy your Christmas.
 
I stepped back and they filed past,
There were eighteen people, from first to last.
The laughter welled up as they settled down,
They looked at my face, and saw my grim frown.
 
You want us here, don't you sir?
Asked a child quietly, as they began to stir.
Well, I don't know, I started to say,
Then wondered, why not? It's almost Christmas day.
 
I had no turkey with them to share
So I fixed what I had - they didn't care.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, tuna casserole too.
I even served a can of Spam or two.
 
After we ate, they began to sing,
And suddenly, you know, it was the strangest thing -
The tree seemed brighter, the air more clear.
I began to fill up with holiday cheer.
 
I dug in the closet for discarded clothes,
For books and toys - I'd always kept those.
I handed them out, a smile on my face,
I really never had such joy in this place.
 
I settled them down - wherever - to bed .
A child's prayer was softly being said.
The lights on the tree reflected the glow
Of the happiest Christmas I'll ever know.
 
I awoke from the dream to find myself alone .
I immediately jumped up and reached for the phone.
I dialed quickly, my heart beating fast.
The true joy of Christmas, I'd found at last.
 
You see, no matter how little you give,
It brings joy to those with no place to live.
So open your home and open your heart
Christmas is . . . the place to start.
 
**************************************************************
 
*** Storms Of Life ***
 
When storms of life are raging
And doubt reaches my way,
Remind me of Your love, Lord,
To keep my fears at bay.
 
When all I see is failure
And mountains, hard to climb,
Just whisper in my ear, O Lord,
That You are still sublime.
 
This life may disappoint me
And so may people too.
Lord, show me Your faithfulness
And keep me true to You.
 
When tears do fill my eyes, Lord,
And I'm seemingly blind,
Walk with me, Precious Jesus,
And ease my tired mind.
 
Take me by the hand, Lord,
When roads are washing out.
Provide me with protection
And keep me from all doubt.
 
When I'm getting real tired from
Struggling day and night,
Hold me tight, dear Jesus,
Please, be my Guiding Light.
 
Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara
 
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