71 lines
3.0 KiB
Plaintext
71 lines
3.0 KiB
Plaintext
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A Visit From Heaven.
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by:
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Orlando Wiebe
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'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land
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Every creature was stirring, as Caesar had planned;
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A census was taken in which every soul
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In the Empire of Rome must be placed on the roll.
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Up from Galilee, out of Nazareth came
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A pair which was Joseph and Mary be name;
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To their city of birth which is called Bethlehem
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They came as descendants of King David's stem.
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There the days were accomplished that she should give birth
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To a son who would reign as King o'er the earth.
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She brought forth her first-born, and with her own hands
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She wrapped the sweet Child in soft swaddling bands;
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In a manger so lowly this life did begin,
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Since there was no room for them in the inn.
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In the country the shepherds abode in the field,
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Keeping watch o'er their flock as in silence they kneeled
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In the shadows of night, with their rods and their staves,
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Having just settled down in the warmth of the caves,
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When out of the sky there shone a great light
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That filled the men's hearts with a terrible fright.
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They sprang from the ground with a leap and a dash
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To see what was causing this unearthly flash.
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'Twas the glory of God shining down on the ground
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With a halo of radiance on the sheep all around.
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When, what to their questioning eyes should draw near,
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But the angel of God with a message: "Don't fear!
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For behold! I bring you good tidings of joy,
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For all men and women, for each girl and boy;
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For to you is born a Saviour this day,
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In the city of David, as prophets did say."
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Then suddenly with the bright angel appeared
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A heavenly host, praising God as they cheered:
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"To God in the highest may glory abound,
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On earth peace, and good will to men all around."
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Near at hand, far beyond, on the left, on the right,
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The heavenly seraphs were poised in their flight.
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Then as snowflakes before the fierce storm winds do fly,
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Passing o'er the wide fields, soar up to the sky,
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So up into heaven the angels they flew
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Having given their message so wondrously new.
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Then the shepherds declared with faces aglow:
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"To the village of Bethlehem quickly let's go,
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And see this great thing which has come to pass,
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Which the Lord in this night has made known unto us."
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There they found Joseph and Mary so mild,
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And in the rough manger the dear little Child.
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So when they had seen Him they made known abroad
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The message as told by the angel of God.
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The people they wondered at that which they heard
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As told by the shepherds in angelic word;
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But Mary, who knew all these things from the start,
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Kept pondering this great event in her heart.
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The shepherds returned giving glory and praise
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To the God of their fathers, the Ancient of Days:
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"To god in the highest may glory abound,
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On earth peace, and good will to men all around."
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(You can find this wonderful story in the Bible in the book written
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by Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-23, and the book written by Luke 2:1-52
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the Good News BBS
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